Splash of Colour - contemporary watercolours

About

As part of the gallery’s programme of ‘Mediums’ exhibitions running throughout 2017, Murmurations is exploring another fine art practice widely used by professional and amateur artists. Often overused and at the same time maligned or looked down upon, watercolour as a medium has over recent decades had a bad press. However there are many contemporary artists who are still pushing the boundaries and exploring innovative new ways in which to use this fluid and yet unforgiving medium to express their creativity. This exhibition brings together some local and nationally recognized artists who are pursuing this path.  For some, they are reinventing and for others they are rejuvenating the practice of watercolours.  Artists such as the award winning Peter Haslam Fax whose works explore the translucent simplicity of colour. Educated at Chelsea Art School and Glasgow University, winner of the Royal Watercolour Society young artist of the year and the Benton Purchase prize – Haslam Fox’s famous White exhibition marries his love of Chinese paintings and using delicate shades to show the subtlest of images on a large scale. He is one of the profile artists for Winsor & Newton Watercolours Revolution group of artists. Some of his paintings from the White exhibition will be available to view and buy. Other artists such as Hastings based Helen Wells and Susan Miller explore the fluid washes of watercolours and hues that can be build up in layers to create images of haunting photographs or abstract dreamscapes.  Also in this exhibition are works by Cliff Crawford whose works highlight the difficult and unforgiving nature of watercolours as he explores geometric patterns, trying in the process to contain the medium within straight or predefined lines. The exhibitions also brings together works from local practitioners such as Kerry Bennett from Battle. It is hoped the exhibition will bring lots of interest from local artists groups and the general public to come and view an array of work ranging from traditional to more contemporary artworks. The exhibition runs from 3rd – 29th of May.