Water and Colour

March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.....

and....

The Jenny Matthews solo exhibition 'Water and Colour' opens on Friday.
Looking forward to seeing you all then
x

Special Petals

Hello everyone
So the Jenny Matthews exhibition continues to impress and delight all those who view her work.
Even the boys from as far as Bavaria couldn't help but be moved by these beautiful paintings.

Interesting the groom to be's favourite piece was "Wild Roses and Campion" explaining (in his better English than my German) that his missus to be would love it. Sadly, there were a few other parties that also loved it so he couldn't have it!

"Wild Roses and Campion" by Jenny Matthews. Very delicate and summery, beautiful.
Leaving you with this. I mentioned before that humble Union Gallery cactus played an important role in Jenny's exhibition. The cactus, as old as myself, (so not very old at all!) spends the whole year looking dowdy and as one gallery visitor observed "like it's been sat on by a cat". However, in the month of May it explodes into life with a spectacular display of gorgeous pink flowers:

Right on time for Jenny Matthews exhibition. Good things happen in May, the weather makes an improvement, trees blossom and little birds are born. It's an uplifting time of year and the perfect month to exhibit Jenny Matthews work.

Little Things

Hello everyone

We had a gorgeous end to the day on Wednesday, so I thought I would take a relaxing stroll round Inverleith Park with Union Gallery hound Tommy.
I think I'm very lucky to live in such a wonderful city and to be able to find places of calm and nature just a short stroll away. On our travels I spotted this little fella:

This is a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. It is the same species that features in Jenny Matthews painting.....

"Moonlight Meadow" by Jenny Matthews. The butterfly in this gorgeous painting has been lovingly observed from life. This is the actual butterfly that Jenny found on her doorstep one December. Amazing!
I like this painting a lot. I particularly like the contrast between the meticulous detail, say the tiny blue dots on the butterlfys wings, and the lose and fluidly painted background. You probably can't see from this little image, but there is also some exquisite drawing work in the foreground...again in black. Very slick indeed.
Leaving you with this:

Bang on trend! Even Union Gallery hound Tommy is getting into the feel of Jenny Matthews' exhibition with his own little floral offering. However, DO NOT be fooled by his cutesy appearance!
Speak soon

BLOOMING LOVELY

Hello everyone

Friday night saw us have a thoroughly enjoyable opening of Jenny Matthew's solo exhibition.....even the weather went according to plan!
The exhibition is truly stunning. The paintings are both beautiful and uplifting to look at and it's lovley watching the response of visitors. Everyone who sees the paintings are touched by them. It's so rewarding to see so many smiles and great that Jenny is getting such wonderful feedback.

A lot of very impressed visitors that night. Good stuff.

A huge thank you to Jenny for all her hard work......was certainly worth it!

This is one of my (many) favourites. "Marie's Choice". Titled because, on seeing the unusual and exotic flower, Jenny's daughter became quite excited. The flower is "Celosia", meaning "pink fan flower" and it originates from the Tropics. Beautiful .....well done Marie.

Speak soon

AWSOME BLOSSOM

"April showers bring forth the May flowers". English Proverb.

The last year has seen Jenny Matthews working and prepairing for her show. This exhibition will be both beautiful and uplifting to view. Just the ticket!

Opens Friday x

A Healthy Respect

Hello everyone

This is an unexpected entry.....it's here because I'm getting a tad tired of hearing about election stats, facts and rats. Also because I never knew that volcanic ash could be quite so fascinating! Seriously, what I find interesting about the Iceland situation is that no matter how high tech and in control we think we are, when mother nature wants to blow a gasket we need to step aside and respect her awesome power.

Since the dawn of time, artists have been in awe and held a healthy respect for nature, documenting her magic on cave and tomb walls. Nature continues to be a source of inspiration to modern day artists, including flower painter Jenny Matthews. Jenny has spent the best part of a year working hard on her solo exhibition which, was scheduled to open on......May 6th! Unfortunately the election interrupted that, so we have moved it to the evening of the 7th. We will be open late on the 6th in case anyone feels the need to look at something a bit more inspiring than a ballot paper. Indeed, perhaps a relaxing look round the gallery with a glass of wine could be just the pre/post election fix you could do with!

