The Glasgow Art Club

Glasgow Art Club: Established 1867

 

Located in the heart of city, The Glasgow Art Club is the private members club with a difference. Steeped in culture and heritage, The Glasgow Art Club has been a meeting place for generations of the city’s most innovative and creative inhabitants.

With a regular programme of events and exhibitions, a wealth of elegant locations for weddings, parties, meetings and conferences all set within a relaxed environment plus reciprocal relationships with clubs around the world - why not call us today to see what The Glasgow Art Club has to offer you?

 

I am currently the youngest member of the club. My Mother, Uncle and Grandfather are all members. In fact my Grandfather is a Trustee of the latest renovations that are taking place this year. It is a great place in the city centre to entertain guests, throw parties and relax. I myself hosted my 21st party there in the gallery space, which is known as Glasgow's best kept secrets.

 

 

The exterior of the Glasgow Art Club (12/11/2014) the first day the flag was raised outside the newly renovated building at 182 Bath Street.

 

I do recommend popping in for a look if you are ever in the Glasgow area, better yet if you know a member why not ask them to take you to lunch!? The space is incredible and it suits everyone's needs and wants. With the fantastic entry levels of membership you soon will want to be join up and hold your own key card to the best and most prestigious private members club in the West of Scotland.

 

The dining room in the club where you can eat lunch surrounded by museum quality pieces and be served by the fabulously attentive staff.

 

Examples of the works on display in the dining room (from left to right) A self portrait by David Donaldson, Winder Landscape by James D Robertson and another untitled work by Joe Hargan.

 

Here really is the masterpiece below. This photograph shows the club getting ready to host its reopening exhibition which is being put together by an independent committee. It is 300 works to be displayed throughout the club 1/3 from the clubs own collection, 1/3 loaned by current members and 1/3 from living member artists (for sale). It will be a fascinating exhibition with a real mix of works which runs for about four weeks up until Christmas 2014. As you can see the painted Mackintosh Frieze looks fantastic!

 

Here is a bit about the actual restoration project:

THE BUILDING PROJECT – Ready to go!

The estimated cost of the Club’s building repairs is £1.17 million, and the Trustees have now found the money to pay for it. Partly from Historic Scotland, partly from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and partly from a range of individual donors and funding bodies, this enormous sum has been raised either in cash or commitment.

This is an astonishing achievement for a private members’ club, especially in the current economic climate, and it shows the importance attached to the Glasgow Art Club and its promotion of the arts. Part of the project is the replication of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s frieze in the Gallery. Some of this artist’s unique works in Glasgow are falling into disrepair, so it’s good to know that at least one of them will now be preserved for the future.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has given permission to start. The Design Team has been instructed to make their detailed costing, and the building work will begin early next year. Exciting times lie ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

http://glasgowartclub.co.uk/about/

 

Painting Class at House For An Art Lover

A From January to the end of March I took part in an advanced painting class at the House For An Art Lover. The course ran for 12 weeks and was named 'Advanced painting and drawing'. I was actually quite nervous about it all as I hadn't painted since my school days! But after a while everything came back to me and I was handling the paint brush quite well...

 There are three examples of my works in oil. I think they are OK! I got one frames up and it looks fantastic on my wall ...

Anyway I have signed up for the next course which starts April 24th, I am going to move away from landscapes and try to master still life's! You never know I could be the next S J Peploe! Ha watch this space!

Check out the courses available by tutor Robert Wilson at

Www.houseforanartlover.co.uk

The Glasgow Guild

I am absolutely over the moon with the chairs that I just received back from The Glasgow Guild! 

They are a pair of chairs that were originally from my father's family home. The intricate carving and woodwork were worth saving from the deterioration of the original upholstery and the breaking of a leg! 

I am over joyed with how they turned out and recommend the men at Glasgow Guild to anyone with any kind of furniture needs!

Check them out at www.glasgowguild.com

101A West Graham Street

Glasgow

G4 9LL

Creative Mackintosh Festival

Today marked the launch of Glasgow's Creative Mackintosh Festival. It runs for the months of October and has various events on all over the city in various locations!

