Thanks to Suzanne and Alan Whitewood for this report from the opening of a new exhibition in Newport. Ed
Staged at The Big Wight Space in Newport’s Rembrandt Gallery the work of Pat Clarke, Dale Durfee and Karen Taggert, shows the various styles of these artists, how they contrast but also how they complement each other.
Magnificent miniatures
Pat from the Sandown area started painting in a traditional way with still life as a favourite medium. She became a member of the Royal Miniature Society and later worked on the restoration of Chinese and Japanese works using lacquer work in gold.
Lately her work has included use of gold in a freer style which she uses for her illustrations of fire, water and, based on her love of the oriental, dragons.
Well earned reputation
Dale has certainly built on her already well-known photographic reputation since moving to the Island. Once a fashion photographer and later working with large household name clients she has recently changed her direction to making animals her subject choice.
Whether it be a prancing stallion, a cuddly cat or man’s best friend Dale really creates an atmosphere around her subject showing the creature’s character and making for a photograph which the animal’s owner can treasure.
Treading the tracks
Karen loves walking along the disused railway line between Freshwater and Yarmouth and it is from this area of the Island that much of her work is based on.
She lets the paint speak for itself in the colours and shapes of the trees and other natural forms in her work. There is one painting of Tennyson Down and Karen contrasts this with figure and life-forms which have been undertaken whilst at Quay Arts.
The exhibition runs until 15th December.
