Goodnight Tweetart

#tweetart at Peep! Gallery at Westgate Studio, Wakefield, UK

Bob Milner has organised 6 exhibitions over the next few months - I have sent him a few pieces for them.

In January I sent Goodnight Tweetart - a small acrylic painting on canvas panel, 18x24cm:

In February I sent him 2 acrylic paintings on paper. They are 2 pieces of a larger painting that was cut into 6 pieces:

This is the whole painting:

This is the painting cut into 6 pieces:

These are the two that went to #tweetart

And here they are packed up to go!

'It Is Green' at Cultivate Vyner St

The fourth in the series of exhibitions with colour titles- It is Green opens on the First Thursday March 1st.
It includes works in the colour green and about the environment.

I have a small abstract painting in the show.

Turnaround - 11 exhibitions in 12 weeks

click for a larger view of the poster

TURNAROUND
a series of 11 exhibitions in 12 weeks by members of the Waltham Forest Arts Club in the unusual space of an all windowed kiosk of the Wood Street Indoor Market during February, March and April 2012.

Project website: http://turnaround.yolasite.com

I will also have a week's exhibition of my own work: Turnaround 7 'Sky' - March 24th - 30th.

Turnaround is a curation project by Julie Caves, Julian Beere and Helen Porter.

Turnaround exhibition series

Turnaround is a series of pop-up exhibitions by the members of the Waltham Forest Arts Club in the unusual space of an all windowed kiosk of the Wood Street Indoor Market. We will turn the space into a gallery for 11 week-long shows during February, March and April 2012. Art will include painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, photography, video, performance & sound works, textiles, mixed media & crafts, music and poetry.

Project website: http://turnaround.yolasite.com

Turnaround is a curation project by Julie Caves, Julian Beere and Helen Porter.

Love is enough? – art exhibition

This group exhibition organised by Friends of the William Morris Gallery is based on William Morris’s poem of the same name and will be open from Tuesday 7 February till Saturday 3 March at The Mill on Coppermill Lane.

The artists are supporters of The Mill and Friends of the William Morris Gallery. I will have a figurative work in the show.

Free events during the exhibition:

1. Grand “meet the artists” night on 14 February, 6pm-9pm

2. Printmaking workshop on Saturday 18 February, 12pm-4.30pm

3. A discussion with speakers Wednesday 22 February, “Is Love Enough? William Morris and the struggle for a better world”, 6.30pm-8pm.

All events are free for anybody to attend.

Opening hours Tuesday, Wed, Thursday, 10am – 7pm, Friday and Sat 10am – 6pm pm, Sunday 11am - 2pm.

Black at Cultivate Vyner Street

'BLACK'

Opening night: Thursday 2nd February at 18:00 - 21:00

then open from Friday 3rd - Tuesday 14th February 2012

Note: the gallery is shut Mon-Wed unless you make an appointment.

Cultivate Vyner Street

I will have a painting in this exhibition.

"What light through yonder painting breaks?"

The Jerry Saltz Abstract Manifesto, in Twenty Parts

"Abstraction is one of the greatest visionary tools ever invented by human beings to imagine, decipher, and depict the world."

"...contemporary artists have not only begun to re-explore the possibilities of abstraction... Abstraction is breaking free again."

"Abstraction contains multitudes."

Go read this article, it is awesome.

Abstract Painting

"Abstraction, as it turns out, is among the greatest tools invented by human beings to envision the chaos of the universe." - Jerry Saltz

Something Blue

A second blue event for me in the same week- I have 3 paintings in the show Something Blue at Cultivate Vyner St.

BLUE - the World's Favourite Colour

I will be presenting a short illustrated talk at the next meeting on Nov. 30th of the Colour Group of Great Britain. BLUE - the World's Favourite Colour will have many speakers - all about blue. I will be talking about painting blue skies.

a small sky study in oil by Julie Caves 2011

Drawing Crowds

I have a drawing called Collection No.1 in Drawing Crowds at the Stone Space gallery in Leytonstone in East London.

3rd – 20th November 2011
An exhibition of exploratory drawings from 25 artists.