Lyon and Turnbull have organized a little exhibition of Glasgow Style pieces named Mackintosh and his Contemporaries. 

Check both out online now.

Www.lyonandturnbull.com

Www.glasgowmackintosh.com/festival

William Arthur Smith Benson (British 1854-1921)

‘What I’d like to find under the Christmas tree’

W.A.S. BENSON; PAIR OF COPPER AND BRASS TABLE CANDLESTICKS 

brass and copper stamped marks W.A.S. BENSON13½in. (34.3cm.) long (2)

Under the Christmas tree I would like to find this pair of candlesticks which is a well-known design by William Arthur Smith Benson (British 1854-1921) and dates from around 1900. Benson was an English Architect and Designer whodesigned furniture until he opened a workshop for the production of turned metalwork in 1880 after designingcopper pieces for his good friend William Morris. The candlesticks themselves are very interesting. Copper sconces at one end are balanced on hooped feet by a brass sphere at the other. The juxtaposition of the spherical weight and the dominant straight line of the balanced arm work well. I like them as my eyes are drawn around the object taking it in as a whole. There are variations on this design but I think this pairare a very good example and would work well displayedindividually or together.

Scottish Paintings and Sculpture Sale 22nd May 2014

 

Sale No. 409 Scottish Paintings and Sculpture This is our newest sale for Lyon and Turnbull and it incorporates amazing Scottish Artist from Allan Ramsay right the way forward to Alberto Morocco. Lot 8 ALLAN RAMSAY (SCOTTISH 1713-1784) HALF LENGTH PORTRAIT OF LORD JOHN MURRAY (1711-1787) 76cm x 63cm (30in x 25in) Estimate: £20000  - 30000           Lot 18 ROBERT GEMMELL HUTCHISON R.B.A., R.O.I., R.S.A., R.S.W. (SCOTTISH 1860-1936) TENDING THE STOVE Signed, oil on board 23cm x 13cm (9in x 5in) Estimate £3,000-5,000   I have to say my favourite in the sale is...     Lot 33 BESSIE MACNICOL (SCOTTISH 1869-1904) IN THE PARK 16.5cm x 11.5cm (6.5in x 4.5in) Estimate: £3000  - 5000   A great example of her typical bonneted ladies. This one in particular is very important as it is illustrated in the Bessie MacNicol book.   Anyway I am rushing to get this post done, check out the rest of the sale at   http://www.lyonandturnbull.com/asp/searchresults.asp?pg=2&ps=25

British and European Paintings - Sale no 406

On Wednesday 30th April Lyon and Turnbull hold their 'British and European Paintings Sale' It is a fantastic auction with gorgous paintings on sale - from a large private collection of Sir William Russell Flints, James McIntosh Patricks, Stanley Cursiter and even an unsual Stuart Park.

Check out the full catalogue link at the bottom of this page ...

Famous for his watercolour Sir William Russell flint has had very popular phases and created some beautiful pictures. We have the pleasure of including a private collection for sale within this sale.

Lot 30

§SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL FLINT P.R.A., P.R.W.S., R.S.W., R.O.I., R.E. (SCOTTISH 1880-1969) 

SISTERS AT DINARD 

24cm x 33cm (9.5in x 13in)

Estimate: £6000  - 8000

James McIntosh Patrick is a well known artist Scottish artist, particularly well known for his depictions of the Angus and Dundee countryside. This is a typical example of his work of a countryside village.

Lot 68 

§ JAMES MCINTOSH PATRICK R.S.A., R.O.I., A.R.E., L.L.D. (SCOTTISH 1907-1998) 

GLAMIS 

Signed and dated '46, watercolour 

41cm x 56cm (16in x 22in) 

Estimate £3,000-5,000

Lot 52 
§ STANLEY CURSITER C.B.E., R.S.A., R.S.W. (SCOTTISH 1887-1976)
ON A COUNTRY ROAD 
Signed and dated 1914, watercolour 
53cm x 73.5cm (21in x 29in) 
Estimate £2,000-3,000

James Stuart Park was part of the larger circle of 'Glasgow Boys' this was an early example of his watercolour works. Into the later stages of his career he worked with flowers only - namely roses and anemones. There are many many examples of these some are much better than others.

