My Blog

Garry Jones Sculptures - Spring Exhibition

03/16/2012 15:29:00

Garry Jones Sculptures confirmed for the Spring Exhibition

Astwood Galleries 24th & 25th March

About Garry

I love animals. Animals are everything to me; they are a continuous source of amusement, happiness, sadness and of course inspiration.

My aim is to create humorous, three dimensional cartoon images; I attempt to attribute animals with human characteristics, using word play and common phrases, recalling the old silent movies where moments in time and emotions were captured by expression alone.

When I create I tend to portray mainly domestic animals I know well and have connected with.

I come from Wales, but I have lived in the Midlands since 1969. My passions are linked to my childhood years spent in and around the Welsh countryside and culture. I have always been intrigued and entertained by everything nature and history have to offer.

My sculptures are a reaction to observations of animal behaviour; I set out to make people laugh.
The techniques I use involve raku because I like the unpredictable results and the excitement experimentation evokes, the natural finishes and the whole primeval smoke, fire, exposure and physical involvement of this ancient process. Animals are amazing and portraying them in this way is what I do.

Garry Jones

New range of Farow and Ball Mouldings

02/24/2012 16:10:00

New in.........

Beautiful range of Farrow and Ball picture frame mouldings. Paul will be a busy boy! We have some bevelled mirrors that are just pleading to be framed in one of these and will look gorgeous.

Moving the workshop to the Old Bakehouse

02/01/2012 15:18:00

All Systems go at the gallery this week! We are in the process of moving the workshop back into the Old Bakehouse as it offers Paul much more space to work in and me more hanging space and the gallery back, ready to host the Spring Exhibition. Offers coming up: We have 10% off all Picture Framing throughout February and various pieces of Artwork will be reduced. Its quite an exciting time of year, Valentines day (Feb 14th) Spring approaching (Although it seems snow may be upon us!) new seasons allways bring fresh inspiration and ideas. Im sure a trip to the Spring fair at the NEC on Sunday should give me a sneak preview of whats Hot this year. Well I cant ramble on all day, as much as Id love to, we are extremely busy! Keep Warm and safe

Valentines Day 2012

01/20/2012 15:05:00

St Valentine's day is fast approaching (Febuary 14th) We have new works in by Giuliana Lazzerini........

Giuliana Lazzerini was born in Seravezza near Pietrasanta in Tuscany. Between 1962 and 1968 she was a student at the Istituto D'Arte Stagio Stagi in Pietrasanta, gaining a Master of Arts Diploma. This was followed by a further four years studying painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara.

The Tuscan landscape and childhood memories still bear a strong influence upon the artist's current work. In an earlier statement she describes her first encounters with art in Italy as a child in her father's mosaic studio. She refers to the "translucency of the mosaic fragment" and her "fascination with the vibrancy of colour" from the juxtapositioning of the pieces.

These early perceptions, several years on, provide a language and a vocabulary for her pictures in terms of colour, surface, scale of which she uses in the construction of her tapestry-like, interlocking, angular-surfaced village landscapes. Architecture exists within a shallow space; Structures are locked together through a medieval, narrative sort of pictorial logic. The viewer's eye is then led through and across these interweaving spaces with the most seductive and delightful channels of colour.

In other works Lazzerini depicts solitary portrait images. Figures often appear with props - shells, cups and boats. There are equestrian references. Are these characters the inhabitants of Lazzerini's interlocking Tuscan villages, or part of some ceremonial ritual? These pictures show an economy in terms of compositional design, with richness of surface mark and colour, reconfirming the artist's earlier delight in light and transparency.

Christmas is just around the corner

12/16/2011 12:14:00

Well its taken me a bit longer to blog this time but after another succesful Art Exhibition here at the Gallery I cant wait to do the next one! Ian Ridley again being one of our most popular local Artists. We had some new artists work this time, embroidery by Anita Hunt was amazing and so intricate. We had some pieces by Ona Haynes, also local talent! Unfortunatly we ran out of mince pies on Sunday but we made extra mulled wine as compensation! Christmas is just around the corner and steam is coming out of Pauls ears, he has been so busy framing pictures I only hope he has had enough time to get me a big christmas present! Merry Christmas to all and a happy new year, stay warm and safe and most importantly enjoy the festivities.

Winter Exhibition

10/24/2011 08:52:00

Winter Exhibition plans are underway! We will have more local Artists with Original Pieces. Wine is ordered and the banner is displayed outside Astwood Galleries. All the usual suspects plus special guests to be announced. More information will follow shortly.

Autumn Exhibition follow up

10/13/2011 08:59:00

Well we had a fantastic 3 days here at the gallery during the"Autumn Exhibition" On Thursday and Friday Mike Hatcher and Ian Ridleys works were very popular and The acrylics on Saturday by Paul McCormack and Tim Hughes created a real buzz! Note to self, next time wine is involved dont pour a little for myself every time I fill a glass for somebody! In preperation for our next Event pondering over "Winter Exhibition" or "Christmas Exhibition"?? Would not want to mislead the public into thinking they will be coming to a santa's grotto!!! But at the same time we have ONLY 10 WEEKS TILL CHRISTMAS and what better gift to give than an original piece of Art? to be continued.................

Norman Neasom Originals Autumn Exhibition 6th Oct

09/20/2011 11:08:00

We have Two Original Norman Neasoms that will be available at our Autumn Exhibition on Thurs 6th Oct

About the Artist - Norman Neasom R.W.S, R.B.S.A., S.A.S. (1915 - 2010) Norman Neasom was born in 1915 and grew up on Birchensale Farm on the outskirts of Reddich in Worcestershire. From a very early age Norman would draw and paint on any scraps of paper he could find (something he did right up to his last days!) and after leaving Redditch County High School at 16 he won a place at the Birmingham College of Art where he studied under Bernard Fleetwood Walker, Harold Holden, Henry Sands, Michael Fletcher and William Colley. Norman lectured at the Birmingham College of Art after the 2nd World War and in 1953 he moved to a teaching post at Redditch School of Art where he later became the Head of the Department, retiring in 1979 to take up his painting full time. Norman Neasom RWS, RBSA, SAS has gained success and recognition as a professional watercolour painter exhibiting at the Royal Academy, The Royal Watercolour Society, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Mall Gallery London, Chris Beetles Gallery London and the Stratford Art Society. His work is also in the permanent collections of Her Majesty the Queen, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Royal Watercolour Society, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and the West Midlands Arts Council. Norman painted entirely from his sketch book using quick pencil sketches of scenes that captured his imagination. He was often to be found quickly jotting on any piece of paper he may have in his pocket humorous sketches of a character he may have seen in a local pub or even in the supermarket. His incredible imagination was the trademark of Norman Neasom's work. Sadly Norman passed away in his 95th year during February 2010, he was a well loved and collected artist and we are fortunate that, as a prolific artist over an 80 year period, he has left a phenomenal legacy for us all to enjoy.

Autumn Exhibition 2011

09/19/2011 15:11:00

Ian Ridley another local artist has just confirmed

he will be here alongside Lew Howe-Bennett, Mike Hatcher & Hillary Grew on Thurs and Fri 6th & 7th of Oct with some original watercolours for the exhibition.

Tim Hughes will be here on Sat 8th alongside Paul McCormack with several originals on sale.

Correct Saatchi Link to Paul McCormacks work

09/09/2011 12:23:00

http://www.saatchionline.com/art/Painting-Acrylic-Networking/155255/1193987/view.