PICTURE OF THE MONTH

April 2020
by Michael Norcross

Painting is visual metaphor.

The painting, on first reading, is a dramatic view of man-made nature. The colours convey an early morning walk in a frosty park. The raking light and elongated shadows create a dramatic perspective which leads to the centre of the symmetrical composition.

However, the image gradually reveals more.

The compositional centrepiece – the two trees – seem to be locked into a never-ending dialogue with each other. Gesture meets rebuttal, argument is countered. Two actors in a play? Two politicians in debate? Two sports fans in a bar?

This immortal, immovable spectacle is watched impassively by an audience of silent, vertical trees in the background.

This is the power of the artist's vision; to transform the everyday into the human condition.

Chosen from our online Gallery by Steve Lloyd Davies

March 2020
by Steve Lloyd Davies

I am captivated by the application of tone and texture that communicates a sensuality, strength and fluidity of the male figure. This is combined with the use of black, composition and simplicity of line that convey vulnerability and mystery - there is no face or complete head. It has become uncommon to represent the human figure in 'Art' and I salute the courage to do so.

The title points the way to Greek myth - Icarus represents the consequences of hubris (flying too close to the sun, despite his father's warnings, and drowning as a consequence) - and the image most likely contains symbolism related to this (why the streak of turquoise ?), but as a viewer this is almost unimportant because the image endures alone as a depiction of fervor, denial and exposure.

Chosen from our online Gallery by Rebecca Mendoza

February 2020
by Rebecca Mendoza

I was drawn to Rebecca’s picture for the simplicity and purity of the image. The contemplative blue square is a generous invitation into a calm and meditative environment where the onus is on the experience the viewer.

It is this aspect that reminded me of the work of James Turrell whose ’Skyspaces’ are specifically proportioned chambers with an aperture in the ceiling open to the sky. Indeed, as Turrell says “My work is more about your seeing than it is about my seeing”.

The picture offers space and time to look beyond our image saturated lives and find positivity and hope in the natural world.

Chosen from our online Gallery by Heather McAteer

January 2020
by Heather McAteer

For the start of the year I’ve chosen this Imagined interior, which has had my mind wondering. As anyone who knows me, I like an image that makes you think. Could this be a futuristic statement about the condition of the planet, where the only place we may see a tree is in a greenhouse or terrarium, a museum, a laboratory or as suggested only in our imagination.

We can at this time of year take inspiration from the wonderful shapes and shadows created by the bare trees that surround us, taking a closer look in anticipation of the spring. As artists we’d be pretty lost without trees, as indeed we would be as humans.

Happy New Year!

Chosen from our online Gallery by Martina Hildebrandt

December 2019
by Roger Smalley

I recently went to visit Roger's workshop to understand more about what's involved in carving stone, and I was struck by the sheer quantity of creations I saw there. Perched all over the walls and on the inside of the doors were numerous quirky compilations of found objects alongside his more familiar carved pieces, many in progress.

This particular sculpture that I have chosen for Picture of the Month warms the heart and brings a smile to my face when I see it. The curious non-specificity of the creature makes the viewer look to the feeling of the work. It's effect is direct and uncomplicated.

Chosen from our online Gallery by Sadie Brockbank

October 2019
by Sadie Brockbank

I could have chosen any of the works by this artist featured in the Gallery, but I’m particularly drawn to the feeling of precarious balance Life Ark evokes.

I love the colours – the cool blues and greens – and the simple shapes; the decorations on the boat have echoes of something ancient and mystical. The title also seems particularly relevant to current environment concerns. Above all, the sculpture (and its title) is thought-provoking – and that’s always a good thing.

Chosen from our online Gallery by Shelagh Casebourne

September 2019
by Shelagh Casebourne

I’d like to walk down this lane, an ancient byway methinks, indeed I have walked in similar places quiet and beautiful.

There being so much tumult in the world, with forests and natural habitats being destroyed and with catastrophe threatening the climate, a picture like this is of something to treasure.

Beautifully and simply painted, calming when the mind is unquiet.

Chosen from our online Gallery by Lou Jessop

August 2019
by Lou Jessop

I love the energy in this image and the vibrant colour contrasts. The flying red hair and leaping legs of the woman and the wolves convey a sense of a longer narrative that begins way outside the frame and continues beyond it. Seeing that the woman is running "with" rather than from the wolves, led me to look online for an explanation. I was delighted to learn of the book "Women Who Run with the Wolves", in which analyses of numerous myths and folk tales reveal "the Wild Woman archetype of the feminine psyche". For me, Lou's image vividly captures that sense of a woman at one with nature.

Chosen from our online Gallery by Gill Goodwin

July 2019
by Gill Goodwin

For July's Picture of the Month, Gillian Cheesman has chosen Gill Goodwin's print Fantastic Mr Dahl, 2 inspired by 'Fantastic Mr Fox' a book by Roald Dahl.

"It made me smile, and it shows the personality of the character perfectly. I love the free simplicity of the illustration with a story within it and the limited colour palette."

Chosen from our online Gallery by Gillian Cheesman

June 2019
by Gillian Cheesman

What a difficult (but enjoyable) task to choose the next Picture of the Month! I have found so many wonderful works, but in the end I have chosen the one that first caught my attention. It is Flowers by Gillian Cheesman. I was attracted by the simplicity and spontaneity of this colour sketch. The clean, vibrant colours and swift, confident definition are joyful and capture something that a more laboured composition could lose. I just love it!

Chosen from our online Gallery by Carolyn Beale

May 2019
by Carolyn Beale

As webmaster of the RGA website, one of the best bits of the job is having the first glimpse of what fellow members submit to the Online Art Gallery. Carolyn's is a new gallery page and I was delighted to see the work of a fellow printmaker whose work I admire (and if honest a tad envious of).

It was particularity tricky which one to choose, however the simplicity and clarity of the warm grey tones used, the depth of perspective and ultimately the overall peacefulness of the image is why Coniston Water is May's Picture of the Month. It then struck me how out of last month's grey space has emerged this tranquil image. See below.

Chosen from our online Gallery by Martina Hildebrandt

April 2019
by ?

Your picture here...

Fancy seeing your picture replace the grey space in the future?

If you’re an exhibiting member and haven't yet submitted your work to the RGA online Gallery, you can submit at any time for inclusion. Or if you do have a Gallery page why not refresh it with some new images! To submit work please follow the Gallery Submissions guidelines.

Next month's Picture of the Month was picked from the new submission by me (including any added since the new year) to kick start a new Picture of the Month relay!

Many thanks and I look forward to seeing your new work, Martina.