Paint Out Norwich 2016 Awards and private view at the Hostry, Norwich Cathedral – Photo by Simon Finlay
The 2016 plein air art competition saw 33 artists create over 150 works painted outside in changeable weather across 3 days including the public Tombland paint out.
16 prizes were awarded, the first of which went to Sue Mann, renowned for painting from a bicycle, who won this year’s Spirit of Plein Air Award for being the first to take the plunge and paint from a canoe.
This year we innovated again by running a ‘Freestyle’ larger form, 2-day, event alongside our classic Core event of 4 separate 3-hour painting sessions. Our groundbreaking Nocturne event returned for its second year with an increased number of submissions.
Paint Out Norwich 2016 Winning Artists and Paintings – Photo by Simon Finlay
The new Freestyle event was won by Robert Nelmes for his widescale painting, “Norwich Market”, and the runner up second prize went to Brian Korteling for his very urban Magdalen Street flyover, complete with graffiti, “Waiting for the bus”. This prize category was sponsored by La Ronde Wright.
Tom Cringle, Untitled, Paint Out Norwich Second Prize overall, Nocturne First Prize – Photo by Katy Jon Went
The returning Nocturne event was won by Tom Cringle for his “Untitled” spire at night, with Michael Richardson‘s “Night Time in the Lanes”, coming second. This prize category was sponsored by Sowerbys.
The Core event was won in Mixed Media by Alfie Carpenter, for “Guildhall Aglow”, with runner up Tom Cringle – who also won Second Prize overall, sponsored by La Ronde Wright, lifting his prize total to £500. In Watercolour, Richard Bond‘s painting of Norwich School playing fields, “Between the Showers”, won, with second place going to Andrew Horrod.
Chris Daynes, The Yellow Canoe, Paint Out Norwich 2016 Oils and Overall First Prize – Photo by Katy Jon Went
The Oils category saw second place go to Roger Dellar, and first place to Chris Daynes for “The Yellow Canoe” which also won the overall First Prize and a £1000 in total including his category win, sponsored by Strutt & Parker. We are also grateful to Archant for sponsoring several second placed prizes as well as the Watercolour and Mixed Media categories.
In addition, the three judges – David Curtis, Sue Grayson Ford, and Nick Holmes, also commended oil paintings by Jerome Hunt “Cathedral Facade Shadows”, Tanya Pawsey, “Swans from Bishop Bridge”, and the mixed media piece by Claire Stevens, “Oldest Iron Bridge”.
The Paint Out Norwich 2016 competition, with multiple categories, saw 16 awarded prizes in total, old and new locations, and continues to provide artistic challenges and opportunities for both seasoned plein air professionals and aspiring amateur artists. Over 180 artists registered an interest this year, with over 40 being accepted into the third-year of Paint Out Norwich. 33 took part, producing 140+ paintings in the exhibition.
The art exhibition runs from 19-29 October at the Norwich Cathedral Hostry, access is also open during other arts, literature, music, and theatre events of the Hostry Festival. Over 140 artworks are on display from the artists aged 26-75, some of whom – including a mother and daughter pair – took to Pub and Paddle‘s canoes to paint from the waterline of the River Wensum, discovering new and old views of the city alike.
Artist Richard Bond, Paint Out Norwich 2015 winner painting Norwich Cathedral from Tombland during Paint Out 2014
In 2015 Paint Out ran a 100-person mass public paint out on Mousehold Heath, Norwich and also a sunrise on Wells Beach, North Norfolk. This year we are running a Sunday afternoon paint out for all in and around the historic Tombland and Cathedral Close/Quarter district. These public paint outs are great opportunities to paint alongside experienced competition artists. If you want to brush up your drawing or painting skills, there are art workshops the day before at Anteros Arts on Fye Bridge St.
Sunday 16 October 2016, Norwich, Tombland afternoon paint out (1-4pm)
The cost is just £10 for individuals or £20 for families to come out and paint together with the opportunity to have the best and most varied paintings, drawings, collages, hung in Anteros Arts Centre.
There are plenty of places you could paint including Princes Street, Fye Bridge, Tombland, around the Cathedral Gates, Cloisters and Close. Dozens of artists will be there, come and join them and take art back out onto the streets of Norwich.