The exhibition features work from Amanda Lawson, Asa Medhurst, Asmi Kazmi, Carla Wright, Chetan Kumar, Claire Meharg,Cos Ahmet, Dan Neamu, David Farnham, David Harker, Debbie Locke, Edward Jeavons, fuad ali, Gillian Swan, Heenam Kim, Jane Rutterford, Jen Leonard, Jillian Knipe, Joanne Tidey, Julie Caves, Mary McFerran, Morgan Tipping, Nic Boin and Patricia Rozental.


            

Little Benefits show

Little Benefits
opening Thursday 20th October
then open from 21st - 30th October
11.30 - 18.00, Thursday to Sunday, or by appointment

Little Benefits is a ten day show at Cultivate Vyner Street. They intend to pack the gallery walls with a carefully selected diverse collection of smaller works in a variety of mediums. Work will be no bigger than 30cm x 40cm and and all work will be for sale at a price of no more than £100. I have 5 landscape paintings in the show.

Red Show

I have a painting in the multi media group show called

RED
at Cultivate, Vyner St.

Place No.2 (oil and acrylic on canvas)

Making our Marks at the Mill on Coppermill Lane

I picked up my small oil painting from the community exhibition at The Mill today. It was great to be a part of their inaugural exhibition!

Art Grows on Trees

Every year on the long pathway to the Town Square the trees will grow pieces of art to be picked!
Art Grows on Trees is one of the Waltham Forest Arts Club's projects for the E17 Art Trail.

I have made two series of small works on paper for this event.
The Whole Picture 2.
I created a 22x30in acrylic painting on paper and cut it into 28 pieces. They each make a nice artwork that can be framed or posted on the wall. Plus there is the possibility that sometime in the future all 28 recipients will get together and the pieces of the painting will be reunited and they can see the whole picture.


Blue Birds mini prints.
After taking a class with Stephen Fowler at Falkiner's I carved a set of 3 stamps in the shapes of pigeons which I have been drawing a lot lately.
I then drew on the stamps with ink pencils and printed them onto paper and added some painted details.


Now I just need to package them up for hanging in the trees during the E17 Art Trail!

The Poetry Trail Anthology

Paekakariki Press are printing a Poetry Trail Anthology of work in the Walthamstow Poetry Trail. Available at all good stockists during the E17 Art Trail. The E17 Poetry Trail Anthology Launch is Thursday, September 1 · 7:30pm - 10:30pm

This year and for the first time, the E17 Art Trail plays host to a poetry trail. Inspired by the themes of “Home” and “Community” – poets and artists have collaborated to create the Walthamstow Poetry Trail. Estate Agents along Hoe Street have donated property display spaces to provide a focus for the trail with illustrated poems to draw you along the street. Poems will also be displayed in the windows of the Walthamstow Library. The art prints on display will be provided by Paekakariki Press who will also be printing an anthology of the poems which will be available to buy during and after the Art Trail.

I did this illustration for a poem called Soap by Anna Johnson.

Cafe Gallery Projects Open 2011

I always enjoy the Cafe Gallery Projects Open Exhibitions. Here is my piece Brick Wall No. 2. The exhibition was up for July and August but is finished now.

Art Subject Seeking Arts Writer

Dear Arts Writer,
I am responsible for publicising our annual Open Studios and Silent Auction event at my studio complex.
I thought a good way to get the word out might be to find someone who would want to write an article about the group of artists, cos they are interesting. So I am now seeking an arts writer who is looking for a subject.
If you are a writer and need something interesting to write about- the group of artists at Blackhorse Lane Studios might be just what you are looking for!

Blackhorse Lane Studios is located in the vibrant art area of Walthamstow in NE London. This new artists’ space managed by the Barbican Arts Group Trust (BAGT) has been here just three years but the 28 artists have a much longer history with their collective achievements in education, exhibitions and prestigious art prizes.

The group includes emerging and established artists whose diverse practices transverse both contemporary and traditional styles. The studio artists include sculptors using both organic and recycled materials, a painter using highly personal subject matter, beautiful works created from large scale paper cuts that relate to the female form, an artist that uses glass to make interactive works, another artist layers transparent colours to elicit a subconscious reaction, a painter of Rubinesque male figures, large scale quirky animal characters created by palette knife, and an installation artist who uses light projections.