Lot 67 

STUART PARK (SCOTTISH 1862-1933) 

KITTEN WITH A BALL OF WOOL 

Signed with a monogram and dated 1887, watercolour 

31cm x 46cm (12in x 18in) 

Estimate £1,000-1,500

http://www.lyonandturnbull.com/asp/searchresults.asp#a_178389

Drawing and painting class...

On Thursday another term of 'Advanced drawing and painting' starts at House for an Art Lover in Dumbreck Glasgow. The course is tutored by Robert Wilson and it is very enjoyable, check out the link below...

http://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk/step_inside/events/397_advanced_drawing_painting

Archibald Knox (1864-1933)

Archibald Knox was a well known Manx designer made famous by his Liberty designs. He was of Scottish descent and many items had influences of Celt. His designs for Liberty's made him a household name, as did his watercolours, graphic designs and fonts. His design talent covered a wide range of objects, ornamental and utilitarian, and included silver and pewter tea sets, jewellery, inkwells, boxes, gravestones and even bank cheques, much for Liberty's Tudric pewter and Cymric (precious metals) ranges. The gravestone of Liberty's founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, was designed by Knox.

 

Lyon and Turnbull's Decorative Arts Sale on the 16th April 2014 has a fantastic selection of Knox's Tudric designs. Here below are examples:

 

 

 

Lot 136 * ARCHIBALD KNOX (1864-1933) FOR LIBERTY & CO., LONDON 'TUDRIC' PEWTER AND ABALONE INLAID CLOCK, CIRCA 1902 36.5cm high

Estimate: £6000  - 8000

 

 

 

Lot 145
* ARCHIBALD KNOX (1864-1933) FOR LIBERTY & CO., LONDON
LARGE 'TUDRIC' BULLET SHAPE PEWTER & ENAMEL VASE, CIRCA 1900
cast with stylised entwined foliage on three strut supports, stamped marks ENGLISH PEWTER/ MADE IN ENGLAND/ 0927
29.5cm high
Estimate £500-700

 

Check out the link below for the rest of the online catalogue...

 

http://www.lyonandturnbull.com/asp/searchresults.asp?pg=1&ps=25&st=D&sale_no=405

 

I just really think that Knox was a fascinating designer and he worked across so many mediums. He came from a small island and had vision. His pieces fetch great deals of money nowadays so go and hunt and see what you can find!

 

I shall leave you with a few images of his works. Don't forget to check out the links below for the Knox society!

 

http://archibaldknoxsociety.com/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swoon Editions

In my quest to find affordable and stylish interior pieces I came across this website. It has everything you could want to create anything from an opulent interior to a cosy interior on a budget. It is perfect for a first time home owner or the younger generation who might need to be careful where their friends are putting down their cups of tea!

At £299 this 'Ella' writing desk is would make a great 'home office' space - it could even double as drinks table for when you had your friends over. The overpainted look is very chic and on trend right now. It adds a French country look which will keep your space bright and spacious. 

Why not add a splash of colour in style of Louis XV with this exuberantly pink 'Lille' armchair, again £299. It will add sparkle to any living area. Just to add these chairs come in many colours. If you were feeling adventurous you could have a few different colours. It would fairly mix things up to have a multitude of colourful furniture against a fairly neutral background.

Everything on the website is marked down from an RRP which you would find in retailers. This means that everything is bargain! I particularly like the French style furniture and plan, when I start decorating, to have my whole apartment like a French Chateau (a shabby chic French Chateau!) with chandeliers and over painted furniture, wicker and many more! When I eventually get the place of my dreams and everything sorted I will of course share photos on here!

In the mean time check out the website on the link below! I am sure you will find great things at fantastic prices!

http://www.swooneditions.com/

Interiors Sale at Lyon and Turnbull (29/03/14)

Today was our quarterly 'Interiors' sale at Broughton Place. There were ao many great lots including this stag head -

Which sold for £750. And also an interesting head board...

Perfect for any contemporary interior scheme. Many items that I was interested in went way above their too estimate but I was lucky enough to buy these fabulous arts and crafts Liberty style side tables. They are inlaid with mother of pearl.

