Derek Balmer exhibition catalogue 2014
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Transcript of Derek Balmer exhibition catalogue 2014
Front Cover: Snowfall in Babylon, 2014, 143 X 112 cm Oil on canvas
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Derek Balmer
CATTO GALLERY100 Heath Street • Hampstead • London NW3 1DP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7435 6660 • www.cattogallery.co.uk • [email protected]
Opening times: 10am - 6pm Mon - Sat • 12.30pm - 6pm Sunday • and by appointment
Solo ExhibitionSeptember 2014
DEREK BALMERThe studio life of the dedicated painter is akin to that of the religious contemplative. Bothspend hours in the pursuance of an objective that more often than not is beyond theirunderstanding. Both the religious contemplative and the painter are tough, single mindedand fully committed. They spend much time alone, far from the social exchanges that occupymost people’s lives. The studio and the cell are private places where only the invited enter.In his cell the religious contemplative seeks God; in his studio the painter is god.
The only company a painter has is an inner voice that constantly whispers in his ear. It is nota complicit voice; it does not seek friendship or approval. Instead it questions every mark,shape and colour that the painter chooses. The inner voice creates conflict. This is a goodthing. Out of conflict comes resolve.
Each new painting is a fresh start; an adventure; a journey into the unknown. A graphologistcan identify style but should allow for shock and surprise. Once a painter anticipates theoutcome of his work something dies. Repetition can lead to recognition and acclaim butalso says `brand' or `formula'. This is best avoided.
Knowledge of the history of art is valuable to the painter but more important is instinctand intuition and imagination.
Yin and Yang are interesting for a painter, suggesting excess degrees of the masculine orfeminine in their work. For example, I believe Picasso was essentially a masculine painter whilstBonnard was mainly feminine. I admire Picasso believing him to be a genius. But I preferBonnard. With Bonnard there is harmony.
A painting is never finished. You just have to learn to let go.
I prefer the shape of an oak leaf to that of an oak tree.
I am intrigued by `Spirit of Place'. I always like to see a signpost that points `To the South'.
My paintings are about memory; memory of woods and forests, of harvests and snowfall, ofancient places visited and chance encounters. Serendipity plays a part. As does that accidentalmark made by a wayward brush or palette knife that can turn a preconceived intention intoa new direction.
A painting was once a blank empty surface, Leonardo's `Last Supper' or Botticelli's `Birthof Venus' or Picasso's `Guernica.' were once all vacant spaces. I like to dwell on that.
Derek Balmer PPRWAJuly 2014
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SEPTEMBER SONG, 2013122 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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STREET MAP ( FEZ ), 201376 X 102 cm Oil on Canvas
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LE MARCHE, 201376 X 102 cm Oil on Canvas
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BIRCHWOOD SUMMER, 201292 X 71 cm Oil on Canvas
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SNOWFALL, EASTER, 201392 X 71 cm Oil on Canvas
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AUTUMN APPROACHES, 2013143 X 112 cm Oil on Canvas
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WATER MEADOW, 201226 X 30 cm Oil on Canvas
SUMMER SNOWFALL, 201326 X 30 cm Oil on Canvas
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HIGH SUMMER, 2012 26 X 30 cm Oil on Canvas
WALL FRAGMENT, TUSCANIA, 201341 X 51 cm Oil on Canvas
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DESERT GARDEN, 201376 X 102 cm Oil on Canvas
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CHRISTMAS MORNING, 201376 X 102 cm Oil on Canvas
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BIRCHWOOD SUMMER (2), 201376 X 61 cm Oil on Canvas
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SUMMER'S LEASE, 201376 X 61 cm Oil on Canvas
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FOREST RED, OCTOBER, 2013142 X 112 cm Oil on Canvas
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OLD TETUAN, 201361 X 76 cm Oil on Canvas
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STREET MAP, TETUAN, 201371 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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FLOWERS FOR EASTER, 201361 X 51 cm Oil on Canvas
