In The Company of Birds II

Hello everyone

Just thought I'd share some snaps of this beautiful exhibition and the opening night:

All calm and quiet.

Some particularly nice Janet Melrose RSW along the back wall.
When my lottery numbers come up I'm buying the second one in from the left!

With my winnings I shall also be buying the 2 second from the right!
I think someone else will beat me to it though.

'The Messengers' gracefully flock around the windows.

The flocks begin to arrive!

And flock around 'The Messengers'.
Leaving you with this cheeky fella:

'Hello !!'  acrylic on panel by Mark Nicholas Edward.

And that's goodbye from us x

God's Grandeur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 'God's Grandeur', oil and pencil on card by Joyce Gunn Cairns.

 

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

    It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

    It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

    And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

    And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;

    There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;

And though the last lights off the black West went

    Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs —

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent

    World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

God's Grandeur, Gerard Manley Hopkins.

In The Company of Birds

This month at UG sees us doing a spot of bird watching:

and.....

This is a must see for everyone who enjoys the company of birds!
See you all Thursday x x

Blue Monday

Hello everyone

As today has been nominated Blue Monday and is thought to be the most depressing day of the year, I thought I'd try to cheer you up with some indoors shots from UG.

'It's The Little Things' exhibition does exactly what is says on the tin.
The works maybe small but they are definitely perfectly formed.
Take a look at these:

The ever accomplished work by award-winning artist Mark Nicholas Edward.
His latest series is titled 'Joy In The Little Things' and they do just that!
Measuring an ickle 15cmx15cm it never ceases to amaze me the precision Mark can achieve on such a tight scale.
Also looking super slick:

The new paintings by Stewart Bremner.
Stewart worked extremely hard over the Festive season to ensure his latest work would be ready and dry in time for the exhibition. The results are well worth it and I think could be his strongest pieces to date. Stewart Bremner is working and exhibiting in the States right now and all here at UG wish him every success.

'New Primitive', oil on canvas by Iain Robertson.

I have picked out the above work as my painting for the day. Bright, cheerful and confidently  executed, it's the perfect tonic for January blues.

Last but by no means least:

On the right is team UG's latest addition.
At only 8 weeks old, little Dennis might be small but he too is perfectly formed and an excellent January tonic.

Keep cosy all!

Zorro's Apprentice!

Hello everyone

I wanted to let you see what myself and the talented artist Mark Nicholas Edward have been up to lately.
Its a one-off collaboration between us and we are pretty chuffed with the results....

'Digging for Mr Potato Head'. Ink on paper by Alison Auldjo and Mark Nicholas Edward.

And....

'Zorro's Apprentice'. Ink on paper by Alison Auldjo and Mark Nicolas Edward.

Inspired I'm sure you will agree! All sensible offers for our efforts will be considered.

Leaving you with this:

The lovely Mr MNE holding a painting from his latest collection of work titled 'Sunken Treasures'.
These little acrylics on canvas are indeed treasures and everyone should have one on their wall!

Speak soon x

The Genji Series

Hello everyone,

I hope that you're all enjoying the beautiful autumn weather we've been having this week, and that it's keeping you in a positive frame of mind.  If not, then you still have 3 days left to come and see some beautiful paintings inspired by autumn at the gallery, and they are guaranteed to inspire you.

One of the artists exhibiting is gallery regular Mark Nichols Edward, whose instantly recognisable paintings of exotic fish are always so popular. In fact, we are lucky enough to own a superb Mark Edward painting ourselves.  His paintings seem to have an extremely calming and positive effect on all who view them: just this morning a client commented that he felt he could put his hand into the painting and actually stroke the fish - what a lovely concept.  Mark's work is constantly developing with new techniques and concepts appearing all the time, but it has to be said that for this exhibition he has really excelled himself, producing what I believe to be his best work so far.  just take a look at this:

 














'Genji I', acrylic on canvas, by Mark Nicholas Edward.
A real beauty, isn't it?  One of a series of 9 Genji paintings we have in the gallery.


Mark always uses interesting titles, and the use of Genji is no exception.  Genji, a story written by the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century, is generally considered to be the world's first novel.  In very, very simple terms it is a tale of love and passion that follows the lives of many characters from childhood to old age.  It documents how they change and develop over that time, and Mark has long likened this to the changing of the seasons - how appropriate for an exhibition entitled The Onslaught of Autumn.  Just like his meticulous paintings, his use of such a title is thoughtful and clever.

Feel free to pop in for a look if you have the time.

Speak soon. 

SAD?

Hello everyone

Apparently today is the most depressing day in the calendar. Dubbed 'Blue Monday', psychologists say that a combination of the weather, post-festive blues and financial worries make this the most depressing day of the year.