The arts and crafts movement really inspires me and the designs always catch my eye... Excited to add this to my ever growing collection!

I also managed to add to my Lena Alexander collection with a pink and white pastel flower study...

The sale was a huge success and it was another great day at Broughton Place. I can't wait for the next sale ... Decorative Arts on 16th of April. Check out the catalogue on our website

www.lyonandturnbull.com

J D Fergusson Seminar, 20th March 2014. National Galleries of Scotland

Last Thursday I went through to Edinburgh for a seminar on one of the most successful and well known Scottish Artists. He was one of four artists from Scotland known together as the 'Scottish Colourists'. J D Fergusson was born in Leith in 1874, travelled all over the UK and France to eventually setting in Glasgow in 1939.

Fergusson painted landscapes and various other subjects but latterly he turned to his stylised female form for which he is best known. (Previously shown in an earlier blog entry). The seminar was more about his life and work as an artist, his relationship with Anne Estelle Rice and then Margaret Morris. His connections with other noted members of the art world of the time - most notably the 'Toshies' Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh.

The day was held in he Hawthornden Lecture Theatre and was hosted by curator Alice Strang. She has been the mastermind behind the 'Colourist Series' that has so far looked at S J Peploe, F C B Caddell and now J D Fergusson. Speakers were invited to talk around the subject of Fergussons art, his life, career, social circles and how he was influenced by the people around him.

Jonathan Blackwood an indépendant art historian and curator gave a lecture on 'Fergusson as a Sculptor-Painter'. He went onto explain that not only was Fergusson painting such fascinating pictures but he was creating art in the third dimension. His sculptures were not only well crafted but very stylised in design and form. He showed his three dimensional works within his two dimensional flat works which was unheard of.Blackwood went to to say that Fergusson was always trying to convey movement through the female form using foliage and colour his funicular modernism techniques were ahead of their time.

Alice Strang then gave a lecture on his group of Portsmouth landscapes. These are a set of landscapes done during the war years where Fergusson managed to get himself positioned as a war time artist (unofficial) so as not to conscript and have to fight. These were completely new ground for Fergusson and let him draw and paint huge machinery in a completely different setting to the streets in Paris or his indoor studio!

It has been said that Portsmouth docks saved Fergusson from active service and if any of the readers knew him they wouldn't be surprised. He was incredibly vain, perfectly turned out and always loved getting attention and posing for photographs. In some ways he was very selfish not to go to war but he put it down to his political views 'sitting on the fence'

Charlotte De Mille from the Courtauld Institute of Art gave a lecture on 'Fergusson's Bergson' which was lengthly and strayed slightly into academia and philosophy. Followed by Richard Emerson formerly of the National Trust for Scotland gave a great account of Fergusson and Meg's relationship with the Mackintosh's and the rest of the art world in Chelsea at the time.

The seminar was a fantastic and interesting day and I would urge anyone who hasn't been to Modern Two to see the Colourist Series:J D Fergusson exhibition to go!

Robert (Mouseman) Thompson

I have another purchase to add to my Mouseman collection! It arrived today and I am so happy with it. The traditional book trough is dated to the 1930s. 

Now all I need to so is fill it with some decorative leather bindings! 

I am very excited for the next Decorative Arts sale at Lyon and Turnbull in April-they have a refectory table by the Mouseman and I just need to find £3,000-5,000 to buy it!

No matter how big or small the piece of craftsmanship the little mouse stands proud in the design. The arts and crafts style pieces are carved perfectly (usually in oak) and have individual character in each piece. 

My collection is growing and I am excited to see what else I can pick up!

Sale 403 Wednesday 19th March 2014

Lyon and Turnbull's saleroom in Broughton Place, Edinburgh. Housed within a magnificent neo classical building the sale commands two levels - the main space and an upper gallery. Originally built as a church the Directors of the newly formed L&T bought the building in 1999 and started renovating to make a wonderful back drop for our fine art auctions!

