God Bless Mr Beck...
Im listenistingering to modern guilt.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
somewhere
...between folkmusic, stroytelling and drawing, there is a little glowing aura of prefection, and it is this aura to which I am currently aspiring. The home made aeshteic, the raw canvas, the back to basics approach to intellectual rigour are all traits that could summarise my latest works, but somehow they are not achieveing any sense of completion, finish or perfection as guaged by the general public.
Its a funny thing. I am going against the grain, I guess, and Im producing these big drawn studies of nothing in particular.... and Im doing it for very sophisticated and solid reasons. Yet when I turn away, and when random consciousnesses gaze upon them, they apparently wither to trite stylistic illustration.
Its a shame, but not a disaster. Like the tree falling silently in the unmanned forest (which, in itself, must by now be a misnomer or imaginary scenario)my work shines its simplicity into a dark void of fashion-obsessed ignorance. An arena in which photorealism and standing or establishment go much further to garner you with praises, than humble folk art and honesty.
I have been striving for 10 years to learn the art of drawing on a final and finished scale- to a standard that would celebrate the quality of the line, the honesty of the eye and so on- and having finally achieved it I find that nobody else can see, or wants to see such rude clarity.
Like many before me I am sure- probably even my greatest hero the Shoreham Valley legend Samuel Palmer- my vision of bounty, my glory in the achievement of simplicity- will go unnoticed or merely ignored for now, and possibly evermore... but that seems no great travesty to me now really. For in its simplicity, it demands of its creator nothing more than recognition of its creation, and still less of any one else who happens to ingest its vision- it is after all merely a drawing- a simple pure and perfect drawing- a mere record on canvas of the vision of its creator in a given concentrated period of reflection. And in that zen like simplicity, in that Palmeresque moment of clarity, I find solace, and honest humility.
Its a funny thing. I am going against the grain, I guess, and Im producing these big drawn studies of nothing in particular.... and Im doing it for very sophisticated and solid reasons. Yet when I turn away, and when random consciousnesses gaze upon them, they apparently wither to trite stylistic illustration.
Its a shame, but not a disaster. Like the tree falling silently in the unmanned forest (which, in itself, must by now be a misnomer or imaginary scenario)my work shines its simplicity into a dark void of fashion-obsessed ignorance. An arena in which photorealism and standing or establishment go much further to garner you with praises, than humble folk art and honesty.
I have been striving for 10 years to learn the art of drawing on a final and finished scale- to a standard that would celebrate the quality of the line, the honesty of the eye and so on- and having finally achieved it I find that nobody else can see, or wants to see such rude clarity.
Like many before me I am sure- probably even my greatest hero the Shoreham Valley legend Samuel Palmer- my vision of bounty, my glory in the achievement of simplicity- will go unnoticed or merely ignored for now, and possibly evermore... but that seems no great travesty to me now really. For in its simplicity, it demands of its creator nothing more than recognition of its creation, and still less of any one else who happens to ingest its vision- it is after all merely a drawing- a simple pure and perfect drawing- a mere record on canvas of the vision of its creator in a given concentrated period of reflection. And in that zen like simplicity, in that Palmeresque moment of clarity, I find solace, and honest humility.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Postcard from Shanghai : Huai hai Lu
Nothing comfier, nowhere better to put down your weary head, if you are weary enough...
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
getn there
...another late night, but earlier than last night- just time to squeeze in an update. Large format canvasses going well- though the first took three times as long as I'd hoped- lots, and lots, and LOTS of drawing to do on it. Looks ok now though. Just finished a superb chinese fat kid. Well, the theme of the exhibition is 30 degrees, in honour of CHINA having opened her doors 30 years ago this year. Ill be exhibiting alongside artists from Studio Rouge as a collaboration- which is cool co they got some very cool artists on their books, like my favourite locals Chen HangFeng and Greg Girard
Teaching a full day again tomorrow, so Ill be shattered and ratty. Feeling good about the painting, though- finally resolved my urge to draw and a large scale canvas, after 10 years of trying.
Nice.
Teaching a full day again tomorrow, so Ill be shattered and ratty. Feeling good about the painting, though- finally resolved my urge to draw and a large scale canvas, after 10 years of trying.
Nice.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
...ps
...but the new diamond formation fancied by Ancelotti is not helping our Fat Frank's strike rate- he barely gets a shot on, even against Burnley. Tsk!
Shanghai Saturday Night
The average Shanghai Saturday usually culminates, in the shanghersey household atleast, in a night of tins and football. Initially curtailed by the collapse of the filipino satellite network, or atleast its sneaky tunnel into the chinese mainland, this has been a hit and miss activity. Many a night was ruined towards the end of last season by the intermittent coverage, which eventually expired altogether over the summer.
However, the handy collapse of Setanta in the UK has been cited by some as the reason that all matches are now covered by Shanghai LIVE tv. Such a joy to witness every single game, with sedated and rambling but uninspiring chinese commentary, which by the sound of it discusses the quality of the pies in the cafe at stamford bridge more than the free flowing attacking play. None of your South American Goooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal over here then. Its charming in its own way, however, and I even pick up the odd Gao-le and Dao-le-ma.
However, the handy collapse of Setanta in the UK has been cited by some as the reason that all matches are now covered by Shanghai LIVE tv. Such a joy to witness every single game, with sedated and rambling but uninspiring chinese commentary, which by the sound of it discusses the quality of the pies in the cafe at stamford bridge more than the free flowing attacking play. None of your South American Goooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal over here then. Its charming in its own way, however, and I even pick up the odd Gao-le and Dao-le-ma.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Drowning
Oh Dear.
