Close Observations
Capturing a Sense of Place
Artizan welcomes Yorkshire based artist Ian Brooks as we continue with our series of solo shows at our dedicated printmaking and sculpture gallery on Lucius Street
The prints made by Ian Brooks are rooted in close observation of the landscape and a fascination with its small-scale details and textures. Each piece aims to evoke the unique atmosphere or sense of place of a specific location and point in time, responding to the weather as much as the landscape itself.
Sketches made in the wild, working with pencil and washes of acrylic ink are redrawn directly onto copper plate, working with the traditional (even antiquated) techniques of sugar lift and spit-bite aquatint. A dusting of resin, melted and fused to the plate, provides a half-tone when bitten by the acid. Images are built up in layers of tightly-controlled drawing alternated with more abstract, semi-random marks – applied with sponges, tissue paper, cotton buds, and other improvised tools – to mimic the natural textures of the landscape. The smoke-like tonal transitions result from painting the acid on with a brush (spit-bite – so called because traditionally saliva was used to break the surface tension of the acid), allowing very subtle gradations of tone.
While working, Brooks finds a constant tension between a natural and deeply ingrained tendency towards realism and finely rendered detail, and a conscious desire to simplify and abstract the image to achieve a looser rendering that maintains the energy of sketches made in the field, with resulting works beautifully capturing these combined elements.
Ian’s exhibition will be hosted in our main gallery space whilst in our Courtyard Gallery we shall be hosting the first of our seasonal printmaker open exhibitions. Each space will also feature specially selected 3D works from our seasonal sculpture artists.
Opening week Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm Thereafter Thursday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Exhibiting Artists