Today was our contemporary sale and there were some absolutely cracking lots. Below is a Mary Webb. The colour draws the viewer in straight away with a striking mustard yellow and vibrant red. The tryptic style design of the canvas is split down the middle by a black and white section. This creates the illusion of depth and space, as though the middle panel is completely separate to the flanking colour panels. Due to the shapes she has used to depict her colour the viewer is drawn in and around and around the painting, captured into a new dimension. 

It is a very attractive piece but might be to dominating in anywhere but a large space. It would sit well with a contemporary design and minimalist colour pallet. It sold for £3,000 and I am actually mad I let it slip away right under my nose!

Lot 77

§ MARY WEBB (BRITISH B.1939) SPRING COLOUR STUDY 14 1994 183cm x 183cm (72in x 72in)

Sold for £3,000 (premium inclusive)

A classic still life by Norman Edgar are usually among my favourite pieces within any of our auctions. This fine example is a large piece of work centrally focused on the bright and beautiful jug of flowers centrally positioned in the painting. It could take pride of place in any home and would sit well within a contemporary or traditional interior. This one, however, did not sell so it could still be yours! At the bargain price of £1,500 and I am quite tempted!

Lot 169

§ NORMAN EDGAR R.G.I. (SCOTTISH B.1948) AUTUMN STILL LIFE 103cm x 98cm (40.5in x 38.5in)

Estimate: £1500  - 2500

Unsold

Overall the Contemporary sale was a great success and I was very happy to be through in the Edinburgh location to be on hand. Our next one will be in August and consignments for that will be taken until the end of June.

Sale No 403 - Contemporary & Post-War Art

Callum Innes, Untitled 2009

 

 

Lyon and Turnbull's 'Contemporary & Post-War Art' sale tomorrow looks to be a very exciting day at the Edinburgh sale room. Kick off is at 11am and there is a wide range of pieces on offer. As ever there are pieces by a few of my favourites; Norman Edgar, John Cunningham, George Devlin, Alexander Goudie to name but a few. Silk screen prints of Marilyn Munro and an untitled piece by Callum Innes really bring the sale to life.

 

There are a few Bellany's to choose from - however I think that the example below stands out at £2,000 - 3,000.

 

John Bellany, Ship In Harbour

 

My favourite and star of the sale are these pair by Sarah Morris. Estimated at £700-900 anyone can have a bash at bidding and the saleroom will no doubt get very exciting! These silkscreen prints are exactly what younger generations want to decorate their interiors. The presence they command in a room by taking up just enough wall space lets us express ourselves without having to take things too far, feel too 'arty', 'edgy' or 'alternative'.

 

Sarah Morris, Freemount Street Experience 2000

 

 

Check the sale out below and see what you like. Buying at auction is a lot cheaper than paying retail in a gallery so you never know what you may be able to afford!

 

http://www.lyonandturnbull.com/asp/searchresults.asp?pg=1&ps=25&st=D&sale_no=403

Battersea Affordable Art Fair

The Art Fair - Way back when, in 1996, Will Ramsay opened Will’s Art Warehouse in southwest London to bridge the increasing interest in contemporary art and the London gallery scene. By concentrating on relatively unknown artists not carrying a premium for reputation, the gallery was able to offer works from £50 – £2,500 from a stable of over 150 artists. The response Will received to his Art Warehouse inspired him to take his approach to the next level, and 3 years later the Affordable Art Fair was born. Embracing other friendly galleries selling affordable art, the first fair launched in Battersea Park in October 1999. 10,000 visitors took advantage of the ease of buying, breadth of choice, affordable prices and user-friendly approach.

 

 

I was in London over the weekend for various art events, on Saturday morning I visited the Battersea Affordable Art Fair for the first time! It was very reminiscent of when I used to help out at the Scottish fairs when I was younger, sadly the Glasgow Art Fair is no longer. Rows and rows of white cubicles crammed with sculpture, paintings and works of art. Hundreds of gallery assistants and sales people jumping out from behind their computer screen if you showed any sign of interest.

 

 

 

 

I saw artists like Mhairi McGregor that I am used to seeing, Billy Childish and many more. It is really worth a visit and would highly recommend it. The variety of works on show would cater to anyone's needs and tastes. Prices ranged from £50 to £5,000 so it was hardly Bond Street prices!

 

 

http://affordableartfair.com/battersea/