Blast from the past II

again, whilst searching through some old stuff- came across this old photo of me in action, roughly 88/89. Working on an arts project set up by my great mate Oz. as I remember, it was set over the course of a week and a number of artists worked with / on a community piece - Oz will probably correct me!!

Please note the winkle pickers - a must form of footwear (currently considering purchasing another pair - debate: should someone in their 40's wear winkle pickers!!), still have the quiff, although these days somewhat shorter!

Blast from the past

Follwing some comments left and past posts I have located an old drawing that I produced in the late 80's. Roughly 20cm x 12 cm, mixed media. The series of work was based on conflict of relationships and a number of large canvases were produced (sadly lost over time!). Some of the influences of the F post maybe be seen and possible Moore, I still like to produce quick studies in this style although looking at my recent paintings this would not appear so! I think of them more as doodles.

Picture artist alphabet - just for fun! G

Picture artist alphabet - just for fun! F

just three words picture association 2

Picture artist alphabet - just for fun! E

Eeeeezzzzyyyy!!

just three words picture association 1

as I'm working on the series of just three words I thought as I was sketching and writing ideas down I would embark on a picture association. Aim, each day to find an image that reflects the series; these images are not going to be the starting point of my own work but just interludes!

Number 1:

a little obvious to start off with!

Strike three - Damien Hirst!!

DAMIEN HIRST DONATES PICKLED COW AND OTHER MAJOR WORK TO TATE
Damien Hirst's cow in formaldehyde is now part of the permanent collection at Tate.

Damien Hirst has donated four major works of art, including his infamous pickled cow, to the Tate collection.
The gift includes an early vitrine, The Acquired Inability to Escape (1991), the sculpture Life Without You (1991), one of the first in Hirst’s series of fly paintings Who is Afraid of the Dark? (2002), and the exhibition copy of Mother and Child Divided (2007) which is on display in Turner Prize: A Retrospective at Tate Britain until January 6 2008.
It is the first phase of a major gift of works from Damien Hirst’s personal collection that he has committed to Tate.
“It means a lot to me to have works in the Tate,” said the 42-year-old artist. “I would have never thought it possible when I was a student. I’ve been in negotiations with the Tate for a few years to make sure they get the right pieces to represent me properly.”
“I think giving works from my collection is a small thing if it means millions of people get to see the work displayed in a great space.”
Works already in the Collection by the artist include the major installation Pharmacy (1992), the shell cabinet piece Forms Without Life (1991), a suite of 13 prints from The Last Supper (1999) and a print from the series London, Untitled (1992).
This latest donation will, according to Tate Director, Nicholas Serota transform the representation of his work in Tate's Collection. “Tate is indebted to international contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst for working with us on building the collection,” he said.

source: Isla Harvey 24hour museum staff

Damien Hirst..... again!

STUFFED tea-drinking kittens and smoking and gambling squirrels could land an international auction house in court.
The former owner of a museum of Victorian curiosities is suing the auction house that sold it for turning down a £1 million offer from the artist Damien Hirst.
The collection of more than 6,000 stuffed animals fetched £336,000 when it was sold at auction in 2003.
Now John Watts, who had owned Mr Potter’s Museum of Curiosities for nearly 20 years, is to bring a claim in the High Court against Bonhams for allegedly failing to alert him to an offer from Hirst. He is demanding that Bonhams make up the £572,000 difference between the sale price and the offer from Hirst, who said that he wanted the collection to stay in this country.
The collection was created by Walter Potter, a self-taught taxidermist, and appealed to Victorian sentimentality with its scenes featuring squirrels taking tea and baby rabbits learning the alphabet. For decades it was on display in Sussex but as tastes changed it came to be regarded as macabre and was sold to Mr Watt, who moved it to Jamaica Inn, in Bolventor, Cornwall.
The collection was sold in hundreds of lots, some of which fetched many times their guide price.
Mr Watts said that he had desperately hoped to keep the collection together and was completely unaware of the offer from Hirst. He said: “It was stated in the contract that Bonhams would consider every serious offer from potential clients to acquire the whole collection and keep us informed of such interest. This did not happen.”
An article by Hirst that appeared on the day of the sale claimed that his offer had been turned down because it was made after the deadline had expired. Mr Watts said: “It should have been obvious to Bonhams that this was a serious inquiry. We are bitterly disappointed with the approach and attitude adopted by Bonhams.
“We have tried to discuss this amicably but with no joy. They leave us with no option but to pursue our complaint in the courts.”
In his article, Hirst said that he wanted to “reopen Mr Potter’s, adding my own pieces, perhaps, and even some artwork”, and described how his children were overcome by “a sense of wonderment” when they saw the animals.
He wrote: “I have always wanted a museum like this. But now the collection will go to auction to be sold in separate pieces. I have offered £1 million and to pay for the costs of the auctioneers’ catalogues, just for them to take it off the market and keep the collection intact but apparently the auction has to go ahead. It is a tragedy.”