In addition to their art these artists would be interesting to write about because they are interesting people who have led interesting lives. One artist lives on a boat, another used to ride to school on a pony, while another has been a resident artist in India. We are a varied group. For example, the music you can hear playing from inside the studios varies from Jimi Hendrix to Maroon 5 to Radio 4.

A number of the BHL artists have been short listed for the Jerwood Drawing, Sculpture and Glass Prizes and some have even gone on to win one or more of these. Other achievements include: short-listed for the Max Mara Prize, winner of the Pride in the House exhibition, commissions for British Telecom, British airways, and the Bank of England, permanently placed commissioned sculptures in London Parks, visiting artist in Santiniketan in Bengal, India, a winner of a Millennium Award and many more too numerous to list. Their collective art training includes all of the prestigious art colleges in the UK plus some in Italy and the USA.

Our annual event, the Blackhorse Lane Open Studios and Silent Auction, is part of the popular East London arts festival the E17 Art Trail. We will also have the ArtWorks Open exhibition in our ArtWorks Project Space, selected by Graham Crowley and Kiera Bennett; poetry readings by the Forest Poets; and a Kid's Art Quiz with prizes.

If you need a subject to write about and find this group of artists intriguing please contact me: julie.caves(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot) uk.

Blackhorse Lane Open Studios and Silent Auction

OPEN STUDIOS AND SILENT AUCTION

IN VIBRANT WALTHAMSTOW

- only 15 minutes from the West End

by London Underground or Overground!

*September 10th-11th 2011 (PV Sept 9th 6-9)
*Featuring: painting, sculpture, installation, ceramics, animation, photography, graphic arts and book arts.
*ArtWorks Open 2011 – ArtWorks Project Space – selected by Graham Crowley and Kiera Bennett
*Poetry readings by Forest Poets on Saturday Sep 10th
*Kid's Art Quiz with prizes
*Part of the popular East London arts festival the E17 Art Trail, located near Inky Cuttlefish Studios, Artillery and Tokarska Gallery.
*Among the 28 artists at Blackhorse Lane Studios are winners of Jerwood Prizes and many other art prizes; graduates of the Royal College of Art and other major art colleges; and sculptors, painters and video artists.

Dates: September 10th-11th
Times: 12.00 - 6.00pm each day
Preview Evening: September 9th 2011 (6-9pm) including a donation bar and entertainment
Address: 114 Blackhorse Lane, London E17 6AA
Website: www.artworksproject.com
Free admission

Blackhorse Lane Studios is located in the vibrant art area of Walthamstow in NE London. This new artists’ space managed by the Barbican Arts Group Trust (BAGT) has been here just three years but the 28 artists have a much longer history with their collective achievements in education, exhibitions and prestigious art prizes.

The BAGT artists’ diverse practices transverse both contemporary and traditional styles. The studio artists include sculptors using both organic and recycled materials, a painter using highly personal subject matter, beautiful works created from large scale paper cuts that relate to the female form, an artist that uses glass to make interactive works, another artist layers transparent colours to elicit a subconscious reaction, a painter of Rubinesque male figures, large scale quirky animal characters created by palette knife, and an installation artist who uses light projections.

Two days when artists open their studios to the public the Open Studios is your chance to meet the artists in their work environments, get insights into how and what they create, and even take home a work of art. Engage in one of the most exciting aspects of contemporary art by discussing art with the artists themselves. Stop by and enjoy, be inspired and perhaps hallenged at this friendly, relaxed event.

It is also a good opportunity to purchase original works at pre-gallery prices! Visitors will have the chance to bid on an artwork by a Blackhorse Lane artist in the Silent Auction. Part of the proceeds from the auction are donated by the artists to Barbican Arts Group Trust’s Public Programme. You can see the artworks in the auction in advance by going to the website: www.artworksproject.com. Bidding starts on-line in September 7th and in person at the Preview Evening on September 9th.

