In the manner of Patrick Heron

I recently re discovered this piece which has been hidden in bubble wrap since we moved to Dorset some two years ago.

This was one of three I created when I was exploring the work of Patrick Heron and was experimenting with colour and collage technique.

At 40" x 20" it is in no way the size of Patrick Heron's excellent and vibrant canvasses however I was pleased with the outcome and how in real life the colours halo themselves against the blue background.



richard@withamart.co.uk

Wild Seas

Good evening - I hope you are enjoying a long awaited summer and terrific weather. As you know I have been struggling to produce new artwork as my re entry into the commercial world which although thrilling and rewarding, has left me with very little time to do so.

I am working through some overdue commissions and I have been experimenting with a style which has proved popular and I am happy to present at least one new piece.

'Wild Seas'started initially at Portland Bill measures 31" x 19" x 2" and is set behind glass and has wonderful texture to the surface.

Jeremy Annear @ Messum's 2013

Jeremy Annear

I have featured artist Jeremy Annear in my blogspot before and I happy to highlight his forthcoming show at Messum's, Cork Street from the 10th April to 27th April 2013.

I was fortunate to be contacted by Jeremy Annear and he kindly sent me a copy of the show catalogue which can also be purchased via Messum's website.

It is a worthy purchase and contains a wonderful collection of his work which is a visual delight.

As I have said before one has to see his work in the flesh to fully appreciate the textures,colours,tones and the magnificent movement created by his masterful  use of forms and shapes.

Whether it be a large canvas or a small cameo work on a piece of driftwood once you discover his work I am certain like me you will simply wish to someday own a piece.

To view more of his work please click here to visit the Messum's website and a comprehensive collection of his work.

http://www.messums.com/project-inventory/389

For those who like his style then you might consider my homage to the artist - Maritime Blues II - various paints on marine plywood.

Please click here for more details

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/richard-witham-art

Polly @ Riverside Gallery

Polly who recently left the gloss Gallery, Exeter where I enjoyed a great show last year, is now managing/curating at Riverside Gallery, Barnes, London.

She has kindly invited me to participate in the forthcoming spring show and I am furiously putting some work together and have been practising with some constructivist/relief work one of which you will see at the bottom of this page.

Should you find yourself in Barnes please feel free to visit the gallery. As my spiritual home due to a miss spent youth a thousand summers ago remember Barnes is a particularly wonderful place to visit so please enjoy the gallery and some great places to eat and drink!

Portland Quarry No2

Please click here for more details

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/richard-witham-art

New work - Cranborne III

Cranborne Landscape III

Various paints on wood board

Set floating in a real wood box frame behind glass

Please click here for more details

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/richard-witham-art

Keith Vaughan

For nearly 25 years I had regularly visited North Ferriby, Humberside where my Wife’s parents live. From there we would pop into Hull and never thought to visit the City’s Ferens Art Gallery.

Four years ago due to a family deluge for Gael’s parents 50th wedding anniversary we stayed in a hotel in St Andrews dock opposite the city centre and the next morning we wandered in to the City and decided to finally go into the gallery.

Well bless my soul – within their resident collection there were so many works of my favourite artists that I could not believe that for 25 years I had literally walked past this collection ignorant of its existence.

Ben Nicholson – Terry Frost – Peter Lanyon – Paul Nash – William Scott – Patrick Heron were all there – however one painting in particular stood out for me and that was ‘Coast Defences’ by Keith Vaughan whose work I knew little about.

Thereafter I was spurred on to find out as much as I could and I have continually sought out and visited galleries where I could view his work.

Sometimes haunting they are stirring and as you find out more about the artist, his inner turmoil and the simply tragic end to his life one understands how his artwork reflects and represents his life.

For those who wish to find out more about the artist please click here as a place to start

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/artists/john-keith-vaughan

Andrew Glenn - Artist

I am delighted to introduce artist Andrew Glenn whose work I believe is excellent and of the highest of quality. He has updated his website which in turn shows off his work extremely well and I recommend a visit to see more of his work and find out more about the artist.

http://www.andrewglennart.com

Michael Canney

I have always felt that Michael Canney has perhaps not gained the befitting widespread recognition his work deserves. The work and the importance of the art of the Modern British artists is somewhat of a 'secret garden' affair and is missed by the wider less knowledgeable general public.



 I would refer you to a greater source of knowledge that you can find at this website www.michaelcanney.co.uk/ should you like to discover more about the man and his artwork.

I am happy to present a new work of mine which draws on his influence and is titled 'Single Blue'

I have used a wood board prepared with a plaster and sand surface undercoat and after applying paint I have sanded to create wonderful surface textures.

For further details click here

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/richard-witham-art

Downland Relief and Headland abstraction

I have been able to spend a little more time on my artwork since the start of the New Year and having focused on smaller abstracts I decided to produce my first relief for quite a while.

This new relief 'Downland Snow' was inspired by the recent weather we have experienced here in Dorset and I have used a plain light oak wood finish to the frame to compliment the tones and textures.

I have also finished 'Headland Blue' which was started when I was at Portland Bill and in this piece I have tried to capture the essence of the heavy seas breaking on the headland rocks at dusk.

For more images and details please feel free to view the pieces in my eBay shop by clicking on this link

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261161571779

New work January 2013

I am happy to present two new works in completely different styles.

For the first 'Edge of  Dunes' I have set it floating in a boxed mount with grey background within a real wood frame finished in chalky lily coloured paint.

For the second I have borrowed the style of George Dannatt whose geometric style lends itself to creating an interesting Landscape abstraction.

The piece is set in a real wood shallow box frame behind glass.

For more details please click here

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/richard-witham-art

White Landscape

White Landscape

Oil and various paints with texturing medium on wood

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/richard-witham-art

Down at the Coast

A happy New Year to one and all.

During the Xmas and New Year period I was fortunate to be able to spend time down at various parts of the Dorset coast irrespective of the weather.

I started a number of sketches on wood board which I am now completing before other work commitments take over my time.

I have maintained the smaller format of artwork set in box frames and pursue the 'abstract expressionist' style with textured layers to the surface.

Please click here for more details.

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/richard-witham-art