 |
| Stephen Frew at Orange Art Gallery |
Ottawa based artist Stephen Frew opened his impressive show with mainly recent works at the Orange Art Gallery last week. I really enjoyed talking to him and he gave me an enlightening insight in his artistic working process. Stephen draws from portrait photographs mostly in the middle of the night. That's why he doesn't use live models so often; and it is the most convenient way for him, as he mentioned.
 |
| Orange Art Gallery: Exhibition view |
He also doesn't work often with professional models – most of his expressive portraits are actually friends and family. Frew is interested in particular in portraits; but he also tried recently some abstract work. Unfortunately, this is not included in the exhibit.
But he included some of his very impressive self-portraits in the show. Strong lines (in drawings) and almost pointillistic colour dots (in oil paintings) take an expressive effect. The self-reflection is an important part of his oeuvre.
 |
| Self-Portraits by Stephen Frew |
Stepen Frew holds a Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking from the Concordia University, Montreal; and he mentioned that the etching technique – nevertheless he doesn't use it any more – strongly influences his drawing skills. The base of each work of art is indeed drawing; in strong, energetic lines.
 |
| Stepen Frew: Why Not Two |
He is interested in precise streaks and therefore prefers wood and strong paper as surfaces, rather than canvas. Some of his recent works oscillates between figurative portrait and abstract geometries – also a reference to Francis Bacon by whom is strongly influenced.
 |
| The two works in the centre are also self-portraits. |
The Colour of Flesh by Stephen Frew
Orange Art Gallery
July 6 to July 31, 2011
July 6 to July 31, 2011
More about Stephen Frew on his website
No comments:
Post a Comment