From midday, you can also get a prix fixe special lunch+drink deal at North Cafe Bar for just £7.
Norwich Tombland Sunday Paint Out
Artists painting on Mousehold Heath at Paint Out Norwich 2015
Paint Out Norwich 2016 programme of artist workshops takes place on Saturday 15 October including oils from dusk to dark, egg tempera making & painting, colour theory in practice (indoors and out), social media for artists. All workshops take place at Anteros Arts Centre on Fye Bridge St, please book below.
Social Media guru with 14,000 followers and Web promotion specialist (“how to get to no#1 on google”) Katy Went will help you learn how to maximise your social media reach for your artworks with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc – and how to find the best platform for your style and expertise. As a photographer, writer and promoter, she knows words and images, and how to get them read and seen. For instance, how to get 35,000 views of a single blog post, 3,500 reach for your Facebook post, 350 clickthroughs to your website, 1200 likes on an album of images, posting tricks for 30 art and artist groups. Blogging, tagging and art photo-sharing tips. Bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone or hire one for £5.
Egg Tempera Painting for *Kids – Sue Mann
Sue Mann Egg Tempera Workshop via Instagram
Before modern oil paints, artists made their own paint using egg and other natural materials. Artist Sue Mann will lead this unusual workshop in how to mix your own egg tempera paints, and then use them to paint a still life. *Children includes everyone, age 6 and upwards, young at heart adults may apply and try a small amount of pre-prepared artist’s pigment. They can also bring along some white gouache and watercolour/gouache to learn how to combine with the hands-on activity and their current practice. Includes a break for kids and adults alike to stretch their legs and let off steam. Read more about Sue Mann’s art tutoring services.
Exploring Colour for Studio & Outdoors – David Lindsay
David Lindsay
Artist David Lindsay looks at colour theory in practice for painting from life. Beginners and experienced artists welcome. Creative exercises designed to develop an individual sense of colour followed by a chance to test out skills by working outside. Materials supplied for morning session, bring your own materials for the afternoon session.
Life Drawing – Brian Korteling
Brian Korteling at Paint Out Wells 2016 photo by Katy Jon Went
Friendly and informal life drawing session with artist Brian Korteling. Everyone is welcome from the complete novice to the most experienced of artists. Drawing materials are supplied, though bring other equipment if you like. Includes a 10 min break for tea/coffee, a biscuit and a chat in the middle of the session.
[This class has unfortunately been cancelled]
Nocturne Oils from Dusk To Dark – Michael Richardson
Michael Richardson painting the Forum, Norwich Oct 2014
An indoor briefing and, then working outdoors in disappearing light. This nocturne oil painting (watercolourists may apply but techniques are primarily aimed at oil painters) workshop is delivered by seasoned professional, Michael Richardson, a member of the Plein Air Painting Society, The Wapping Group of Artists, and who shows in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. He paints outside almost every day in the Impressionist style for collectors worldwide. His workshops are very well attended when delivered at Paint OutWells and Norwich. He was the winner of the inaugural Paint Out Norwich 2015 Nocturne Painting Competition.
Workshop Booking details
TITLE
DATE
TIME
COST
INFO
Social Media for Artists with Katy Went
October 15, 2016
9:30am – 10:30am
£10
Bring your own laptop, smartphone, ipad or hire one (£5). Meet at Colgate Room, Anteros Arts, Fye Bridge St
Egg Tempera Painting for *Kids (6-adult) with Sue Mann
October 15, 2016
11:00am – 2:00pm
£20
Fishgate Room, Anteros Arts, Fye Bridge St. Includes break time.
Exploring Colour for Studio and Outdoorswith David Lindsay
October 15, 2016
11:30am – 4:30pm
£40+£5 paint materials hire/usage if require
Materials supplied for morning session, bring your own materials for the afternoon session. Lunch not supplied, suggest North Cafe next door to Anteros. Held in Colgate Room, Anteros Arts, Fye Bridge St
Life Drawing with Brian Korteling
October 15, 2016
2:00pm – 4:00pm
N/A
Cancelled
From Dusk to Dark, Nocturne Painting with Michael Richardson
October 15, 2016
4:30pm – 8:30pm
£40 + £5 light hire/£10 purchase
Bring your own materials. Meet at Anteros Arts, Fye Bridge St. Initially held in Fishgate Room, then outside around Tombland.
