'Stanley Spencer: Heaven in a Hell of War' at Somerset House

I've been lamenting for a while the fact that we no longer see large figurative paintings of groups of people.

Those who aspire to filling the gap and claiming a form of art with a notable heritage can do no better than go and see the new exhibition Stanley Spencer: Heaven in a Hell of War at Somerset House in the Strand in London.  The exhibition of paintings from "Britain's answer to the Sistine Chapel" opened last week and continues until 26 January 2014.

I'm a big fan of Spencer and really enjoyed this completely different perspective on the First World War.

View of the room in Somerset House where the original paintings
by Sir Stanley Spencer are on display
(click to see larger version)

It's also the first exhibition by the National Trust in London for a very long time.  More to the point, I can't ever remember there being an exhibition of Spencer's work in London in my lifetime - more's the pity!

Below you can find:

• details of the exhibition
• details of the 16 paintings in the exhibition

The paintings are in London because there's a major conservation project underway at Sandham Memorial Chapel in Burghclere, Hampshire where they can normally be seen.  The Grade 1 listed building needs essential work to improve accessibility, visitor experience and facilities and won't reopen until July next year.

Built to honour the 'forgotten dead' of the First World War, who were not remembered on any official memorials, the series was inspired by Spencer’s own experiences as a medical orderly and soldier on the Salonika front, and is peppered with personal and unexpected details. The paintings took six years to complete in all, and are considered by many to be the artist’s finest achievement, drawing such praise as 'Britain’s answer to the Sistine Chapel'.National Trust

The plan is that after the exhibition closes in London in January, the exhibition will then transfer to the Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, and be on show there from 15 February to June 2014 - prior to reinstatement back at the Chapel.

The exhibition

The exhibition includes:

• preparatory sketches by Spencer, 
• paintings by Spencer’s fellow war artist, friend and contemporary, Henry Lamb, 
• material on the patrons of the chapel, John Louis Behrend and his wife Mary - who developed the largest collectoion of Spencer's works
• 16 paintings from the Chapel
• a projection of the huge painting behind the altar

Click the images to see larger versions - kindly provided by Sam Roberts Photography and Somerset House Trust.

I've been asked to write a book....

It's nice to start a post with the fact "I've been asked" - rather than "I've decided" - to write a book!

That's because, following a meeting with representatives of a publisher last week, I'm currently going through a formal process which will lead to me being formally commissioned to write a book by an international publisher of practical books for visual artists.

The invite to consider writing a book for this publisher came out of the blue and is on a topic I absolutely adore - drawing and sketching!

Title and the name of the publisher are under wraps for the time being until we've 'done the deal' and tied up loose ends.  I'll let you know more as an when I can.

Below there's an invite to get involved and maybe have your images in the book!

What goes around comes around

This year I started contributing to books and magazines for the first time.  In the next three months I've got:

• an article in "Discover Art" - a brand new bookzine for visual artists in the UK which is due to publish this month. I gather my article is listed on the cover
• 5 sketches about drawing in art galleries and museums published in Playing with Sketches: 50 Creative Exercises for Designers and Artists (Rockport Publishers - 1 December 2013) 
• 5 sketches about drawing gardens and parks published in Sketch Your World: Drawing techniques for great results on the go (Apple Press - 2 Jan 2014)

The process of making these contributions prompted me to think again about writing a book - which is something I've been saying I want to do for a long time.

Consequently when I was suddenly asked to write one, it didn't take too long to think about it - and I was ready to say "Yes"!

It wasn't the payback I'd expected - but I guess it was the one I hoped for - but didn't expect!

It goes without saying I'm very excited about it!

So - what's the book about?

3 November 2013 - Who's made a mark this week?

I've got a big announcement on my blog tomorrow - and then I'm not going to be blogging for at least a week - plus posting will be less frequent for the next few months.

Can you guess what the news might be? (Some of you already know what it's about but please don't spoil the surprise!) ;)

I was particularly impressed this week with the sculpture in the SWLA Exhibition - and hence this post features images which I haven't posted already.

