Simple Sketches or Pencil Paintings?

Marian Damerell is a highly individual artist who builds up powerful forms by means of a finely honed technique, using a range of pencils to achieve a wide range of texture, tone and colour. She meticulously builds up her "painting" with hours of pencil-layering and cross-hatching using a whole range of pencils beginning with the very soft, grainy ones and moving on through to those that produce a smooth silvery surface.

She also incorporates incised lines which produce an exciting range of fibres; these act as foils for the more conservative textures. Such drawings could never be termed "simple sketches." The nuances of colour and tone in the works show at least a nodding acquaintance with the world of painting. The phrase "Pencil Paintings," seems to encapsulate the striking impression of her creations. However, skilful draughtsmanship, is merely a means, not an end in itself: Marian's drawings show a desire to capture our attention.

Marian has had a long-standing interest in the books and subjects of the Bible. This led to her embarking on an 18-month project in 1978 to produce a series of 23 drawings illustrating the story of Jonah, as well as a small book to go with them. Marian along with "Jonah" was the guest artist at the Mananan International Festival of Music and the Arts in 1983. A second series of fourteen drawings concerning the teachings of the Christian Church was the "Stations of the Cross." These were exhibited on the Isle of Man, this time in the Church St John the Baptist on the Tynwald and now reside in a private collection in Belgium.

Marian Damerell was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and studied drawing under the noted graphic artist Cecil Skotnes. During the course of her career she has had one-man exhibitions in most of the major centres of South Africa, as well as in London and on the Isle of Man. She has also taken part in many shows in the UK, Europe, and the USA. Mananan Festival Exhibition 2001 will be Marian's fourth exhibition on the Isle of Man. Follow this link for details of her Exhibitions.