Citadel
Over the years, after experimenting with many figurative subjects, Jonathan Retallick has discovered that his way of processing memory and emotion is through abstract visions. With that in mind, he has created and developed a visual language, sometimes including mirrored elements of his own reality. His recent paintings are otherworldly expressions, taking inspiration from mountainous views from the Isle of Anglesey, where he has lived for the majority of his life. The most recent body of work expresses a quiet acceptance, reflecting the artist’s emotional development.
Jonathan learned to paint en plein air and spent much of his time battling the turbulent conditions of the North Wales countryside. From a young age, he was encouraged by artists such as David Woodford and Kyffin Williams to draw and paint outdoors. Initially preferring to complete paintings and drawings in one sitting, enjoying the changes in light and weather, Jonathan began working from these sketches in his studio, compiling a body of work that not only responds to the real world but also has a relationship to his own perception and feelings. Bringing a painting to a strong and logical conclusion has been a constant battle that means some paintings can take years to complete. Jonathan’s idiosyncratic attention to detail is fuelled by the desire for illusion, much like that of a hyperrealist artist. His fascination with the way the clouds break and light shifts on the mountainous terrain of Eryri, has culminated in a new series of paintings.