Sergej Andreevski

25 Jul 2005 in Highland, Visual Arts & Crafts

The Stables, Cromarty, Friday 22 July 2005

Work by Sergej Andreevski

DREICH WEATHER might have deterred me from driving the several miles over to Cromarty to see Sergej Andreevski create a painting in the courtyard at the Stables – and what an experience I would have missed.

As it was, the weather gods are evidently into art. Driving along the Moray Firth coast on a fine Friday evening, the views were breathtaking, but not half as breathtaking as watching Sergej attack the large canvas with tubes of paint, squeezing on thick ribbons of acrylic, gouging lines through it and smearing it with his hands and fingers.

The audience, ranged in seats beyond the reach of paint splatters, sat enthralled, occasionally commenting in whispers as figures appeared on the canvas – a horse, a rider, a dog; it was extraordinary to watch the creative process, inspiring to appreciate how a line here or a small blob of colour there changed the entire work.

Eventually Sergej stopped, stood back from the easel, and turned to explain that he would have to stop for now and wait for the paint to dry. A collective exhalation of breath was followed by long, loud applause.

Congratulations and thanks to Lindy Cameron and all at Cromarty Arts Trust for a uniquely memorable experience.

Behind us, a peacock stepped slowly, gracefully through long grass, nibbling the seed heads. Easy to see why so many of the paintings Sergej has created during his residency at the Stables have featured images of the bird – they were hung inside the Stables and we wandered round the exhibition happily sipping wine and nibbling Macedonian snacks created by his wife Irina.

There were no prices; apparently Sergej was shy of putting a figure on his work. His children had no such inhibitions and managed to sell all their very promising paintings and drawings which were exhibited behind the Stables. Enterprising and artistic – they’ll go far. Congratulations and thanks to Lindy Cameron and all at Cromarty Arts Trust for a uniquely memorable experience.