The Cheesegrater Couple by Cathy Read

Cathy Read

The Cheesegrater Couple

Watercolour and Acrylic ink

50.4 x 41.4 cm (19.84 x 16.3 in)

Inv: 728

£740

The moment you start looking at the page, the yellow grabs your attention. Confined to the bottom left and left hand side, it adds to the bright red and blue switch which seem to fade away into the rest of the painting. Blues, dark indigo and marine, dominate the rest of the painting. There's a geometric feel as the buildings tower over the people below. Impossible darks obscure the lines within the Lloyds building. It's there but vanishes as you look into the dark recesses .
The Cheesegrater covers nearly half space. It has an unfinished feel, you're waiting for the builders to add final pieces and yet surely they would have done so by now?

Maybe you'll notice the couple in foreground first? Holding hands, the colours mingling yellows as the golden hue of his trousers flows upwards into her tanned arm. There are more people on the pavement across the road. Moving stick figures in the background wander around, while the couple holding hands are oblivious. Where are they going? Are they out for a day about town? Or maybe they're on their way home?

Half the fun is in speculation. Notice also the paint textures, the blown ink lines and blooms on the dark windows. Then back to the perspective, I've deliberately left in the looming effect caused by photography. I want you to look up and see how the buildings converge in the sky. How they seem to be coming in towards you, ready to topple.

Email Facebook X LinkedIn Pinterest

Purchase

From Cathy Read

Palladian Bridge at Stowe

Watercolour and Acrylic ink on Ampersand Aquaboard

40.6 x 30.5 cm (15.98 x 12.01 in)

£520
Christ Church College, Oxford - Tom Tower

Watercolour and Acrylic ink

56 x 77.8 cm (22.05 x 30.63 in)
Kensington Station

Watercolour and Acrylic ink

40 x 50 cm (15.75 x 19.69 in)

£740
St Pancras Twins

Watercolour and Acrylic ink

49.5 x 27.5 cm (19.49 x 10.83 in)
Haymarket (The)

Watercolour and Acrylic ink

56 x 76 cm (22.05 x 29.92 in)
Scotney Castle

Watercolour and Acrylic ink

41 x 51 cm (16.14 x 20.08 in)

£740
Chelsea Bridge

Watercolour and Acrylic ink

40 x 50 cm (15.75 x 19.69 in)

£740
Adventure Begins Here (The)

Watercolour and Acrylic ink

56 x 76 cm (22.05 x 29.92 in)

£1,350