So, at UNIONgallery we are going to look at things a bit differently. Firstly, after today 'Blue Monday' will be over - a thing of the past - and you will only have 348 days left to make the best of 2011. It IS a new year and I have higher hopes for the artists, gallery visitors and for the gallery itself than ever before. I truly believe that even in these difficult times brilliant things can be achieved. I also believe that artists - creative, resourceful and forward-thinking individuals - are the very ones to pull together and to make a difference for the better.... for everyone's benefit. Indeed, with the world seeming an increasingly brutal place, I believe that there is even more need for art. I know this: I am lucky enough to experience it, day in and day out.

Always remember that at UNIONgallery we have an 'open door' policy. The inspiring and uplifting artwork we exhibit is to be shared and enjoyed by everyone, and I am convinced that just a look will help to alleviate any Blue Monday or SAD symptoms.

This will put a smile on your face:

Artists Imogen Alabaster, Mark Nicholas Edwards and Christine Clark worked hard throughout the freezing temperatures to achieve what is now affectionately known as 'The Wonder Wall'. Their work may be on a small scale, but it is the epitome of what 'Small and Perfectly Crafted' is about.

Leaving you with this, which I hope will create more smiles:
There has been much talk about the new man in my life. Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing......HENRY:
  

I have given him a test drive over the weekend and it's true.....we are inseperable. My New Year's Resolution? Clean up my act!

Speak soon.....

"SMALL AND PERFECTLY CRAFTED"

Hello everyone

Overinduldged at Christmas? Did everything supersize?

The perfect little fix is here.....

and......

If Santa was good enough to put some cash in your stocking, then this is the perfect exhibition to treat yourself to something really special.

Big can be beautiful, but tiny treasures can hold there own.

There are some real stunners in this exhibition and, in spite of the smaller scale of the work, there is no shortage of quality.

Last weekend to view "The Hunt" and many other beautiful artworks from the Christmas show.

Something Fishy

Hello everyone

As promised we are continuing on the fish theme:

Mark Nicholas Edward's "Sasaki Kojiro" series continue to amaze all who see them.  The attention to detail and slick presentation is quite mesmerising.
Also mesmerising:

"The Goldfish" by Drummond Mayo.
I probably don't need to point out how beautiful this painting is.  Drummond is the oldest artist who works with Union Gallery, and his life-long experience with paint and brush is clear for all to see.  A brilliant balancing act between colour and composition...the softness of his work puts those who see it under a spell.

"Two Figures in a Red Garden" by Jean Hall
When I look at these graceful and enchanting ladies, it seems to me that the lady on the right is sporting a regal angelfish on her kimono.  However, I am wrong as artist Jean Hall explains to me that this is actually a traditional Japanese Kimono design.  You know what fascinates me about Jean Hall's paintings (apart from the obvious)?  They are very striking paintings with a great deal of impact, and yet they are very calming and therapeutic to spend time with.  Lovely. 

Take a look at this:

"The Chinese Teapot and Batis" by Jenny Matthews
You might not notice the little fish in this beautiful painting at first glance, but it's worth the effort for an extra treat!  This Balinese Earring Fish (I hadn't heard of it either) is so elegant and graceful.

And this:













"Toy Shark" by Henry Kondracki
OK, so strictly speaking this is not a 'common' fish, but something really gets me about this painting - a mix of museum piece and a special love of the subject.  Please feel free to pop in and learn more...

And leaving you with this.....

"Toy Giraffe" by Henry Kondracki
So this is DEFINITELY not a fish, but I couldn't resist showing him on the blog.  It's not every day you see such an enchanting and lovingly observed painting of a toy giraffe......

All these paintings are currently in the gallery as part of our Christmas Exhibition.

Next up, a spot of bird watching..... 

SASAKI KOJIRO!

Hello everyone

I just wanted to steer your attentions to some really cracking paintings in the Christmas Exhibition....

and.........

"Sasaki Kojiro IV" and "Sasaki Kojiro II" by Mark Nicholas Edwards.

I might have previously mentioned that I am lucky enough to own one of Mark's beautiful paintings and I adore it.  Maybe one day I will show you the Auldjo/Union collection.

So these paintings are entitled after one of the greatest swordsmen of Japan. Mark drew an interesting comparison between the skill of a swordsman and that of the artist brush. So, Sasaki may have been the expert of the infamous and brutal "Swallow Cut" but, in my humble opinion, Mark is the expert in wielding the brush with painstaking precision. When you come in for a look you will be able to see the minute detail in these works....they are only 26 x 26 cm!

This is lovely artist Mark Nicholas Edward doing a spot of "Tommy lovin".
A HUGE thanks to Mark for braving the sub-zero temperatures, trekking over town, largely by foot and full of cold to get his paintings here!

Mark also points out that these little fish, swimming away contentedly, will never be great warriors....just eternally peaceful. As with so many artists he has such a beautiful brain and I'm lucky to have him as a friend.

Coming up next......more fishy business!

