WILLIE RODGER R.S.A., R.G.I., DUniv (SCOTTISH 1930-2018) §
THE FLEA SHALL NOT DINE AGAIN, 2004
£630
Contemporary & Post-War Art // Prints & Multiples
Auction: Contemporary & Post-War Art: 10 August 2022 | From 11:00
Description
Signed and dated lower left, signed and inscribed and dated stretcher verso, oil on canvas
Dimensions
100cm x 74cm (39.25in x 2n)
Provenance
Exhibited: Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, 2014
Footnote
Note: Willie Rodger studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1948-52 and was a school art teacher until 1987 when he resigned to concentrate on his career as an artist.
Rodger worked in a variety of media in a career which saw him design 11 stained glass windows (working collaboratively with John K. Clark), a Scottish Post Office Aerogramme, a set of postage stamps for Scottish Devolution, the award-winning Scottish Historical Playing Cards (for the late Angus Ogilvy of The Stirling Gallery), book jackets and record sleeves, letterheads, logos and alphabets.
A gifted draughtsman, his drawing ability was already recognised whilst a student, and he always had a small sketchbook and a pen to hand. Having been dissuaded from painting whilst at Art School, he took it up several decades later after the late Angus McAuley of the Stenton Gallery prompted him to try his hand, and offered him a solo exhibition by way of encouragement.
It was as a relief printmaker, working mostly in lino and wood, that Rodger established himself. His status as one of Scotland’s pre-eminent printmakers was recognised by his peers in 1989 when he became the first person elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in the category of Printmaker.
The works included here show his humour and range across a variety of techniques from paint to print and collage.