For the month of October, I'm joining in the daily ink drawing challenge Inktober. It was started as an annual event by an American illustrator dude named Jake Parker in 2009. There are loose word prompts but you can do anything and people post up their images on social media and hashtagged #inktober #inktober2016 #inktober2GO. I'm putting mine up on my Instagram and sharing on Facebook. Anyone can join in. It's a great way of getting a bit of discipline and improving your skills. I haven't worked much in ink so it will be a good challenge for me. I've been enjoying it so far, hope I can keep up! Keep posted with how I do on my Instagram to see the daily results. Here's my Day 1: Fast.
0 Comments
On Sunday 2nd October at The Thistle Gallery there will be a wonderful afternoon dedicated to Alice in Wonderland. A tea party with performance of extracts from the book, Alice themed art works available for purchase and lots of goodies. All to support MacMillan Cancer Support who do amazing work. I've one watercolour as part of the exhibition and I am so delighted that Carol at the Thistle Gallery invited me to show. Best of luck to all those showing and involved in the event. It'll be a magical event for everyone. It's ticketed at £30 but there are still some tickets left. Call Carol on 07745392117 for tickets and further details.
As I type, the rain is lashing down outside on this August afternoon and I've given up contemplating camping at a deepest, darkest Ayrshire wedding this weekend. Sleeping in the car it is... Even though it's been a pretty rubbish summer (again), I've been very busy dotting about the country in a Highland Coovan, at a summer job working for Visit Scotland, enjoying the brief sunshines we have had. It's been great seeing more of my home country and has made me want see more. Buzz word of the year is "staycations" and I think we should all do more of that. Otherwise the other things that have taken over my life recently was a wee exhibition I organised, with the help of my pal Marcus Hislop, called Bowie at Mohair. It started as an idea to do a tribute to my favourite pop star who sadly died this year, David Bowie. We had the most amazing preview night for a pop-up weekend exhibition above Mohair barbers in Glasgow on the 5th Aug. It really couldn't have gone better. We had live music, sold a bunch of artwork, made a over £2600 for two charities (Beatson Cancer Charity and New Rhythms for Glasgow) and everyone had a brilliant time. I still keep getting compliments on how good a night it was and how much everyone thought of the exhibition. AND when are we doing the next one? Um, maybe wait a bit until I'm fully recovered. It was blooming hard work but I'm so glad I did it; for Bowie, for the charities, for myself and for my painting as I have had a bit of a hiatus on that front recently because of everything else I've been up to. And I even sold one of my pieces at Bowie at Mohair so I'm dead chuffed with that. The exhibition is now showing in the 13th Note (Bowie at Mohair at 13th Note) until 28th Aug so if you haven't had a chance to see this brilliant exhibition, get yourselves along now! I'll be hanging up my Coo wrangling reins at the end of the month to start a new college course. In September, I'm embarking on a two year HND in Model making for the Creative Industries to really hit this prop making thing head on. It'll take a bit of getting used to being a student again but I fully intend to take advantage of my student discount wherever I go! So, be prepared for more model making nonsense from now on. Ooft, its been a busy last 6 months! Between doing the day job (booooo!), prop making, scenery building, zombie movie set dressing, course preparing, mural painting and exhibition organising I don't know quite how I'm still alive. It's all a blast really and wouldn't want it any other way. Yes, so we got the 4 murals finished at the Princes Royal Maternity Transitional Care Unit. All the staff, patients and visitors thought it was all brilliant which was exactly what we had hoped for. So chuffed to be a part of it and to make a little difference in people's lives, especially when they are going through a stressful time. These rooms are designated for use by parents and the siblings of premature babies who are on the last stop before home. They used to be your regular sterile looking hospital rooms but thanks to Cheryl at Team Lewis and artist Karen Bonella, together with Rebecca Scott, Linzi Fergusson and Annmarie Devlin, we made them just the little bit cosier. Glad to be a part of the project. Next up is all my set building, prop making and light installing. Sure been busy but I've help out on making a puppet show, made Voodoo skull headdress for a trumpet player, a glittering snake for a sousaphone, a 6m high cardboard clock tower, some fish fins and soon to make giant beard for Mohair the Barbers. Phew! Exciting times. Long may they continue! And you'll be finally up to date with this ridiculous idea I had to put on an art and music extravaganza in tribute to my favourite rock star after he died earlier this year, David Bowie. A long time ago I was mesmerised by the ethereal creature I saw on the big screen on my 11th birthday. It turned out to be Mr David Bowie playing Jareth, the Goblin King, in the best film ever (yes, it is, shut up), Jim Henson's Labyrinth Movie. That film has a lot to answer for but it mostly started my big love for the Starman and when I realised that David Bowie was a rock star too, after hearing Ziggy Stardust on the radio, I was hooked. His death to me, and to many others, was understandably an incredibly sad day. On that day, I decided I wanted to do something to celebrate the one constant in my life. So up came the idea of getting my artist friends to make Bowie Art and for my music friends to make Bowie Music. Together with my fellow artist and friend, Marcus Hislop (AKA The Notorious Gasoline Company) we set to work to make Bowie at Mohair a reality and after Tony at Mohair Barbers generously offered his upstairs as a venue, we knew this was really going to happen. It's not only about the art and music though. I've got two charities involved, the Beatson Cancer Charity and local community music charity New Rhythms for Glasgow who both do amazing work of the people of Glasgow and beyond. 50% of all sales as well as donations and raffle proceeds, will go to the charities. Preview night Friday 5th Aug, exhibition 5th-7th Aug We have over a dozen artists showing their Bowie inspired work, 6 bands playing Bowie tunes, Bowie face painting and a raffle that will even have some Bowie inspired prizes. All in one night! The exhibition will run over the weekend and any unsold works will be hung at the nearby 13th Note for the rest of the month. It's going to a cracker of a night and a cracker of a show. So get your red shoes on and get dancing'!!! You can get more details here on the FB event page. FLASH SALE by name, FLASH SALE by nature.
