Most of us live our lives at a maddening pace and for many spare time is a luxury.  We might learn from artist Matthew Jackson's first solo exhibition that special moments can be seized at a glance.

Artshouse Gallery is filled with his work which consist predominantly of oil paintings depicting scenes from the street, beach and interiors.  The artist has used crisp broad brush work to render moments of life in oils on canvas and board.  Jackson's eye is focused and intensely private even when rendering a person chanced on the street as in Sally, Hay Street Mall.

Jackson's subjects emanate a quiet melancholy.  Even the child's eyes are very understanding and knowing of sorry (Chanel) yet at peace.  Jackson retains the same portrait treatment even when painting objects as they crystallize from dark backgrounds (Shell, Squid, Lobster).

The beach scenes have a sharp quality of light and are accentuated with heavy shadows.  The Red Lead stood out for its economy and beautiful simplicity.  I found the work suggestive of petty struggles people can get themselves caught up in when they don't take time to smell the roses.

I felt some unreality creeping into what I otherwise experienced as a down to earth show.  Jackson carried it off successfully in some work.  Chanel and Skaye benefit from this slight touch of magic.  However in works like Shell, Squid, Lobster it made the objects appear super real, which did not sit comfortably with other work.  I would have liked Jackson to be more selective.  On the other hand it's probably too much to ask to sacrifice honesty to cohesion.

Jackson reflects beautifully about life around him and does not miss a stone falling (Enlightment).