Nature of the Beast, Vanessa Cooper

N AT U R E O F T H E B E A S T VANESSA COOPER

N AT U R E

OF THE

VANESSA

2 7

F E B RUA RY

-

BEAST

COOPER

13

MARCH

2016

27 February - 5 March White Space Art, Totnes 9 - 13 March Stand G7, Affordable Art Fair, Battersea

whitespaceart.com

ANIMALS, unlike humans, don’t have ulterior motives.

They are uncomplicated. That’s not to say they don’t have personality or spirit. But there’s no funny business.

Unconsciously, however, there is often funny business and Vanessa Cooper has an eye for seeing this.

These paintings are colourful and life affirming. The slightly surreal image captures the eye, the humorous title steals the heart. She shares a spontaneity and openness with her animal subjects. The simplicity of style and the bold use of colour exudes a child-like innocence. That is, of course, deceptive.

To make things look easy is the hardest thing to do. Vanessa strips away the extraneous and cuts to the chase.

There is also a serious and talented artist at work, someone who understands colour and composition. Vanessa has developed a unique, recognisable style, the mark of any original artist. Most of all though, these paintings are fun.

They’re not self-conscious. The nitty gritty of everyday life is a constant niggle. Future plans and anxieties loom large.

Vanessa Cooper’s paintings are an antidote to this. They are present, absurd, witty and joyful.

Jolyon White, 2016

Cover image: 1 Icing on the Cake oil on board 43 x 50cms

2 The Incredible Journey oil on board 50 x 50cms

3 First Outing oil on board 50 x 50cms

4 Miss White’s Best China oil on board 50 x 50cms

5 Sap Rising oil on board 40 x 40cms

6 The Untouchables oil on board 50 x 50cms

7 The Nursing Chair oil on board 50 x 50cms

8 A Necessary Evil oil on board 40 x 50cms

9 Blackbird Has Spoken oil on board 40 x 50cms

10 Sing to Me oil on board 40 x 40cms

11 Another Wet January oil on board 50 x 50cms

12 The Last of Days oil on board 40 x 40cms

13 Stargazy Eyes oil on board 40 x 50cms

14 Something in the Air oil on board 50 x 50cms

15 Tuning In oil on board 50 x 50cms

16 Two for Joy oil on board 20 x 24cms

17 Museum Beetle (Anthrenus Museorum) oil on board 50 x 50cms

18 Silence is Golden oil on board 20 x 39cms

19 Always Thinking of You oil on board 31 x 20 cms

20 Free Bird oil on board 50 x 50cms

Vanessa Cooper has been painting since her early teens. She studied at Portsmouth University, ďŹ rst exhibited her work in 1987, and has steadily built a reputation since. She works in oils and takes her models from nature and from family life. She has also taught art The ArtHouse, Meath - a non proďŹ t Centre of Artistic Excellence for adults with learning difďŹ culties.

Published by White Space Art, Totnes to accompany the exhibition Nature of the Beast, 27 February - 13 March, 2016 Š White Space Art & Vanessa Cooper, all rights reserved

whitespaceart.com

21 Beyond the Hedgerow oil on board 55 x 125cms

White Space Ar t, 72 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5RU t 01803 864088 e info@whitespaceart.com