James Gillick
Encyclopedia
James Gillick is an artist working in the figurative
tradition. He works from his studio in Louth, Lincolnshire
. His paintings range from the smallest of still-lifes, including game paintings to large scale portraits and horse portraits, as well as church (building) re-ordering and gilding
.
s, waxes and glues, to the varnishes, canvases and stretchers. He deliberately uses a limited palette of six colours plus black & white, having prepared the oils from ground pigments. This gives the paints a thicker, stronger consistency, allowing him to employ a very wide range of brush strokes in a work from thin strongly coloured glazes to heavy impasto
s.
James is the son of social critic Victoria Gillick
and theatre set designer Gordon Gillick. James has an identical twin, the sculptor Theodore Gillick.
James is cousin to 2002 Turner prize nominee Liam Gillick
, and his great uncle and aunt were the sculptor Ernest Gillick
& medallionist Mary Gillick
.
James gained a degree in Landscape Architecture
from Cheltenham and Gloucester College in 1993. In 1998 he won a commission to paint the Rt. Hon Baroness Thatcher
. The three quarter length portrait was commissioned by the University of Buckingham
to commemorate her six years as the chancellor of Britain’s only private university. Baroness Thatcher was, ‘absolutely delighted’ with her portrait and commented, ‘Can I thank the artist for doing the impossible – a kind portrait of me in a way I would like to be remembered.’
2005 saw the completion of a portrait of Pope John Paul II
commissioned by The Bishop of Nottingham, England, the Rt Rev. Malcolm McMahon, O.P.. The portrait now hangs in the Lady Chapel at St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham
and an identical copy tours the country’s parishes on request. Further commissions include the Most Rev. M. Couve de Murville, Archbishop of Birmingham in 1999.
An example of church restoration work by James and his family can be seen at the church of St Gregory and St Augustine in Summertown, Oxford
, the parish church where J. R. R. Tolkien
was a parishioner. The work here includes a new reredos
for which James has painted panels featuring the patron saints St Augustine, St Gregory and the Virgin and child, plus a further ten panels in a type of iconostasis
.
, Mall Galleries and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters
also at the Mall Galleries. He also regularly exhibits at art fairs including; Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fair, BADA British Antiques and Fine Art Fair and the London Art Fair.
James and his twin Theodore exhibit annually together at the CLA Game Fair and the Burghley Horse Trials
.
, The Field, St. Austin Review
, Artists and Illustrators, Country Life, Leisure Painter, Lincolnshire Pride Magazine and Equestrian Life.
Figurative art
Figurative art, sometimes written as figurativism, describes artwork—particularly paintings and sculptures—which are clearly derived from real object sources, and are therefore by definition representational.-Definition:...
tradition. He works from his studio in Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
. His paintings range from the smallest of still-lifes, including game paintings to large scale portraits and horse portraits, as well as church (building) re-ordering and gilding
Gilding
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as "gilt"...
.
Sister Wendy Beckett
At a time when too much contemporary art is both adolescent and unexciting, it is a joy to find a true artist, committed heart, soul and hand to celebrate the beauty of the world. James Gillick sees this beauty in the ordinary: nothing here is picturesque or Romanticised.
Life and work
Using techniques that date back to the 17th century, Gillick handcrafts all the materials he uses within his studio; from the oil paintOil paint
Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the...
s, waxes and glues, to the varnishes, canvases and stretchers. He deliberately uses a limited palette of six colours plus black & white, having prepared the oils from ground pigments. This gives the paints a thicker, stronger consistency, allowing him to employ a very wide range of brush strokes in a work from thin strongly coloured glazes to heavy impasto
Impasto
In English, the borrowed Italian word impasto most commonly refers to a technique used in painting, where paint is laid on an area of the surface very thickly, usually thickly enough that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible. Paint can also be mixed right on the canvas...
s.
Gabriele Finaldi of the Museo del Prado
An art historian cannot help but sense in his works the distinguished genealogy of William Nicholson (artist)William Nicholson (artist)Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson was an English painter of still-life, landscape and portraits, also known for his work as a wood-engraver, illustrator, author of children's books and designer for the theatre....
, Giorgio MorandiGiorgio MorandiGiorgio Morandi was an Italian painter and printmaker who specialized in still life. His paintings are noted for their tonal subtlety in depicting apparently simple subjects, which were limited mainly to vases, bottles, bowls, flowers, and landscapes.-Biography:Giorgio Morandi was born in Bologna...
and Fantin-Latour, and hear echoes that reach back to Luis Egidio Melendez and beyond.
