Out to Play: "Weekend Wars"

Cowboys and Indians or Soldiers and Armies (or whatever outfit and weapon you happened to own) would always be a good way to vent those boyhood energies. Running and shooting, that’s what it was all about.

Armed with swords and lightsabers, lasers and pistols, and if you had ones with the red gun caps for sound effects (and smell), then even better! The odd argument of whether you were shot or not was quickly forgotten as no one really wants to be lying on the ground with all the action going on, and this was mutually understood.

Water pistols would be the real danger weapon, especially if all you had was a plastic gun which lets face it, does zero damage!!

Into the kitchen for an empty Fairy Liquid bottle would be the answer. Crude, but ideal for long range and always pretty accurate!

Watch a 2 min video montage of the 'Out to Play' collection

Out to Play: "Take Aim"

Out in the playground would be the usual arena for a good old game of conkers or marbles.

Your prize conker in hand, stringed up and ready for competition, giving it a good swing and ‘whack’ against your opponents conker until one eventually gives way! Then searching for your next competitor, or perhaps he would already be waiting, ready to test his own champion chestnut!

Just watch out for the dreaded ‘stampsese’!!

Marbles is a less aggressive sport, though far more challenging. There are many variations of games of marbles all of which require accuracy and skill, but the rule of thumb is the same for each;

If you’re playing with your best marbles, don't play for ‘keeps’!!

Watch a 2 min video montage of the 'Out to Play' collection

Out to Play: "Round Our Way"

A half decent playing area, jumpers for goalposts….or perhaps a conveniently placed sign, and anything up to 25-a-side were all the essentials you needed for a good kick-a-bout with your pals and anyone else keen to join in.

Undoubtedly there would always be a couple of kids who would constantly have the ball due to their far superior skill level, while the rest of us would have to chase a few shadows, yet there was still a sense of camaraderie, each and every ’player’ mucking in for the cause, some more than most obviously!

As darkness approached, the numbers would slowly whittle down as tea time beckoned, leaving perhaps only a few of the hardcore, determined players eager to find a winner, which usually meant a unanimous decision of “The next goal wins!”

Watch a 2 min video montage of the 'Out to Play' collection

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.

It's all Relative!

Today I have mostly been painting stairs leading up, down, left, right...and to knowhere.

Painted in 3 dimensions and including 3 sources of gravity, it's aready turning into a bit of a headache, and I've thought to myself on more than one occasion that I wish I hadn't of started such a task.

I will however persevere and hopefully I will achieve!

Manchester Exhibition

Original work currently exhibiting at the Richard Goodall Gallery in Manchester is now available to view online.

Richard Goodall Gallery is the leading, and largest commercial gallery for Contemporary Art, Fine Art Photography, and Rock Art in the UK.

Based in Manchester across 2 locations, the gallery has been open since 2000 and represents leading artists across a number of fields.

Go looky!

Glasgow Art Fair

Thought I'd have a day out of the studio today to visit the Glasgow Art Fair in George Square.

There is a couple of galleries I've arranged to meet and I'm sure there will be others worth chatting to.

I already have a couple of new exhibitions coming up, so hopefully I can build on my calendar after today.

More news to come soon.

The Modern World

Here is my latest commission recently completed and I'm relieved to say, happily received by the client!

Commissions can often be tricky as you are basing the story of a painting on someone elses thoughts and what sort of painting they expect. It can be nerve racking waiting for feedback from the customer, knowing they will not see the image until they take receipt of it upon delivery. Thankfully once again, the response has been wonderful.

(20" x 16" Acrylic on box canvas)

This particular piece was for a 40th birthday present (Number '40' painted in silver on the number plate) and as a lifelong 'Mod', the main aim was to portray the paintings owner in his youth on his beloved Lambretta, viewing the world from the outside, perhaps contemplating what was, what is, and what is still to be.

All commissions are interesting in their own right, but I have to say, this has been one of my favourite commissions to work on to date. When I received a letter this morning from my customer today to say how much emotion it evoked, it made me realise once more what a priviledge it is to paint these kind of artworks for people to treasure and enjoy.