Leaving you with this image. Another marvel of nature, a beautiful Magnolia about to blossom, much like the Jenny Matthews exhibition.

All Systems Are GO!!

Hello everyone

There's so much going down at Union Gallery at the moment, with Rob and I making various pit stops all over the city, visiting some exceptional artists to see their masterpieces taking shape.  This has been pretty exciting, and here is the latest news:

Lovely artist Stewart Bremner paid me a visit the other day having just purchased the ingredients for his fabulous tarts from our neighbours at Real Foods.  As well as being a creative individual, he is also pretty gifted with the old pots and pans and I have been on a promise of one of his legendary cheese and broccoli flans for some months now.  Stewart tells me that there has been quite a lot going on in his life lately, and that inevitably this is channelling his work.  His painting is taking quite a dramatic change, going down a more abstract route.  I think this will be a good move for him and I will be very interested to see the new work.  I will keep you posted....  I will also let you know if the cheese and broccoli flan really is legendary!

Speaking of legendary, have a look at this, people:

Inside the hub of uber slick and meticulous artist Philip Braham.

Just wait until you see what Philip Braham can do folks.....spellbinding:

These pieces are painted on copper as Philip was on a quest to achieve the most flawless and immaculate finish possible.  Philip Braham has made the broadsheets a few times of late, and we are incredibly proud, impossibly excited, and a tad in awe at the thought of him showing in our Festival Exhibition - just remember that you saw him at Union Gallery first. 

Here's a last look at Philip's studio:

The Festival Exhibition is going to be a bit of a show stopper, showcasing the work of some of the finest artists currently living and working in Edinburgh: nothing like a bit if home-grown talent.

Next week I will be taking my life into my hands by visiting the residence of sculptor extraordinaire  John Brazenall.  Word in the art world is that John B has a bit of a rep for being a bad boy, such is his passion for credible art.  However, in defence of Mr Brazenall I must say that , apart from our 'dancing' incident, I have always found him to be the perfect gentleman!  Either way, I am on a quest to seek out the elusive 'Pop Gun' sculpture as another signature piece for the Festival Exhibition.  Intriguing , no?  If there are no further entries to this blog from me, you'll know that it all went horribly wrong!

A wee image of John Brazenall, the legend himself, at the preview of our David Hosie exhibition last September.

Next up, a very important and highly rewarding studio visit to award winning artist Jenny Matthews.  Jenny has spent the last year working towards her solo exhibition at Union Gallery, opening in May.  Jenny Matthews' flower paintings are much admired and highly collectable - she has consistently made the top five in the list of Scotland's best and most influential watercolour painters.  There will be a lot of interest in her exhibition, so if any of you want a heads up on the work, I will be more than pleased to accomodate you.

So this is Jenny in her beautiful studio, about which I couldn't help but be impressed with how organised and productive it was.  Everything is finely tuned towards Jenny being able to produce these exceptional paintings; her 'special' space is drenched in light, so important to her work, yet there are blinds to counteract the effects of the light becoming too harsh.  Jenny's studio is a calm, clean, organised and quiet space, allowing her to focus completely on her work, of which in my humble opinion, I have recently seen some of the best.

Here's a little preview:

 

I haven't given away too much as I would like to encourage as many of you as possible to come and see them for real...trust me, you won't be disappointed.

OK, signing off now, but I will end by showing you a pic of this humble catcus as, believe it or not, it had a pivotal role in organising the Jenny Matthews Solo Exhibition:

All will be explained in due course!

Lots more happening next week, including the highly anticipated visit from wonderful landscape artists Hazel Cashmore.  I do hope she brings along her fan, HRH The Prince of Wales to Union Gallery, where he will be greeted with a mug of the best coffee in town.

Tomorrow evening, Rob and I are off to award winning artist and genius Olivia Irvine's birthday party.  There is a 1970's theme....I'll be sure to take the camera.

Have a good weekend all.......