Review: Rws Contemporary Watercolour Contest 2015
Monday, 25 May 2020
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The exhibition for the 2015 Contemporary Watercolour Competition run past times the Royal Watercolour Society finishes today. This ship service is for
Also i of the other benefits of going to an exhibition slowly is you lot tin run into how good it has been received past times the buying public. Let's human face upward it, the only argue fine art competitions similar this tin run at a reasonable entry fee to the creative somebody is if they genuinely generate sales as well as committee for the gallery where the exhibition is held. So sales are genuinely of import as well as it's tin never precisely endure "art for art's sake" unless you lot direct maintain got genuinely pregnant sponsorship!
I'd similar to say I had a grand programme to see slowly - but inwards fact amongst other commitments it's precisely the way things worked out. I had originally aimed to pop off terminal Fri but was precisely also tired after flight inwards from my Ulster Festival of Art as well as Design "gig" terminal week.
Below you lot tin read:
First, hither a listing of the Prizewinners - as well as images of some of the paintings
So - what did I think of the exhibition? I went to run into it yesterday afternoon as well as I've liked other exhibitions for this contest a lot more.
My overall impression is that this exhibition has lost its way. I'm firstly to think perhaps the RWS has too.
In maxim this I'm comparing the works to the opened upward entries associated amongst the sun Times Watercolour Competition as well as the Annual Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Painters inwards Watercolour which are exhibitions which I bask a lot to a greater extent than than I this one.
I also think somehow people direct maintain got the thought inwards their caput that perhaps "contemporary" way abstracted as well as exclusively without whatsoever evidence of draughtsmanship - as well as that is only non true. The Definition of "contemporary" which should inform this demo is
Not a lot. I can't say at that topographic point was real much at all which made me desire to convey it dwelling solid - inwards contrast to previous years.
One ikon I genuinely liked was past times the winner of the sun Times Watercolour Competition Winner (2012) Mark Ellsmore . This won the Winsor as well as Newton tertiary Prize. For me it won the prize for "best people painted inwards this competition".
I was also intrigued past times i ikon past times Julie Ball - as well as here's a closeup of a department of it. (The epitome of the locomote on the website inwards no way does it justice)
However it's non i I yearn to direct maintain on my wall although I practise similar it. I precisely genuinely desire to know how the creative somebody did it! To my take away heed it's a serious contender for hanging on the wall of i of those 'white on white' apartments downwards past times the riverside!
I'm non a large fan of Emma H aworth's paintings but I tin readily appreciate their appeal for others - as well as also the endeavor that goes into the creative thinking behind them.
The bad paintings.
There are some seriously bad paintings. Some of them would facial expression tedious as well as bad on the wall of a 6th shape fine art show. One of them won a prize.
I also genuinely wishing people would larn how to mix colour! I'm non a fan inwards whatsoever way shape or shape of people who job dark or Paynes Grey for shadows - it's precisely apparently lazy inwards my view. One of the wonderful features of watercolour is its powerfulness to demo us the beauty of coloured darks as well as greys mixed from complementary colours on the palette or the paper.
There were also some paintings which displayed pathetic standards inwards relation to presentation. For example, if you're going to stick a ikon on locomote past times of mountboard (not fifty-fifty float mounted!) rather than behind it as well as then you've genuinely got to larn how to cutting a instantly line! Even amend larn how to mountain fine art on newspaper properly!
I absolutely despaired at the measure of some of the paintings of flowers - selected - but that mightiness endure to practise amongst the measure of locomote submitted.
I bang on as well as on at artists I know who direct maintain splendid technical as well as pattern skills as well as practise wonderful paintings of plants as well as flowers inwards 'proper' watercolour - including ones which are "very contemporary" as well as others which normally sell real fast for pregnant prices - to locomote inwards their locomote inwards this competition. To appointment I direct maintain had no success. I'm at nowadays telling them that they are thence much amend than the paintings inwards this exhibition that I volition endure sending out regular reminders adjacent year!
Where are all the decent portraits as well as figure paintings inwards watercolour? Where's the next Jennifer MacRae coming from? I recall vividly years after the wonderful portrait of Maggie by Sue Rubira in the 2007 competition. It delighted the eyes inwards terms of her job of watercolour!
I guess a generation of painters who direct maintain never been taught to describe volition generate cartoon figures. How come upward other watercolour painters - who practise know how to pigment people - practise non experience encouraged to locomote inwards this competition? I know they're out there. What's stopping them from entering their work?
I also saw a few also many paintings past times artists trying to endure similar other artists.