The ArtWorks Open 2011, an annual open exhibition, takes place in the ArtWorks Project Space in the Blackhorse Lane Studios building. http://www.barbicanartsgrouptrust.co.uk. This year’s exhibition is selected by distinguished artists Graham Crowley and Kiera Bennett who will be awarding £1,000 and £500 prizes, both with solo shows at ArtWorks Project Space. Graham and Keira will discuss the works in the show and how they were selected at a special event on Saturday 10th September at 2pm.

In addition to the Open Studios, Silent Auction and the ArtWorks Open there is more going on: members of ‘Forest Poets’ will be performing poetry readings on Saturday Sep 10th between 1:00pm and 3:30pm and for children there will be an Art Quiz (with prizes donated by Jackson’s Art Supplies) to encourage the younger visitors to ask questions of the artists about their work.

The artists include Charlotte Hodes winner of the Jerwood Drawing Prize, Sandie Sutton who has permanently placed commissioned sculptures in London Parks, Mike Thorn winner of the Pride in the House exhibition, Helen Maurer winner of the Jerwood Prize for Glass. Other achievements of the artists include a number that have been short listed for the Jerwood Drawing and Sculpture Prizes and the Max Mara Prize, commissions for British Telecom, British airways, and the Bank of England, visiting artist in Santiniketan in Bengal, India, a winner of a Millennium Award and many more too numerous to list.

Participating artists: Franki Austin, Francesco de Manincor, Jonet Harley-Peters, Charlotte Hodes, Lucile Montague, William Stok, Valerie Large, Tam Joseph, Elizabeth de Monchaux, Jonathan O’Dea, Michelle Reader, Mike Thorn, Neil Irons, Rosemarie McGoldrick, Lisa Peachey, Katrin Mäurich, Julie Caves, Sandie M Sutton, Pauline Evans, Duncan Evans, Daniela Rizzi, Charlotte Gerrard, Gisli Bergmann, Helen Maurer, and Matilda Bevan.

Transport:
Tube: Victoria Line to Blackhorse Road
Overgound from Liverpool Street to St James Street Station or Gospel Oak to Blackhorse Road Station
Buses: 158 from Stratford, 123 from Wood Green or Ilford, 230 from Walthamstow Central or Wood Green
Car Parking in Shakespeare Road
Map: http://ow.ly/5EQ5k

For more information or images please contact Julie Caves: julie_caves (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk or Sharon Tate: bag.trust at btconnect.com

The Blackhorse Lane Studios are managed by the Barbican Arts Group Trust (BAGT). The Trust was formed in 1972 by artists to create studio and exhibiting space in the Barbican area. BAGT received charitable status in 1984 in recognition of its community and educational work undertaken through exhibitions, public art projects, open studios and schools projects. BAGT moved east in 1989, with assistance from Greater London Arts and established Hertford Road Studios, and in 2008 added another studio block at Blackhorse Lane E17.

PRESS RELEASE:
click on images for larger view

Draw The Garden

The Waltham Forest Arts Club is hosting an afternoon in the Vestry House Gardens. Start the E17 Art Trail off creatively - be a part of it! Bring your ipad or sketchbook or use our pencils and paper, find a spot in the garden and draw!
The garden's beautiful planting is inspired by its history as an eighteenth-century workhouse garden, with an emphasis on useful plants including vegetables, herbs and dye plants. There is also a wild meadow area and a bed designed to attract butterflies.

•Sat. Sept 3rd, 11:00 to 3:00
•Vestry House Museum Gardens, Vestry Road E17 9NH
•Meet and draw with some friendly creative people!
•Bring your ipad or sketchbook or use our pencils and paper

Materials kindly provided by Jackson’s Art Supplies

Draw the Garden

During the E17 Art Trail the Waltham Forest Arts Club is hosting an afternoon in the Vestry House Museum Gardens. Start the trail off creatively - be a part of it! Bring your ipad or sketchbook or use our pencils and paper, find a spot in the garden and draw!

Sat Sep 3rd 11:00-3:00

The garden's beautiful planting is inspired by its history as an eighteenth-century workhouse garden, with an emphasis on useful plants including vegetables, herbs and dye plants. There is also a wild meadow area and a bed designed to attract butterflies.

