MY FAVOURITE ART

As an artist (kind of) it would be easy to assume I like art and indeed I do. Trouble is there is so much of it that its difficult to sift through the mud of what art doesn’t interest me until I see gems of art that touches my heart. I believe art should create a reaction in the viewer and that how I decide what I like and don’t. Landscapes don’t really do it for me, neither do paintings rock my boat. I would have said portraits, especially historical ones seem boring unless you know the person who has been captured by an artist.

Thurso artist David Rosie has painted what I feel is an excellent presentation of a fellow art Eliabeth Lay. This work was recently on show at the 88th Annual exhibition of the Society of Caithness Artis. Elizabth is the secretary of that Society, and I am the current Chair. I have known Elizabeth for many years and her portrait looks exactly like her. Well David is a professional artist so if he painted Elizabeth and she ended up looking like an old sideboard then one could be forgiven that David is a con merchant. No such thing though. Not only is the likeness accurate but Elizabeth has been surrounded by objects that are important to her. Things like her harp, her painting of flowers and a picture of her beloved dog Lottie. One thing was missing is a cat or seven. Every time I go around to see Elizeth there is a gang of cats waiting to greet me. I don’t like cats, but I love this painting.

Subject matter does plan a major part in persuading me to like an artwork or not and Peter Hadfield, another local artist to me really does excel in making viewers think when they look at his work. You either hate it or love it, there is no halfway measures here. His wooden head (not his actual head as Peter is human and thus his head is made of flesh etc..) with a hammer emerging from a mouth and a chisel jumping out of a gorge in a cheek both covered in blood (artificial) really trikes home the message. That message revolves around drugs and alcohol has the potential to destroy lives. The work wasn’t liked by everyone, and I was even asked if it should be covered up for sensitive visitors!

Peter was at it again with another favourite of mine. For some reason metal is not a popular media for exhibitions. Wood, glass and even plastic, yep that’s fine but metal is not that popular. Didn’t put Peter off as he exhibited a fantastical heavy looking candelabra. Stainless stell in all its shining glory. Go man Go, go go. I think the candles could have been what’s known as church candles and if so then the candle holder should take its rightful place on an altar! I kneel and worship the god of metal candelabra!

Funny thing is that people confuse liking something and possessing objects. Just because I like something doesn’t mean I would give it space in my home. Loved that stainless steel candelabra but I wouldn’t want it on my dining table.

However, I would gladly have a painting of a cabbage on my walls and Andy Busby seems to be the expert locally anyway on reproducing artistic imagery of this humble vegetable. Who knew a cauliflower could look so cool? Its really like a photograph and at first, I thought it was, but no the guy has spent time, skill, and effort in creating a masterpiece. I would like to eat the painting more than I would an actual cauliflower!!

My last favourite picture is by Willie Wallace and here the clever artist rises form the pallet as Willie has obviously put tons of thought into the image. I think this may have been lost to a lot of people thus the connection to confirmed between artists and viewer. It looks great to me on two levels. First technique works great as love how it looks like the tin lid is rolled away to expose imagery. It’s hung as 2D but more 3D than that but not a sculpture. Then one sees a silhouette of a sailor placed on a battleship sideways on. The three fish are fleshy shaped ships with scales. Could there be two or more ships or are there shadows at play? I spy an anchor. I know the story behind it relates to Spike Milligan’s poem as follows.
A baby sardine saw her first submarine,
She was scared and watched through a peephole. “Oh, come, come, come,” said the sardine’s mum.
“It’s only a tin full of people.”
If ever there was an example of art being a bit fishy then its this one. Love it!