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| The Private View - Opening of the Exhibition |
You can
see the online catalogue on the Mall Galleries website
Below you can read and see:
- my comments and images from the exhibition
- the prizewinners
- details about the events
- my posts about past exhibitions
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| Annual Exhibition of the SWLA in the Threadneedle Space of the Mall Galleries |
The exhibition takes "
The Natural Eye" as its name and one of the things which is very evident from the work in the exhibition is that this is very definitely a society whose members are not afraid to try and capture wildlife in paint while working from life and observation in the field.
...and sometimes after death - when you also do not have long to linger on your artwork.
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Studies of a dead Grey Partrudge by Ben Woodhams ASWLA
Watercolour £1,200
I was very surprised this study did not win a prize. |
That habit of making art from observations in the field is one which very obviously extends to the non-members. For example see this wonderful drawing by
Chris Wallbank. You can also read about his experience of
drawing the Loomery at Skomer Island off the Pembrokeshire coast on his drawing blog.
My artwork is immersed in the experience of observing the natural world, its landscapes and wildlife.Chris Wallbank website
Unlike a number of other wildlife exhibitions, the paintings are not trying to be photographs and the evidence of the artist's personal preferences as to how they see their subject and how they prefer to make their mark - whether drawing, painting, print-making or in 3D is there for all to see.
There is, as always, a wonderful variety of work in many different styles by artists who are very accomplished.
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| Drawings and prints |
It also includes artwork by a number of international artists. This is
Marco Brodde from Denmark - with his drawings in pencil and watercolour of
- Curlews, just arrived, The Wadden Sea, Denmark and
- Dead Sperm Whale, Eiders adn Oysetercatchers, the Wadden Sea, Fano, Denmark
I confess I can't ever recall an artwork involving a dead sperm whale in the exhibition in previous years and this was a first for me!
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| Marco Brodde |
In addition - as befits one of the exhibitions which is a top seller at the Mall Galleries - the exhibition fills all three galleries with
- work selected for the exhibition,
- a children's art competition ( see below) and
- a number of different projects related to bursaries or ones which have engaged members during the course of the year.
This is also a society which:
- very definitely has members who do more than submit work to an annual exhibition once a year. Their project work is very impressive.
- takes the science as seriously as the art!
At the far end of the North Gallery is
the SWLA Flight Lines Project. This relates to the pathways taken by migrating birds and enabled some of the overseas members to take part as they documented what happened as birds passed through their part of the world.
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| Some of the work exhibited as part of the Flight Lines Project |
There were also displays for the bursaries and other projects.
Memorials
The exhibition also contained three exhibits for members who died in the last year.
This is the exhibit for
John Busby who was the author of "
Drawing Birds (RSPB)
".
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| In memorium exhibit for John Busby |
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| SWLA "In Memorium" panels |
Other panels provided exhibits for
Keith Shackleton (middle) - who would be familiar to many of my older readers as the man who used to co-present '
Animal Magic' with Johnny Morris - and
David Koster (right).
SWLA Prizewinners 2015:
The Dry Red Press Award: Spring Blackbird by Matt Underwood SWLA
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| Artwork by Matt Underwood - the awardwinner is top left |
The RSPB Award: Short-eared Owl flying with digger by Greg Poole SWLA
The Langford Press Printmaking Award: The Building of Wallasea RSPB by Julia Manning ASWLA
The Langford Press 3D Award: Greenfinches by Adam Binder SWLA
The Birdwatch-Swarovski Artist of the Year Award: Fishing Frenzy by Jane Smith ASWLA
There's a huge sense of movement and purpose in this screenprint.
The Hawk and Owl Trust's Roger Clarke Award: Glorious by Tim Wootton SWLA
PJC Drawing Award: Coastal Birds by Richard Allen
I was very impressed by the fine art print which won the Drawing Prize. I'm a big fan of this type of composite drawing.
Bursary Winners
- John Busby Seabird Drawing Course: Evelina Flodstrom, David Hubt and Rachel Porter
- SWLA Bursary: Ali McPherson
Talks and Events
Free Talks and Events
- An Artist Underwater. Tuesday 3rd November, 11.30am and 2.30pm; an illustrated one hour talk by Chris Rose on his latest work, based on his experiences as recipient of the SWLA Wildlife Trusts Diving Bursary.
- John Clare and Me. Fri 6th November 2.30 pm; an illustrated one hour talk by Carry Ackroyd on the poetry of John Clare and how his words has influenced her work.
Priced Workshops
- Monoprints Workshop with Greg Poole & Kim Atkinson - Sat 7th Nov, 10.30am – 4.30pm (£75)
- Drypoint Workshop with Bruce Pearson and Greg Poole - Sunday 8th November, 10.30am – 4.30pm (£75 or Friends £65). ; a full day drypoint printing workshop.
More details on
this page on the SWLA website
Previous Years
Previous posts about the Society of Wildlife Artists' Annual Exhibition
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