Award-Winning!

It is a lovely honour to be asked to be a judge at an art exhibition, particularly when it's the quality of the annual Paisley Art Institute Exhibition.  I spent the morning perusing the large exhibition, now in it's 125th year.



What a pleasure it is for me to spend time viewing such a variety of quality works.  The icing on the cake is to be invited to choose my very favourite and watch as the little award banner is mounted below the painting.

The Smithy Gallery Award is in its second year and once again, I am delighted with my choice.  The exhibition opens on 10th May, and you will just have to go and view the exhibition to see if you agree with my choice!

I'm now back to the gallery to enjoy the second week of Fifty Shades of Glasgow.  We have fifty beautiful small paintings by Carol Dewart, 18 of which are already sold, but there are plenty left triggering memories and tantalising people as we speak.  Here are a couple of my favourites which are still available:

Love, love, love!  They're all so full of character.

The exhibition, including sculpture by Lesley Carruthers can be viewed on the website:

http://www.smithygallery.co.uk/currentExhibitions.htm

It continues until 12th May.  Don't miss it!

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

 



Sunday's Preview

Our new exhibition Fifty Shades of Glasgow previewed on Sunday and it went with a bang! 

Artist Carol Dewart created the fifty paintings over a period of a good few months and the result has been a fabulous variety of scenes and landmarks in and around Glasgow.

The consistency of sizing has led to a dramatic looking exhibition, each painting an individual gem.

This is the first time we have had an exhibition dedicated to the city, and it was a joy to see the reaction and to hear all the stories linked to where the paintings were depicting.

Exhibiting also is scultptor Lesley Carruthers with a wonderful collection of works in cast aluminium and bronze.

So many people came and enjoyed the opening and we have already sold eighteen of the paintings!

All of the works can be viewed on our website:  http://www.smithygallery.co.uk/currentExhibitions.htm

A big thank you to everyone who came and of course to the wonderful Carol Dewart for creating such a beautiful collection of paintings.

The exhibition continues until 12 May.


Thanks for reading!


Natalie



Fifty Shades of . . . . Glasgow!

We are so excited about this new exhibition.  We have been busy hanging all week for it's preview this Sunday.

The artist Carol Dewart came to me with this idea, and I loved it.  She has created fifty small paintings many of which are well known scenes in and around Glasgow, but also others that are details that she has honed in on.

The paintings are beautifully mounted and framed and have already been selling in sets.  All the works can be viewed now on the website:

http://www.smithygallery.co.uk/currentExhibitions.htm


This exhibition is accompanied by a show of works by Lesley Carruthers.  She is a sculptor I have always admired, well known for her large metal installations and garden sculptures.  We are delighted to be exhibiting fourteen pieces of varying sizes.

This exhibition previews on Sunday 21 April, 2-5pm and continues until 12 May.


Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Thank You Gordon!

All good things must come to an end (why is that?) and so the Gordon Wilson exhibition finishes on Sunday.

We waited almost two years to have another solo exhibition with Gordon and it was well worth the wait.

He created a gorgeous collection of paintings and all the visitors and buyers have left with a smile on their face. The exhibition has been another great success for Gordon, and all involved are delighted for him.

A very big thank you to Gordon Wilson who has made the gallery a very happy place to be for the last four weeks.  Until next time!

Following Gordon is something completely different.

  

Fifty Shades of Glasgow is a tribute to the city by Glasgow School of Art graduate Carol Dewart.

Fifty exquisite scenes of Glasgow. 

It opens 21 April, and it's not to be missed!

But it's Easter weekend, the sun has got his hat on, and we are very busy with visitors to Gordon's exhibition.  It continues until 5pm on Sunday. Keep checking the website for those red dots!

http://www.smithygallery.co.uk/currentExhibitions.htm


From Monday, we are taking an Easter holiday for two weeks.  We will reopen on Tuesday 16th April.

Thank you to all the amazing artists and brilliant customers for supporting Smithy Gallery.


Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Brilliant Show!

When an exhibition is having a great response, I always wish it could last a bit longer. The Gordon Wilson exhibition ends this Sunday and it does feel a little too soon.

Every time I hang a new exhibition, the look and also the mood of the gallery is transformed. This exhibition has had a striking, bright and bold effect.  I have loved it, as have the many visitors.

Gordon Wilson's career has been growing in leaps and bounds, and the response to his paintings has reflected this.  Many good exhibitions unfortunately don't get the sales that they deserve, but Gordon does.

We have sold over a third of the exhibition so far, and we still have a week to go.  Every painting is just as gorgeous as the next, so I will be sorry to see the end of this show.

So while the odd snowflake falls, the warmth of Gordon's paintings cast a glow about the gallery.

The exhibition continues until Sunday 31st March.  Don't miss it!

Thanks for reading!

Natalie



Quirky or Narrative?

I'm not a fan of the word quirky so I'm having a root around in my thesaurus for something better.



Stranded Captain and Skipper



Unconventional, idiosyncratic, hmmm not happy with these either.  Gordon Wilson's paintings are often described this way, but I think they are narratives.



When All Around Are Losing Theirs



One look, and there is a story unfolding, unlike anything else you will see that day.



A Cat on a Belty's Back


Not only are they beautifully painted, but you are drawn into the artist's world, which looks like a pretty joyous place to be.





Beach Boy and The Bird



Gordon Wilson is well known for his landscape painting, delighting in the light and beauty around us.  But I think these narrative paintings compliment beautifully.  They come from within and allow us to have a little more insight  into the artist.



Wee Gee and The Big Bumble Bee





And he is incredibly quirky!

The exhibition continues until 31 March.

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

Gordon Wilson Exhibtion

The beautiful exhibition of works by Gordon Wilson has been going very well.  There are so many impressive paintings in this solo exhibition, but these are some of the ones that I particularly love.

 



Red Sail

I love the gentle sweep of this painting and how the title draws your eye to the horizon.




Stranded Captain and Skipper




I am a huge fan of Gordon's boat paintings.  The tonal subtlety of this painting is superb next to the absurd nature of the subject matter.  It makes me smile.



  


The Blethers



I love to see two ladies discussing The Blethers.  The painting is hung high in the gallery and life imitating art is fabulous to watch.  Everybody loves this painting.

  

Big Dark Dumgoyne

Gordon Wilson is particularly well known for his unmistakable landscape paintings.  His palette has always been strong, but the spectrum has been widening.




Winter Firs



He loves his Scottish surroundings and the many moods and shifting tones are expressed in his paintings.

 
   

 

Red, Skye



 

All of these paintings are even more impressive in person.  As a whole the exhibition is bold, dynamic and life-affirming.



Sundown Daisies



 



The artist is aptly able to transfer his lust for life into his works.  I think this is what so many people respond so positively to.  The sales have been coming thick and fast and I am delighted to be holding this special exhibition.

Thanks for reading!


Natalie