source: simon de bruxelles timesonline

Damien Hirst to work on Joe Strummer book

Joe Strummer's widow has revealed artist Damien Hirst is to co-produce a new book detailing lyrics, drawings and mementoes left by the Clash singer.
Lucinda Mellor says she found a whole room's worth of untouched material at their home, collected by Joe on his many tours, following his untimely death on 23 December 2002.
She now wants the material to form the basis of a book which Joe's friend and celebrated British artist Damien Hirst will also work on, with the prospect of a new album of rareties also being mooted.

"It's not something that's going to be rushed into; it's going to be beautifully done," she tells today's Independent, her first interview with a British newspaper since Strummer's death.
"It'll be like an art book, with photographs, lyrics, drawings, maybe unreleased songs, rarities. It'll have CDs in it, rare Joe stuff – we'll see what we've got."
source: C Taylor gigwise

Picture artist alphabet - just for fun! D

I might start putting the name of the artist with the picture!

news from the shed - wince...update

Finally, managed to spend some time on a painting that I've been working on. Its taken several transformations along the way, and has in some way reverted back to earlier work; although I don't feel that it has been a backward step - revisiting past ways of working and colours has taken me forward; in more recent paintings I have felt that some element for me has been missing. Going back to under painting and building up layers and creating slight surface textures is something I like to do and in this painting I feel that some of that has returned.

New work in the just three words series will have elements of this and each painting, although basically the same dimensions will develop differently in terms of materials and styles - its a challenge I am looking forward to.

The other series I am undertaking is one which hopefully will let me explore a different way of working, using many different materials - ones which I am not familiar with and in some cases have no skills in eg creating neon lighting! More on this series as it develops.

At present I have not got a title for the painting... one thought was 'not jimi' (as in Hendrix) which came about in a conversation with Oz one evening!

Still thinking.

Picture artist alphabet.. just for fun C

Picture artist alphabet - just for fun! B

Picture artist alphabet - just for fun!

Recently posted this on a forum and its seems popular. Bit of coffee table fun and light relief!

I'm gonna start it off, hopefully will put one up a day and will continue to respond if there are any suggestions. (post through comments and I will upload work by artist). keeps the mind ticking over!

The more the merrier!!!

Hi Ho its off to .... murals!

One of the forums that I post on had a link going about mural paintings and I thought I would post some that i have done in the past - roughly eight years ago for my sons bedroom. I see them every day and he has intimated that he would like some changes made!! Inclusion of James Bond, an Aston Martin DB9 and some comic book heroes including Dennis the Menace. If i manage to get time over the holiday period I might have a go.

just three words update... completion

Having been unable to spend time painting recently, managed to get back on task and complete the first of this series. Purchased 25 canvasses yesterday and have been priming them in readiness!

Hi Ho Hi Ho Its off to work ......

Been back a day or two, very hard getting back into the swing of things, everyone coming up and asking if I'm alright - not quite, but I'll soldier on!!!

First artistic bit of creativity today - help a pupil make the sky in his The Scream transcription represent the printed out version he had in front of him; using oil pastels, spent time showing him how to layer and blend colours to give depth and tone - easy when you know how!!!

Maybe in the next day or so I'll get back to some unfunished paintings of my own