Being selected as one of 5 Highly Commended Artists for Fox Open Art Competition 2024 is a great honour!
My original oil painting, “Guernsey | Castle Cornet & Sark,” was on display at Jersey arts centre from 14 October to 9 November and the George Crossan Gallery from 18 November to 23 November, alongside the other 34 great and diverse pieces.
Thanks to jj fox trading ltd for hosting the competition and Guernsey Arts for organising it in Channel Islands.
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The competition’s standards are high this year; it’s a great honour to be on display amongst all the talented work. It was a fantastic experience to participate in the Fox Art Show for the first time this year with JJ Fox Trading Ltd.
Judges Comments on my oil painting – “Castle Cornet”:
“I was captivated by the use of light and colour in this work, which for me gave it an almost surreal quality. I also very much enjoyed the composition, based on horizontals.
As a result, I could get a real sense of the weight and solidity of the islands’ cliffs, rocks and the buildings upon them – brilliantly capturing the essence of much of the Channel Islands coastal features.
We are led right up into the scene by the upward thrust of wonderful rock structure and onto the harbour wall. I love the treatment of the natural rock flowing into that of the constructed wall.
On top of which sits a solitary figure, their gaze taking us right into the picture – I wanted to know what they are contemplating. For me the central triangle of”reds’-comprised of the figure and elements within and across the harbour, both anchors the whole piece and hints at a story within it.
I imagined that this piece could be describing beautifully the beginning or conclusion of a sumptuous novel – one that I would be compelled to read.”
– Mick Armson.