Twilight.

These paintings are some of the new work I showed at the Open Studios last weekend. It is unusual for me to make such small work. I had to make my space smaller. I found that to be able to keep my movements small and focus so close up I had to sit on the floor with the soles of my feet together and paint in my lap and on the floor. Because it was warm and I was in shorts this meant my legs were covered in paint everyday!

They are all oil and acrylic on linen, 30x40cm, made this April and May. I have titled the series Twilight because they are all based on the idea of creating light by darkening the rest of the picture. So I wanted a title that included the idea of darkness.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Book show in Milton Keynes

My small pop-up book "Regret" has moved to artworks-mk in Milton Keynes.
Saturday 12th July to
Saturday 23rd August
Looks like there are some workshops, too!
Click the flyer images for a larger view.

Pictures of the studio

Took these on Sunday near the end of the Open Studios.

Summer '08 Open Studios!

Our summer Open Studios was good fun, when I was able to be there...apologies to all who came to see my work on the Saturday. My studio was shut because I had food poisoning from the Friday night and could not get out of bed until Sunday afternoon.

Here is a picture through my open studio door on the Sunday. Paintings are on the right side and my books are on the table on the left. By the door is a new addition to the studio- 2 pots of happy daisies from Gary and Mike!

I got a good response to the new paintings. Thank you everyone.

Press and Release Artists' Book Fair, Brighton

To coincide with the Press and Release exhibition at the Phoenix Gallery in Brighton they are having an artists' book fair on May 24th. I will be there with my Serendipity Press.
For more information go to Phoenix Arts Association.

Over thirty stalls will feature limited edition, hand made books, fanzines, comics, multiples, ephemera and more. Special performances, readings, food and music will round out the event.

Re: Exhibit is open

I didn't make it to the private view on Friday but it sounds like it went very well.
Here are some images of my book in the exhibit on the weloveyourbooks site:
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3

Here is my page in the catalogue:

Stokefest 2008

The artists from the Chocolate Factory Studios will be handing out invitations to our Summer Open Studios at Stokefest in Clissold Park on June 8th. Rude Designs from the studios, designed our invitation.

I like Art

I like art that you want to look at over and over again, seeing something new each time. When I create art I lose myself in it and find parts of myself I don’t use in daily life. I hope that viewers can get a glimpse of the less-used parts of themselves.

When I make work to communicate an idea I love the philosophical realisations and moments of clarity that cause the idea of the work to be realised as communication and I use subtle humour to share my way of thinking. In my non-figurative work I make intuitive choices and savour the moment when everything reaches the balance point of vibrant composure, full of ambiguity and atmosphere. I am interested in colour, texture and movement.

Every day I am amazed, I enthusiastically paint my amazement. My studio practice is varied. My painting is primarily concerned with colour. My figurative work tries to puzzle out the different way I see everything and my artists' books are often visual lists. I use my interventions and gestures to make contact with other humans, often offering a moment of cheerful confusion.

Gold & Green Vegetable Forms on Blue, 2006, oil on canvas, 70x80cm

iCandy Arts Postcard Show

I have sent 4 pieces to the annual iCandy Arts Postcard Show at the EAT@Ours Cafe in Hastings which will open on May 1, 2008 and run throughout the month.
All work will be postcard sized and will be sold for £10 per piece.
It will be a large exhibition, last year over 600 works were displayed. The artists were from all over the country and their work was massively varied.

I sent in 4 pieces. The brief was that the work be wall mountable and 6x4 inches. But since it was called The Postcard Show I decided to take it literally. I painted on my 50% Happier postcards in acrylic.

iCandy Arts



The image at the top of the hung show is from the iCandy Arts website.

scissorspaperstone

scissorspaperstone on April 12th
The first artists' book fair held by London Print Studio was well attended. I saw a few people from the book fair circuit and met loads of new people. It was good fun!

Re: exhibit

My little pop-up book Regret has been selected for an international exhibition of experimental artists' books, linked by the theme of words beginning 'Re…'.
At The Gallery , The University of Northampton, Avenue Campus, the UK.
12-May to 29-May 2008
Private view: Friday 9th May 4.30–7pm
(open weekdays 10-4, closed Bank Holiday Monday)
It has been curated by weloveyourbooks.