East Ridge Ptarmigans by Oliver Meller
Portland Limestone

Botanical Art

• Shevaun Docherty has finally got round to starting a blog about her botanical art! See Botanical Sketches and Other Stories - and here's what she's been working on recently A quiet beauty, Hedera hibernica - in which she shows up how she develops a work

Drawing and Sketching

• There are interviews with the artist who won Derwent Art Prizes for Pencil Art on the Love Pencils blog run by Derwent
• Chrys Allen wins inaugural Derwent Art Prize
• Yi Lin Juliana Ong and the Derwent Art Prize - (3rd prize winner)
• Paul Hiles and The Derwent Art Prize (2nd prize winner)
• Congrats to Urban Sketchers who celebrated their 5th birthday this week - here's Pete Scully's post about it  Happy 5th birthday Urban Sketchers!  I'm a bit late to the party but have just spotted that Urban Sketchers have announced that Paraty in Brasil will host the 5th International Urban Sketching Symposium. USk Board member Jim Richards summed up our attraction to Paraty:

"I visited and sketched in Paraty while touring Brazil and Peru last summer. It is all the proposal makes it out to be: drop dead gorgeous, a small time capsule of a city largely unchanged since the 1700s, with very good restaurants, sidewalk cafes, art galleries and a beautiful harbor that allows for boat excursions to nearby beaches and islands. I know artists who return there every few years to sketch and paint."

• On Illustration Friday - Master of the Month is Maira Kalman. Maira Kalman is an American author, illustrator, designer, and book artist.

Octopus on stone block by Bill Prickett
Chestnut burr on limestone
(Apparently David Attenborough spent a long time studying this one)

Painting

Review: 50th Annual Exhibition - Society of Wildlife Artists

Society of Wildlife Artists - 50th Annual Exhibition 2013

I think this has been my third post about the Society of Wildlife Artists this week. However it is their 50th Annual Exhibition and they did have Sir David Attenborough and over 1,000 people at the Private View so I think that's allowed.

I met lots of the artists this year.  So many seemed to have made the effort to come.  The Private View felt like a rather big party!

It's also a really good show - and it now has lots of red spots for sales. Works are available to Browse & Buy online.  There are 339 works in the main show plus fieldwork from three projects on display in the 'Out of the Frame' room.  The work includes art by four of the founding members including past President Robert Gillmor (whose work was selling fast!) and the legendary John Busby.

Linocuts of Birds by Robert Gillmor PPSWLA

I don't think I know another show which has got such a high standard right across the board in terms of media. It also looked to me like maybe everybody was keen to win a prize and get to shake hands with David Attenborough!

West Gallery #1

Sculpture by Harriet Mead, Paintings by various artists including
Nick Derry, David Bennett, Federico Gemma, Brin Edwards

Photo copyright Katherine Tyrrell

Threadneedle Space
Photo copyright Katherine Tyrrell

The next day I went back again and took the tour with President Harriet Mead and Secretary Chris Rose. (I see Hannah has a new Wordpress powered website/blog - so will be adding that to the list of blogs I follow!   You can see how they both develop their very different approaches to wildlife art in their blog posts on their website. )

I've got notes of some of their comments as they highlighted some of the works in the show.  They were quick notes so this is my version of what was said rather than verbatim.

Who Painted This? #51

The image this week was a challenge to me from Bernadette Madden to celebrate the 50th "Who painted this?". I was a bit pushed for time but sad to say I didn't get it - but I got close!

Who painted this? #51

You need to tell me - as a comment on this blog

1. who painted this 
2. including all the basics I want to know (see link to rules below).
3. plus what you can find out about this artist and/or artwork 

The winner will be the person with the BEST complete answer rather than the first to respond - so you don't have to rush and you do have time to do some research.  Just get your answer to me by the end of Thursday your time.

For those who've not risen to the challenge before please take a minute to read the rules - see below.  The questions which need answering don't stop at "Who painted this?"

How to participate in "Who painted this? #50"

PLEASE make sure you read the rules before posting a comment - and ONLY POST ON THIS BLOG what you think is the answer.