Some of the pricing was real odd. Some artists either don't direct maintain a clue or seriously overestimate their powerfulness to attain a price. Others are pricing good below where they should endure for a gallery inwards primal London. Others are pricing correct for their condition every bit an creative somebody but that's seriously out of synch amongst the prices for a lot of the locomote inwards the show.
Overall the prices inwards the exhibition were all over the place. In my view, people typically detect this confusing since it makes it hard for people to relate the value of i to another. This could also explicate the depression grade of sales.
Something to ponder on - the RWS mightiness similar to consider:
I didn't run into whatsoever painters who volition supercede artists of the lineament of Leslie Worth PPRWS (paintings) (1923-2009) as well as some other sun Times Watercolour winner David Prentice RWS (paintings) (1936-2014). In fact I saw absolutely naught that came anywhere close their measure of their work. It's real sad.
I wouldn't take away heed but I also saw extremely picayune that came anywhere close the measure of locomote past times electrical current RWS members who are real skilled as well as genuinely know how to job watercolour - such every bit Turner Medal winner Paul Newland, James Rushton and Angus McEwan.
I could brand a representative for perhaps 2 or iii of painters every bit futurity RWS members - mainly on the footing of originality (e.g. Emma Haworth as well as Gerry Baptist ). That's if they've non already opted for membership of the RI (you tin only endure a fellow member of i or the other but non both) and assuming they're interested inwards beingness members. Mark Elsmore could endure a contender but I'd facial expression to run into to a greater extent than of his locomote inwards the demo - but at that topographic point over again perhaps he only submitted one.
Two walls of the gallery - the terminate wall as well as the long wall contrary the bays were dominated past times paintings which leaned hard towards abstraction as well as the job of media other than pure watercolour.
In fact they looked similar whatsoever other contemporary fine art gallery.
With real few exceptions, the paintings selected for certain did non facial expression similar an exhibition of paintings inwards a watercolour contest - inwards real marked contrast for representative to the paintings which are regularly as well as consistently seen inwards the sun Times watercolour competition.
On these 2 walls, at that topographic point were NO SALES of contemporary abstracted work. The only 2 paintings which had sold were 2 figurative watercolours which could direct maintain been hung inwards whatsoever gallery showing to a greater extent than traditional figurative artwork.
Above is the terminate wall. Below iii sections of the long side wall. Only 2 of these paintings sold.
I genuinely counted the sales. I also made a banker's complaint of which leaned towards traditional as well as figurative as well as which were to a greater extent than upward the abstract terminate of things.
It was real clear to me that the abstracted as well as to a greater extent than "contemporary (as inwards non-figurative)" had almost completely failed to convince as well as that their inclusion inwards the exhibition had depressed sales generally. (Or, putting it some other way, I promise that the Bankside doesn't think this exhibition's fiscal functioning is OK!)
I'm non solitary inwards my views. This is a comment from my Facebook Page
In trying to endure "contemporary", to my take away heed it has completely lost sight of the aspect which makes this contest almost unique i.e. it's a contest for watercolour artists.
It's quite simple. While looking for originality as well as project design is fine as well as non bad what is overall most of import is that these paintings demand to facial expression similar paintings made past times people who bask ikon inwards watercolour for the unique properties it offers!
The job inwards purpose seems to me to stalk from this insistence on the contest beingness nearly water-based paints. This effectively way that some of the paintings could direct maintain been submitted every bit purpose of the opened upward entry for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters which also accepts paintings inwards acrylic!
I for certain don't desire to run into all the artwork that I tin run into inwards whatsoever other fine art competition.
I desire to run into a contest which is beingness run past times an fine art companionship which is proud of its history as well as roots inwards the job of traditional watercolour as well as shown past times a gallery which is emphatically NOT apologetic nearly the medium.
I genuinely don't desire to hear people telling me that "watercolour is non a pop medium" when paintings as well as visitors to other exhibitions shown elsewhere would advise this is emphatically non true.
In my opinion, this RWS needs to acquire dorsum to focusing on what differentiates it every bit an fine art companionship as well as makes it special. Playing the "me too" game amongst the real many contemporary fine art galleries inwards London is a recipe for dwindling standards as well as dwindling interest.
I'd also advise it becomes rather amend at promoting this competition. Extending contest deadlines - every bit this i did - is ever an indicator to me that a contest has failed to generate plenty entries of the required quality.
Exhibiting splendid as well as master watercolour paintings is what makes a existent difference. Let's promise adjacent year's exhibition is a considerable improvement on this year's.
- all those who mightiness endure thinking of applying adjacent year
- members of the RWS.