Leeds book fair

The 11th Annual Contemporary Artists' Book Fair at the University of Leeds last Friday and Saturday was really good.
I met some new people, caught up with some old friends and saw lots of books. I especially liked Sam Belinfante's cello book. I also hung around Leeds and ate lots of curry! Then I went to the Leeds City Art Gallery and saw the 45 books chosen for the Book To Book exhibit.

Scissors Paper Stone

I am working on my newest book Hackney Leaves to be finished in time for Scissors Paper Stone Saturday 12 April 2008, 11am – 6pm, at the London Print Studio at 425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE.

Here is what their web site says:
scissorspaperstone is a one-day artists' book and multiples fair showcasing a range of vibrant and innovative work by over 80 contemporary artists, book artists and small presses. scissorspaperstone will promote a rich and diverse range of artists’ books and multiples, from cloth-bound volumes, altered books, collated digital images and texts, to comics and experimental work using found texts and other ephemera. This exciting event offers an opportunity to buy and commission work directly from artists themselves. scissorspaperstone will be supported by a programme of workshops and demonstrations, and an exhibition at londonprintstudio exploring ‘the book’ as subject, form and inspiration.

11th International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair

Friday 7 & Saturday 8 March 2008, 11.00am–6.00pm in the Parkinson Court at the University of Leeds
I will have a new book called Book Alphabet Book.

Putting the Human Back into Colour

I am going to France tomorrow for a conference on colour! It is at the University of Reims Champagne Ardenne at Charleville-Mézières.
It has been organised by Create at UWE.

With lectures such as these it will be a great 3 days:
History of colour in arts and architecture.
Body-number-colour : light phenomena of Eye-Ocean, real time 3D computer graphics images.
Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa analysis with today’s technologies
Physical colours in Insects: Origin, role in life and art.

With views such as these it will be a great trip:
Here is my poster for the conference:

Sitting Room exhibition is now in Cambridge

Sitting Room
An exhibition dedicated to the art of sitting and reading.
Thursday 13th December 2007 - Wednesday 2nd January 2008
The Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge School of Art,
Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT

After Cambridge, the books by themselves without the sitting room furniture will be going off to the USA and Mexico in the Spring. I have two copies of my "H on a Train" book in this travelling exhibit.

As it says on The Ruskin Gallery web site:
Sitting Room is a show of artists' books in a domestic environment re-created within the gallery. The setting is a mock sitting room, where visitors are encouraged to choose a book from the bookcase, make themselves at home and enjoy a rare opportunity to handle and interact with the limited edition artist-made book works. Artists from across Europe were invited to create books on the theme of 'sitting room'. Interpretations include: books on domesticity, seated journeys, chair related ephemera, ejector seats and a day in the life of a sofa. This eclectic mix represents work by acclaimed artists of national and international standing.

Cafe Gallery Projects Open Exhibition

This was a beautifully hung show. Lots of different work that was presented really well. See Nov 11 post (2 below) for more info.
My painting is the yellow and red one that is about in the middle of the picture. Click the picture for a slightly larger view.

Winter 2007 Open Studios

The Open Studios have been great this year!
With my group of older work and experiments that had lower prices, many people who had only bought reproduction prints before were able to get an original painting they love. It was quite satisfying to help new collectors get started and to see people so chuffed as they left!
YAY!

Cafe Gallery Projects Open Exhibition 2007

I have a small painting in the Open Exhibition.
21st Nov. to 9th Dec. Wed to Sun, 11am to 4pm (they are shut Mon. and Tues.)
Private View: Sun 18th Nov., 1pm to 4pm
Cafe Gallery Projects, in the Centre of Southwark Park, London SE16 2UA
Entry is free

Open Studios, less than 2 weeks away!

I am framing and varnishing like mad!
I will also be having a Studio Clearing sale. I need to make room and will be selling dozens of small and medium sized paintings on canvas for £30 to £60. These are transition pieces and experiments and colour studies. Come help me get some space back!

Chocolate Factory N16