Eric Gaskell Landscapes and waterscapes

I first came across the splendid work of Eric Gaskell whilst looking at some images of waterways and canals on google. His Narrowboat print stood out from the cover of a book on the subject and I was then instantly placed on a mission to track his work down. Look at these wonderful lino cut prints.

Such depth and colour. I can really feel the skies reflection in the print above and I love Eric’s stylised watery movement too.

Eric was born in Wigan, England in 1957 and studied painting and printmaking at Wigan College and Sunderland University. He left art college in 1980 winning two painting scholarships, one to New York and one to Istanbul, as well as the Sunderland Echo Fine Art prize.

Eric has a wealth of styles kept under his ‘artistic belt’, including sketching, water-colour, ink work, lino-cut, painting to name but a few. These sketches show what an accomplished artist he is. Such confident lines and flowing movement.

Many images from Eric’s travels appear in his work. Sometimes ink lines, sometimes water-colours and

sometimes they find their way onto Lino.

I hope Eric won’t be offended if I said that I can definitely see elements of Raoul Dufy in his work.

Also a smattering of David Hockney too. I wonder if these artists were sub-conscious influences, if at all ?

Eric says “I have been painting and exhibiting since 1980 and believe good draftsmanship is a prerequisite of good art and I always have a drawing book in use, drawing from life and experience. Generally the “life” helps to realise form and structure, while the “experience” lets me move ideas forward.

My work is about the process of making a picture. I let the works swap ideas each picture influencing the next. When an idea, a mark, or a colour works on one, I use it on others. I work on board (mdf) were I like to feel the resistance of the surface and I use acrylics which lets me reform the painting, block out areas and change colour balances fast, but I also use canvas and oil, when the picture lets me. I am interested in letting the picture develop from within itself. Allowing shape and colour, texture and mark to suggest the next, letting the image dictate and change the form. The lino cut has become an important part of my work, where the graphic and immediate mark-making suit the way I think. So far.”

More aerial views of rolling hills for our delight.

And finally, some coloured-pencil trees and wonderful watery meanderings as prints. See more on Eric’s Facebook page and do say hello from me when you visit : )