Opening exhibition of glass, paintings and drawings
by John Corley
John Corley’s creative development began at Art School (Northampton and Canterbury) through influences of great teachers and visiting artists Tom Watt, Stass Parasskos, Geoff Rigden, Ian Dury, Terry Frost and Howard Hodgkin who introduced him to European Art from pre-Renaissance to Post-Impressionism and American Abstract Expressionism.
Following graduation in Fine Art, John joined Canterbury Cathedral Stained Glass Studio where he studied glass painting, the art of the unique visual medium of stained and painted glass and the conservation of glass from the 12th Century.
John eventually set up his own studio in rural Kent. It soon became necessary to expand and a larger studio was established in Deal, which now employs a team of skilled craftsmen and women. The studio has developed in scale and complexity and undertakes new commissions and conservation of glass of all periods.
This exhibition of recent work shows painted and leaded glass developed out of John’s long experience. Early influences of abstract painting, study of medieval techniques of glass making, painting and construction of the great gothic windows in Cathedrals and Churches in Western Europe.
Since Art School to the present John has developed paintings, designs and graphic work throughout his career. This work shows the relationship between the tactile material of the leaded glass and the works on paper and canvas. The images have a strong linear quality between vivid areas of strong colour. This has evolved out of the design of glass and the lead structure. Building on his experience of working with and the study of the relationship of colour and lead in stained glass since its development in medieval Western Europe through to the 20th century glass of Matisse and Chagall.
November 2014