Case Study-George Shaw

George Shaw (born 1966) grew up on the Tile Hill council estate in Coventry. He studied art at Sheffield Polytechnic where he gained a BA in 1989. He went to the Royal College of Art in London where he gained an MA in 1998.
 He drew inspiration from the urban environment which surrounded him as he grew up.

His main subject matter is the area he grew up in, especially derelict buildings and bleak urban landscapes.

1.) Sly and Unseen Day

The mixed colours and use of grey tones show that the subject was painted on a rainy day. The road pulls us forward towards a detatched house and the puddles reflect the house from below.The only colour comes from a post box in front of the house and an outbuilding of red brick. Whilst the painting shows us a dreary day, there is brightness from the reflective water and puddles on the ground. The house is very precise and our eyes are drawn to it because it is almost at the centre of the picture and because of the cream wall, it is the brightest house in the area.

2.) Valentines Day
In this painting, the colours are muted but the bushes are a strong green.The subject is one of desolation. It seems to be very sad, the decay of the brickwork is brutally portrayed and the high rise building appears abandoned. The path makes you want to follow it around the corner to see if it is better there.The whole atmosphere is of sadness and loneliness.
                                  
3.) The Time Machine
The colours are clean and bright but the tone is more subdued and the sky is grey. The phone booth seems to be in an industrial landscape and there is a distinction between the booth and the stark backdrop. The focus on the phone booth makes it feel as if by walking into it you can escape the surrounding decay and be transported to any place and time you want to.

4.) The Cop Shop

The subject, although seeming to be in shadow is actually bright, looking to be early morning or evening.The building is only small compared with the surrounding high rise flats, making it appear that the police are in a minority in the area.

5.) The Bus Stop

As with The Time Machine the colours in this picture are clean and the tone is bright, the subject has the appearance of being painted on a sunny day, and the shadows of the bus stop and trees bears this out. The clear lines give the painting a realistic look. This is backed up by the signs of vandalism and graffiti. The bus stop is central but seperarte from the trees and building and is empty, this gives it a feeling isolation and loneliness.

The mood and atmosphere for all of George Shaw's pictures in general is one of sadness at the decaying landscapes. There is an atmosphere of isolation even where the subjects are surrounded by other structures and greenery. The realism of the work shows how dismal our world can be.

 Mr. Shaw uses a style of realism. The paintings are almost photographic in structure and the areas painted are showm "warts and all". The use of umbrol enamel paints gives the colours strength and edges of structures definition. 

The movement that best describes George Shaw's work is naturalistic as he mainly creates pictures featuring English suburban and urban subjects. He is a contemporary artist who is still currently working.