John Douglas Hosea ... major exhibition of unseen watercolours and oils ... please click link below for more information ...

JOHN DOUGLAS HOSEA

Testament from Ian Hosea son of John ...

"I recall Dad always having at least one small sketch book and a pencil at the ready in his jacket pocket. Whether we were out walking or he was riding in the car, always as a passenger as he never drove … who ever he was with, or wherever we may stop, out would come the sketch book and pencil! With a quick flick of the pad cover the pencil was straight onto the paper without even thinking where to start, with a few short strokes a sketch was produced … he would then say “Ok Laddie … you can go when you like!” … a note of light and tone would be added ready to use as reference at a later stage, usually on one of those long winter days.

Dad was at home with any subject matter … in the countryside or at the coast, ready with his sketch book, he loved the changing light and shadows over the landscape … a race to capture a change in light … if he was on location and could ‘get it down’ that was the artistic challenge for him.

He loved his trees, his real passion, drawing and painting them in all weathers winter or summer capturing the shadows as they danced across the landscape. His love for the sea and boats in particular Maldon in Essex a great place to capture the old Thames Barges and Wherrys of yesteryear. Many a trip to the Blackwater was made in years gone by capturing the sailing barges moored along the quay. The harbour at Southwold, Suffolk, was to be a fascinating and interesting place to sketch and paint fixated by boats on dry land awaiting repair, in disrepair or in need of a re-paint … all inspirational subjects to him … not to mention the lighthouse towering above the town in all it’s glory.

My father was a founder member of The Southgate Society of Arts in North London. In 1950 he had two one man exhibitions in Broomfield House, North London and in the late 1960’s he was awarded a certificate of merit at the Guildhall, London. In the late 1960’s my father retired to Oulton Broad and, after joining the Lowestoft Art Group in 1975, along with a few friends he formed a local group of painters called the Oulton Broad Art Circle in 1976.

Major shows at Southwold’s premier Buckingham Gallery preceded this and the opportunity to exhibit at the Assembly Rooms in Norwich was too good to miss. He was comfortable giving demonstrations to art groups and was always a regular in the calendar in Lowestoft and Oulton.

In this collection of paintings there is a wonderful cross section of his work carefully assembled as a tribute to my father and his beloved sketch book.

My thanks go to John Bridges, mentor and an inspiration helping me to bring this collection together. My thanks also extend to Michael and Adrian at Picturecraft for framing and showcasing the work for this tribute exhibition."