2 New Additions to 'The Artist Collection' - Piet Mondrian and Jackson Pollock

Both or these paintings, although taken from 2 very different artists have something quite significant in common.

Piet Mondrian would carefully and methodically paint vertical and horizontal thick, straight black lines across the white canvas with 3 primary colours filling in chosen squares.

Jackson Pollock on the other hand would use a 'drip' technique, covering the canvas with a rhythmic fluidity of dripping and splashing paint.

"Triangles and Rhombuses" - (Piet Mondrian)

"Any Colour You Like" - (Jackson Pollock)

Despite the seemingly randomness of Pollocks paintings, like Mondrian he bases his work on a highly thought out process of composition. Theres something about that that I like as I use alot of composition in my own paintings, which is why I think these 2 paintings work really well and make important additions to this collection.

New Exhibition at Artery Gallery, St Andrews

one: Trike
(8" x 8" acrylic on box canvas)

A new collection of 8 original paintings are now on show at Artery Gallery in St Andrews, Scotland, including 4 new 'one' paintings.

I'm really pleased with the response this new series has achieved, consistently selling well and one off commissions are also proving a popular choice. Artery Gallery is only the second gallery to be showing this series so hopefully the success will continue and with Artery's track record for selling my work, I'm very hopeful of a positive exhibition.

Between 2007 and 2009, my paintings received much admiration whilst on show at Artery, and now after a break, it's great to be working in conjunction with the gallery once more.

For more information log onto the gallery website at www.arteryuk.com or get on your 'Trike' and visit Artery Gallery at 43 South Street, St Andrews, Fife.

Scottish Contemporary Art Auction @ McTears

The next Scottish Contemporary Art Auction takes place at McTears Auctioneers in Glasgow on May 12th and I'm pleased to announce that 3 of my paintings are included in the auction.

If you can't make it to the auction in person, live bidding is available by visiting the McTears website where you can also view the complete catalogue.

McTear's now famous art auction includes works from Scotland's finest artists.

My paintings are listed as lots 115 'Me plus One', 116 'Chasing Rainbows' and 117 'The World is Yours'.

Homage to MC Escher

"Opportunity Three" (30" x 30" acrylic on box canvas)

Here is the final image of the MC Escher homage I have been working on over the last week. A sure fire headache from start to finish, but at the same time it's been an enjoyable painting to create.

I've always been fascinated by Eschers work and his image titled 'Relativity' in particular. I actually completed a large jigsaw of this image many years ago, though I'm not sure which was the more challenging, working out all the angles and gravity sources or fitting together hundreds of seemingly identical jigsaw pieces!!

The painting will soon be heading down to London and will be on show at the Chelsea Art Fair through Gallery Perutz of Calstone, Wiltshire. The gallery will also be showing 3 other brand new paintings at the fair which I hope to post here soon.

Keys to the World

(30" x 24" acrylic on box canvas)

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

As decisions and opportunities arise throughout life, the world does seem to reduce in size. The day will come when you have the ability and the freedom to unlock new worlds and cultures. It can become your playground 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 Sweet Fantastic

Quite possibly the best noise you can hear during a childhood summer is the sound of 'Mr Scoopy' and the likes, pulling into your street. Then frantically running round the house looking, or scrounging, for a pound, not just so you can have an ice cream but to experience BUYING an ice cream from a VAN!! A sweet shop RIGHT on your doorstep. Doesn't get any better than that.

Nowadays when I hear the rather poor tune echoing down the road, I get instantly annoyed knowing that the kids are going to ask for some money!....but how can I say no. It's ice cream....from a van!

Available at Artifex Contemporary Arts, Sutton Coldfield

SOLD

Your Star Will Shine

(36" x 30" acrylic on box canvas)

Everyone hopes to have their moment of glory some day, either through a single achievement, at an event or by reaching a goal they have set themselves over a period of time.

Whether its through natural talent or just through determination and hard work, when the day comes, you feel on top of the world with a strong sense of pride from not only yourself but also from friends and family.

If you feel that goal is yet to be reached, know in yourself that one day your star will shine and shine for all the world to see…..

...unless nobody is watching, which would just be typical!!

Xmas Exhibition at Artifex Contemporary Arts

A new exhibition of original paintings is now showing at Artifex Contemporary Art Gallery in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

Originals on show include new versions of 'The Friendly Stranger' and 'One Love'

Artifex is a stunning gallery selling the very best in contemporary British art & craft. The 3000 square foot gallery specialises in designer/craftsman made furniture, glass, ceramics, sculpture & original paintings with a strong emphasis on originality and quality.

More about the exhibition and the gallery can be found out by visiting their website at www.artifex.co.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact either me or the gallery with any enquiries on the exhibition.

Edinburgh Exhibition Preview - Thursday 22nd October

New original work will be exhibiting at Scotlandart Galleries in Edinburgh from 22nd October through to the end of November.

I will be attending the preview night myself on the 22nd, so it will be nice to chat to anyone who is able to make it.

If you are able to get to Edinburgh at any stage over the next few weeks, please pop in to view the new work on show, some of which I have posted on here in recent weeks.

Scotlandart is based in the Stockbridge area of the City and is well worth a visit.

If you cant get to the gallery, then the work will be viewable and available through the gallery website at www.scotlandart.com

Up in the Sky - (Rene Magritte)

Here is the first from a collection of 4 paintings paying homage to 4 well known painters and 'remixing' their styles and themes in with my own recognisable work to hopefully create something new and interesting.

"Up In The Sky"

(30" x 30" Original, Acrylic on Canvas) Available at ScotlandArt

Rene Magritte was a Belgian Surrealist artist and became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images, including his floating bowler-hatted men and in particular the painting titled 'The Son of Man', where the face of a bowler hatted man is obscured by a hovering apple!

I hope you enjoy viewing these new pieces and there will be more to come shortly.....

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!

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)

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!!