Spent a great Sunday a couple of weeks ago, promoting Open Studios at the St. Alban’s Festival. There was a great turn-out from Artists, and we really felt we got the message out there about Open Studios. I tried an interesting exercise using my painting “Paddling”.
I asked people to look at the picture and jot down what it evoked for them. I was trying to help people understand how art can be more than just a pretty picture, but helps people access emotions and feelings (hopefully good ones!) every time they look at a work. The Word Cloud above was the collective input. There were clearly some common themes, but also a lot of different individual responses. And people seemed genuinely interested in having a go, and expressing what they felt, which was really great.
The Annual Summer Exhibition is currently on at the Royal Academy on Piccadilly. The oldest and largest Open Exhibition in the world, it’s a wonderful experience, with a great mix of stimulating new work from RAs, next to small paintings by amateurs. I made it through to the shortlist this year, but not the final show – I’m not too unhappy, apparently Constable was rejected 7 times!
After a revitalising coffee in the Grand Cafe with it’s famous murals, go upstairs to check out the latest David Hockney works, “82 Portraits and a Still life”. There are 82 identically-sized portraits of Hockney’s friends, each of whom sat for 3 days in the same chair, and was painted from life. However Hockney describes the works as 1 piece of art, and it is indeed the impact of seeing them all together that makes the lasting impression.
Borough Market
I’ve finally finished my Borough Market piece, which has appeared a couple of times in the Bulletin as a work in progress. After a lot of detailed work, it still wasn’t really hanging together, and as often seems to be the case, I needed a radical final step. In this case I’ve chosen to darken the sky considerably. The field trip was indeed on a dark and stormy day, so the atmosphere of the whole scene now feels in harmony. I’ve called it “That’ll be £2.80 love (Borough Market)”
Hertford Theatre Summer Exhibition, Tue 19th July – Sat 13th August (a group show of 8 artists associated with Courtyard Arts). Preview Evening to meet the Artists (including me!) is on Thu 21st July, 6.30 to 8.30.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Herts Open Studios, Preview Evenings Wed/Thu 14th/15th September 6-9pm, then weekends 17th/18th and 24th/25th, 12-5pm. There are many other artists showing in homes and studios throughout September across Hertfordshire, do please check out the website.
Sunbury Millenium Embroidery Gallery, Solo Exhibition “The texture of Landscape”, Tue 11th October – Sunday 6th November (10-4pm). There is a Private View on Thursday 13th October, 6.30pm. Do let me know if you’d like to attend this.
If I don’t see you at the St. Albans or Hertford shows, do have a lovely Summer