I am delighted that Seahorse has selected ‘Hunters of the Empire’ for its up and coming Glasgow anthology. The poem is inspired by a delicate Wardian case that was one of the pieces on display as part of an exhibition at the GOMA in Glasgow. Of course it will not include the image as it seems an impossibility for two art forms to be considered as one by the same artist - a complete bug bear of mine. It references Glasgow’s rather shadowy connection to the slave trade.
Reflections
Now there is time
A bit of a time for reflection on the new norm of our lockdown world we currently find ourselves in.
Hope
Its spring and a time for hope . Access to landscape and nature is known to be vital for our health and well being. Restrictions on some of our beautiful landscaped parks that were developed in Victorian times for the population’s health seems backward thinking. I do think that wherever you are you are able to enjoy the advance of spring.
Barabara Rae’s inspiration
Recent inspiration of Barabara Rae’s work - especially her trips to the Arctic in the footsteps of John Rae searching for the North West Passage. Her watercolour sketch book and follow up prints capture the luminosity of the northern hemisphere winter light added to by the astonishing reflective and absorbing quality of ice.
It has led me to try and capture those winter skies in Argyllshire looking down Loch Sween and also explore its impact within stark winter woodlands.
Mixed media allows textures to come through although watercolour somehow gets the immediacy of it. I was also writing a piece in conjunction with the painting about the attempts to find the North West Passage and Barbara’s Orcadian namesake John Rae. See the Poetry and Art section of the website.
Emile Nolde and The Yorkshire Wolds
Whilst on a visit to Madrid in December I discovered the work of Emile Nolde in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum which has a fabulous collection. He was a German/Dane born in Jutland and he was gaining prominence with his Expressionist style of art at the start of the WW2. He was banned by Hitler for his controversial style and he took to painting the most exciting watercolours in secret.
I chose pastels in my homage to Emile Nolde set in the Yorkshire Wolds. Long winter shadows of trees across a ploughed field in the late afternoon. Solitary oak and distant larch ablaze with the sun of remnant golden leaves and needles. Next homage will be a watercolour
