I decided to go for a walk around Salford Museum and Art Gallery. I was mesmerised by some of the works I saw and took plenty of photographs as I walked around of any which caught my eye. I decided to separate them into different categories to be able to refer back to in future sections of the course.
Still Life
Below are just a small few examples of the still life pieces I saw which caught my eye. I find it bizarre that one of them would be Bell’s pieces, when I chose another of her pieces completely by chance! It was only when I came to type this that I realised that, clearly, I am rather drawn to this artist’s work! Whilst I really like the simplicity of Walne’s piece, I really like the bold and contrasting colours of Bale’s piece.
Fig. 1. Walne, K Apples and Oranges (Unknown) 
Fig. 2. Bell, V Arum and Tulips (Unknown) 
Fig. 3. Bale, C T Still Life with Fruit and Pheasants (1891)
Landscapes
Whilst I have not studied this part of the course yet, I decided to take note of some which appealed to me to be able to perhaps refer to or revisit when I do come to this Part of the course. The pieces below all drew me in due to their intense atmospheres, differing skies and techniques used. I especially like the piece on the sea as the colours used are just beautiful to behold, however, I really like the delicate nature of Kerr’s piece and the expressive and almost unnatural colours used in the sky and landscape in Bomberg’s piece.
Fig. 4. Bomberg, D Storm Clouds (c.1932) 
Fig. 5. Kerr, C Carradale (Unknown) 
Fig. 6. Motague, A Ship on Fire off the North Foreland (1856)
Townscapes
Next, I was drawn to the below pieces of townscapes due to their completely different techniques. Finley’s reminds me of my childhood and a typical ‘two up, two down’ Salford street, which I think is the aim of the piece, as well as the warm colours used to replicate the fondness of the memory and the beautiful summer’s day the children in the piece are enjoying.
McCarthy’s piece seems very fast-paced (created, I think, by the expressive mark-making used to create the buildings) which I think works rather well for the city street’s hustle and bustle. The weather in this piece appears overcast and miserable.
Margerison’s piece is rather quirky to me with its leaning buildings and reminds me of something in a Tim Burton movie. I like the dark mystery to the piece and the fact the road bends around and out of sight, as this makes me feel as though I am walking down the street myself.
Fig. 7. Finley, E Skipping Rope (unknown) 
Fig. 8. McCarthy, A Nudle (Formerly Lowry Fish Bar) (unknown) 
Fig. 9. Margerison, J A Coke Street, Salford (1950)
Figure
Finally, below are some pieces I was drawn to regarding the figure. I really like the expressive mark-marking used by Nicholl, the shadows and bright colours used by Hodson and the traditional methods used by Clausen. I really like the fact the girl is holding a hand near her chest in Clausen’s piece and looking down. I don’t actually know why, but I am pulled in by this action and the solid white of the dress against the rest of the green background, pulling into play the balance of positive and negative space.
Fig. 10. Nicholl, J Sailor II (unknown) 
Fig. 11. Hodson, R Self Portrait (1940) 
Fig. 12. Clausen, G In the Orchard (1881)
I really cannot wait to go to see some more exhibitions and find other artists whose work I may never have seen otherwise as seeing methods used by others besides the well-known artists is very refreshing and inspiring, providing plenty of ideas to develop my own personal creative voice.
List of Illustrations
Fig. 1. Walne, K (unknown) Apples and Oranges [watercolour] Exhibited at A to Z of Salford’s Collections, Langworthy Gallery, Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019.
Fig. 2. Bell, V (unknown) Arum and Tulips [oil on canvas] Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019. 74cm x 55cm.
Fig. 3. Bale, C T (1891) Still Life with Fruit and Pheasants [oil on canvas] Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019. 61.5cm x 74cm.
Fig. 4. Bomberg, D (c.1932) Storm Clouds [oil on canvas]
Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019.
65cm x 75 cm
Fig. 5. Kerr, C (Unknown) Carradale [oil on canvas]
Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019. 76cm x 99cm.
Fig. 6. Motague, (1856) A Ship on Fire off the North Foreland [oil on canvas] Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019. 150cm x 212cm.
Fig. 7. Finley, E (unknown) Skipping Rope [oil on canvas] Exhibited at A to Z of Salford’s Collections, Langworthy Gallery, Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019. 35cm x 29cm.
Fig. 8. McCarthy, A (unknown) Nudle (Formerly Lowry Fish Bar) [painting] Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019.
Fig. 9. Margerison, J A (1950) Coke Street, Salford [oil on canvas] Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019. 53.5cm x 37cm.
Fig. 10. Nicholl, J (b.1965) Sailor II [oil on canvas] Exhibited at A to Z of Salford’s Collections, Langworthy Gallery, Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019.
Fig. 11. Hodson, R (1940) Self Portrait [oil on canvas] Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019. 56cm x 46cm.
Fig. 12. Clausen, G (1881) In the Orchard [oil on canvas] Exhibited at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Salford, 2019.
75cm x 49.5cm.
Rachael's OCA Blog: Drawing One 