QUEEN (JAMES FRANCIS GILL)
Since 1933, Queen Elizabeth II has sat for over 130 portraits. While some paintings have been applauded – including Pietro Annigoni’s ‘Queen Regent’ (1954) and Justin Mortimer’s ‘The Queen’ (1997) – others have faced the wrath of critics. In 2000, Lucian Freud’s effort was dubbed ‘painful, brave, honest’ by The Times, but ‘extremely unflattering’ by the Daily Telegraph. Her Majesty has become a popular subject in Pop Art, with Andy Warhol creating his ‘Reigning Queens’ series (four of which now hang in the Royal Collection) from a photograph taken in 1977 for her Silver Jubilee. We love this Pop Art interpretation by James Francis Gill.
OPT ART (RICHARD LEV INE)
PLEIN AIR (PAUL KENTON)
Opt art, short for optical art, emerged in the 1960s. It used geometric forms to create optical illusions, drawing on colour theory and the physiology of perception. Its effects vary from creating the impression of movement, flashing, vibrating pattern or warping. The artists predominantly associated with this form were Bridget Riley, Jesus Rafael Soto and Victor Vasarely. Richard Levine’s art is inspired by opt art. By playing with geometric shapes and blocks of colour, the East Sussex-based artist exposes details within the pattern while allowing his audience to appreciate the end result. This is created by rendering an image into a 3D form and wrapping it with a texture or pattern before running it through several transitions. He says: “My work is experimental and playful and is not constrained by a single discipline. This creates a feeling of kinetic energy, depth and movement.”
Plein air is a French term used to describe painting outside. The practice of leaving behind the four walls of a studio to create studies and sketches for paintings goes back for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that finished pieces were painted entirely outdoors. Pioneered by John Constable, the approach was fundamental to Impressionism and artists like Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley and Pierre-Auguste Renoir all advocated painting outside. The introduction of paint tubes and the box easel also made it easier to transport art supplies. Paul Kenton paints en plein air to capture the natural light and bustling atmosphere of city scenes. He offsets a foreground of dark colours and strong shapes against a backdrop of softer tones to create a feeling of depth. The energetic paint drips and gestural lines add texture and the sense of dynamism. Paul says: “I’m constantly on the lookout for energetic locations and inspiration, immersing myself in the moment and fast-paced movement. Shadows move fast and light sources appear and disappear in seconds, giving me moments to record what I see.”
The Queen £1,995 | Edition of 100 Framed Size: 70cm x 90cm
Franc £795 | Edition of 150 Framed Size: 88cm x 88cm
Pick up the Spring issue of Fine Art Collector for the next instalment of our art ABC.
48 FINE ART COLLECTOR AUTUMN2019
FINE ART COLLECTOR AUTUMN2019 49
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