True to the Otter Gallery ethos - a space where the art can shine - these artworks have room to breathe, not competing but complimenting each other.
NATACHA BISARRE
It’s no co-incidence that Natacha is a dancer. Her abstract canvases hold so much energy and movement, painted intuitively with a variety of marks, depth of colour, layering, alchemy and magic. A modern-day Abstract Impressionist, her marks, jabs and sweeps are both bravely conscious and utterly sub-conscious.
Natacha’s palette is sophisticated, subtle, without a hint of cutesy, not afraid to use deep darks and indigo. The acrylic is thinned down so that it moves, expands, mingles and spreads like watercolour. Painting titles are emotive, and all her Instagram posts are set to expressive music. There’s a playfulness and freedom to her work. And yes, she does actually dance while she paints.
Andrew Barrowman
At first glance, Andrew could be seen as a traditionalist, but to pigeonhole him would be too easy. He paints alla prima, as he says ‘alla prima is direct and intentional’ and takes a certain amount of skill. As a predominantly plein air painter, he is accustomed to taking down essential information quickly and in one session. His many You Tube films sharing his skills and techniques shows a generosity of spirit.
The paintings themselves are highly accomplished, rich in subject, technique and clever compositions. Andrew hops from oil to pastel to charcoal with ease. It’s no wonder he’s a full member of the Pastel Society and an Associate Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. It’s a thrill to have such a committed and skilled artist exhibit at the Otter Gallery.
Louisa Boyd
‘I love this space, it has such a sense of serenity,’ says Louisa of the Otter Gallery.
Much like the watercolour paintings currently exhibited, which one might describe as quiet, sensitive paintings. As an instinctive artist, Louisa draws from nature with the intention of illustrating a feeling, a mood, an atmosphere through washes of colour, navigation lines, marks, celestial symbols and lines.
There is a real lightness to her work created with a pale palette, delicate marks and refined choices, resulting in an ethereal artworks on a larger scale than one might think possible in this medium. The stillness of the works evokes a sense of peace and belonging, perhaps present in the confidence of the artist’s hand. This is the result of over twenty years working as a professional and multi-award winning artist, not solely as a painter, but sculptor and printmaker. This level of skill and deftness is the direct result of a lifetime honing her skill.
