Raymond Arnold – book review
books :: posted on February 10th, 2009
One of the books that arrived at Christmas time was ‘Raymond Arnold’ by Sean Kelly. Reaching back into the 1970’s and 80’s Kelly highlights just a few of the fabulous layered screen prints that were Raymond Arnold’s passion and vehicle for entering political comment and awareness of the Tasmanian natural environment. Kelly writes ” Arnold continually pushed the screen print further in his use of multiple inkings (over 100 in some cases). This created depth in the surface, (suggested and actual), subtle and complex colour relationships and the building surface, a fracture, which approximated paint.” (p.13)
The early 80’s also introduce etching as a major force in Raymond Arnold’s work. The level of skill, delicacy of line, depth of intimacy with the subject matter and complexity of the final work has consistently been present in the printmaking work throughout the years and inclusive of his current work in painting. Kelly has done well to select a path of works from this prolific artist to produce a book that offers not only a little insight into the motivation behind the work and the breadth of methods embraced, but also maps the artists life in a sensitive way.
‘Raymond Arnold’ is published by Quintus.
