KURT JACKSON:
By: Dillon Patel
Kurt Jackson is a British
painter, born in 1961, whose works consists of various mixed mediums and
reflects a concern for natural history, ecology, and the environment. Critics
sometimes describe Jackson as they sweet spot between modern and
traditionalist. Much of his inspiration draws from Cornish landscape and his
extensive travels around the world.
Priest Cove, March 2011
Jackson makes it a point
draw everyday, resulting in sketchbooks that are both raw and rich. He never
travels without pens, pencils, paints, and a sketchbook. He even makes sure
that he books train rides that include a table so he can draw in transit.
Jackson views he sketchbook as visual diary of his life, often fully documenting
his sketches with not only date, but also time, location, and notes I chose the
sketch above because it shows the incredible details he puts into his sketches
and illustrates his love for Cornish landscape.
Pyramid Craziness, 2009
As an activist in the
environmental community, Kurt Jackson has been a longtime supporter of
Greenpeace, donating 29 pieces in a recent auction to the organization,
including the one pictured above. The piece is done with a very rough line use
and mixture of many colors. The large masses of people and pirate flag depicted
next to the pyramids seem to make commentary on the large tourism industry
sprouting from ancient monuments. One of the reasons I chose this artist is for
the strong political statements his works often make.
The Dart, 2010
Kurt Jackson says that he
spends about half his time working outside. The painting above is from a series
based off of the artist’s extensive exploration of the River Dart in Devon,
England. He has followed various rivers from source to sea, including the Avot,
Tamat, and Thames, covering the journey through sketches, paintings, and even
words. I chose this painting in particular because I enjoyed his smoother use
of lines than the previous two images and the context of this work in the
collection.
REFRENCES:
Livingston, Alan, and
Kurt Jackson. Kurt Jackson: Sketchbooks. Farnham, Surrey: Lund
Humphries, 2012. Print.
Taylor, John Russell.
Kurt Jackson: A New Genre of Landscape Painting. Farnham: Lund
Humphries, 2010. Print.