Vestry House Museum
Vestry Road
Walthamstow
London
E17 9NH

Rise Art

I now have a profile on Rise Art.

THE ABBEY ART CENTRE EXHIBITION

THE ABBEY ART CENTRE EXHIBITION -

SATURDAY 16TH & SUNDAY 17TH JULY 2011
89 PARK ROAD, NEW BARNET, HERTS EN4 9QX
10-minute walk from Cockfosters at the end of the Piccadilly Line

The historic church/barn museum will be full of art including my newest painting. There will be art all over the grounds with open studios as well so you can meet all of the artists (see below).

featuring:
MATT BATEMAN - SYLVIE BOREL - LAUREN BRANDRICK - JULIE CAVES - MIKE FIGGIS - LISA FREEMAN - BRUCE GILBERT - CHERYL GOULD - VERENE LACK GRIESHABER - MOLLY HAGAN - RUTH PARKER - JAN POLOCZEK - ROY RODGERS - ROD ROSS - LEAH SELBY - SHEILA SELBY - LIZ SHEPPARD - DAVID SHILLINGLAW - ROMANY TURNER

I am now a VV member!

Promoting emerging female fine artists.

VV Art Collective

Working towards the Leytonstone Arts Trail

Today I have started framing the small paintings for the Leytonstone Arts Trail- July 1st to 17th 2011.

It looks like the first 8 paintings from the Spring and Autumn Colours series will be finished just in time. They will be hanging on the nice white walls of the Excel Properties in Leytonstone offices at 28 Church Lane, E11 1HG.

Postcards to Japan project

The postcards have been arriving in Japan the last few weeks and they have uploaded them to a website.

Axis Travelling Moleskine

Austin Skies - charcoal and pastel and American Tablecloth - graphite, charcoal and pastel.

I am pleased to have participated in the Axis Travelling Moleskine. The theme is Americana. These are my two drawings. The sketchbook is about A5 size. If you click the image it enlarges to about life-size.

I just sent it on its way yesterday, it is still touring.
More info on Axis here.
Flickr images here.
Video here.

Blackhorse Lane OPEN STUDIOS

Blackhorse Lane Open Studios and Silent Auction
Two days when artists open their private studios to the public.
Featuring: painting, sculpture, drawing, textiles, design, illustration, installation, ceramics, animation, photography and book arts.

Part of the E17 Art Trail.

This is your chance to meet artists in their work environments, get insights into how and what they create, and even take home a work of art. Engage in one of the most exciting aspects of contemporary art by discussing art with the artists themselves. Stop by and enjoy, be inspired and perhaps challenged at this friendly, relaxed event.

It is also a good opportunity to purchase original works at pre-gallery prices! Visitors will have the chance to bid on an artwork by a Blackhorse Lane artist in the Silent Auction. You can see the artworks in the auction in advance by going to the website: http://www.artworksproject.com. The Preview Evening on Friday Sep 9th from 6-9 pm will include bidding for the Silent Auction, a donation bar and entertainment.

For children we will be running an Art Quiz with prizes donated by Jackson’s Art Supplies. In the same building The Artworks Project Space will have its annual Open Exhibition. On Saturday the 10th there will be poetry readings all afternoon by the Forest Poets. Michelle Reader and Mike Thorn will have sculpture on display in the yard.

Event: Blackhorse Lane Open Studios and Silent Auction
Dates: September 10th-11th 2011
Artists: 30 international artists
Opening Times: 12.00 - 6.00pm each day
Preview Evening: September 9th 2011 (from 6-9pm)
Address: 114 Blackhorse Lane, London E17 6AA
Website: www.artworksproject.com
Tube: Blackhorse Road (Victoria Line)
Admission: Free

Postcards to Japan

Kate Thomson & Hironori Katagiri of the Scottish Poetry Library have a project called Postcards to Japan in which I am participating. I have just sent my A5 postcard.

The Long Conversation: Poetry and Painting

The Long Conversation: Poetry and Painting
“Painting is silent poetry, and poetry painting that speaks.” – Simonides

The exhibition coincides with the Waltham Forest Literature Festival.

