Category: Art Blog

Abject Frustration

23rd April 2019 Jaq McCaughern abstract, Art, Art Blog, contemporary, Detail, landscape Leave a comment

“Journey Beyond” 2’x2′ raised gesso and acrylic paint on panel.

I am having to spend time on admin work, and I am suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous frustration.”Journey Beyond”, is my latest offering, but it is finished now and so on to the stuff I don’t like. I am amassing images to put on a new decorative arts website, it will be De Metham Decorative Arts.com a selling site, that’s if it doesn’t drive me mad, or cause a divorce! constructing websites is so not a logical process. I am going stir crazy, and need to get my hands dirty again.

Working in Red

4th April 2019 Jaq McCaughern abstract, Art, Art Blog, contemporary, Detail, landscape, nature Leave a comment

This work is called “Red Country”, a bit of a departure for me from my usual work. I have been inspired by the landscapes of Arizona, all shades of red, such an amazing place. Once again I play with texture and media to portray the geological wonders of our beautiful Earth. The panel is 2′ square.

2019 New Year New Work

25th February 2019 Jaq McCaughern abstract, Art, Art Blog, contemporary, landscape Leave a comment

Its a new year, hurrah, and time for new work. Over the years my passion for natural landscapes and forms, of geology, colour and texture, have ripened into a visual language. I owe a great debt to the imagery of NASA, and the amazing photography of people such as Bernhard Edmaier, for my inspiration, so a huge thanks to them. However, having now internalized the geographical formations, patterns, strata’s, they now erupt onto and into my work.

Contemporary landscapes in the Chapter House

28th January 2019 Jaq McCaughern abstract, Art, Art Blog, contemporary, landscape Leave a comment

Beautiful setting for contemporary landscapes

The gorgeous stones and carved columns of the Chapter House were a perfect setting for my landscapes, and the natural light flooding through the arched windows was a perfect light show , sometimes highlighting and sometimes shading.

Lincoln Cathedral Exhibition

14th January 2019 Jaq McCaughern Art, Art Blog, contemporary Leave a comment

Knowing I was going to exhibit in the Chapter House at Lincoln Cathedral, I made the decision, to make 8 site specific angels. All angels are slightly different, and Lincoln Cathedral stone carver, Paul Ellis, now has one in his home, very flattered that such a skilled master carver owns one of my angels. I will post more images of exhibition next time.

Working at Sams

16th March 2018 Jaq McCaughern abstract, Art, Art Blog, contemporary, Detail, landscape, nature Leave a comment

Wow! what a great experience, and a chance to meet people and talk about my work, art in general, and the gallery. It seems that Sam Scorer Gallery is part of the community, and people have woven Sams into their lives, several people say that visiting Sams is part of their routine. My term at Sams went on longer than expected, as our 1st exhibition fell through due to exhibitors illness. However, theres always a silver lining and I was able to continue for longer.

Artist in Residence

28th February 2018 Jaq McCaughern abstract, Art, Art Blog, contemporary, Detail, landscape, nature Leave a comment

Artist in residency began at Sam Scorer Gallery 13th Jan, its been brilliant working in such a great place, lots of natural light, and space. I have been working on panels for an upcoming exhibition in Oct, called “Earth Inspired”. As usual panels in initial stages have to be worked on flat, as I am applying layers of texture in a semi fluid state, and because there is a lot of room, I can work on several panels at the same time.

Curating an exhibition

29th September 2017 Jaq McCaughern 3D, abstract, Art, Art Blog, ceramic, contemporary, Detail, Uncategorised Leave a comment

Its always brilliant to put up an exhibition, be it your own someone else’s or bringing together a joint themed exhibition. The very next exhibition I will be putting up, is a “Christmas Bazaar”, for one week only 20th-26th Nov. I cant wait to dress a magical window, that will invite people to come inside and be tempted to buy unusual and unique gifts from a very gifted and select group of makers and artists.

Meanwhile, Autumns treasures are being collected and dipped ready to be fired for more work, including twigs (for a larger nest), acorns, berries, leaves et al. A great time of year, and my studio is brim full of dippings hanging from the roof to dry. Images later.

Creative resilience in hard times

21st May 2017 Jaq McCaughern 3D, abstract, Art, Art Blog, ceramic, contemporary, Detail, nature Leave a comment

If the world seems to be drifting into apocalyptic times, with war, famine, pollution et al, as a creative I feel the need to extol the virtues of my world, to concentrate on truth and beauty in all natural form. I can at least try to present images that have a veracity that informs and inspires.

From the very beginning of my Earth series work, I have searched for the reasons why I connect to and am so inspired by the natural world around me, learning from Prof Brian Cox about, emergence, and entropy, and the incredible journey that life on Earth has taken. I don’t ignore the dreadful scars and pollution caused by mankind,

but seek to celebrate what we have, while we still have it.