Gallery

In the Beginning

Early work from the 1950's

10 February - 9 March 2024

At 87 Brian Rice is recognised as one of the most important British abstract painters with work in close to 70 museum and corporate collections, mainly in the U.K. and U.S.A.  Anyone who is familiar with his distinctive abstract paintings and prints is, however, in for an unexpected experience at The Art Stable in Child Okeford this February. 'In the Beginning' presents a fascinating archive of works made by Brian in the 1950s whilst at Yeovil School of Art and Goldsmiths College, London.
 
A collection of delicate landscapes and portraits are Brian's earliest works. They are from this seminal period of time, when art education was rigorous, and the teaching of skills paramount. These closely observed figurative images from an artist now so well known for his bold, purely abstract work, perhaps demonstrate the value of such a foundation, enabling the student to move with confidence into their own creative path.
 
Visitors will recognise some of the landscapes and townscapes depicted in these lively and colourful paintings and prints. The lithograph 'Cattle Market and St John's Church, Yeovil', demonstrates the changes which the town has since endured, and the1953 print 'Floods at Muchelney' shows how little other things change. There are delicate and often miniscule architectural drawings (Brian began Art School with the idea of studying architecture) which required hours of close observation, and his love of ancient churches has stayed with him to this day.  'Drawing was the foundation of our work, but we had facilities to take this into so many types of printmaking as well as painting' says Brian, whose very first, exquisite wood engraving of a cockerel 'Rare Breed' is also in the show. 'We also had classes in Heraldry,' he continues, 'a subject that may seem strange today, but which greatly influenced my abstract work and still does'.
 
Brian's early idea of studying architecture quickly changed, 'it soon became clear to me that the painting students were having a much more interesting time!' he says and he continued his studies at Goldsmiths College in London, after which he very quickly became an artist whose abstract work helped define the 1960’s.