3 DEEP – LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Shelley and Stephanie Sandercock had a great fortnight at their joint exhibition at the Crypt Gallery in St Ives in August and September. .
Both sold well and received great feedback. A common theme was that the work “complemented each other” and “worked so well together“.
The exhibition explored the connections between the artists and their work. Both are initially directed by their surrounding landscape whether that be the rocks at Gwithian Beach near Stephanie’s home or the boats in St Ives Harbour for Shelley’s latest collection. Both are conscious of the immediate sensations they feel in the environment and capture this beautifully in their work – unconsciously drawing on memories of time and place.
In the work of Shelley Thornton, you see bold horizontal blocks of colour; or of monochrome. Look closer and you’ll find lines and scratches as though face to face with the side of a boat whose every mark tells a detailed history of each and every turning tide and trip out to sea. In the most recent work, never seen before, you’ll see rusty rivets that have been painted over but still reveal the hard work and adventures they have endured in their maritime journeys.
Stephanie Sandercock is drawn to the Cornish coastal rocks and often sees pictures or other worlds, as though each rock has a story to tell. She uses limestone and marble plaster, acrylic and muscovite mica, catching the light like quartz in the rock.
Whether using metal, wood or canvas both self-taught artists have a love for creating unique abstracts with a deep presence. Mixing oils and acrylics with natural rock, sand, salt and mica then sanding, scraping and scratching areas to show the passing of time.
