2 THE ART OBSERVER Inside this issue 2 New Paintings by Ian Jarman 3 Another sell-out exhibition for Liam Spencer 4 In Recognition of Harry Ousey 5 Painting Tuscany during the night by Richard Clare 6 Profile of an Art Collector 7 Millscapes - Industrial landscapes of the North-West 8-9 9 Questions for Frances Seba Smith 10 Win tickets to Buy Art Fair Preview 11 Kenneth Lawson behind the scenes 12 Artist Snapshots’ American Art Collector supports Manchester Art Gallery 13 One Family - Three Painters 14 Exhibition Review 15 What’s On & Stacey Manton 16 Visiting Pangolin By Kelly Moralee Lighting up the Wendy J Levy Contemporary Art Gallery in June - if the sunshine doesn’t - will be Ian Jarman’s eagerly awaited third solo show. An explosion of colour, light and movement depicting fast-paced Manchester scenes, are set to make an impression upon gallery goers whatever the weather. This exhibition will see a contin- uation of the unique mixed media style that fans of Jarman’s work so admire. Ian has been working furiously on this latest collection since his sell-out show here at the gallery last June. This totally new collection is set to be as exciting and successful as its predecessor with a buzz already forming in anticipation. Ian has a distinct style; his mixed media paintings are bold and expressive yet retain a certain intimacy and emotion. His focus remains on light and movement; a shaft of sunshine, a passing car, light falling at a particular moment; these caught moments are conveyed through the composition of the works. The atmosphere is created by the layering of “whatever material feels appropriate” (Jarman). Oil pastels, oil paints and water- colours are incorporated and layered over the original mono- print that Jarman uses as the basis of his pieces. Ian infuses his work with feeling and depth with this layering and adding of colour, moving swiftly to retain the brief, often fragile nature of his subject matter. This tension between the bold colours and markings and the sense of pace, the feeling that you are viewing a glimpse suspended is what makes Ian’s works so interesting and exciting. The initial technical precision of the reverse mono- print contrasts with the looser approach of the further layers. Whilst Ian works from photo- graphs and realistic subject matter the final pieces are not accurate representations, as he likes to work from memory as the artist explains, “I always strive to create or recreate an atmosphere in my work. Sometimes the inspiration comes from memory, or I use my own photographic reference combined with memory. I try to stop working on a picture as soon as it triggers a feeling reminding me of how I felt at the scene. I am not concerned with photographic accuracy so much as light, atmosphere, texture and line. The most mundane of subjects can look wonderful in the right light.” This latest exhibition will once again feature unusual skylines that help create such interest in his works; using images gathered from such visual vantage points as the Manchester Wheel and a second floor window in Chinatown, audiences should look forward to experiencing Manchester from an exciting new perspective. The exhibition opens on 13th June and runs until 5th July. NEW PAINTINGS by Ian Jarman THE  ART  OBSERVER Editor Features Wendy Levy    Gaynor Lloyd, Jonathan Drage Kelly Moralee, Sarah Cunningham Miriam Avery, Sue Astle Advertising Lesley Brush, Business Generation Mobile Number 07815 207609 Published by Wendy J Levy Contemporary Art Ltd 17 Warburton Street, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6WA Tel/Fax 0161 446 4880 Email: wendy@wendyjlevy-art.com www.wendyjlevy-art.com Printed by Messenger Group Design and Artwork by Richard Clare © Wendy J Levy Contemporary Art Ltd THE  ART  OBSERVER WELCOME  to the fifth issue of The Art Observer, Issue no.6 will be published in December. We hope you find it of interest and would welcome your feedback by contacting: news@wendyjlevy-art.com May 2008 Rooftops, Manchester Cambridge Street, Melting Snow Home Delivery After Snow Princess Street