Slow This Bird Down ii

This is a new version of a previous painting of the same name and story, but seen from a different angle. I think this birds eye view works well becuase in a way, it can be seen as you're the adult looking down on the kids and just helps to emphasise the message a little bit more....

(36" x 30") Available through Washington Green

Our children seem to be growing up quicker all the time. Just think back to what you were doing and what you had at different stages of your childhood. I imagine it differs greatly.

Kids seem to get to a point where they just want to be older. Yet it will happen all too quickly and before they know it they will be forever chasing their youth.

I don’t want my kids to turn around in 30 years and say to me “I was so concerned about growing up faster; I wish there was a way I could of slowed it down.”

There is possibly a need for some kind of orderly progression through childhood. In the past there were important cultural “markers” that determined the ages at which certain behaviours and belongings were appropriate. Those markers seem to have disappeared, or they’ve certainly been moved downward.

The red balloons represent childhood floating at a slow steady pace.

Conquering New Heights!

What's this little chap upto!?

Fly Me To The Moon

SOLD (90cm x 70cm) Commission

The importance and indeed the beauty of the moon is very much underestimated. Still covered in mystery, It’s almost as if it has been forgotten about since the last of the moon landings….apart from when there is an eclipse!

More people should take the time to look up once in a while and let their minds wander and wonder in awe of The Moon, Earths natural satellite.

In saying that, if asked, I bet the majority of the human race would jump at the chance of getting that little bit closer to it or better still, making one giant leap of their own on it’s surface.

In The Press

There was an article on me this week in the Norwich Evening News local paper to coincide with the start of my exhibition of limited edition prints through Castle Galleries. The Norwich branch in particular being of interest as it was my hometown for nearly 30 years!

Washingon Green's PR group put the article together with the Evening News press office also phoning me up to get any further info and quotes from me.

You can read the article here

There is also a great article in Picture Business UK magazine.

The World Is Yours

(90cm x 70cm) Contact Washington Green for enquiries

The world seems a ridiculously large place when you are young and far away places may as well be on a different planet.

Yet how many times do you hear the phrase it's a small world?

As decisions and opportunities arise throughout life, the world does seem to reduce in size, not physically of course, but certainly metaphorically. At some stage, you have the ability and the freedom to do exactly what you want. The world is your oyster and you're free to go anywhere....bar the odd strict border control!

Most people may not have the money to get to the places they want to, but a bit of drive, free thinking and adventurous spirit can compensate for any lack of funds.

The World Is Yours for the taking. Make of it what you can.

This original is available at The Westover Gallery in Bournemouth

Fine Art Collector Magazine

You can read a two page feature (pages 16-17) on me and my work in the new edition of Fine Art Collector Magazine.

This can be read online by clicking the link above, or you can pick up a free copy of the Fine Art Collector Magazine from your nearest Washington Green associated gallery.

Enjoy.

Money

(Detail from 'Money')

At what point I wonder, as a kid do you stop wanting a present for a birthday etc, and start demanding hard currency instead!?

There is nothing better than seeing a large box wrapped in all those fantastic colours and reading your name on it. Then tearing the paper with complete disregard to the care and attention it took to wrap up. Even if it is something you have asked for, the surprise is always nice.

And then you reach that age when these parcels of many colours become almost obsolete, and the shiny coinage takes preference.

However, I have found it goes full circle because the older you get, with the chance of ANY kind of currency coming your way being slim, just having something, anything, even the smallest of boxes is gratefully received!

(90cm x 70cm) SOLD

This original is available at The Westover Gallery in Bournemouth

A Little Teaser......

Here is a section from a new piece, just to give you a small taste of some future paintings:


Any Guesses as to what it could be about?

New Originals Available

3 brand new Originals are now available at Chelmer Fine Art Gallery:

"The Friendly Stranger" SOLD

"What's The Story?" SOLD

"Kid For Today" SOLD

Please visit the Chelmer Fine Art Gallery website to view the works. The stories behind these pieces can also be read here on my blog.

Signed limited edition Giclee prints are also available and I have listed on the right hand side a few selected galleries to help in any searches.

Many thanks and I hope you enjoy

Scott Carruthers

The Friendly Stranger

SOLD (90cm x 90cm)

I never had an imaginary friend when I was younger, but I know a lot of people did. My boy had one from the ages of around 3 to 5. His name was 'Cammy'. Cammy seemed to have disappeared during the last couple of years, but a few weeks ago I heard him get a mention once more. So he is still out there somewhere. Coupled with this, my work was recently commented on with suggestions of reminiscence to the animation of Raymond Briggs' story When The Wind Blows. With this I was reminded of another of Briggs’ stories that was also adapted into animation, The Snowman. Undoubtedly one of the most famous animations and certainly one of my favourites, it tells of a young boy who builds a snowman that comes to life overnight. Whether this is just his imagination is not really important, but to the boy, the friendly stranger is more than real.