The Paint Out Wells-next-the-Sea 2016 Artist Prize Winners chosen from over 80 paintings by 19 artists, were: Alfie Carpenter (1st), Tanya Pawsey (2nd), Brian Korteling (3rd) with judge’s commendations to last year’s third placed winner Jack Godfrey and also 2015’s second placed winner Alfie Carpenter -in addition to his first place prize this year.
Paint Out is grateful to local and Shetland artist Nicholas Barnham, and to Amanda Geitner, Director of the East Anglia Arts Fund, for judging the high standard and varied styles of work on display. We are of course indebted to our sponsors Hopkins Homes, Archant, and Sowerbys for providing the generous prizes.
First Prize at Paint Out Wells 2016 Alfie Carpenter ‘Hoping for Sun’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
First Prize – Alfie Carpenter
The Paint Out Wellsjudges awarded Alfie Carpenter the £750 first prize donated by sponsorHopkins Homes for his large 20″x30″ mixed media dawn collage “Hoping For Sun” created on Wells-next-the-Sea quayside.
“I’ve been overwhelmed and humbled by the response and the accolades for my work. I’m really thankful to Paint Outfor the opportunity to create new work in such an exciting way and it was an honour to be working alongside such wonderful artists.
I still can’t quite believe it!” – Alfie Carpenter
First Prize at Paint Out Wells 2016 Alfie Carpenter ‘Hoping for Sun’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Alfie’s paintings sold out at the Buttlands Exhibition before the Sunday gallery show was half over. The prizes were not announced till 5.30pm but unwittingly the prize-winning painting had already been bought by local Wells Maltings trustee, Nick Skinner and Martin Whiteside. Nick had this to say about his fortunate purchase:
“We enjoyed the Paint Out Wells weekend and as local homeowners it was great to see the artists developing their paintings over time and capturing the town in such different ways. We watched Alfie at work and his painting captured a different view of Wells and one we really liked. We are delighted that others thought so too and would like to congratulate Alfie. Well done to all those involved for a great weekend and we look forward to next year!” – Nick Skinner
Second Prize – Tanya Pawsey
Second Prize at Paint Out Wells 2016 Tanya Pawsey ‘Dancing Boats’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Tanya Pawsey was torn between painting two works side-by-side in the three-hour session and of the two ended up submitting a closely cropped study in oils of bobbing boats dancing in the water and early Sunday morning light on the harboured-sea. She wins the second prize of £500 donated by sponsorArchant for her 10×12″ work entitled “Dancing Boats, Wells”. Tanya described herself as being “over the moon” to have won a prize:
“I’m over the moon that I’ve won a prize as I was already buzzing with pride at having the courage to take part. I’ve won new friends, encouragement, inspiration and funds to invest into new equipment! [L]ooking forward to Paint Out Norwich next month.” – Tanya’s blog
“Winning an award was the last thing I expected so I’m absolutely thrilled! I’m extremely thankful to everyone involved in Paint Out for making it a most inspiring and encouraging event.” – Tanya Pawsey
Third Prize – Brian Korteling
Third Prize at Paint Out Wells 2016 Brian Korteling ‘The Albatros’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Brian Korteling was awarded the third prize of £250 donated by sponsorSowerbysfor his work entitled “The Albatros” created during a high tide that was flooding across the quayside car park next to where The Albatros ship is moored.
“I was delighted and surprised to win 3rd prize. There was some really high quality and interesting work produced over the weekend and it was a pleasure to take part. Will definitely be back in Wells next year for Paint Out.” – Brian Korteling
Brian has also been selected to take part in Paint Out Norwich in October 2016.
Judge’s commendations
Judges Commendation at Paint Out Wells 2016 Jack Godfrey ‘Up (and Down) the Creek’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Apart from having to agree on the top three prize awards the two judges: artist Nicholas Barnham and Amanda Geitner, Director of the East Anglia Arts Fund, were also given the freedom to award a personal commendation outside the top rankings with a £100 prize going to each of the following highly commended artists: Alfie Carpenter, and Jack Godfrey. The consistency of the judging is demonstrated in the fact that three different judges awarded these same two artists second and third prizes, respectively, at Paint OutWells 2015.
