Show me the Monet

This weekend the Ruskin School of Fine Art opened its doors to the curious to view a sample of their students’ drawings.

Having spent yesterday pottering about the nooks and crannies of their studio I must admit, pretensions aside, taking a tour of an art school is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing ways to whittle away a few spare hours.

The Ruskin building, nestled at the heart of Oxford, is historic and grave in character. Walking through the doors and into the Georgian architecture, one would be less surprised to find characters from an Austen novel having tea than a clatter of art students blasting 90s music from paint splattered stereos.

The purpose of the exhibition was to give both locals and other students the chance to see what goes on within the hallowed walls of the Ruskin, whilst also providing a platform for the students to display and sell some of their work.

The school’s largest event, the annual Art Show of the final honours students, takes place during Trinity term. Last year, this display was held within the dramatic shell of Oxford’s former gas works.

Image: David Tolley

The drawing sale was a taster of the annual show; a glimpse not so much at the artworks as the artists behind them, whose presence at the final show will merely be names on labels.

The casual collection of artworks was more of a jumble sale than a formal exhibition; with fine art crammed in each nook and sprawled across spiralled staircases.

The atmosphere, flavoured with turpentine and acrylic paint, was the perfect antidote to the cleansed and sterile atmosphere of most art galleries and was a whole new way to approach art; refreshing and worthwhile.