This is a homage to the film that makes me smile and cry at the same time..... also to Cammy and other imaginary souls.

Kid For Today

SOLD (90cm x 70cm)

There is a myth that doing nothing is wasting time, when it's actually extremely productive and essential. During empty hours, kids explore the world at their own pace, develop their own unique set of interests and indulge in the sort of fantasy play that will help them figure out how to create their own happiness. When they are watching television, even if there is nothing particularly on, you just know they are sitting there lost in their own imagination. However, always the inquisitive, a kid will stop and stare at something that they feel is far more interesting!

What's The Story?

SOLD (90cm x 70cm)

Where have all the newspaper boys and girls gone? It’s not a familiar sight these days, either in the mornings or around tea time.

I remember in the early 80’s my older brother had four rounds on the go, one in the morning, two in the evening and one at the weekend…..all for about £5 a week!!....come to think of it, is it no wonder the Paperboys have called it a day. And what with getting up early morning in the more often that not freezing cold and/or wet weather!

Nothing can teach you more about the value of money than earning it for yourself, but sometimes maybe the effort being put in was worth more than the wage packet. Not that a little hard work never did anyone any harm. Perhaps the rise in pocket money has also seen less need to earn a little extra.

The thing is, becoming a paperboy or girl was a rite of passage for many children. Perhaps more than any other part-time job, it educated the young future worker about the importance of getting up in the morning, of punctuality and of steadfastness.

Personally, I was never one for any of that!

.

In The Press - St Andrews Citizen

One Very Important Thought

SOLD (70cm x 60cm)

I used to get accused of daydreaming a lot when I was young, sitting in class gazing out the window at nothing at all, or dawdling along the road with no concept of time. But who is to say I wasn’t thinking about or doing something of the up most importance? I could have been contemplating exactly what was being said or taking my time as to not have an accident whilst walking along a busy road! OK, this wasn’t the case, but it could have been! The point is whatever was going on at the time in the background, in my mind and for many daydreamers alike, I was in the middle of one very important thought. For example, carefully walking along the drain in the playground, one foot in front of the other, didn’t matter if the bell had gone, this is important and the end must be reached! Or those different coloured paving slabs that I had to step on were indeed stepping stones to my goal, and should the wrong slab be stepped on, then I would surely become victim to whatever lurks deep in the chasm below!

The Friendly Stranger

SOLD (70cm x 60cm)

I never had an imaginary friend when I was younger, but I know a lot of people did. My boy had one from the ages of around 3 to 5. His name was 'Cammy'. Cammy seemed to have disappeared during the last couple of years, but a few weeks ago I heard him get a mention once more. So he is still out there somewhere. Coupled with this, my work was recently commented on with suggestions of reminiscence to the animation of Raymond Briggs' story When The Wind Blows. With this I was reminded of another of Briggs’ stories that was also adapted into animation, The Snowman. Undoubtedly one of the most famous animations and certainly one of my favourites, it tells of a young boy who builds a snowman that comes to life overnight. Whether this is just his imagination is not really important, but to the boy, the friendly stranger is more than real.

This is a homage to the film that makes me smile and cry at the same time..... also to Cammy and other imaginary souls.

Magic Window

(33cm x 43cm inc black frame)

So much of our British society is 'Americanised' these days and it has been getting ever the more so over the last couple of decades. Since the early 90's music, fashion, food and even language has been shaping our kids lives and one of the most noticeable instigators of this is from Children's television. Programmes made in the US flood the countless channels available in the form of dramas, teen sitcoms and cartoons. And the problem is what little British programmes that ARE made, are completely based around their US counterparts. What happened to all those British classics we loved and grew up with, Trumpton, Camberwick Green, Chorlton and the Wheelies, Rent A Ghost and even, dare I say it, Jackanory!? Why do we not have the friendly face and voice of a Brian Cant greeting us on our screens anymore? The magic window to our British childhood culture has gone and I would welcome back the days of the 'off air' transmission screen as a replacement anyday!

Slow This Bird Down (Commission)

SOLD (90cm x 70cm)

Our children seem to be growing up quicker all the time. Just think back to what you were doing and what you had at different stages of your childhood. I imagine it differs greatly.

Kids seem to get to a point where they just want to be older. Yet it will happen all too quickly and before they know it they will be forever chasing their youth.

I don’t want my kids to turn around in 30 years and say to me “I was so concerned about growing up faster; I wish there was a way I could of slowed it down.”

