John Monks

The Process of Painting

One of the most important painters working in Britain today, London-based John Monks is as much influenced by historical art and the interiors of galleries and historic buildings as he is by the work of contemporary artists.

This set of captivating paintings – large canvases that include a triptych specially created for this exhibition – features interiors and everyday objects, depicted in such a way that they challenge the viewer to look anew at the familiar and the commonplace. Through a range of painterly processes – pouring the paint, glazing the surface in layers and scraping with a palette knife – Monks weaves and layers surfaces to imbue his subjects with a built-in history, implying atmosphere, life and change in seemingly inanimate and immutable objects and scenes.

To see related events and read what our visitors have to say about the exhibition, scroll down to view the boxes in the right-hand column.

Above Image: John Monks, The Yellow Chair, 2013 (detail). Oil on canvas. © John Monks

15 November 2013 - 26 January 2014

Lady Barber Gallery

RELATED EVENTS

Workshop for Adults

Understanding art part III

Thursdays November 7, 14, 21, & 28, 2 – 3pm

 

GALLERY TALK

The Process of Painting: An Introduction to the Exhibition

Tuesday 26 November, 1.15pm

 

 

VISITOR COMMENTS

“Spendid – Monks at his best”
Prof. Deryn Watson, London

 

“Blown away by the illusion!”
Harriet & Phil, Northampton

 

“Incredible browns and blues – you just stand there grinning”
Julie Murphy, Bewdley

 

“Absorbing and refreshing. Excellent”
GD Lawley, Dudley

 

“Beautiful light in History II. Have to keep looking back and re-engaging with the art”
Sam Crane, Totnes