I've still got too many pictures that I can't fit on my walls...who wants a bargain? Just in time for Xmas.... I'm going to put up a few drawings and paintings that need a good home. I will have a reserve price on each but make me an offer. I'll put work up every couple of days. Collection or delivery available within Glasgow otherwise courier charge for further afield. Happy bidding. Give an artist a happy xmas. Click on the image below to go to the FB page image and post an offer below the work or send me a direct message. Please feel free to share. First up.... "Definitive answer", pencil on paper, 50 x 70cm - framed Starting bid of £50 (original price £200.00) Yes, there's going to be a new gallery space in town. Specifically, in Renfield Street right round the Drury Street Bar & Kitchen and owned by the same folks. It's a great, bright split-level space in the centre of Glasgow. The Opening Show, curated by artists Jeff Edwards and Jenny Robertson, will have a great mix of painting, photography, drawing as well as sculpture and glass. I personally have three pieces that will be on show and hope you can come along for the opening night reception on Friday 2nd October, 6-10pm. If you can't make it Friday, don't worry, it's on for the whole month of October with a planned liberal sprinkling of artist talks and music events throughout the month.
I'll be doing my wee share of invigilating so do drop in and say hello. Also contemplating doing a talk so I better get my thinking cap on for what to say if I decide to do it and the slots haven't been all taken up! Here's the link to Facebook event with all the details you could possibly desire...
Only 106 days until Xmas! Yeah, I know summer is barely gone (was it ever here?) but there's definitely a wee nip in the air and I may be a little premature about Xmas but I have decided to have a MASSIVE sale to make way for some new work. If you're looking towards buying a bargain for your loved ones at that special time of year (or any time of year for that matter) look no further. Well, a little further in a bit, on to my Facebook page where I will get the details of the images that will be part of the sale up soon, so keep an eye out. Oh there's been changes afoot. I've moved again, pretty settled in now and finally got my internet connected. Hoorah! Hence website activity. The only thing now is to get my studio sorted in the spare room and I'll be flying. Hence the MASSIVE sale. Of course, if you're looking for a cheeky wee commission just give me a shout. I've created a new Commissions tips page to give some guidelines on prices etc. These are just suggestions of course, each commission will be discussed individually. Here is a wee taster of what will be on SALE but there will be more... Sale prices TBC but if anything takes your fancy here, make me an offer. Sizes are of image, not including frame size. Ah well, no rudeness really but hopefully the title got you intrigued, haha! The collaboration I speak of is the latest arty adventure I've been up to, "AUTOMISTIC". In the last few weeks I joined forces with my friend and textile designer Lynsey Cosham, in a drawing frenzy. We decided to make some site specific work, inspired by our own existing works, for the wall of the 13th Note's exhibition area and have produced 3 large drawings. The exhibition will show these works as well as some smaller ones.
The creation of these large drawings was influenced by the Surrealist automatic drawing technique where the artist's chosen medium is moved by the "spirit" (or whatever else affecting!) in an unconscious manner. The resultant drawing is essentially a large squiggle but eventually forms and shapes come about. These shapes are recognised in a much more conscious state of course but it makes for a very exciting process as there is no way of knowing what will be the result. Automatic drawing (Automatism) was pioneered by French artist Andre Masson who said that his "'automatic' imagery involved a two-fold process of unconscious and conscious activity...". We also took inspiration from Catalan Surrealist artist Joan Miró as well as a healthy amount of humour and tongue in cheek. It's pretty different to my normal fare so you can judge for yourselves what to make of it; we certainly had fun producing it. We hope you can join us for our opening on Monday 16th March from 7.30pm. The exhibition will be up for two weeks until the 29th March. Facebook event to check out here.øo Well, the Curves exhibition at The Thistle Gallery went extremely well for me. I am delighted to say that I sold all four paintings I had on show with major thanks to Carol Dunbar and her team. The Thistle Gallery is a lovely space and I'm looking forward to showing there again.
Next month I'll be showing work at the 13th Note again and planning to collaborate on some work with my good friend Lynsey Cosham so expect something a little bit different. Stay tuned for that, more details to follow. Also been doing the 28 Drawings Later: February Drawing Challenge again this year. It's a Facebook happening where loads of people draw something every day of February and post it up on the group. I did it in 2012 and at the end we had an exhibition of all the works in the Old Hairdressers in Glasgow. People from all over the UK and even quite a few internationals have taken part over the last few years. It's a great way to get you drawing and to see all the wonderful works everyone posts. It's open to absolutely anyone regardless of ability, it's a great project and run entirely by volunteers. Not sure whether there will be an exhibition for this year but I'll let you know as soon as I do. You can see my album of drawings here. Thanks to everyone who has shown me support, encouragement and interest in my work. Couldn't do it without you. |
|