For this exhibition artists have interpreted the long-standing relationship between the written word and visual art, in the broadest terms. Poetry that paints a picture, paintings that are full of poetry, text-based work, artists’ books, sound installations, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and poetry readings are all included.
There will be a display of books to read and purchase.

Opening party:
May 23rd 7-10pm

Exhibition:
May 24th - 28th
6-8pm Tuesday, 6-10pm Wed. to Friday, 10am –10pm on Saturday

The Red Room, at Ye Olde Rose & Crown
53 Hoe Street, Walthamstow E17 4SA

Listing on the Arts in Waltham Forest website.

The Long Conversation: Poetry and Painting call for artists

Call for Artists

Waltham Forest Arts Club are organising an exhibition to coincide with the Waltham Forest Literature Festival.
May 23rd to 28th in The Red Room at Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street, Walthamstow E17 4SA.

The Long Conversation: Poetry and Painting
"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry painting that speaks.” – Simonides

Do your written words paint a picture? Are your pictures full of poetry?

Artists are called to interpret the long-standing relationship between the written word and visual art, in the broadest terms. All mediums are encouraged including: concrete poetry, text-based work, artists’ books, sound installations, photography, painting, printmaking, sculpture, performance, and poetry readings. We would especially like to encourage our writers and poets to participate in this exhibition. There will be a long table for display of books to be read so please also bring along your editions and cards.

Artists may submit up to two pieces of work, there may be some selection involved depending on the amount of work received. Very large work might be a problem. To pay for the space we ask that each participant contribute £5, to be delivered with the work on May 22nd. Please, if you can, sign up for a slot on the invigilation rota at that time. No commission to be charged on any sales of artwork. All work should be delivered ready to hang or display, no clip-frames please.

You must be a member of the Arts Club to participate. Membership is free. Join on-line: http://www.artsclub.org.uk

Register interest by May 8th. Email for registration form: exhibitions@artsclub.org.uk

Listed on Arts In Waltham Forest

Book-ish

I will have books and prints at this little fair:
BOOK-ISH is a new and unique event that will bring together and help promote the fast expanding literary, design and illustration communities in the Borough of Waltham Forest (and beyond). It will be held on Saturday 21 May at Leytonstone Library, from 12-4pm, part of the WALTHAM FOREST LITERATURE FESTIVAL (10-21 May 2011).

The fair will give participants the opportunity to share their skills with the general public, and to sell a range of products including illustrators' magazines and fanzines, handmade books, poetry books and pamphlets, fine art and letterpress prints and posters, stationery, postcards and cards.
PRICES FROM £5.

Cakes from SUZIE'S KITCHEN and MUSIC FROM TONY TUNES of the Shellac Collective, playing vintage 78s.

In association with Forest Poets and E17 Designers
£1 entry includes a drink and the chance to win a goody bag.
Leytonstone Library 6-8 Church Lane, Leytonstone, E11 1HG

BABE 2011

BABE at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol.

Sat 30 April 11am - 6pm & Sun 1 May 11am - 5pm
Bristol Artists Book Event (BABE) is back and bigger than ever for 2011. Spread over three floors, more than 80 artist bookmakers, dealers and small presses from Bristol and around the world will come together at Arnolfini to show and sell their work. BABE provides a relaxed and friendly space to meet and chat to artists about their work and buy works of art. Prices start from just a few pounds.

MORE INFO

Bibliotherapy at BABE

BABE is coming up!

I am working on two new books and an edition of lino prints for BABE.
Plus, I will have my usual back catalogue of books and postcards and I will be bringing back my book jewellery.

The Bristol Artist Book Event is held every other year at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol.
This year it is the weekend of the Royal Wedding- April 30th and May 1st.
BABE is organised by the lovely Sarah Bodman.

vox pop veto gov

A protest sign in this photo of the Slade Occupation demonstration in Dec 2010 says: vox pop veto gov.

It takes a lot to organise people and to get anyone to pay attention when they are busy with so many other things. So I hope the student protests are a sign that people are paying attention and the government (which is supposed to be us, people we have chosen to speak our wishes for us) will have to answer.

