Nicki Watts on Sussex Modernism at the Towner

Oil on canvas

Oil on canvas, vivid and striking, the colours are so bold,

Oil paintings remain vibrant even when they’re centuries old.

Ideal for creating intricate details, textures and blending,

Oil paints are versatile, a medium worth befriending.

Watercolour on paper, now mistakes are harder to correct,

With these paints you only get one chance to create something perfect.

The translucent, luminous qualities make for delicate hues,

So if you want subtlety and precision that’s what you should use.

Pen on paper, back to basics, this can be a good place to start,

Use a variety of inks and papers to make diverse art.

You can use many different techniques to produce your depth and shade,

Once you get those lines and marks down a lasting impression is made.

Embroidery, sculpture, pastels, they are all there for exploring,

There are a million ways in which you can construct a drawing.

Stillness

There is a common thread which weaves all art together in some way,

One similarity, all artists need some stillness in their day.

Whatever style they’re working in they require that moment of calm,

Precious fragments of tranquillity can become their healing balm.

Taking in some peace and quiet can soothe their minds and help them dream,

And before they know it they’ve constructed their next concept or theme.

Artists find themselves craving stillness, it’s essential for their work,

It’s something of a necessity, not a luxury or perk.

Some people find stillness at the beach, whilst staring at the ocean,

Becoming transfixed by the steady, rhythmic and constant motion.

Others might access serenity in a garden or a park,

Or by beholding a sunset as the sky’s light turns into dark.

They might gaze through the window whilst sitting in their favourite chair,

When you know where to look stillness can be found almost anywhere.

Not everything’s black and white

Not everything’s black and white, there are many colours and shades in between,

Like in the springtime when there’s new life, the world seems to be painted in green.

When it’s summer and the sun is blazing down bright yellow is called to mind,

Orange also has a part to play, with radiance which is unconfined.

The autumn brings warm reds and browns, along with comforting bronze tones and gold,

Giving way to icy silvers and blues as the earth submits to the cold.

When the sky gets heavy and angry it darkens to a menacing grey,

When the sun rises and sets you get a full colour palette on display.

Sometimes two elements collaborate and you’re treated to a rainbow,

And you’ve got seven pastel colours to choose from, shades which shimmer and glow.

When raindrops settle on spiders’ webs then platinum and diamonds appear,

The world is full to bursting with colours designed to bring wonder and cheer.

Some things are black and white, rightly so, black and white will always have their place,

But not everything amounts to that, there are countless colours to embrace.

Tradition and Modernity

Since the late 19th century, an artistic eternity,

There has been some friction between tradition and modernity.

Staunch modernists would often disregard art steeped in tradition,

They believed art had to change so transformation was their mission.

They wanted to demonstrate how life differed from the days gone by,

With each new modernist movement there were fresh approaches to try.

Radical artists thought culture was only found in the city,

And that Sussex was “provincial”, which was something of a pity.

Then along came other modernists who weren’t quite so hard hearted,

They thought it was fine to move on but still respect where they started.

Using their new tools they recrafted the existing creations,

Acknowledging the past and present in their interpretations.

They grasped what many people along the way failed to understand,

Tradition and modernity have to co-exist, hand in hand.

Life in a frame

You get admired by everyone if you live your life in a frame,

Everybody stares at you but no two people view you the same.

They’ll spend hours gazing at you as you stay trapped behind the glass,

All too aware your dreams of escaping shall never come to pass.

Some people will examine you closely, picking out each detail,

Scrutinising all brush strokes or pen marks, harsh judgment will prevail.

Others will look more broadly and take in the picture as a whole,

They don’t think too deeply, general appreciation is their goal.

Everyone will form opinions based on their own perspective,

Some will like what they see, and some won’t, because art is subjective.

You’ll get people who’ll look straight through you in favour of your background,

But others see you and they can’t believe the masterpiece they’ve found.

Life in a frame means people will always want to lay eyes on you,

Whilst some of them understand the vision others haven’t a clue.

The timeless beauty of Sussex

The timeless beauty of Sussex inspires artists far and wide,

They’re drawn to the picturesque coastlines and the rolling countryside.

They love the pretty hamlets and villages and the seaside towns,

Beachy Head, the Seven Sisters and of course the stunning South Downs.

Artists have been flocking to Sussex for many generations,

To turn what they see around them into expressive creations.

Some people associate this county with work, some with pleasure,

But one thing’s for certain, they all know it’s a place to treasure.

Whether visitors passing through or residents in their own rights,

In the end no-one is immune to this region’s countless delights.

The timeless beauty of Sussex is something which can’t be ignored,

It’s a magical area and it will always be adored.

Artists will come here in a hundred years and still be blown away,

By the abundance of pulchritude which is ever on display.