Spirit of Plein Air & Other Art Awards
Team Award – Spirit of Plein Air at Paint Out Wells 2016 John Behm ‘LN86 BN2 and 6:37am, Wells at the Flood Tide’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
Two further prizes recognising artist’s merits and mettle include an award of £100 to John Behm, as a Team recognition for someone who embodied the “Spirit of Plein Air”, for painting in the cold biting winds and rainy downpours in shorts, in the mud, and in flipflops at dawn on a high tide-flooded quayside. Out of the three Paint Out events in which this award has been given, John has won it twice, he goes the extra mile for his art.
Community Award – Essence of Wells at Paint Out Wells 2016 Will Topley ‘Dawn, Wells Gantry’ – photo by Katy Jon Went
In addition, a Community recognition award of £100, also for a second time, went to Will Topley for his capturing of the essence of Wells-next-the-Sea.
Long-time supporter of Paint Out, Michael Richardson, delivered an art workshop and during it also created a painting of one of its participants, who was a popular entrant in Paint Out Norwich 2014. Mary Kallagher was delighted to receive the painting itself as a gift and recognition of her spirit in keeping painting irrespective of hand and eye health issues.
A young 4-year-old art critic also awarded Sue Mann a bag of jelly babies for her favourite painting of a “pink boat”. Sue Mann received an artist’s commendation at Paint Out Wells 2015, so the young judge has good taste!
For more art prizes and awards check out Paint Out Norwich‘s gala awards night on 19 October.
Paint Out Wells runs 16-18 September on the North Norfolk Coast and invites artists of all ages and abilities to join the competition artists on the Wells quayside this Sunday morning to paint the dawn. Be among the silhouetted ship masts, cast shadows of the crab nets and rising morning sun at it looms over the prominent Granary gantry on Wells seafront.
Artist Jane Hodgson at Paint Out Wells 2015 sunrise
Last year’s sunrise event was on the beach, this year it’s on the docks among the boats and birds.
Pre-dawn emerges from the darkness of night just before 6am, creeping around the ship masts, turning the sky purple and orange, before the 6:36am sunrise proper illuminates the haze of a September summer Sunday.
So grab your sketchpads or easels, paints, pastels or pens, and come and join two dozen artists on the quay painting, sketching, drawing, and even collaging the changing morning light. The weather forecast is good and we will be on the seafront 6-10am.
Artist Mary MacCarthy at Paint Out Wells 2015 sunrise
After painting, there is an optional subsidised Brunch aboard The Albatros, for just £5/head. It is only £10 for adults, £5 for children, or £20 for a whole family to participate, and have your art shown in the big marquee art exhibition on The Buttlands, 2-7pm, later in the day. The afternoon event also features street food vendors and take-out drinks from The Globe and The Crown, as well as the showing of around 100 works of art and a live competition paint out 3-6pm by Paint Out artists, as the culmination of their weekend event.
Sunrise at Wells, Norfolk by Katy Jon Went
Artists will have painted a sunset on Wells-Next-The-Sea Beach on Friday, and spent Saturday morning in Burnham Market and Brancaster Staithe. On Saturday afternoon many artists will be found about Wells painting or joining the “Painting under pressure of changing light” art workshop (£45) with Michael Richardson, UA.
Paint Out Wells offers the following art workshop on Saturday 17 September in Wells-next-the-Sea, North Norfolk – Painting En Plein Air Under Changing Light Art Workshop with award-winning experienced artist and tutor, Michael Richardson.
Offered to local and visiting amateur, aspiring and experienced artists, as well as members of the Paint Out competition – all are welcome to take part.
The workshop will take place from 3pm and includes teaching and then tuition under the fading late-afternoon/early-evening light. The price is £45 with the option to participate in an early-morning paint out the following day and then brunch with the competition artists on the Albatros ship. You will need to bring your own art materials. Please book here.
