Ricky Leach

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There are not enough galleries in the world nor enough plane tickets to get to them all. This is one of the reasons I write so often about Artists I've stumbled across on the WWW. Ricky Leach has stopped me in my cyber tracks. Leach is a freelance concept artist whose clay creature work is stunning. Here's the thing. I talk about crossovers a bit on here but it is often hard to find good examples. Ricky's work stretches the boundaries of creature sculpting well into the realm of the white box so subtlety that both movie buffs and art lovers heads could well explode. 

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As if the fine skin textures and obvious skeletal and fibrous tissue frame work is not enough, Leach removes and manipulates ever so slightly, holding dear to original form while breathing life or substance, shadow or mass to dreams, wishes and the quantum like so very few can. 

 

The healer

 

The Healer seems to be a project that Ricky has just finished up. A stunning piece that sits very comfortably between the new age, eastern tradition and 1970s psychedelic and early 80s sci-fi. In one easy trip Leach has bridged, gathered and harvested with all the skill of a Greek philosopher and posed his pile like Kubrick squares a frame. Stick a fork in me.

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My job here is done. I have no words for Leach's work. This has been and always will be a futile attempt. Describing love is gallant no doubt but can never hold a candle to the feeling. I'm sure Mr Leach has a cornucopia of gestures ready in waiting. You can check out Ricky Leach on deviantart or his Facebook here.

Ben Fenton

The Women of World War Two. Sketch no. 2

Every few days Mr Ben Fenton pops up in my social network news feed. His unique and hypnotic recipe produces oils which instantly capture me. Over the last six of months I've find myself increasingly drawn to his site and facebook albums, clicking next with a mix of nervous abandon and voyeurism. It's not hard to see why. Fenton's subjects are not typical but this is far from a freak show. The word respect is heading in the right direction but I'm torn between that and tribute. He hints at warning, even discipline but description is unadulterated and unapologetic.

Sinner man 02 (blue)

The Women of World War Two sketch number 2 to me is mind blowing. Sinner man 02 (blue) dangerously simple and Portrait for the tattooed man the stuff of dreams for many a Photoshop junkie but Fenton seems to punch this stuff out like so much warm breath. I've been tempted to message Ben and ask some questions. Lots of questions. His own introduction - 

I come from a small place in Kent called Dungeness.

I live in a small place in East Sussex called Rye.

My childhood was accompanied by a Poltergeist.

I’m fascinated by death, disease, deformity, anguish, fear, pain and disability.

I paint in response to my fascination. 

- is almost too much not enough but I fear he may see me. I fear he might paint me. His savage clarity is surely no mirror for the living.

Part of the solution.

Fenton's work is hard in a way that makes Guy Ritchie characters look like Californian sunbathers and quiet like Lynch leaving no visible scars. I'm stuck on Fenton and for a long time yet and look forward to enjoying some of his work in the thin flesh. You can see more of his work here.