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LAVENDER VALLEY, 2009122 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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BIRCHWOOD SNOWFALL, 2013122 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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SNOW MAP, 2013122 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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GUALDALQUIVER, 201192 X 122 cm Oil on Canvas
FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS, 201351 X 61 cm Oil on Canvas
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CATALAN SUMMER, 2013122 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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AUTUMN, 2013122 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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HILL TOWN, SPAIN, 2011-1241 X 51 cm Oil on Canvas
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TETUAN, 201276 X 102 cm Oil on Canvas
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FRAGMENT, POMPEII, 201461 X 51 cm Oil on Canvas
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WALL FRAGMENT POMPEII, 201392 X 71 cm Oil on Canvas
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BEYOND CARMONA, 2012-1376 X 102 cm Oil on Canvas
DESERT ORCHID V, 201471 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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RED OCTOBER, 2013122 X 92 cm Oil on Canvas
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HARVEST EDGE, 2012-13102 X 76 cm Oil on Canvas
FIREWALL, 2013142 X 112 cm Oil on Canvas
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Back Cover: Mykonos, 2012-2013, 92 X 122 cm Oil on canvas
DEREK BALMER CVPRINCIPAL EXHIBITIONS • COLLECTIONS • FURTHER RESOURCES
SOLO EXHIBITIONS1960 Fimbarrus Gallery, Bath
1968 Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
1976 Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
1980 Royal West of England Academy (Sharples Gallery)
1992-94 Anthony Hepworth Fine Art, Bath
1993-97-2004 Gisela van Beers Gallery, London
1994-2001 Anthony Hepworth Fine Art, London
1995 Montpelier Sandelson, London
1996-98-2000 Smelik and Stokking Gallery, The Hague, Holland
2002 Smelik and Stokking Gallery, Amsterdam, Holland
2005 Six Chapel Row, Bath with Anthony Hepworth Fine Art
2005 Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden
2007 ‘Presidents Eye’ major retrospective, Royal West of England Academy
2008 Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden
2010 Catto Gallery, London
2011 Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden
2012 Catto Gallery, London
2014 Catto Gallery London
GROUP EXHIBITIONS1958 Fimbarrus Gallery, Bath Derek Balmer, Geoff Keeling, Brian Mace, NeilMurison and Ernest Pascoe
1958-63 Numerous exhibitions throughout the UK including Woodstock Gallery,London; Bear Lane Gallery, Oxford; Laing Gallery, Newcastle; The Victoria ArtGallery, Bath; The City Gallery, Bristol and the London Group
1963-64 Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol open national competition finalist
1965 Prix d’Natalie, Provence. Winner
1966 Arnolfini Gallery Bristol, with Geoff Keeling
GROUP EXHIBITIONS CONTINUED
1968-70 Artists of Fame and Promise, Leicester Galleries, London
1982 Arnolfini Open – 12 Artists
1986 Beaux Arts, Bath
1986-87 New Art Centre, London
1993 Courtauld Institute of Art, London; Louise Hallet Gallery, London
1995 Glyndebourne Gallery
2003 Royal West of England Academy, New Gallery
2004 Six Chapel Row, Bath
2004 ‘Western Approaches’ Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden
2005-10 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
2006 Cube Gallery, Bristol
2006 ‘Discerning Eye’ Mall Galleries, London. Invited Artist (Nicholas Usherwood)
2010 Browse and Darby, London, Critic’s choice (Andrew Lambirth, The Spectator)
2010 Browse and Darby, London, Summer Show
2014 Hilton Fine Art, Bath Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden Annually since1956 Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONSDerek Balmer is represented in collections in the UK, Canada, USA, Holland,Germany, France and Switzerland.
FURTHER RESOURCESDictionary of Artists in Britain since 1945
University of the West of England http://info.uwe.ac.uk/news/uwenews/news.aspx?id=165
Royal West of England Academywww.rwa.org.uk/rwa-artists/academicianslistings/ b/blamer-derek/
Who's Who in ArtWho's Who
CATTO GALLERY100 Heath Street • Hampstead • London NW3 1DP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7435 6660 • www.cattogallery.co.uk • [email protected]
Opening times: 10am - 6pm Mon - Sat • 12.30pm - 6pm Sunday • and by appointment
EXHIBITION DATES: 11-30 September 2014