Barry De More
With great sadness we announce is the death of Barry de More on 6th September 2023. The funeral and celebration service takes place on 2 October. One of the most gifted of artists to grace the walls Water Street Gallery.
He would wish, and deserves, to be remembered in the company of Kossoff and Auerbach.
Born 1948 - 2023 Guernsey Lived West Yorkshire Painting since 1973 2003 BA Hons Bradford College of Art |
"My aim is to attempt to recreate the subject before me and suggest a new life, energy and movement. The paint's texture and application is just as important as the subject matter."
His working process - from drawing to painting is as vital to him as the chosen subjects. Though they are separate activities with different media and tools, his painting is always underpinned with drawing, while his drawings have the tactile, viscous quality of his paintings. Meaty lusciousness of his oil paint has an exciting impact.You are right with the artist as he builds up structures, then scrapes away, to reconnect with the subject.
Barry's primary source of inspiration is from observation and he has always given precedence to drawing: "drawing begins the intimate relationship between the subject and myself", he says. Barry's drawings are normally produced in situ and at times more than one drawing of the same place is produced to enable him to become more familiar with the subject. He doesn't look for the picturesque but prefers the mundane and the ordinary in an effort to lift the subject to a higher plane and make something more memorable out of it. He says "My aim is to attempt to recreate the subject before me and suggest a new life, energy and movement. The paint's texture and application is just as important as the subject matter."His interests at present are street scenes, buildings and architecture in his local area of Calderdale.