I’m sure there are ways of helping that. I think we should understand the need for an orderly progression through childhood. In the past there were important cultural “markers” that determined the ages at which certain behaviours and belongings were appropriate. Those markers seem to have disappeared, or they’ve certainly been moved downward.

At best, you’re only a kid for about 12 years, with another 70 taken up by adulthood. Surely someone in the beginning didn’t think that ratio through properly!

Sheep

"Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away

Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air

You better watch out, there may be dogs about

I've looked over Jordan and I have seen, things are not what they seem.

What do you get for pretending the danger's not real

Meek and obedient you follow the leader, down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel

What a surprise!

A look of terminal shock in your eyes

Now things are really what they seem

No, this is no bad dream."

(Painting inspired by the Pink Floyd song 'Sheep'. Words by Roger Waters)

Details from 'Do You Wanna Be A Spaceman'

People who achieve their dream always say the same thing, that anyone can do it. I have always doubted this. Luck, whether it's in the form of a chance meeting or a happening, falls at your lap from nowhere, that's why it is called luck, I don't believe you can make your own luck, you either get it or you don't. You can work hard at something but whether you ever achieve your goal will more than likely depend on who you meet on your way.

Your upbringing also has a huge bearing on whether you can follow that dream or not. Encouraging parents is quite possibly the most important factor for any young kid. In the last couple of weeks, my step son has been saying he wants to be a super hero, why should I turn round and say he can't? why should I take that dream away? He gets my full support and encouragement. As he gets older, his dreams and aspirations will obviously become more serious.

I try to get him involved in anything he is interested in.....thankfully that hasn't been anything too expensive yet :) This will hopefully help him find out what he is good at and where he wants to go in the future. I always felt encouragement and direction was lacking during my childhood, so I aim to give my 2 step kids as much as I am capable of.

What would the likes of Tiger Woods or Lewis Hamilton be doing if they didn't have that encouragement and direction? Yet they must of had that dream themselves or they would of just lost interest.

Kid For Today (Commission)

SOLD (70cm x 60cm)

Do You Wanna Be A Spaceman

SOLD (70cm x 50cm)

What do you hear kids say they want to be when they grow up? The answers are always interesting to hear....and somewhat quite unachievable you might think. A Cowboy, a Spaceman, a Power Ranger or Superhero of some kind!

Clearly though, a handful of these dreams are fulfilled, as there are these Astronauts, Racing Drivers and Cowboys out there.

This is to those 6 year olds that will one day live their childhood dream day in day out. Though I’m not suggesting there is a real life Batman!!

Slow This Bird Down

SOLD (70cm x 60cm)

Our children seem to be growing up quicker all the time. Just think back to what you were doing and what you had at different stages of your childhood. I imagine it differs greatly.

Kids seem to get to a point where they just want to be older. Yet it will happen all too quickly and before they know it they will be forever chasing their youth.

I don’t want my kids to turn around in 30 years and say to me “I was so concerned about growing up faster; I wish there was a way I could of slowed it down.”

I’m sure there are ways of helping that. I think we should understand the need for an orderly progression through childhood. In the past there were important cultural “markers” that determined the ages at which certain behaviours and belongings were appropriate. Those markers seem to have disappeared, or they’ve certainly been moved downward.

At best, you’re only a kid for about 12 years, with another 70 taken up by adulthood. Surely someone in the beginning didn’t think that ratio through properly!

Street Children

SOLD (70cm x 50cm)

The term 'Street Children' is used to refer to children who live on the streets who are deprived of family and protection. There are young children across the globe, in all major cities and especially in the developing countries of South America and Eastern Europe, who are homeless and live on the street – those that live in containers, underground pipes or cardboard boxes. When I see these little kids, it makes me wish I had a house with a million rooms. It would certainly have to be one hell of a house! Unfortunately, the number of global street children is nearer 150 million!

Happy Cycling

SOLD (70cm x 60cm)

Kids love their wheels and everyone surely remembers their first bike or trike with its gleaming paint job (mine was purple with white wheels!). It’s a fundamental part of childhood to ride a bike, and kids are always eager to ride around on their beloved machine, lost in their own adventurous world. It introduces them also to their wider surroundings, they learn about the areas where they live, they meet up with friends, they go places…..albeit just to end of the street and back!

Kid For Today

SOLD (70cm x 60cm)

There is a myth that doing nothing is wasting time, when it's actually extremely productive and essential. During empty hours, kids explore the world at their own pace, develop their own unique set of interests and indulge in the sort of fantasy play that will help them figure out how to create their own happiness. When they are watching television, even if there is nothing particularly on, you just know they are sitting there lost in their own imagination. However, always the inquisitive, a kid will stop and stare at something that they feel is far more interesting!