A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF DONALD WELLS' WORK

In Britain sculpture has always been a quieter cousin to the louder more flamboyant media-capturing art of painting. A sculptor's path has often reflected his materials and forms:  quiet, contemplative ,weighty and tactile. The presence of such figures as Moore, Hepworth ,Chadwick ,Armitage and Frink bear this out.

One British sculptor whose career has spanned the epic period from the close of World War 2 to the present is Donald Wells; a northerner like Moore, who weaves his potent forms in the powerful tradition of Brancusi and Arp.

In fact it was the discovery of Arp sculptures in the window of Bob Lewin's gallery in Brook Street that inspired the young artist; a  new arrival in the capital with digs in artistic Chelsea. Arp's book "On My Way" resonated deep within Donald as corresponding ideas ignited.

In the ensuing years Donald responded to and mastered a wide range of materials;wood,stone,metal,slate,plaster,card,clay,plastic,paper and canvas. There was a full interplay from painting to sculpture. His solid forms emerged to stand interwoven in space with a highly sensitive dialogue ensuring between the positive negative spaces.

The forms came into being through an almost musical process of improvisation where the values of mass, lightness   ,curve and line were each weighed with the sensual eye of a born artist. The austere geometry of form softens in the moving lyrical interplay of the curve. Donalds' smaller pieces belie their scale and live in a larger imaginative space where the material and immaterial evoke each other.

A series of works in plaster with hand carving and finish allowed a process of metamorphosis to unfold reflecting nature forces of growth and transformation. Yet another series of heads were simplified into a state of evolving facets to reflect a state of becoming. These works took on a new life after Donald returned from Crete as he brought the essence of a new environment with him ;rocks ,sea, and Cycladic form. As one handles or views a piece by Donald one can sense the eye and hands that have played with the material, the finish, the volume and line to fashion a work of rare authenticity. His works have an authority to stand alone without labels or set venue as his many ardent collectors and supporters  will attest. An enduring figure in the world of sculpture. Donald will always attract the support of those with a discerning eye.           Robin Gardiner