Tony Nero’s Art
NEWS
The really random newsletter all about my art
l Artist
Day Ferry Meadows
l PAOS
Art in the Park
l Reflections l Most
& Shadows
recent works
l What’s
on!
www.artoftonynero.com
October 2017 issue 15
Welcome
Soul Happy Love
Welcome to the pages of my 15th newsletter and in trying to keep up with myself, I tried, but didn’t actually get this one out before my current exhibition. So the past couple of months has been big fun, lots of arty events. Had such a great time taking part in Peterborough Artists Open Studio. Followed by an Artist Day in Ferry Meadows then our Reflections & Shadows exhibition at the Yarrow Gallery in Oundle. Now enjoying moments and interesting conversations at my solo exhibition ‘This is Me’, at the Norman Cross Gallery. Exhibition begun 16th September and runs until end of October, so hope to see some more of you there.
Cover Photo This issue’s front cover features a section taken from my drawing of the iconic Norma Jean (Marilyn Monroe). A new pencil drawing for the legends collection and one created specially for my ‘This is me’ solo exhibition currently on at the Norman Cross Gallery.
Popped into the office of the Soul Happy gang recently to drop off a few paintings and ended up staying longer than i’d planned. A little conversation about art is usually all that’s needed to get me going. So arty chatter mixed with the energy of Kim Coley, who runs the Wellbeing Centre with a solid team, was enough to make me forget about time. I dropped off 4 new paintings, which were featured in the recent Reflections & Shadows exhibition and ended up filled to the brim with Soul Happy Love. They say a picture speaks a thousand words and that picture above, really says it. Funny thing is, the painting i’m holding is actually upside down. To find out more about the Soul Happy Centre and to get involved visit: www.soulhappy.org.uk
My five seconds with master photographer During the Peterborough Artists Open Studios events in June/July, I was lucky enough to visit quite a few of the venues within the first weekend. One of the studios I visited with Jackie Hall, chair of PAOS, was that of photographer Tony Lovell, who was showing with Open Studios for the first time. Tony is not, what you would call the average photographer, he is old school. By this, I don’t mean just taking photos using film and developing to prints. Tony goes way back to using old Victorian bellow cameras and works in what you call a ‘wet plate’ process. Even more exciting, he rebuilds these cameras himself from spare parts. I was quite taken back by this visit, because back in the day
I also, used a large format bellow camera to do the film work on vinyl records album covers. Like a true artist Tony challenged me to sit still for five seconds, it was hard going but five seconds later and just a few minutes of old style hand developing, resulted with this amazing black and white portrait, developed on glass.
Reflections and Shadows It’s always exciting showing at the Yarrow Gallery in Oundle and this second helping of Reflections and Shadows was just as exciting as the first one last year. The exhibition ran for a week at the beginning of August and featured a variety of interesting work from all the artists involved. Lots of sculptures, paintings, mosaics, jewellery, fabrics and a lovely selection of arty greeting cards. On most days throughout the duration of the exhibition, there were always one or two artists doing some live work and demonstrating their craft, while
My wall of work on preview night
Busy live art, painting, mosaic and Jewellery
Paintings by Prue Pye
Sculpture by David Williamson
enjoying the mood of the gallery. I thoroughly enjoyed my day of live art and managed to do a small sketch of the Yarrow Gallery. We had a most excellent preview evening, attended by friends and many members from the business community in Oundle. Lots of thanks to Caroline Hawkins for all her hard work and dedication, in rallying up us rowdy artists and putting the exhibition together.
Exquisite mosic work by Mahemuda Arsalini
Beautiful Porcelain work by Kathryn Parsons
Posing with Jim Tovey by his wooden sculpture
Yaxley Festival
In April I was invited by Friends of Norman Cross to take part with them in the Yaxley Festival. This being an opportunity to promote myself and the gallery at the same time. The event ran from Friday to Sunday and loaded with lots of fun and family entertainment. I spent most of the time talking to visitors but actually got some drawing done. It’s always great to do some live art and interact with visitors. I even got my face painted by the talented Rose Croft.
Nath Nice in action
Derek Lopez and Paul Chamberlain
Great to see the crew from Street Arts Hire in action on the super Star Wars wall. I’ve already been invited back by the organisers to take part next year.