Also i of the other benefits of going to an exhibition slowly is you lot tin run into how good it has been received past times the buying public. Let's human face upward it, the only argue fine art competitions similar this tin run at a reasonable entry fee to the creative somebody is if they genuinely generate sales as well as committee for the gallery where the exhibition is held. So sales are genuinely of import as well as it's tin never precisely endure "art for art's sake" unless you lot direct maintain got genuinely pregnant sponsorship!
I'd similar to say I had a grand programme to see slowly - but inwards fact amongst other commitments it's precisely the way things worked out. I had originally aimed to pop off terminal Fri but was precisely also tired after flight inwards from my Ulster Festival of Art as well as Design "gig" terminal week.
Below you lot tin read:
- who won the prizes
- what the exhibition looked similar - on the walls of the gallery
- why I think this contest as well as exhibition has lost its way
- PLUS details of 2 NEW watercolour exhibitions opening inwards London after this month.
Prizewinners
First, hither a listing of the Prizewinners - as well as images of some of the paintings
- ROYAL WATERCOLOUR SOCIETY AWARD - winner of the sun Times Watercolour contest inwards 2010 and a Runner-Up Prize inwards the 2009 Lynn Painter- Stainers Prize. In fact she has a unique as well as master mode which has developed good over fourth dimension as well as she's at nowadays been consistently winning prizes for some years)
The places she paints are magical, total of secrets as well as hints of stories. (Statement: Emma Haworth)
 |
| (left) Paradiso After Dante by Emma Haworth |
- ROYAL WATERCOLOUR SOCIETY PATRONS PRIZE - The Height of Summer (Acrylic on 450gsm watercolour paper, Image size 56x76cms) by Gerry Baptist RE
‘…plants bear inwards much the same way every bit humankind, strangling as well as smothering rivals inwards the rat race for seat as well as food…all that struggle behind all that beauty.’
- ROYAL WATERCOLOUR SOCIETY EXHIBITIONS AWARD Grandfather's Chair by Jenny Matthews,
 |
| Grandfather's Chair by Jenny Matthews (watercolour) £2,750 |
- DAVID GLUCK MEMORIAL AWARD - Cat Hill Field as well as Tuscon past times Iain Nicholls
 |
| Cat Hill Field as well as Tuscon by Iain Nicholls (acrylic) £1,000 |
- ST CUTHBERT'S MILL PRIZE - Shouting Loudly at Each Other by Joanne Hummel Newell (see below for image)
- WINSOR & NEWTON
- 1st PRIZE - Curzon Soho by John Duffin
- 2nd PRIZE - Carolina inwards Gold past times Aine Divine (see below for image)
- 3rd PRIZE - Mischief Makers past times Mark Elsmore (see below for image)
- DALER ROWNEY PRIZE - Beaumont Creek II past times Simon Carter (see below for image)
- THE ARTIST PRIZE - Olive Fig Garden past times Tessa Pearson (see below for image)
- HEATHERLEY'S PRIZE The Story by Sue Barnes (You tin run into more of her collage work on her website)
 |
| The Story by Sue Barnes (collage of painted paper) £875 |
Overall Impressions
So - what did I think of the exhibition? I went to run into it yesterday afternoon as well as I've liked other exhibitions for this contest a lot more.
My overall impression is that this exhibition has lost its way. I'm firstly to think perhaps the RWS has too.
In maxim this I'm comparing the works to the opened upward entries associated amongst the sun Times Watercolour Competition as well as the Annual Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Painters inwards Watercolour which are exhibitions which I bask a lot to a greater extent than than I this one.
This twelvemonth it's going to endure specially interesting because at that topographic point are going to endure 2 watercolour exhibitions running at the same time. I tin run into a lot of fine art societies making the trip to London to run into both shows! There volition also inevitably endure comparisons.
- the RI Annual Exhibition (Issuu digital catalogue) (25 March to xi Apr 2015 at the Mall Galleries) and
- Watercolour Etc (27 March 2015 - 25 Apr 2015 at the Bankside Gallery) - the Spring Exhibition of works inwards watercolour as well as some other media of the RWS.
