Thursday 17 October 2013

Making Waves

Hello everyone,

There is much to get excited about when viewing our current exhibition, the Beth Robertson Fiddes Solo Exhibition, and all of those who have seen it so far have been overwhelmed by her beautiful, dramatic landscapes.  One recurring comment we are hearing is that Beth clearly loves the landscape she is painting - it positively radiates from the work.  Surely that, above all else, is a sign of a successful painting.  Viewers are also moved by her commitment to her work - drawing in situ, hiking for miles with all her equipment and camping out to find the best light to capture.  The results are simply stunning.

This commitment to her practice is exemplified in the three beautiful 'wave' paintings that have been so admired in the last two weeks.
















'Summer Shore', mixed media on panel, by Beth Robertson Fiddes.

The creation of this exhibition has been exasperated by Beth suffering for much of this year with a trapped nerve in her back, which at times has made painting very difficult.  These paintings, of the beach on the tiny Outer Hebridean island of Berneray, were painted at just such a time.  Beth had gone to Berneray to relax and rest her painful back, and was lying on the beach when she saw the ripples and waves from a viewpoint that she had never seen before. And the result is these remarkable paintings:

















'Berneray Waves', mixed media on panel, by Beth Robertson Fiddes.

Now we may all think we've seen waves like this before, but would anyone other than an artist with the creative flair and talent of Beth have had the skill to sketch them on the spot and to turn them into such powerful work?  I think not.
















'Clear Water, Berneray', mixed media on panel, by Beth Robertson Fiddes.

I do hope you all manage to see this extraordinary exhibition - I guarantee it will be worth it.

 

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