Shipshape by James Dodds – 2001 Firstsite Publication

Description

Catalogue to accompany the major retrospective show, “Shipshape”, at Firstsite at The Minories, Colchester in November 2001. Catalogue charts “the development of Dodd’s new body of work. It explores the inspirations in his life as both shipwright and artist and takes a comprehensive look at his printmaking and painting for the first time.” B/w photographs of the artist at work; colour reproductions of paintings; b/w reproductions of linocut prints. Text contributions by Frank Whitford, Thomas Puttfarken, Elly Robinson, and Ian Collins; with ‘Shipshape’ poem by Martin Newell. James Dodds (b.1957) is an East Anglian artist whose practice centres on painting, linocut and relief carving. Born in Brightlingsea, Essex, he now lives and works in Wivenhoe producing prints and books as the Jardine Press.

This Subtantial publication charts the development of Dodd’s new body of work. It explores the inspirations in his life as both shipwright and artist and takes a comprehensive look at his printmaking and painting for the first time.

“Shipshape not only describes a way of working until something is right, but also the subject matter, the curved perspectives in the linocuts of coastal towns and the rounded figures in my paintings. In pictorial terms this is nothing new – it is a way of holding the viewer’s eye or attention within the picture in a pleasing way. In much the same way, a fine yacht or work boat has beautiful curves which catch and hold the eye, curves and lines which have evolved and been refined through centuries of use” James Dodds

• Author: James Dodds, Martin Newell etc.
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 130