I also think somehow people direct maintain got the thought inwards their caput that perhaps "contemporary" way abstracted as well as exclusively without whatsoever evidence of draughtsmanship - as well as that is only non true. The Definition of "contemporary" which should inform this demo is
belonging to or occurring inwards the presentThat genuinely way it should stand upward for the consummate gamut of fine art beingness produced today - because otherwise the exhibition precisely reflects what gets submitted as well as what gets selected according to the personal tastes of the judges:
- Richard Cork - fine art critic, broadcaster as well as curator
- Andrea Rose - British Council curator
- Thomas Plunkett PRWS President of the Royal Watercolour Society
- Isla Hackney RWS Education Officer
- Bill Henderson RWS Chief Hanger
Extract from criteria for entries
Any locomote inwards watercolour, acrylic, gouache as well as ink are eligible on a newspaper based support
There are no limitations on mode or land of written report matter
The judges volition endure looking for ideas, competence as well as integrity – every bit long every bit the materials accommodate to those stipulated on the application form, they volition endure interested inwards how you lot direct to job them as well as volition endure excited past times both project design as well as expertise inwards traditional methods inwards using water-based media.
What I liked
Not a lot. I can't say at that topographic point was real much at all which made me desire to convey it dwelling solid - inwards contrast to previous years.
One ikon I genuinely liked was past times the winner of the sun Times Watercolour Competition Winner (2012) Mark Ellsmore . This won the Winsor as well as Newton tertiary Prize. For me it won the prize for "best people painted inwards this competition".
 |
| Mischief Makers past times Mark Elsmore (watercolour as well as gouache) £1,000 SOLD |
 |
| Profile of purpose of Diptera 2 (£1,100) by Julie Ball |
However it's non i I yearn to direct maintain on my wall although I practise similar it. I precisely genuinely desire to know how the creative somebody did it! To my take away heed it's a serious contender for hanging on the wall of i of those 'white on white' apartments downwards past times the riverside!
I'm non a large fan of Emma H aworth's paintings but I tin readily appreciate their appeal for others - as well as also the endeavor that goes into the creative thinking behind them.
What I disliked
The bad paintings.
There are some seriously bad paintings. Some of them would facial expression tedious as well as bad on the wall of a 6th shape fine art show. One of them won a prize.
I also genuinely wishing people would larn how to mix colour! I'm non a fan inwards whatsoever way shape or shape of people who job dark or Paynes Grey for shadows - it's precisely apparently lazy inwards my view. One of the wonderful features of watercolour is its powerfulness to demo us the beauty of coloured darks as well as greys mixed from complementary colours on the palette or the paper.
There were also some paintings which displayed pathetic standards inwards relation to presentation. For example, if you're going to stick a ikon on locomote past times of mountboard (not fifty-fifty float mounted!) rather than behind it as well as then you've genuinely got to larn how to cutting a instantly line! Even amend larn how to mountain fine art on newspaper properly!
I absolutely despaired at the measure of some of the paintings of flowers - selected - but that mightiness endure to practise amongst the measure of locomote submitted.
I bang on as well as on at artists I know who direct maintain splendid technical as well as pattern skills as well as practise wonderful paintings of plants as well as flowers inwards 'proper' watercolour - including ones which are "very contemporary" as well as others which normally sell real fast for pregnant prices - to locomote inwards their locomote inwards this competition. To appointment I direct maintain had no success. I'm at nowadays telling them that they are thence much amend than the paintings inwards this exhibition that I volition endure sending out regular reminders adjacent year!
 |
| One bay had paintings of people - I was non impressed. Carolina inwards Gold past times Aine Divine, winner of Winsor & Newton 2nd Prize, middle of the correct mitt wall |
I guess a generation of painters who direct maintain never been taught to describe volition generate cartoon figures. How come upward other watercolour painters - who practise know how to pigment people - practise non experience encouraged to locomote inwards this competition? I know they're out there. What's stopping them from entering their work?
I also saw a few also many paintings past times artists trying to endure similar other artists.
What I constitute odd
Some of the pricing was real odd. Some artists either don't direct maintain a clue or seriously overestimate their powerfulness to attain a price. Others are pricing good below where they should endure for a gallery inwards primal London. Others are pricing correct for their condition every bit an creative somebody but that's seriously out of synch amongst the prices for a lot of the locomote inwards the show.
Overall the prices inwards the exhibition were all over the place. In my view, people typically detect this confusing since it makes it hard for people to relate the value of i to another. This could also explicate the depression grade of sales.
Something to ponder on - the RWS mightiness similar to consider:
- a minimum cost for all works for futurity competitions.
- providing advice to artists if their indicated wall cost is probable to endure problematic. I know other competitions where artists are told when their works are priced also high or also low.
What was missing
I didn't run into whatsoever painters who volition supercede artists of the lineament of Leslie Worth PPRWS (paintings) (1923-2009) as well as some other sun Times Watercolour winner David Prentice RWS (paintings) (1936-2014). In fact I saw absolutely naught that came anywhere close their measure of their work. It's real sad.