Student at Michael Richardson Art Workshops at Paint Out Wells 2015
Michael is competing in Paint Out this year and is a veteran of Paint Out Norwich & Wells 2014-15 and plenty of other competitions and exhibitions. He won the inaugural Nocturne Prize in 2015.
About Artist Michael Richardson, UA
Michael lives in East Kent and paints almost every day, whatever the weather en plein air. As a modern Impressionist he believes that painting sur le motif is the most fulfilling challenge for a painter’s technique. His atmospheric work in both oils and watercolour has found collectors worldwide, especially in America.
Michael Richardson demonstrating at Art Workshop at Paint Out Wells 2015
Michael was brought up in post-war Suffolk, “Constable Country”, and educated at Ipswich School and Ipswich College of Art and later in Paris.
In the 1960s his interest in sailing led him into a career in the marine industry where he specialised in sail design and manufacture. Whilst maintaining an interest in art he returned to full-time painting in 1992, yet drew on his marine experience in his specialism around painting boats.
He is also a member of the Chelsea Art Society, Council Member of the United Society of Artists and is a founder member of the Brass Monkeys Art Society, a “hard core” group of winter outdoor painters.
He has exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, The Royal Society of Marine Artists, The Royal Institute of Oil Painters and The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour at the Mall Galleries in London.
Workshop Booking details
En Plein Air Oil Paintingin Changing Light with Michael Richardson
September 17, 2016
3-7.30pm
10-12 spaces available
£45
Bring your own materials. Meet at the Albatros Ship.
Michael Richardson tutoring Art Workshop at Paint Out Wells 2015
The North Norfolkplein air painting and art competition returns in September. This year, the theme is light and time and we plan to paint from sunrise to sunset across the weekend – well, in reverse actually! Some places remain for artistsstill wanting to enter the Paint Out Wells 2016 art event.
Painting workshop with Michael Richardson, UA on working in changing light and under time pressure, ideal for dawn, dusk, nocturne and weather-conscious artists 3-7pm (open to non-competition artists for a workshop participation fee)
Sunday 18 September
Wells Quayside sunrise paint out 6-10am (open to public for a small fee)
Art Exhibition and Sale on the Buttlands 2-7pm
Pop-up paint out on the Buttlands 3-6pm
Call to Artists
Artist Antonella Beschorner painting Jickling Yard in Wells, Norfolk during Paint Out Wells 2015
Additional artists are still welcome to join those already signed up, until the week of the competition, itself.
[The cover photo is of Paint Out Norwich 2015 winner- artist Richard Bond‘s watercolour painting of Wells Beach huts titled ‘Red, Blue and Yellow’, during Paint Out Wells 2015]
Paint Out Norwich launches its third-year Plein Air art competition as part of the Norfolk Hostry Festival 2016 calendar of events this October. Entries are now open and submissions will be juried at regular intervals giving artists the earliest opportunity of planning their time in Norwich and getting accepted in one or more of the now three competition events and five prize award categories.
Main Schedule Dates
The main event dates are as follows:
Date
Event Details
Saturday 15 October
Workshops, Seminars & Talks
Sunday 16 October
Artists welcome & induction, Location scouting, Practice session & Public 'paint out'
Monday 17 October
Competition day 1
Tuesday 18 October
Competition day 2
Wednesday 19 October
Framing, Hanging, Gala Private View & silent Auction
“Paint Out as the first event of the Hostry Festival will continue to innovate and surprise in 2016. Prizes will be awarded for individual categories of medium for the first time, allowing artists recognition in their chosen areas.
We are also introducing a ‘freestyle‘ untimed event to encourage larger work to be made on the streets of the city as well as an expanded Nocturne event to capitalise on the exciting results from last year.
I’m really pleased to announce that we will be partnering with Norwich Framing Centre, Anteros Art Centre and North Café/Bar to provide artists with improved pre-exhibition facilities, workshops, as well as seminars on marketing and social media skills.
