- Jun 1, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 14, 2025
Background: NAC has run a drop-in life-drawing session on Monday evenings since 2018. It’s proved very popular, with many artists and models becoming our ‘regulars’; some are taking part in this, our occasional interview feature.
Q: A wonderful self-portrait in your typical and most recognisable style Gerrard. Although you are not a fulltime artist, your artwork is very well-known in the community and beyond. Tell us more about yourself and your interest in art.
A: I suspect that like many folk, I find pleasure both in creating and experiencing the creativity of others. I grew up with the art of my mother and others distributed around our house and so have always seen art as something that we can all choose to do. I am not formally trained but learn from every artist that I discover and come to respect, for example most recently Mela Muter.
Artist at Garage 10
Q: Do you focus on particular themes/materials when producing your artwork?
A: I am primarily a painter working in oils and my work is mainly figurative and only slightly realistic. I need the absorption of painting and I'm fascinated by the composition process. I re-draw and sketch my ideas many times over, allowing for a semi-conscious churn of elements, until what I will be painting, reveals itself and becomes clear. This exploration helps me to invest in the quality of what I then go on to paint.
The Shell Hunters
Q: What have you taken inspiration from when producing your artwork?
A: I can become fascinated by the most trivial image or idea from anywhere, but although these things may trigger a painting, they often do not end up appearing in the final work, as they tend to get changed beyond any recognition as I explore the composition.
Existentialists
Q: Moving on to Northern Arts Club, how long have you been a part of NAC and why did you join?
A: I have been a member of NAC for over 5 years, although I’m not sure exactly when. I originally joined NAC as a member of Aberdeen Artists Society Council, to provide liaison and help foster ways for the two organisations to collaborate in areas of mutual interest; and so have been involved in booking rooms for AAS AGM meetings and attending NAC AGMs etc. More recently for a few years prior to lock-down, I had been able to play an active role in helping to run one of the Clubs very popular and successful life-drawing groups.
Q: Have you shared any of your work with Club members? If so, how have you done this?
A: I haven’t shared my work much beyond Aberdeen Artists Society exhibitions and NEOS, although one of my recent painting was selected for the RSA annual exhibition which is open on-line now. I also try to use one of my works each year, to create what is generally regarded as an inappropriate Christmas Card, and post some of these around locally over Christmas.
Q: The Covid Pandemic has curtailed Club activities, including the life-drawing sessions. Have you tried online sessions? Or other methods of maintaining your skills?
A: I’ve found that I haven’t been able to derive the same pleasure from online life-drawing sessions, perhaps because the subjects are already 2-dimensional; but also maybe because “it just wasn’t the same”. Generally I have not endeavoured to do much from-life depiction drawing and I miss the discipline and the social interaction of the life-drawing sessions.
Q: And did you find more time to focus on your artwork during lockdown?
A: I work full-time and this has continued much the same through lock-down and working from home has been a very interesting experience. However, as before, I am very lucky to have a studio space available to me and so I have also been able to continue to create work in my spare time and this has included some preparative sketching etc. I participate in the NEOS open studios exhibitions every September and was able to open my studio again last year; although attendance was down on previous years, it seemed good to be able to show that art was still happening in difficult times.
Q: And finally, has creating your artwork acted as a coping mechanism during the pandemic?
A: Art in general helps me feel better about myself and my fellow human beings and so it has always been a coping mechanism for me, being able to create work during the pandemic.
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- Apr 21, 2020
- 1 min read
Updated: May 5, 2021
Here are three stunning flower paintings in watercolour by James Maitland.
- Aug 9, 2016
- 1 min read
Updated: May 5, 2021
The Northern Arts Club was delighted to be part of the first 12 doors selected as part of the "Painted Doors Project". This was a brilliant initiative run by Aberdeen Inspired. The doors which run from Langstane Place and Windmill Brae through to The Green and Correction Wynd were completely transformed from drab and neglected to vibrant works of art, that all can enjoy.
Here is our beautiful finished door on Langstane Place by artist, Joe Fan RSA:
Joe's Painted Door is called ‘Garden for Gordon’ and is a commemorative piece for his late friend.