I wouldn't take away heed but I also saw extremely picayune that came anywhere close the measure of locomote past times electrical current RWS members who are real skilled as well as genuinely know how to job watercolour - such every bit Turner Medal winner Paul Newland, James Rushton and Angus McEwan.
I could brand a representative for perhaps 2 or iii of painters every bit futurity RWS members - mainly on the footing of originality (e.g. Emma Haworth as well as Gerry Baptist ). That's if they've non already opted for membership of the RI (you tin only endure a fellow member of i or the other but non both) and assuming they're interested inwards beingness members. Mark Elsmore could endure a contender but I'd facial expression to run into to a greater extent than of his locomote inwards the demo - but at that topographic point over again perhaps he only submitted one.
The most pregnant observation?
Two walls of the gallery - the terminate wall as well as the long wall contrary the bays were dominated past times paintings which leaned hard towards abstraction as well as the job of media other than pure watercolour.
In fact they looked similar whatsoever other contemporary fine art gallery.
 |
| The terminate wall - the only ones which stood out for me were Gerry Baptist's 2 paintings (second from left) from his serial Mysteries of an English linguistic communication Garden They're silent recognisably figurative despite the extravagance of the palette as well as the calligraphic mark-making which are somewhat reminiscent of Dufy Gerry Baptist is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter/Printmakers as well as a erstwhile Council member |
On these 2 walls, at that topographic point were NO SALES of contemporary abstracted work. The only 2 paintings which had sold were 2 figurative watercolours which could direct maintain been hung inwards whatsoever gallery showing to a greater extent than traditional figurative artwork.
Above is the terminate wall. Below iii sections of the long side wall. Only 2 of these paintings sold.
 | ||
| Two paintings sold on this wall - both are realistic as well as figurative Transformation by Jane Anderson Wood - a traditional watercolour landscape sold for £600 (bottom row minute from right) Tree Series (two paintings) past times Evie Schartner £2,000 (extreme right) I direct maintain all the same seen real much amend painted trees past times others att empting the same approach - see the trees on her website
|
 |
| Still no crimson spots Beaumont Creek II past times Simon Carter, winner of the Daler Rowney Prize is extreme right, locomote past times row Olive Fig Garden past times Tessa Pearson, winner of The Artist Prize, is extreme right, bottom row |
It was real clear to me that the abstracted as well as to a greater extent than "contemporary (as inwards non-figurative)" had almost completely failed to convince as well as that their inclusion inwards the exhibition had depressed sales generally. (Or, putting it some other way, I promise that the Bankside doesn't think this exhibition's fiscal functioning is OK!)
My conclusion
I'm non solitary inwards my views. This is a comment from my Facebook Page
I was a tad underwhelmed too. Not quite sure I understood how some submissions had been accepted. The lack of sales indicates that the full general populace felt the same!In my take in this is a contemporary watercolour contest which has seriously lost its way.
In trying to endure "contemporary", to my take away heed it has completely lost sight of the aspect which makes this contest almost unique i.e. it's a contest for watercolour artists.
It's quite simple. While looking for originality as well as project design is fine as well as non bad what is overall most of import is that these paintings demand to facial expression similar paintings made past times people who bask ikon inwards watercolour for the unique properties it offers!
The job inwards purpose seems to me to stalk from this insistence on the contest beingness nearly water-based paints. This effectively way that some of the paintings could direct maintain been submitted every bit purpose of the opened upward entry for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters which also accepts paintings inwards acrylic!
I for certain don't desire to run into all the artwork that I tin run into inwards whatsoever other fine art competition.
I desire to run into a contest which is beingness run past times an fine art companionship which is proud of its history as well as roots inwards the job of traditional watercolour as well as shown past times a gallery which is emphatically NOT apologetic nearly the medium.
I genuinely don't desire to hear people telling me that "watercolour is non a pop medium" when paintings as well as visitors to other exhibitions shown elsewhere would advise this is emphatically non true.
In my opinion, this RWS needs to acquire dorsum to focusing on what differentiates it every bit an fine art companionship as well as makes it special. Playing the "me too" game amongst the real many contemporary fine art galleries inwards London is a recipe for dwindling standards as well as dwindling interest.
I'd also advise it becomes rather amend at promoting this competition. Extending contest deadlines - every bit this i did - is ever an indicator to me that a contest has failed to generate plenty entries of the required quality.
Exhibiting splendid as well as master watercolour paintings is what makes a existent difference. Let's promise adjacent year's exhibition is a considerable improvement on this year's.
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