This month, we have been hosting a very special art exhibition: ‘Best of the Best, a year of work from the Level Best Art Studio by Level Best Art Trainees, as chosen by Level Best Trainees’.
During the first week of December, Art Trainees had daily art crits in place of their usual art session, and staff members recorded their discussions. Here is our review of the pieces which caused the most discussion, and some of the best comments.
Don’t forget, you can still see all the art on show until 23 December!
James R’s Abstract Painting
- Mel says, ‘he’s trying to express himself’
- Anthony says ‘he’s playing around and figuring something out through making art. It helps him and it’s therapeutic for him. He’s showing how he feels without words and he is confident in his style.’
- Ben says, ‘It looks very good’
- This is staff member Abi’s favourite piece in the show.
- James is happy to have sold his work.
Josh W’s Illustration of Godzilla
- Tom says, ‘It’s like real; it looks real – It’s really good. I like action figures’
- Stephen D says, ‘My favourite one, fire breather!’
- Saffron says she ‘likes Godzilla. It’s a good drawing. I like monsters.’
- Jude says, ‘It’s surprising how they were able to draw this.’
- Eden doesn’t like this one because ‘Godzilla is scary with his big feet’
- Josh only likes this piece and doesn’t like anyone else’s work.
Tiana J’s Watercolour of Red Flowers
- Adam says ‘It’s pretty. The blue is nice.’
- Mel says, ‘It’s very bright – it’s from the advert for the exhibition’
- Tilly says, ‘It reminds me of summer and spring when there’s pretty flowers everywhere. I like the blue background. It’s bright!’
- Claire likes this one.
- This is one of staff member Megan’s favourites in the show.
- Tiana says, ‘I feel amazing, it makes me feel happy and want to do more’
Claire W’s Floral Embroidery
- Tiana says, ‘It’s so perfectional – you can see she put in a lot of effort and creativity into it, the colours are coordinated.’
- Tilly says, ‘It looks like it took a long time. I like the colours. The green stands out.’
- Shelby likes this one.
Derek D’s Tortoise Drawing
- Tiana says ‘It made me think about when the tortoises came in. It’s a peaceful animal.’
- Shelby says, ‘It looks like it’s flying or floating’
- Tilly says, ‘It looks chill and relaxed’
- Ebenezer really doesn’t like this one. He didn’t like it when the tortoises came to visit us.
- Derek is still happy with it. ‘It’s a tortoise drawn from life’
Tom C’s London Illustration
- James says, ‘London. It’s good.’ James likes London.
- Ebenezer chose this one as one of his favourites and recognised London.
- Tom still likes it.
Owen S’s Black Canvas
- James A doesn’t like this one.
- Jude says he doesn’t like it because it doesn’t contain much personality.
- Dale says ‘I like it because it’s a focused picture. I like the artist and I like scary films.’
Sophie N’s Pink Bow Embroidery
- Georgia says ‘I really like the pink and sparkly combo – I’d put it on my wall. It’s well made’
- Eden says, ‘It’s got sparkly tassels on it – I like the pink’
- Derek would offer more than £10 for this one.
- Tilly likes this one.
Simon W’s Yellow Knitting
- Angus says, ‘I like that it is all yellow, and I like the way it’s been hung up.’
- Tilly says, ‘It’s bright colours like a sunshine. Warm and cheerful.’
- Mel says, ‘Very lovely colours, reminds me of the sun’
- Stephen B likes it.
- Will likes this one ‘It’s like summer, the colours remind me of the beach, and it’s like a fishing net.’
- This is one of staff member Megan’s favourites.
Saffron H’s Long Weaving
- Simon says ‘I like the weaving; the material is nice. I like textiles.’
- Shelby likes this one. She would like to try this technique.
- Will thinks the colours are very nice.
- James A doesn’t like this one because ‘it’s not straight lines. If you had it on the floor, it would be a hazard.
- Saffron says she still likes it and is proud of it.
Anthony B’s Heart Monoprint
- Derek says, ‘That’s lovely, it is a nice one’
- Sam doesn’t like this one because ‘it’s too bland. I like colour, it needs colour’
- Anthony says he did it around Valentine’s Day.
Ebenezer A’s Watercolour of People
- Anthony says, ‘he knows what he’s doing, he knows the colours he wants. He has a unique style. It’s very creative and independent’
- Claire likes this one.
- Henry says, ‘The colours are very dense’
- Staff members Alison, Sofia and Megan all like this one a lot!
Tilly G’s Town Hall Drawing
- Sophie says it looks like a castle, with fireworks!
- Jude likes it because of the ‘set up’
- Ebenezer doesn’t like this one.
- This one was chosen by the Mayor of Colchester to be the design for his 2025 Christmas Card!
Marcus M’s Fireworks Painting
- Tilly says, ‘It looks like a birthday – but also a nice way of enjoying fireworks quietly’
- James A says, ‘It’s vibrant. It covers the whole canvas, and it’s eye-catching’
- Jude likes this one.
- Henry says, ‘I like the brush strokes and marks on this one.’
Stephen D’s Abstract Painting
- Derek wouldn’t have this one at home. He says it’s Messy.
- Sophie finds it a bit dark and scary.
- Tilly says, ‘It looks like he was having fun!’
James A’s Abstract Colourful Drawing
- Stephen B says, ‘It stands out, it’s nice and colourful’
- Derek says, ‘I like the colour scheme’
- This is Christina’s favourite piece.
- Subanki says, ‘It’s creative and colourful’
- Jude likes this one.
Stephen D & Dale N’s Snake Linoprint
- Stephen B says, ‘It’s red and black – bold – reminds me of when I held a snake’
- Henry says, ‘It’s a good print, nice technique’
- Sophie doesn’t like the snake because it’s freaky.
- Anthony wouldn’t have the snake one at home because he doesn’t like snakes.
- Dale says, ‘Printing was hard, but it looks really good’
General comments about the exhibition
- Adam says, ‘The work is very nice all together. I prefer the brighter pictures – I don’t like the dark’
- Ben says, ‘It’s very all good and clever’
- Tiana likes how it is laid out. ‘Good curation by Sam, with help from Eden and staff member Megan’.
- Angus says, ‘The show is quite good actually’
- Sam thinks the show looks very nice.
- Eden says, ‘Nice layout’
‘Best of the Best’ is open at the Level Best Gallery up to and including Tuesday, 23rd December.