Paint Out is the only juried en plein air art competition in the UK. Our ambition is to provide a platform for Plein Air Art in Norwich with a global reach. We look forward to seeing you in October.” – James Colman, Paint Out
New & More Prize Categories
Winners of Paint Out Norwich 2015 with their paintings
The enhanced range of new prize categories means that there are more opportunities to win and/or push yourself in new areas. There will be separate and distinct winner and runner-up prizes in the following categories or media:
Oil Painting
Watercolour & Gouache
Other including Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pastel, Pen & Ink etc
Freestyle over 2 days
Nocturne
In addition, there will be Judge’s commendations, a People’s Choice Award, and Spirit of Plein Air team prize. Additional prizes or awards may be announced later but we continue to ensure that there’s plenty of chances of winning and receiving recognition for your art.
Three Art Competition Event Streams
Winning Artist Michael Richardson painting a nocturne on Pottergate at Paint Out Norwich 2015
After its successful introduction last year Paint Out continues to encourage experienced and adventurous artists to try their hand at Nocturne painting.
There are now three competition event streams, and artists can enter either the classic Core event or the new ‘Freestyle‘ event, and/or the Nocturne event.
Core event (judged in three separate media categories)
Freestyle event over 2 days
Nocturne event
New ‘Freestyle’ for Larger Longer Artworks
Artist Tom Lamprell painting from the Sir Garnet by Norwich Market at Paint Out Norwich 2015
The new ‘freestyle’ event is for larger work of up to 3m2 to be completed without the Core event time limit of three hours per work, instead allowing a full 2 days for its creation. The artwork still has to be wholly completed out of doors, without the aid of photography and signed back in and the end of the day.
“We are looking to push the boundaries of plein air painting and see what it draws out.”
Freestyle art will be judged within its own category, irrespective of media type, and is not in competition with the three Core event media areas. Nocturnes will be judged according to Core event rules.
Expanded Workshops & Seminars
An expanded range of workshops, talks and seminars will seek to make Paint Out Norwich an educational and inspirational, as well as practical, opportunity to explore and improve your art practice.
New Artists Hub
We will be based at Anteros Arts and North Café/Bar, Fye Bridge Street, NR3 1LJ, 500yds from Norwich Cathedral and Hostry. North is a newly opened venture by the team behind Frank’s Bar, described as a:
“brand new creative meeting point in the city, full of tasty food, friendly service and all round general goodness…making North as beautiful, interesting and welcoming a space as possible. We are keen to involve as many local artists and creative makers as we can in the making of North…”
Enter the 2016 Competition here
To enter review the rules and submit your application here. You will need a potted biography/CV, up to 5 photos of your art, and additional contact details etc.
A local art student is completing a project onen plein air in Art History and has requested responses from other artists on their experience of painting en plein air for comparative study.
“I am incredibly interested by painting outdoors, and was wondering if it were possible for you to answer some questions I have on the topic?”
Peder Severin Krøyer, Self portrait, 1897
Their particular area of study has included Scandinavian artists such as Peder Severin Krøyer (1851-1909) working en plein air in the town of Skagen, Denmark. They are looking at the Skagen artists’ relationship with light in Skagen, and especially, Krøyer’s en plein air works created during his ‘blue period’.
If you are able to answer any of the questions below to aid their understanding of painting en plein air (particularly before Friday 6 May) that would be fantastic and we will pass on responses to them.
A new Royal Academy exhibition displays paintings by artists of inspiration found in gardens, Claude Monet being preeminent among them and representing a quarter of the gallery space. Monet was not only a masterful painter but also a horticulturalist who regarded his “garden [as his] most beautiful masterpiece” and nature as “the source of [his] inspiration”. He once said: “I am good at only two things, and those are gardening and painting” and that he owed “having become a painter to flowers”.
“Using the work of Monet as a starting point, this landmark exhibition examines the role gardens played in the evolution of art from the early 1860s through to the 1920s.” – Royal Academy
Monet was riddled with artist’s anxieties, and a lack of self-belief and sales, at times, but this was compensated for by his overwhelming desire and obsessive drive to paint what he saw and experienced.
“Every day I discover even more beautiful things. It is intoxicating me, and I want to paint it all – my head is bursting…” – Monet
Featured Artists
Daubigny’s Garden in Auvers, Van Gogh, 1890
Apart from Claude Monet, the exhibition features works by Frédéric Bazille, Pierre Bonnard, Gustave Caillebotte, Mary Cassatt, Paul Cézanne, Childe Hassam, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Gustav Klimt, Max Liebermann, Edouard Manet, Henri Matisse, Berthe Morisot, Emil Nolde, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Santiago Rusiňol, John Singer Sargent, Joaquín Sorolla, James-Jacques Tissot, Vincent van Gogh and Edouard Vuillard. Two women and just one Englishman, aren’t we a nation of gardeners?
