Nicola Moir at Gallery East, Clovelly

Hanging the Show

'Returning to Sydney' is on 7th - 17th April at Gallery East

‘Returning to Sydney’

“A city is the pulsating product of the human hand and mind, reflecting man’s history, his struggle for freedom, creativity, genius and his selfishness and errors” Charles Abrams

This exhibition ‘Returning to Sydney’ is an artistic voyage through a city. The emphasis is not on the iconic imagery but rather those familiar ‘in-between’ spaces, capturing the everyday detail of how we know, move through, and imprint our values on the city. The spaces we inhabit between work, home and leisure are often the forgotten spaces but they are intrinsic to our experience and understanding of the city.  The focus is on the public spaces which we share. This exploration is grounded in an enjoyment and appreciation of the texture of Sydney from the roads that connect us, to the low-lying red roofs and telegraph poles, to the unquestionably beautiful coast line. The approach draws on Chinese freehand brush painting where the purpose is not to simply reproduce the appearance of the subject but to capture its soul.

Nicola Moir (b.1979) is an artist raised in both Hong Kong and Scotland. She now resides in Sydney with her Australian partner and children. Nicola has exhibited widely in Scotland including the Royal Scottish Academy.  This is her first Australian solo show.

One Way in Beach Street

One Way in Beach Street

Watercolour on Arches

76cm x 56cm

Coast in Progress

Coast in Progress

Watercolour on Arches

57cm x 38cm

This painting needs more work but I enjoy the energy that comes with under-painting a scene and the marks that result. I have used a lot of phthalo blue in this underworking, phthalo is the most over-powering watercolour colour I have come across. It can dominant the work and is hard to control, but it is so beautiful and intense.

Returning to Simeon Street

 Simeon Street Roofs

Mixed Media on Arches Paper

46cm x 38cm

From Simeon Street

 From Simeon Street

Watercolour, Ink, Chinese Paint on Bockingford 

33cm x 26cm

From Simeon Street Ink

Ink on Watercolour Paper

24cm x 24cm

I recently discovered a new view of Clovelly from a high point near Simeon Street. It gives a wonderful outlook onto the landscapes and the graveyard and ocean in the distance. These are quick sketches from that point.

Blank Spaces

Fern Street Road

Watercolour and Chinese Ink on Rice Paper
58cm x 42cm

It is often hard to know when a painting is finished. In watercolour it is really important to be aware of over-working as this can dull a piece irretrievably. Oil and acyclic perhaps more forgiving as paint can be scraped back or painted on fresh. In watercolour I enjoy that each brush stroke is intrinsic to the final painting. Obviously, as a result I am attempting to make each stroke deliberate and beautiful, and also diverse. In these recent pieces I am deliberately exaggerating the under-working to leave some of the rice paper or watercolour paper completely exposed.

Fern Street

Watercolour and Chinese Ink on Rice Paper
50cm x 42cm

Bronte Fence

Watercolour and Chinese Ink on Arches
33cm x 27cm

The Heads

The Heads 

Watercolour and Chinese Paint on Arches

28cm x 40cm

The Harbour from Watsons Bay

Watercolour on Arches Paper

28cm x 40cm

October Coogee

October Coogee

Watercolour and Chinese Ink on Arches Paper
57cm x 34cm

Today I visit Gallery East in Clovelly where my solo show will be in April 2011. The exhibition was another local artist called Nick Hollo.  Like my recent work, he is also inspired by the Sydney landscape as his subject-matter. He uses oil pastels on board to create wonderful bold interpretations of the landscape.