April Show and Tell with Artists Catherine Morris and Tom Ratcliffe

After some cancellations of previous sessions because of bad weather etc. we were back on track and there was good attendance for this first Monday in April meeting. There were around eleven group members in the studio and Catherine and Tom had agreed to each give a presentation of their work in a quite formal but at the same time very relaxed atmosphere.

Catherine gave us a comprehensive overview of the year long landscape course she is in the process of completing at the Newlyn School of Art. The course is for the more advanced painter and accepts any style of painting from realistic to abstract. It is mostly done in the artist’s own time at home but does involve six weekends in Newlyn actually meeting the other artists, tutors and visiting professional artists. It was impressive to see the quite powerful and coherent body of Catherine’s work produced so far. I was especially interested in the decisions, materials and rules which initiated the work. Things like a limited palette of three colours or the three words that describe her feelings about landscape and the variety of collage papers.

The group critique format used by Newlyn seemed particularly helpful and perhaps something we could incorporate. It consists of the artist, whose work is being discussed, being the listener who does not provide any intent or background to her work. The group then say what they see and feel and it’s quite useful if someone writes notes for the artist to keep and reflect upon. It really was fascinating to see and hear how such a well mentored course can lead to growth, direction and positivity in an already accomplished artist.

Tom, in turn, told us that he works on large canvases which are not easy to transport so here in the studio he displayed his smaller works which are on the cusp between realism and abstract art. He gave us an interesting history of his life from secondary school through art college and university then teaching art and leading up to where he is today. He has his own studio and is now a member of our Redbrick Artists group. He reminded us of the struggles he and many of us have faced, and can recognise, in that journey ranging from lack of encouragement, negative criticism and complete opposition to the aspirations of being an artist.

The paintings on display here were still life, mainly of fruit in abstract settings each different from the other but with a recognisable consistency of colour palette. A kind of subtlety of complementary colours linking each to the other. Tom also does some very lovely life drawings which were not here but I hope he brings them next time. There was a lot of positive feedback from his audience and we found it interesting and I hope he found it helpful. We also have a Tuesday group of show n tell once a month which is there for members to choose how they want it to work and what they want to achieve from it.

Catherine's Webpage

Tom's Webpage