Milton Avery @ RA

 Blue Trees, 1945

Oxcart on the Gaspé, 1939

Gaspé Village, 1939

Self-portrait with Palette, 1958

I loved the Milton Avery show at the Royal Academy in London. A concise exhibition, beautifully curated - the wall colours really helped bring life Avery's paintings to life. The fact that he was completely self taught and found painting relatively late in life is so inspiring... And I always love a good cow painting, of which there were many!

John Craske's Embroidery

Born in 1881, John Craske was a third generation fisherman and had his own fish shop by the time he was called up to fight in the First World War. Not long after being posted overseas, Craske was discharged from the army having suffered a mental breakdown. In the following years, he found solace in painting and embroidery.

 

Sadly, Craske's health deteriorated further and life became more difficult for him and his wife, Alice. Now confined mostly to his bed, Craske worked from his own vocabulary of stitches and the embroideries were of the coast he had loved his life long.

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom in a Glass, 1932

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin

Taken from Revolution: Russian Art 1917-1932, a brilliant (if horribly overcrowded) exhibition at the Royal Academy. So much to see, and in my case, learn. Petrov-Vodkin's ancestors were bandits, and according to local legend his surname derives from homemade vodka produced by his grandmother... what's not to love?

Ends 17th April