I am now seeing the error f my ways in taking on a few more lessons Graphics teaching- I was thinking of the money and now all I see is an endless sea of staff meetings, petty school commitments and my art sliding down the toilet.
Still worse, I have just been approached to produce a commission for an expo in Xintiandi, and don't know if Ive now got time to do it
Fight on, I say- Fight on!
I am now seeing the error f my ways in taking on a few more lessons Graphics teaching- I was thinking of the money and now all I see is an endless sea of staff meetings, petty school commitments and my art sliding down the toilet.
Still worse, I have just been approached to produce a commission for an expo in Xintiandi, and don't know if Ive now got time to do it
Fight on, I say- Fight on!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Postcard from Shanghai : Moganshan Lu
Graffiti is tolerated on one street in Shanghai, near the arts district M50.
Frog Face
Usually a playground term to describe many of my first girl friends, this blog title actually refers to what I encountered on my walk home from the gym last night. Having caught up with the family at the pool (I had been at the studio in the day) we headed home because of the torrential rains and thunder storms that have become the summer norm in this humid city.
As we passed the shops and stalls of wulumuqi lu, my attention was caught by a polystyrene tray dowsed in blood. This in itself is not unusual- nearly all the market shops at the lower end of wulumuqi lu sell live meat of one kind or another, and the patrons regularly crouch on the pavement to gut, skin or dice whatever fish or innard happens to have caught the attention of a hungry Chinese worker on their way home. This was the first time, however, that I had seen the frog seller actually preparing his fare- the huge bull frogs huddled in netted bags always seem a particularly slow seller, but I dont know whether they are priced out of the regular dinner range, or whether they just taste about as good as they look (I rather suspect the latter)- anyhow this was the first time I'd seen this marketeer in action. In his polystyrene tray were the usual pools of watery blood and random meaty scraps, but I was delighted to see neatly arranged along one edge, loosened froggy faces, deftly skinned from their neckless bodies and saved on one side, broad mouths almost smiling. Again, my limited domestic culinary skills mean that I am still in the dark as to whether they are saved as a delicacy, or because they are distasteful or poisonous. Call me Mr Fussy if you will, but I hope I never find out.
As we passed the shops and stalls of wulumuqi lu, my attention was caught by a polystyrene tray dowsed in blood. This in itself is not unusual- nearly all the market shops at the lower end of wulumuqi lu sell live meat of one kind or another, and the patrons regularly crouch on the pavement to gut, skin or dice whatever fish or innard happens to have caught the attention of a hungry Chinese worker on their way home. This was the first time, however, that I had seen the frog seller actually preparing his fare- the huge bull frogs huddled in netted bags always seem a particularly slow seller, but I dont know whether they are priced out of the regular dinner range, or whether they just taste about as good as they look (I rather suspect the latter)- anyhow this was the first time I'd seen this marketeer in action. In his polystyrene tray were the usual pools of watery blood and random meaty scraps, but I was delighted to see neatly arranged along one edge, loosened froggy faces, deftly skinned from their neckless bodies and saved on one side, broad mouths almost smiling. Again, my limited domestic culinary skills mean that I am still in the dark as to whether they are saved as a delicacy, or because they are distasteful or poisonous. Call me Mr Fussy if you will, but I hope I never find out.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
At last
Back in the big dirty one. Loving it!
Humidity is around 90%, its 36 degrees, thunder storming noisily and raining hard... Having been away my eyes are opened once again to the wondrous victorian street life here, its like a phizz cartoon on every corner.
Off to the studio this morning to do some interviews for a visiting film company, though i suspect as usual thy will be looking to interview ninky nonk artists not boring european ones. I may sellotape my eyes into slits, to complete my racist slander and disenfranchisement.
Oh, and Ive found a way round the Firewall/greenDam. Very happy now.
Humidity is around 90%, its 36 degrees, thunder storming noisily and raining hard... Having been away my eyes are opened once again to the wondrous victorian street life here, its like a phizz cartoon on every corner.
Off to the studio this morning to do some interviews for a visiting film company, though i suspect as usual thy will be looking to interview ninky nonk artists not boring european ones. I may sellotape my eyes into slits, to complete my racist slander and disenfranchisement.
Oh, and Ive found a way round the Firewall/greenDam. Very happy now.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Behind the Plastic Lens
Have been storming around the country with my trusty Diana F+. My kids have been particularly patient as I have used them repeatedly as part of a new project. Bless 'em!
Blimey
t's been such a long time. Its been impossible to post since tightening of laws and strategies here and there. Still, back in the UK temporarily, so have the liberty of making a post or two.
Unfortunately there's not much to tell. Despite travels aplenty, merrymaking and happiness do not a story make.
The gallery have just increased the wallspace by a thrid, so the walls are looking empty... I have a couple of projects on the go, but only in my head. A nice photography number, based on some fantastic pictures I have seen of the photography of charles lutwidge dodgeson. Using the kids as models, and plenty of storytelling, thought the thread I am unsure of.
Back to watercolours too. Probably Chaim modelling, holding animals and skulls and witchcrafty stuff like mobile phones, trainers and chopsticks in polystyrene tubs...
Unfortunately there's not much to tell. Despite travels aplenty, merrymaking and happiness do not a story make.
The gallery have just increased the wallspace by a thrid, so the walls are looking empty... I have a couple of projects on the go, but only in my head. A nice photography number, based on some fantastic pictures I have seen of the photography of charles lutwidge dodgeson. Using the kids as models, and plenty of storytelling, thought the thread I am unsure of.
Back to watercolours too. Probably Chaim modelling, holding animals and skulls and witchcrafty stuff like mobile phones, trainers and chopsticks in polystyrene tubs...
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