A month-long exhibition which launches at the Tatha Gallery in Newport this weekend is a family affair.
Generations of Colour features the work of the late David McClure and his grandson Calum, two artists for whom the use of bold, strong colour became a key factor in their work.
In 1957 David McClure was recruited to the staff of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee by Alberto Morrocco.
The the two were to maintain a close, life-long professional and personal friendship until they both died in 1998 – McClure having succeeded Morrocco as Head of Painting on the latter’s retiral in 1983.
David is often credited with bringing many of the characteristics of “The Edinburgh School” to the teaching of the college in Dundee, painterly qualities, where the use of freely-handled, textural paint and strong, expressive colour is underpinned by lyrical yet rigorous drawing and composition.
Calum McClure grew up surrounded by the work of a wide range of artists but with a particularly intimate knowledge of his grandfather’s work both from childhood visits to Dundee and on the walls at home and later through being able to study at first hand, his grandfather’s sketchbooks, portfolios and other works from the artist’s Estate.
Calum’s predominantly landscape work however has never shown any particular influence from that of grandfather however inspired by his practice as an artist he may have been.
It often involves water with landscape and trees reflected in it.
Initially his work consisted of detailed pencil drawings but more prominently oils in which a “realistic” capturing of particular moments of light and pattern is achieved through a highly-varied range of tighter and freer brush marks that also manage to have an independent interest and value of their own.
These works can perhaps be described as “natural” in their choice and use of colour.
However in the last five years or so there has been a noticeable change in the approach to colour that coincided with the artist adding the monotype medium to his output, initially under the generous tutelage of Barbara Rae.
He has continued his monotyping at Glasgow Print Studio, where etchings have also now taken the place of drawings in his output.
Helen Glassford, director and co-founder of the Tatha Gallery said: “Generations of Colour serves as a precious reminder to us all that the use of bold, colourful and freely handled paint can reach out and enhance lives across all generations.”
*Generations of Colour: David McClure and Calum McClure, Tatha Gallery, Newport, September 30 to October 28