Festival organiser Stewart Howe
Art in the Heart Pop UP Gallery
After going around the block a couple of times, my dynamic David Bowie painting was finally sold at Art in the Heart’s Pop-up gallery in Queensgate. The painting first appeared in the ‘Body and Soul’ exhibition in March at Norman Cross Gallery, then in April at my ‘Pieces of A Dream 2, solo exhibition at the Stamford Arts Centre, and finally graced the cover of my last Newsletter. A lovely display from the team and amongst some beautiful work by other talented artists.
Tony’s Shout Out! This issue’s shout goes out to Deanne Bullimore, who I first met in the early days of Art in the Heart. Listening to her story about living on the streets is something you just can’t forget.
After Deanne spent 7 months homeless she worked really hard to gain her own flat and began studying for a degree.
She became seriously ill and spent the 3 years of her uni life in and out of hospitals, so didn’t get the grades she wanted but she still passed. 3 operations later, she says ‘I got a great job, bought my own bungalow, and took my jewellery making hobby to the next level. I am now an international seller and have moved into making all things wedding after designing and making my own! I am now the happy Mrs Echarri’.
PAOS in the Park
It’s always stressful getting ready for Open Studios each year, but once everything is all set up, then the fun begins. This year we were back with our small team from a few years ago, which consisted of myself, Stacey-Ann Cole, Josephine Kelly and Mahemuda Arsalani. Our venue this time around was at the Pavillion in our wonderful Central Park. We didn’t really know what the response would be, as far as foot fall to the Pavillion, but during the
The beautiful work of Stacey-Ann Cole
two weekends in July we were opened, we had a constant flow of visitors. Throughout the course of each day, there were lots to see and do. As well as live art, we also had a variety of drop in workshops, which visitors were invited to take part in. These included beginners mosaic making with Mahemuda while I did acrylic painting on mini canvas. Stacey did water colour workshops and there was also an opportunity to tell your life story in
Michael & Nick enjoying Mahemuda’s work
Busy day with lots of visitors and arty pals Mr & Mrs lovell having a look at my mini canvases
drawings, with Josephine. I had a lot of fun doing some live art, and even managed to finish a pastel drawing I had started at our Cathedral Square launch, back in May. At one point, I was working on a little painting of a ladybird. One of our visitors took a liking to it and snapped it up even before it was completed. I think it’s safe to say that we all had a great time, creating cool art and welcoming all our visitors to our event. It’s always tiring to be on your feet all day and talking to so many people, but well worth it to see all the old and new faces.
Tamsin Claire Flower and ida liusaidh casilli
Mosaic workshop fun in the sunshine
All smiles after setting up, flying the PAOS flag, Tony, Josephine, Stacey & Mahemuda
Lovely figurative work by Josephine Kelly
this is me The Art of Tony Nero Solo exhibition
On until 28th Oct 2017 Norman Cross Gallery Norman House, Norman Cross, Peterborough, Cambs PE7 3TB.
www.normancrossgallery.com
The Gallery is open on Saturdays (11am - 4pm) other times by appointment please ring 01733 245189
www.artoftonynero.com E: tony.nero.art@gmail.com T: 07954 329525
Winter
Winter’s Exhibition Blows in a Mixed Bag of Artists at the Gallery
Art Exhibition 4th November until 31st December 2017 ARTISTS EXHIBITING
Norman Cross Gallery
Norman House, London Road, Norman Cross, Peterborough, Cambs PE7 3TB. Tel 01733 245189 Email: Contact@normancrossgallery.com
Admission FREE
Open to the Public Saturday’s from 10:30am to 4:30pm
Please contact the gallery for weekdays opening and for all enquiries regarding the exhibition
Tony Nero Francis Reynolds Prue Pye Jane Sanders Ian Simm Barry Frostick Process Smith Mahemuda Arsalani Kathryn Parsons Ann Pollard Jeni Cairns
www.normancrossgallery.com www.visitpeterborough.com www.artoftonynero.com
Artist day at Ferry Meadows Had a great time with a bunch of fellow artists, back in July, at the Ferry Meadows Artist Day. Quite a number of artist were very busy being creative in the Discovery Den, while outside in the gazebo Stacey-Ann Cole, Mahemuda Sayeed Arsalani and myself were enjoying the sunshine.
What better way to spend the day, than creating art and having fun, plus the rain was good to us and didn’t come down until packing up time.
