I met Emma briefly at her stall selling her artwork on the
Shaldon Village Green, near Teignmouth, on Wednesday 23rd August 2023 at an
Arts and Crafts Fair. Without a doubt the best artwork representing my favoured
genre that I had seen whilst exploring the local art galleries of Dawlish, Shaldon and Teignmouth. Her
work is displayed at Gallery 8, 43 Teign Street, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 8EA.
She describes her own work below :-
“Vibrant water colours of local scenes. I love painting
buildings and all their quirky details with a large measure of artistic
licence. Boat scenes are a favourite of mine. Watercolour is a real passion of
mine and trying to capture the light is always my aim.”
She explained she did her painting in a loft area within her home. She admitted she did not focus enough on her web presence like many artists preferring to be painting rather than being at a screen marketing her creations. Having looked at her website I was surprised to see it covered her artwork undertaken in South Africa and the style was identical to my favourite Urban Sketcher Pete Scully with my post below linking to his work and digital activities :-
https://adigitalartist.blogspot.com/2023/03/da23001-pete-scully-urban-sketcher.html
But Emma's site below showed none of her latest work in
Devon so she certainly needs to update her web presence urgently.
https://emmacarl.wixsite.com/emmaappelsriley/about-emma
Now for my usual rant about the state of art in the UK. So
once again I reiterate my own concern about the modern art movement and the way
it is being funded through the Government bureaucrats incorrectly controlling the funding to
large Galleries and Museums. This being undertaken with poor taste and thereby
failing to appreciate the importance of artistic education, skills and
dedication. Looking at many of the modern art galleries so called modern art requires
so little talent or effort. Modern artists have replaced the craft and long
hours of practice with an odd desire to often become focussed on shock value or minimalistic or cartoon or abstract like representations rather than true art. This fashion in modern art to place artists
like Damien Hirst and Tracey Ermin as being iconic artists of our era on a
pedestal whilst ignoring the dedication of the true artists spending hours
enhancing their techniques. With efforts focussed upon trying to convince the
public that if you cannot see the hidden meanings behind these so called works
of art you are in some way intellectually inferior. Whilst this trash sells for millions whilst work created by the dedicated true artists not making
hundreds. What has gone so wrong with the art market ? How have we educated
through Government and sadly the Media the public to place value on items that fail
to represent the artistic skills that we should be acknowledging in our fellow
human beings. Modern Art has become a odd interpretation of fashion rather than than something with long lasting pedigree. Is it recoverable? It is only recoverable through education where
the next generations are taught to appreciate human creativity, skill and persistence.
In my case I believe that if the artists with these skills
could embrace more the use of digital technology they have an opportunity to
recover the situation through direct contact with the public. In parallel to
this the efforts being made by Local Councils to develop in tourist locations a
renaissance of local artists leading to a rediscovery of classical art and
culture provides a counter movement to Government failure to lead on any sort
of arts initiative. Read my https://adigitalartist.blogspot.com/2023/04/da23002-cork-ireland-visual-centre-of.html to
appreciate what the Irish Arts Council achieved in 1995-1997. The Government of the United Kingdom should consider such an initiative.
To me it remains a necessity to view artwork ideally in its
original state very closely to see the detail brush or pencil strokes of the
artist. Unfortunately whilst such work on pure landscapes has become less
popular the movements in respect of the inclusion of trains, boats and planes for
the enthusiasts of these modes of transport has become inclusive of excellent
landscapes. These have become excellent specialist artwork marketplaces
commanding their justly deserved high prices paid by enthusiasts. So the inclusion of steam trains
in any Teignmouth or Dawlish artwork immediately creates access to a new
marketplace. Whilst in the Teignmouth and Shaldon areas the inclusion of boats exploits
another transport focussed element and its associated marketplace. Build in
vintage cars, buses and lorries to further exploit the nostalgic dimension.
So as the post was about Emma’s watercolours I have included the one I purchased as a
Limited Edition below subject to her Copyright so you get see the style of her
latest work although the visual intensity of the colours is lost in this digital copy.
The Ship Inn & Back Beach, Teignmouth . 162/250 . Copyright : Emma Appels-Riley
