As I see it

Jim Holmes

16th July - 20th August

On 17th August 1889 a group of Australian artists, Roberts, Conder, Streeton, McCubbin, and others, held the 9" x 5" impressionism exhibition in Melbourne.

At the time it was difficult to get the canvas to paint on, but the one thing they had was cigar box lids, made of cedar wood which measured approximately 9"x 5". This exhibition is now considered one of the most famous in Australian art history and the paintings are regarded as national treasures.

During lockdown and with the combination of Brexit, art materials were difficult to get hold of in Northern Ireland for a while. At the time I had two canvas boards each of 18" x 24" which would give me 6 - 6" x 12" boards to paint on. So I started painting/sketching. I now find this size ideal for painting outside and when framed make a nice sized painting.

Whilst the majority of the painting in this exhibition have been painted on canvas covered boards cut to size, some have been painted on various pieces of wood or card of varying sizes.