Jim Tovey and Charron Pugsey-Hill creating some exciting wooden sculptures.
Stacey-Ann Cole, Mahemuda Sayeed Arsalani
Delia Moth working on a new watercolour
Big thanks to Charron Pugsley-Hill for inviting us to be a part of her ‘Artist Day’. And a huge shout out to Nene Park Trust for putting it all together.
Eve Marshall demonstrating her felt craft skills.
Life at The old Mill
It’s so exciting to hear that Metal has been given the green light to convert the old Whitworth Mill, over at Fletton Quays, into an art centre. I was recently at a meeting with a large gathering of artists where we were updated on some of the plans for the Mill, which has been empty for quite some time. Some plans are already in place and being juggled Earlyideas in theare year myself and around, but the main thing is, photographer Paul Saunders that will by bePhillip a place where was this invited court of artists can come together Abstract and Expressionistand Art create. As Metal’s director Mark and Photos to judge an art and Richards put it, a creative space photgraphic competition. where artist can make a mess. So one lovely Feburary morning we were under total lock down in Bewiched Coffee, armed with a laptop, a cuppa and a slice of the good stuff. It’s always nice to see the amount of interest and the variety of work submitted to these competitions. One of my favourites is this piece from one of the under 11 year olds.
Peterborough’s first Photographer laureate
In the last issue, I spoke about becoming the first Photographer Laureate of Peteborough. I guess a lot of you already know why I got this honorable title and for those who don’t know, it was an easy decision really.
Photo by Laurie Ann Loveridge at Green Backyard
The title was awarded to me by members of our local creative community. This is all due to me spending the past nine plus years documenting a lot of the arty events in our city, taking hundreds of photos. I try to get to as many events as possible, at times attending more that one event within the same day. In the begining most peoz shied away, but after a while they got used to the idea, and it became, oh it’s just Tony with his camera. One of my memorable moments was one young lady saying to me at an event, ‘I knew you would be here, so I made sure to put on my lippy’.
Most recent works
It’s hard to believe the amount of work I have produced over the past few months, but yes i’ve been a busy bee. These landscapes are from a small collection that’s now hanging at the Wellbeing Centre and the portraits are part of the new collection for my This is Me exhibition.
In the picture!
Did a painting last year for Mark McKenzie of his dog Zeus, for his wife’s 50th Birthday. Nice to them at PAOS Cathedral Square Launch.
Sue Vacani proudly shows off her birthday painting, bought by daughter Alice Violet at the PAOS event before it was even completed.
Neville David Roberts won a little painting of a robin from my Christmas competition. We never met before, so this was a nice surprise to see him at the heritage Festival in June.
Raffle winner Philip Wellham bags an original. This one was donated to help raise funds for All Saints Church roof at their flower festival.
Yours truly having a look at the A and O level students work at Sawtry Village Academy, before helping to hand out their awards.
Photo of the day I always hope to have something special for my photo of the day and this one really is special. With a big grin on my face for getting a cheeky hug from Fiona Onasanya our local MP. I first photographed Fiona (solicitor and former county councillor and now Labour’s MP for Peterborough) in town on the evening before she won the local election. Thanks to fellow artist Stacey-Ann Cole for this super photo taken in Central Park. Fiona came to visit our exhibition and the three of us sat on a bench and chatted for sometime, about art and life.
What’s on This is Me: Solo Exhibition by Tony Nero A collection of new portraits of some iconic and influential people. The Norman Cross Gallery Peterborough, PE7 3TB 11 am - 4 pm On until 28th October 2017 l
Norman Cross Winter exhibition: Winter’s Exhibition Blows in a Mixed Bag of Artists at the Gallery The Norman Cross Gallery Peterborough, PE7 3TB 10:30 am - 4:30 pm 4th November - 31 December 2017 l
Whisper Through The Trees Please to be invited back again this year to take part in this exciting exhibition, alongside a variety of talented artists. The Yarrow Gallery, Glapthorn Road, Oundle PE8 4PS 1st to 16th December 2017 l
Next Issue: Fiona Onasanya MP. opens my ‘This is Me’ exhibition exhibition l Stay in touch with Art of Tony Nero follow me on Twitter, Facebook, You Tube Instagram, LinkedIn & Google+ You can also visit my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/au/shop/ArtofTonyNero