The people are saying the government is wrong and must be stopped.

Merry Christmas everyone!

This is my favourite Christmas animation, possibly my favourite animation of all time. So many lovely subtle touches that I can watch it over and over.





White Christmas sung by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters (1954)
(Bill Pinkney sings the bass lead, Clyde McPhatter sings the falsetto)
Genius animation by Joshua Held (2002)

(Click on the full screen button in the lower right corner to see it bigger.)

Christmas Craft Market at Vulpes Vulpes

Christmas Craft Market at Vulpes Vulpes, artist run gallery and project space in Hackney, in East London E5. Sat. Dec 11th 12-6.

Crafts, cards, textiles, accessories, drawings, prints, books, cakes, mulled wine and more! Support your local artists!

Christmas Selling Show

I will have some affordably-priced paintings in
The Blackhorse Lane Artists
a Christmas mini art trail
on Dec 11 and 12 2010.

It is a collaboration of Blackhorse Lane Studios and Inky Cuttlefish Studios because we are just 3 or 4 minutes walk apart on the same road in E17. There will be lots to choose from if you want to be artsy in your gift-giving. Support the artists in your community and find unique gifts at the same time!

Info will be up soon on the studios website.

Address:
Blackhorse Lane Studios
ArtWorks Project Space
114 Blackhorse Lane
London
E17 6AA

Remember that Blackhorse Road Station is just 15 minutes from the West End on the Victoria Line or mainline train.

Chocolate Factory N16 Open Studios

My old studios - Chocolate Factory N16 will be opening its doors for the weekend.

Saturday 27th November 11-6 & Sunday 28th 12-6. Private view Friday 26th 6-9pm

Fine art, ceramics, printed design.

David Batchelor talk cancelled

The talk at Byam Shaw was cancelled. But at least my train journey there and back was relatively easy!
David, I send you huge get well wishes.
I have missed seeing you speak three times now.
My stretch of bad luck has to end, sooner or later!

But how do I find out when it will be rescheduled...

Inspired By Morris

Some friends from my studio are in a group show at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow E17.
Jonet-Harley Peters
Neil Irons
Pauline Evans

Inspired By Morris

A group show of contemporary art and craft inspired by the life and work of William Morris. Works in all media, from textiles and ceramics to film and photography, will encourage visitors to look afresh at Morris' artistic legacy.
9th October - 24th December 2010

Rodrigo and Gabriela in Shepherds Bush

Rodrigo and Gabriela last night were awesome!
The tube strike challenges were a small price to pay.

CREATE - the final meeting

Just back from a week in Bristol attending the last CREATE workshop.

We had some great workshops on light and shadow, coloured light (and coloured shadow) and coloured light on coloured surfaces. Longer workshops than in the past so really good. Also colour memory and colour mixing. And inkjet printing and high dynamic range photography. And colour naming.

Was great and am sad to see it all come to an end.
Thanks everyone!

Blogiverssary

I have been updating this page for five years!
Sometimes frequently and sometimes sporadically.
*time passes in a flash*

Frieze is hot!

I loved the first day of Frieze! Saw Thomas Demand talk, rode one of Gavin Turk's art bikes, looked at lots of art, loved the painting best, and drank a £2 bottle of water! Didn't look at everything yet, am spreading it out over the 4 days.

I'd rather have something to say and poor skills with which to say it than lots of skill but nothing to say.

A friend and I were trying to figure out why an exhibition we saw together recently at a gallery we both like had drawings that we both felt had little skill and no meaning. They were really uninteresting. Even reading the artists' statements did not help to give the work any meaning. It was slightly messy, barely bothering, low quality work. It was odd that it was where it was. (We never did figure it out.)

It made me remember some thoughts I have had when thinking about quality in relation to art and I decided to write them down:

Some people are very good at making things look nice or real or accurate or beautiful - they are, for example good drawers.
Some people have great ideas, intelligence, messages to get across, open-minds, or new ways of looking at things - they have insight and ideas.
Some people have both - good technical skills plus a reason to make work, something to say. If they also have their own unique flair then you have a really good artist.