Gardeners among the Artists
Among the artists, and in addition to Monet himself, Bonnard, Caillebotte, Cézanne, Pissarro, and Renoir, stand out as gardeners in addition to being painters. Pissarro was critiqued by contemporaries as an “Impressionist market gardener specialising in cabbages” whilst Monet has been described as “the artist-gardener par excellence” by Ann Dumas, co-curator of the RA’s show.
Monet Painting in His Garden
Monet painting in his garden at Argenteuil, Renoir, 1873
Over 120 paintings feature from across Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Avant-Garde periods including Monet’s monumental Agapanthus Triptych, and Monet Painting in His Garden at Argenteuil from 1873, painted by Monet’s friend and colleague since art school, Renoir, on a visit.
In a reminiscence Monet said that Manet whilst painting Monet’s family was joined by Renoir doing likewise. After a while, Manet took Monet aside and whispered to him:
“You’re on very good terms with Renoir and take an interest in his future – do advise him to give up painting! You can see for yourself that it’s not his metier at all.” – Manet to Monet about Renoir!
Monet Painting in His Garden shows it was not unknown for artists to paint artists painting. This is something Paint Out‘s events have borne witness to with well over a dozen paintings featuring artists in the frame.
Plein Air Paint Out
Artist Karen Adams – Plantation Gardens, SOLD 10×12 Oil on Board at Paint Out Norwich 2015
Paint Out‘s previous plein air competitions in Norwich and Wells-next-the-Sea have focused on urban and seafront landscapes but it didn’t stop some artists seeking out gardens as inspirations.
The mass ‘paint out’ on Norfolk’s historic Mousehold Heath also gave artists the opportunity to paint the cityscape of Norwich or the heath itself- filled with trees, bushes, dogs, children playing, and 100 artists painting.
“the middle class garden in the 19th century did not just change the well-being of the population of Europe, but also the history of art as we know it. [the] exhibition at the Royal Academy [reveals] how the creation of the ordinary back gardens so prevalent today inspired a new generation of artists from Monet to Matisse.”
“This exhibition of psychedelic modernist pastoral art is a ravishing joy and takes Monet out of the chocolate box, revealing one of art’s great humanists.”
“Monet’s visions of the gardens he created at Argenteuil, Vétheuil and Giverny…are planted at intervals all the way through the show until they build to a grand finale at the end – a spectacular vision of water lilies, and of modern art.”
For those who’ve seen enough Monet, The Times says don’t be deterred:
“It’s the giddying profusion of colour that will first strike you. The visitor is led along light-dappled pathways into an all but fantastical chromatic world. Here are explosions of dahlias, there cascades of roses; here are banks of chrysanthemums, there the blaze of sunflowers. This show offers a sensory experience as much as an intellectual thesis.” – Rachel Campbell-Johnston
It is interesting to see how art is more appreciated, often many years after its initial creation, as the Independent review points out:
“Indeed, even the term impressionism was coined as a negative phrase by the then contemporary critic Louis Leroy, who declared that Monet’s painting was, at most, a sketch, and could hardly be termed a finished work.”
Not all the paintings concentrate on flowers, some emphasise the people in them, or even a pair of old boots:
“‘Miss Jekyll’s Gardening Boots’ is a painting by Sir William Nicholson. It was a gift for the architect Edwin Lutyens who worked closely with Gertrude Jekyll, the gardener. It’s a simple yet evocative painting of her boots and the only painting in the exhibition that proves keeping a garden takes hard work and dedication [just like painting!]. The boots are tired and made of leather, the left boot is losing a sole, and the right has a gaping hole where the sole has lost its grip on the leather completely.”
Exhibition Details
The exhibition runs 30 January – 20 April 2016 and is open Saturday – Thursday 10am – 6pm and late night Fridays till 10pm. Tickets are £16 plus optional donation and the Royal Academy address is: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BDs’
