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The Michael Heseltine Gallery in the pretty Oxfordshire/Northamptonshire border village of Middleton Cheney will be filled with drawings, paintings and prints by artist John Sprakes for a month from 16 September. This will be Sprakes’ first exhibition in this part of the country. His studio is in Yorkshire, where he paints still life and interior paintings exploring interactions between objects present and remembered, while the movement of light and colour in Norfolk, Suffolk and Northumberland inspire his landscapes.
Sprakes is a Member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Society of British Artists and the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts. He says “Creating the illusion of three-dimensional space on the two-dimensional surfaces produces the kind of visual magic that enables the spectator to experience a new way of seeing”.
On Sunday 1 October the artist will be talking about and demonstrating his techniques in the gallery. Tickets are available on-line at www.ticketsource.co.uk/MCLSG.
The exhibition is free and will be open Mondays to Fridays 10am to 4pm until 16 October and in the afternoons of the weekends 16 and 17 September, 30 September and 1 October, 14 and 15 October.
https://johnsprakes.wordpress.com/
Artist’s statement:
“The movement of light and colour across landscape and interiors is a constant source of inspiration to me. Composition, form and texture play an important part in the construction of my work. Creating the illusion of three-dimensional space on the two-dimensional surfaces, produces the kind of visual magic that enables the spectator to experience a new way of seeing”.
Method of Working
Most of John’s paintings are taken from life. He uses drawing as an act of discovery allowing him to explore the visual world. Drawing is the starting point for most of his ideas. The landscapes of Norfolk, Suffolk and Northumberland are a constant source of inspiration to him. Wide expanses and the intense light found along these coastlines evoke motions that inhabit his paintings. His still life paintings draw upon memories that are historical, social and of childhood days distilled together in the final image. John is interested in the way objects interact presenting a past, present and future. Their incongruous juxtaposition adds a visual tension to the overall image. John uses acrylics, Liquitex, canvas, board, paper, card, a brush, palette knife, drawing media of all kinds, photography and colourful gesso grounds. He works mainly from life but sometimes uses photography for information and investigation. He tends to plan paintings using sketched studies done on the spot. He also works directly from nature. His still life paintings and interiors are painted in his studio, where he sometimes invites visitors and organises open studio days.
Exhibitions:
2017 The Mall Galleries, London
2016 Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition
Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition
2015 Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition
Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition
Touring Exhibition – ‘Still Alive’ Contemporary Still Life
2014 Royal Institute of Oli Painters Annual Exhibition
Others:
South Yorkshire Arts Royal Academy
The Times Watercolour Exhibition
Huntingdon Prize Exhibition, Royal College of Art
Blackheath Gallery, London
Mall Galleries, London
John Sabin Gallery, London
Garforth Community College, Leeds
Peter Hedley Gallery, Manchester Academy
Spinks, London
Century Gallery, Datchet
Cadogan Contemporary, London
Lloyds, London
Peter Headley Gallery, Wareham
John Noott Gallery
Leeds City Art Gallery
One Man Shows:
The Century Gallery, London
John Sabin Gallery, London
Blackheath Gallery, London
South Yorkshire Art (4 shows)
John Hart Gallery, Nottingham
Laing Gallery, Newcastle
Rufford Gallery, Nottinghamshire
Yew Tree Gallery, Derbyshire
Doncaster Art Gallery
Chapple Gallery, York
Patchings Arts Centre, Nottingham
Retrospective, Doncaster Museum & Art Gallery
Publications:
Journeys into Light, John Sprakes Complete Painting Course
The Use of Colour
A Complete Drawing Course
https://www.artweeks.org/galleries/2017/michael-heseltine-gallery
The Michael Heseltine Gallery is a purpose built gallery which was opened in September 2003 by Lord Heseltine. It is located at Chenderit School, with access from Archery Road on foot or from the school car park, via the main entrance to the school. It is made from glass and galvanised steel with cedar panelling and is used for a range of exhibitions by comtemporary artists, craftspeople, and photographers during school terms.
Exhibitions are promoted by The Friends of The Heseltine Gallery: http://www.facebook.com/friendsoftheheseltinegallery/