Lots of people can draw things that look nice. But if they are not interesting, compelling, brain (or eye or soul...) activating, they are boring. I can only look at a drawing of a perfect flower or nude or bowl of apples for so long. (Perhaps in the past those things used to mean something, tell a story of religion, fable, allegory, or talk about the beauty of life and its abundant riches or the glory of nature. But most artists now do not do a nude, or still life for any particular reason and so it ends up not meaning anything to the viewer and is boring after a minute or two. I always go back to the intention of the artist. The act or process of making art can be reason enough to keep the viewer interested if the act is somehow authentic.)

The world loves it when you have both skills and ideas as you may be a genius.
But if they have to chose just one, most of the time they will accept ideas over draughtsmanship. So some concept driven art in exhibitions is not skillful looking, because of lack of skill. BUT you also have people who feel like if it is too pretty then you miss the idea for the eye candy. (Like some professors feel that dressing too trendily makes it appear that they are not serious of mind.) Or the naive look may be part of the concept, masquerading as a teenager, for instance. But I think the clever artists know that if your idea is wrapped in skill or beauty then it is more easily understood cos people will look longer.

But then you have the people who are trying to access their childlike essence or their primitive soul or their subconscious and come out with weird stuff that looks simplistic but symbolises big ideas. And that can be enough to keep us looking.

I'd rather have something to say and poor skills to say it with than lots of skill but nothing to say. Over the years, I'm glad to say, my work has gotten better, on both sides.

p.s. For some reason this makes me think of the Auden quote:
"If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me."

My painting in an Etsy treasury

I had my painting "Gold Spike" chosen for an Etsy treasury!

Thanks Glenda!

Images from my studio - Open Studios 2010

Ok- this is a clockwise tour of my studio the first weekend of September at our Open Studios.

Starting at the door (note the drawing poster of me on the door at the right, by Duncan Evans):

The newest work is the 4 paintings on brown linen. The work on the easel is in progress:

Long wall, work from 2009/2010:

Long wall, work from 2009/2010:

Works on paper 2010:

Works on paper 2010:

Oils and acrylics on panels from 2010:

Open Studios - comments on my work

For the Open Studios this year I chose to show just work that I had made during the year since the last open studios. From that year's work I curated a show on the freshly painted walls of my studio.
I hung four paintings on brown linen I made in August on the short wall near my door, 10 paintings on the long wall, 5 large framed works on paper were on the tables leaned up against my shelves on the back wall, and 10 small (50x40cm) works on panel from the Elusive Memories series were hung on the side wall.

This was a good year for discussions about the work.

Vertigo was the favourite painting by leaps and bounds. Everyone loved the depth achieved in the layers. (Which I cannot seem to capture in a photograph.) I also got an unexpected response of a number of viewers doing a sort of interpretive dance in front of it. They bent forward a bit and stretched their arms wide and made big swirling motions with their fingers.

The next best liked was the newest work on brown linen.

Some comments I remember:
"The longer you look at them the more you see." (The most common comment after "Nice colours".)
"I can't buy them cos I think it needs four paintings hung together and I can't afford four." (referring to the 10 paintings from the Elusive Memories series)
"I really like your new work. Except the panels on this wall are not to my taste. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be mean, but you know they are just too hard for my liking. Well... they are better as you get closer to them aren't they. Oh... I like them much better when I can see just one of them, they are not hard at all then." (also referring to the 10 paintings from the Elusive Memories series)
"I like that you see more in them as you keep looking at them, that is what you want for a painting on your wall, isn't it."
"I like the paintings on paper best. But then I love paper."
"How do you decide on titles?" (I work in series a lot and am glad when one title gets to last for a bit. Titles for single works are hard for me.)
"The brown linen paintings are so different to the others." (Discussions about responding to the surface followed.)
"The right frame makes a painting look even better." (Started by me talking to other artists about the framed works on paper.)


In my comments book- in addition to the expected comments on my "great use of colour" I also got a "challenging work" which I think is really good.

I also had my bookworks out and had some nice discussions about some of those.