Museo del Prado
The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, and unquestionably the best single collection of...
James is the son of social critic Victoria Gillick
Victoria Gillick
Victoria D.M. Gillick is a British campaigner best known for the eponymous 1985 UK House of Lords ruling that considered whether contraception could be prescribed to under-16s without parental consent or knowledge...
and theatre set designer Gordon Gillick. James has an identical twin, the sculptor Theodore Gillick.
James is cousin to 2002 Turner prize nominee Liam Gillick
Liam Gillick
Liam Gillick is a British conceptual artist who lives in New York City. He is often associated with the artists included the 1996 exhibit Traffic, which first introduced the term Relational Art.-Life and career:...
, and his great uncle and aunt were the sculptor Ernest Gillick
Ernest Gillick
Ernest Gillick was a British sculptor.Gillick studied at the Nottingham School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. His first important commission was for the figures of J.M.W...
& medallionist Mary Gillick
Mary Gillick
Mary Gillick was a sculptor best known for her effigy of Elizabeth II used on coinage in the United Kingdom and elsewhere from 1953 to 1967....
.
James gained a degree in Landscape Architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
from Cheltenham and Gloucester College in 1993. In 1998 he won a commission to paint the Rt. Hon Baroness Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. The three quarter length portrait was commissioned by the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
to commemorate her six years as the chancellor of Britain’s only private university. Baroness Thatcher was, ‘absolutely delighted’ with her portrait and commented, ‘Can I thank the artist for doing the impossible – a kind portrait of me in a way I would like to be remembered.’
2005 saw the completion of a portrait of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
commissioned by The Bishop of Nottingham, England, the Rt Rev. Malcolm McMahon, O.P.. The portrait now hangs in the Lady Chapel at St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and an identical copy tours the country’s parishes on request. Further commissions include the Most Rev. M. Couve de Murville, Archbishop of Birmingham in 1999.
Summertown, Oxford
Summertown in North Oxford is a suburb of Oxford, England.Summertown is a residential area, one mile square north of St Giles, the beautiful boulevard leading out of Oxford’s city centre. Summertown is home to exclusive schools and the city’s most expensive houses. On both sides of Banbury Road are...
, the parish church where J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
was a parishioner. The work here includes a new reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
for which James has painted panels featuring the patron saints St Augustine, St Gregory and the Virgin and child, plus a further ten panels in a type of iconostasis
Iconostasis
In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church...
.
Exhibitions
James has exhibited at Jonathan Cooper’s Park Walk Gallery, London since 2000 and his work has been included in several mixed exhibitions including; Royal Institute of Oil PaintersRoyal Institute of Oil Painters
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, also known as ROI, is an association of painters in London and is the only major art society which features work done only in oil. It is a member society of the Federation of British Artists.-History:...
, Mall Galleries and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters
Royal Society of Portrait Painters
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters is a British association of portrait painters which holds an annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London...
also at the Mall Galleries. He also regularly exhibits at art fairs including; Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fair, BADA British Antiques and Fine Art Fair and the London Art Fair.
James and his twin Theodore exhibit annually together at the CLA Game Fair and the Burghley Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
.
Publicity
Since 1999 James' work has been featured in many publications including the Catholic Herald, The Catholic TimesThe Catholic Times
The Catholic Times is the official publication of the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Published bi-weekly, the newspaper has 35,000 subscribers, most of whom live within the 19 Wisconsin counties that comprise the diocese....
, The Field, St. Austin Review
St. Austin Review
The St. Austin Review is a Catholic international review of culture and ideas. It is edited by author and columnist Joseph Pearce and writer Robert Asch...
, Artists and Illustrators, Country Life, Leisure Painter, Lincolnshire Pride Magazine and Equestrian Life.
External links
- James Gillick Official Website
- Jonathan Cooper Park Walk Gallery
- New Liturgical Movement article re: restoration work at SS Gregory & Augustine, Oxford January 20 2009
- A short film of James Gillick at work in his studio spring 2009
- Lincolnshire Pride Magazine article 'The Art of Horses' August 2009 pp34-6
- St Austin Review article 'Painting Light' January/February 2009
- transcript of ‘Silent Still Lifes that Speak’ Foreword from James Gillick’s 2007 Exhibition Catalogue by Gabriele Finaldi, Museo del Prado