Mark Nicholas Edward

Morning everyone
I promised to show you more about how the amazing "Wall of Fish" by genius Mark Nicholas Edward came about. I thought you would find the following "never been seen before" footage fascinating, and it's nice to be able to share with you the whole process.
First of all it's only fair to point out that "Wall of Fish" is the affectionate, collective name I've given to Marks 20 little painitngs. Each unique little painitng has it's own special title depending on which series it's in. My personal favourites (but only just) being "Fairy Tales I,II,III,IV", "It's The Little Things I, II,III,IV" and wonderful "Adventures in Quantum Theory I,II,III,IV".
In the beginning:

Mark gets his canvasses primed and ready for action:

Much of December and the whole of January saw Mark chained to his studio. I apologise to friends and loved ones.Getting there:

The above is a good example of the layering process that goes into Marks works. All the canvases are at different stages and it shows that Mark had to be pretty organised and in control to pull off a task of this proportion.

Mark must have felt some relief at getting those ones out the way. I have mentioned the black backgrounds in Mark's work before as being notoriously difficult to get to look so slick. One speck of dust in the wrong place and all that hard work is ruiend. Again, the nail biting process is intensified whilst working on such a tight scale: there's absolutely no room for error in any area - composition, brushwork and paint application, and annoying things like dirt and hairs.
I like the next images too.This is my kind of studio.... filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful paints, lotions and potions. You can just about feel the energy and creativity pumping in this work place.:

All those chemicals and vapours probably gave Mark's lungs a bit of a hammering though. I do believe that his eyesight is almost recovered now.....you will see what I mean.

"Wall of Fish" is installed and looking spectacular:

Hoping the next image will give you a better idea of the painstaking detail involved here.

Believe it or not, even though the fish are smaller than a one pence piece you can actually see the scales on them. Now that's unbelievable!

I also have to say that there was a slight risk that Mark could get "burn out" with producing the sheer number he did. 20 is a tall order and in this tiny scale even more intensive, but at no point is there any evidence of repetitiveness creeping in. Every single piece has been executed with utter care, devotion and the determination that each piece will be special: I have nothing but respect and admiration for this. In fact, Mark did this so effectively that people found trying to choose their favourite (me included) almost impossible. As John and Lillian disovered:

Another look at "Wall of Fish" by Mark Nicholas Edward.

And I thought I would end by showing you this little guy:

With a face only it's mother could love, The Australian Blob Fish recently made the news as it's numbers are plumetting. Blob is not prized for his good looks or tasty meat but is suffering as the fish keeps being caught up in fishing nets used to capture the good looking guys. I do actually feel for the plight of poor old blobby but yikes.....I know what I'd rather have on my walls!

Tweet Tweet

Hello everyone
Having spent the weekend trying and failing to communicate in Higher Grade French the benefits of owning an original piece of Scottish Art, to our 6 Nations Rugby visitors, it's back to business as usual.
And I thought I would kick start the week by focusing on these little beauties:

"Pink Bird" by Ruth Addinall.

and....

"Ivy & Mug" by Ruth Addinall.

The title of Union Gallery's current exhibition is "Call of The Wild" and the exhibition includes some stunning bird, landscape and flower paintings alongside some excellent animal sculptures. I was going to keep Ruth Addinall's "Mug and Ivy" painting back for the next exhibition however, there is some foliage in there and it's a gorgeous, classy little painting, so it qualifies! I have to confess to being so taken with these two that I took them home with me to show Rob as he hadn't seen any of Ruth's work before. We spent the whole evening discussing their merits.

I guess you would call Ruth's style "niave", which is something a lot of painters would love to be able to achieve. On first viewing "Pink Bird" I got excited as it put me in mind of one of my all time favourite painters, Henri Rousseau and in particular a piece I adore:

"Tiger in a Tropical Storm" by Henri Rousseau.

Ok "Tiger in a Tropical Storm" is much larger than Ruth's "Pink Bird" but I think you can see the similarities. "Pink Bird" maybe on a much smaller scale but this jewel can hold it's own in its own charming way. They are also presented to perfection in understated yet classy frames as you can see in the next image:

I am also getting as lot of pleasure looking at "Bird Study I & II". To me they sit perfectly on the back wall alongside Hazel Cashmore's to die for landscapes. Have a wee look......

There has been a staggering amount of interest in this exhibition with a lot of the work finding new homes already. Again I am so proud of the quality of paintings and sculpture on display and would be only to happy to put the kettle on if you want to come in for a closer look. Aparently I make a decent cup of coffee. Coming up next Mark Nicholas Edward's astounding "Wall of Fish".

Until then au revoir.........I think.

BREAKING NEWS!!

Giacometti's "Walking Man" has broken the world record price for a work of art at auction! At many,many millions I narrowly missed out on the bid. Bought by an anonymous collector, lets hope the cheque doesn't bounce.

Anyway, good news is that we have our new exhibition "Call of The Wild". There's some pretty amazing work in this show and you can pick up an original masterpiece for quite a bit less than a Giacometti!
Just take a look at these little treasures by Mark Nicholas Edward.........

"Wall of Fish" by Mark Nicholas Edward.
So far February is shaping up to be a busy old month......I endeavour to keep you posted. Stay cosy.