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Artist Jeff Wilson is a realist painter who strives to take the recognizable and make it unusual. In this series of vehicles and heavy machinery, Wilson uses unique viewpoints, strong colour adjacencies and complicated geometry to develop his curious compositions that are substantial to equal the bold, hefty subject matter.
Having actively painted since 2010, Wilson is relatively new to the art scene. He describes how his work has evolved in such a short time: 鈥淢y range of subjects has broadened as my technique has improved, starting with very primitive forest and mountain landscapes and evolving to a broader range of subjects that currently include heavy machinery, signage, coastlines and animals.鈥�
Wilson鈥檚 study of machines, boats and planes offers elaborate, angular geometry in very strong colour adjacent to more muted offset sections, juxtaposed with curvilinear natural forms in the background. These heavy machines are painted in acrylic, reflecting light in an extensive range that also contrasts the surroundings of the gentle environment.听
Wilson鈥檚 art adventure starts with a camera, cropping and creative geometric compositions鈥� then sketching out important elements onto the canvas and then quickly painting in major colour blocks, followed by more deliberate layered details.听
鈥淚 work almost exclusively in the studio from the photo projected on a TV screen. This allows me to zoom in on particular details and colours,鈥� he says.听
Wilson is also passionate about local and European history, urban planning, current affairs and is inspired by landscape elements that are distinctive to a particular place and use the combination of a number of such paintings to illustrate the character of a given town or region.听
For more about Wilson鈥檚 art, email [email protected]听
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Slapstick sculptor Mark Goodwin has always had a passion for both comedy and trains, which is more than evident in the glass showcases in which he presents his custom-designed, mixed-media 3D whimsical railways. Initially inspired by 鈥渁 sense of humour鈥� and cartoonists such as Carl Giles of the U.K. Daily Express, Goodwin鈥檚 miniature detailed caricatures set the scene to observe a slice of life鈥檚 interactions... and make you laugh!听 听
Goodwin鈥檚 art has been a progression starting as an avid collector of all things to do with model railways. As a child he startedmaking/painting model kits and he eventually moved on to building detailed etched brass 7mm O Scale locomotive kits. He admits, 鈥淚 had to slow down and have more focus. Mike Rayner (Smallbrook Studios) made a 1/24 scale resin kit of one of Roland Emett鈥檚 cartoon steam engines, Nellie. After I made one, I became hooked.鈥澨�
Soon afterward, Goodwin decided to create some of his own designs, such as 鈥淔rank,鈥� using styrene and spare resin parts. He discovered that this creativity was therapeutic and helped reduce the stresses of his career and health.听听
The advent of urethane resins and water-based acrylic paints has been a boost for Goodwin as a self-taught artist. His creative process goes like this: idea; sketch with feasibility study; materials research; hands-on and then adapt if necessary!听
He admits, 鈥淚 read a lot of books and observe things closely 鈥� particularly light and shade鈥� I like history and the history of paint is very interesting. Look at some of the medieval illuminated manuscripts 鈥� the brightness and use of colour is astounding!鈥澨�
Still a kid at heart, Goodwin wants to eventually write children鈥檚 stories about life on the fictitious 鈥淢uch Gnattering and Far Twaddle Light Railway,鈥� using lots of his pictures to stimulate interest and imagination.听听
His creative passion also extents to wood and the great outdoors as he is nearing completion of an 鈥渁ll-Canadian鈥� Waters Dancing plywood kayak.
To reach Goodwin, email [email protected]
An opening reception for Wilson鈥檚 鈥淭rains, Planes and鈥︹�� and Goodwin鈥檚 鈥淲himsical Railways鈥� is planned on Tuesday, June 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibits will be on display through June 23.
Toby Jaxon is curator of the Library Foyer Gallery. She can be reached at [email protected]
