British Landscape

After not managing to visit for the last couple of years, yesterday Mum, Dad and I explored the vast array of artworks at the Summer Exhibition. With the price list in hand, we wandered through the galleries, gazing at the large canvases to the smallest of prints of old names to new emerging artists. I hadn't considered that we would buy a piece but year on year you start to realise your favourites and yesterday we were drawn again to the work of Norman Ackroyd. I am always somewhat mesmerised by the landscapes that he creates of the most extreme points on our British Isles: dramatic seascapes or the rolling hills of the northern counties. The programme 'What do artists do all day?' gives a fantastic insight to just that, and it is incredible to see Ackroyd's working process that leads to such beautiful etchings. The work in the programme is the bottom image, The Rumbleings Muckle Flugga, Shetland.  I'm now so excited to see Upper Wharfedale when it arrives, but in the meantime see exhibit 185 at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition before 17th August.

Images by Norman Ackroyd at Zillah Bell Gallery

1. Golam Head 2. Winter Morning, Wharfedale 3. The Rumbleings Muckle Flugga, Shetland

Sensing Spaces

Sometimes you just need to be inspired or reminded about the reason you are doing what you chose to do. Last weekend Helen and I visited the Sensing Spaces exhibition at the Royal Academy, a collection of architect design installations. Having been given one brief, each exhibit was so different from the next, clearly indicating the architects' distinctive influences and inspirations be that culture, Japanese woods and smells, or social collectiveness, through participatory hands on building. Hearing the architects speak about their work was motivating, to see that they are able to design according to their beliefs. All the more, the exhibition was exciting and interactive; it was great seeing kids of all ages running around and getting exposed to architecture and art.

En Pointe

I haven't danced for about 6 years but I've recently taken in up again. There is something about prancing about that makes you feel so good! On at the moment at the Royal Academy is an exhibition of Degas' fascination with movement of dancers.

Images: 1. Edweard Muybridge from RA 2. Dane Shitagi

Falling Slowly

A visit to indeed any exhibition has been long overdue. Even though I worked in London over the past year I "never had the time" to pop along to any. All that has changed!

On Sunday I went on an annual trip to the Royal Academy to see the Summer Exhibition with Lauren. It had a different layout this time around, but I've started to recognise my taste in art as I am always attracted to the same especially the etchings of Norman Ackroyd which show so much movement. Otherwise I gained inspiration from the architecture room where I really liked Dean Pike's The Labyrinth Plan and Marialena Tsolka's Bensalem's Hydra.

On Monday Ma and I saw the BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery. I think it's my favourite gallery in town and this exhibition always shows some incredible pieces. It is staggering to see how realistic the portraits are painted. My picks are above:

1. Thread of Light (Portrait of Glen Hansard) by Colin Davidson (plus I have been listening to Hansard's music with The Swell Season on repeat for months!)

2. R.H. by Isobel Peachey

3. Abi by Nathan Ford

Images from: 1. Colin Davidson 2. BP Portrait Awards 3. Nathan Ford

Summer Art

Today Ma and I went to the Royal Academy Summer exhibition, an annual outing to see such a variety of painting, prints, sculpture, photography and architecture. It's so interesting to see such a plethora from both amateurs and professionals. The question 'is that art?' pops up on many occasions, as well as 'how can that be worth £125,000?!', but we always love to have a wander around.

I had some particular favourites. The architecture room was great - and seeing as it's my chosen profession made me excited to see the sort of work that can be produced - and occupied a bigger space than previous years. Individually I liked:

Oran O'reillly's Rizla (After Hokusai)

Thomas Hillier's Migration of Mel and Judith

Ian Whittlesea's The Sun is but a Morning Star

Images from: 1-2. Amelia's magazine 3.Oran O'reilly 4. Thomas Hillier 5. Peter Foolen