michael harrison
DESCRIPTION
Recent PaintingsTRANSCRIPT
M i c h a e l h a r r i s o n
R e c e n t P a i n t i n g s
An Appreciation by Robin Capon(Art Journalist and Author)
‘Small paintings, particularly if they are made from direct observation and
response to the subject, are often more telling and emotive in their impact than
large studio works that are resolved in every detail. There is a deftness and
energy in his brushwork: it is expressive and confidently stated, with always
something left to the viewer’s imagination. Although small scale, his paintings
capture and convey a great deal.
Michael’s strength lies in the way he is able to evaluate and handle the tonal
qualities of a subject. He works from a limited colour palette, perhaps with
only four or five colours. Adept at mixing colours, he aims for results that are
well-keyed and exploit a good tonal range. In turn, whatever the subject, this
enhances the sense of mood in his paintings.
The medium itself, the paint, should always play it’s part in determining the
character and impact of a painting. So many artists look to control the medium
to such an extent that the feeling for the paint, with its consequent influence on
textures and brushmarks, is lost. In Michael’s work, that relationship between
artist and medium is clearly evident, and it results in paintings that have a
wonderfully loose and direct quality’.
Contact: Michael Harrison
website: www.mfharrison.artspan.com
Bakehouse Studios, Rothwell, Northamptonshire ??????.
Tel: 01536 412496 Mobile: 07741014078
E x H i B i T i o N S & S H o w S
1970 The Yacht Club Gallery, Hydra, Greece
1970 Northampton Town & County Art Society
2008-2012 Open 10 Alfred East Gallery
2010 Artemesia Gallery, Abbottsbury, Dorset ( joint show)
2010-2013 Northamptonshire Open Studios
2010 Carina Haslam Gallery, Great Missenden
2011 The Artist Magazine, Editor’s Choice Painting of the Month
2011 One-Man Show Axel Haig Gallery, Holcot, Northants
2011 New English Art Club Open Exhibition, at Mall Galleries, London SW
2012 One-man Show at Oakapple Gallery, Mears Ashby, Northants
2012 One-Man Show Gallery on the Corner, Battersea, London SW
2012 Northampton Town & County Exhibition (Elected Associate)
2013 Open 12 Alfred East Gallery, Kettering (Prize winner - paintings category)
2013 Royal Birmingham Art Society Open Exhibition
2013 Royal Society of British Artists at Mall Galleries, London SW
ichael Harrison attended Art School at Uppingham followed by
Academie Julien, the old Post-impressionist studio in Paris in 1962 and
he was then fortunate to be befriended by George Holland who recognised he
early potential. It has only been in recent years, however, and largely through
the encouragement of family and friends, that he has returned to painting with
the single-mindedness required to progress. An individual style has now slowly
evolved, received acknowledgment and consequently his paintings have begun
to get ‘noticed’, valued and justifiably found their way into people’s collections.
His works are wide ranging and diverse in both choice of subject and location
with the intimate small landscape studies are all completed plein air.
M