AUTUMN COLLECTION — 2015 —
36 Pelé - Life through a lens 12 Your Home, Our Art
56 Hamish Blakely Private View
66 New Horizons by Richard Rowan
52 Lost Alice is the new collection from Peter Smith
welcome
One of the great pleasures of bringing beautiful art into people’s lives is the feedback we receive from collectors across the world. It is always heartening to hear personal stories of the emotional connection a new painting or sculpture can evoke and we are delighted to share just a small selection in this issue (page 12). If the stories inspire, you are sure to find a piece that engages you amongst the brand new art unveiled across these pages. We consider this to be a particularly heart-warming collection - prepare to feel your spirits soar!
© 2015 Washington Green (F.A.P.C) Ltd. Printed in England
Fine Art Collector is published by Washington Green (F.A.P.C.) Ltd Email art@washingtongreen.co.uk Website washingtongreen.co.uk All the art featured in Fine Art Collector is available through a network of Partnership Galleries. Visit our website at washingtongreen.co.uk to find your nearest gallery. The images contained within this literature are an artistic representation of the collection. To best experience our art, we recommend you contact your local gallery to arrange a viewing. Prices illustrated throughout this magazine are recommended retail prices and may vary between Partnership Galleries depending on styles of presentation. Designed & Produced by Now Media. Contributors: Sally Rowland, Jayne Howarth, Stephanie Richman.
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
3
Romero BRitto Me Tender � Love Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 28” x 36” Framed Size 32” x 40” Framed £995
With his signature ‘Pop Art’ style, Brazilian artist Romero Britto brings a blast of bright colour and Latin energy to these shores this autumn. Britto's limited edition collection of prints display an explosion of vibrant primary colours, and an optimistic outlook on life that is guaranteed to make you smile
4 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLe CToR 5Inc. Artwork © Britto Central,
Hug � Big Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 16" x 68" Framed Size 20” x 72” Framed £1,295
6 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
Happy In Love � So Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 28” x 36” Framed Size 32” x 40” Framed £995
AUTUMN 2015
rt can make you look at something in an exciting and totally different way. It can give you the power to ‘fly,’” says the charismatic Romero Britto. “My art is about love, celebration, joy, happiness and creating a beautiful energy” he exclaims. A firm believer in the role of an artist as an agent for positive change, Britto’s work evokes happiness and hope using a visual language that is universal. A passionate believer that art should be available to all, the enthusiasm for his craft is infectious. “I get my inspiration from simple things in life – from beautiful things that happen in life, that make me happy and leave me inspired” he adds. Self-taught from an early age, and with a vivid imagination and creative spirit, he painted on newspaper, cardboard or any scraps that he could find during what he calls a ‘modest’ childhood in Brazil, as one of eight siblings. "My humble beginnings serve as true inspiration for me. I know how it feels to not have anything” says Britto, whose artistic imagination was ignited by visiting Paris in the early 1980’s and seeing the work of Matisse and Picasso for the first time. Heavily influenced by other artists, from Da Vinci to
Dali, he moved to Miami where Pop Art was flourishing at the time, and set up a studio open to the public, spending the next few years exhibiting and attracting art lovers’ attention, drawing comparisons with iconic Pop Art luminaries such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein. He also achieved recognition through commercially astute projects, working with Coca Cola, Audi, Bentley and Disney to name but a few. And earlier this year he was named Olympic Ambassador for the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he will be bringing his art to the biggest global audience of all, having undertaken similar work for the 2014 World Cup in his native Brazil. The trademark crayon-like colours and his fusion of Cubist and Pop Art influences have won him global plaudits, and The New York Times recently concluded that his dynamic work exuded something the world is short on - “warmth, optimism and love.” That upbeat message has won him an international audience of modern art collectors, including celebrities such as singer Gloria Estefan who says she loves his art because it is “colourful, innovative and distinctive,’ while chef Michel Roux admiringly suggests “Romero’s studio is like a kitchen and Romero is the grand chef!”
Romero BRitto �
Given such accolades, Washington Green is delighted to offer a new collection from Britto, never before seen in the UK, comprising a series of hand-signed limited edition canvas prints, which are a shot of pure aesthetic pleasure. Seemingly simple detail is combined with riotous colour combinations and bold lines, which are designed to delight. “To me, bright colours evoke feelings of happiness, optimism and positive energy” says Britto. “My favourite colour is yellow, the colour of the sun and life” he explains, and as a passionate believer that bright colours can not only improve mood, memory, confidence, but also mental and physical agility, he believes his craft offers a positive effect. “It’s great to believe that my works can have such a grand effect!” he laughs. In the limited edition prints he uses silkscreen and digital printing techniques capturing the same colourful vibrancy as an original. The collection is ostensibly about love – between both children and parents, and couples. In the multi coloured Big Hug he is inspired by “the unique and pure love that children have for their parents and the world – the open arms being the most beautiful gesture of love and friendship" and in So Happy in Love it is the affirmation of »
“My art is about love, celeBRation, joy, happiness and creating a beautiful energy” �
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
7
Romero BRitto Heart � Big Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 28” x 36” Framed Size 32” x 40” Framed £995
Hug � Sweet Boxed canvas
�
Edition of 95 Image Size 16” x 68” Framed Size 20” x 72” Framed £1,295
what he says is "doing the right thing, thinking the right thing, saying the right thing to who we love, and feeling loved in return.” Creative expression and the wealth of positive feelings it offers, is something very close to his heart and he is well known for his philanthropic efforts as an activist engaging children in arts and literacy education. He currently serves as a benefactor, donating time, art and resources to over 250 charitable organisations. “With knowledge and education you can understand the world.” he says. “I don’t paint for my ‘village’, I paint for the world.” Committed to developing and supporting the powerful role art plays in world issues, he sums up his philosophy “Art is too important not to share," and it is that democratic and generous spirit that has made him the hugely popular and influential artist he is today. GALLERY The new collection from Romero Britto is available now. View online at washingtongreen.co.uk
�
8 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
“My favourite colour is yellow, the colouR of the sun and life”
IN THE GALLERY
John Myatt Tide At Pourville � Low (In The Style Of Claude Monet) Stretched Canvas Edition of 50 Image Size 31” x 32” Framed Size 40” x 41” Framed £1,950
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
9
IN THE GALLERY
Ryder
�
10 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Rush Hour � The Canvas edition of 95
Image Size 22” x 30” Framed Size 28” x 36” Framed £595
Sticks � Pooh Canvas edition of 95
Image Size 22” x 30” Framed Size 28” x 36” Framed £595
Summer Walks � Mid Canvas edition of 95
Image Size 14” x 14” Framed Size 20” x 20” Framed £295
� Sisters Canvas edition of 95
Image Size 14” x 14” Framed Size 20” x 20” Framed £295
�
Emotional, nostalgic, and with depth, meaning the paintings aren’t always what they seem. �
�
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
11
“This wonderful piece of art adds that 'wow' factor as visitors enter the dining room.” - Julie Ward
Selecting art for your home can be an exciting adventure and a source of enjoyment for many years. We asked our collectors to throw open their doors and share images of their favourite pieces. We hope they inspire you for your next visit to the gallery.
“I love Alex Ross' comic artwork, his work is so detailed and impactful. Some of the most iconic versions of superheroes. The Batman and Superman canvases are excellent centre pieces for my geek room. My wife was right, the boxed canvases do look best framed." – Matt Taylor
12 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
"Art means a great deal to our household – our lounge and kitchen are full of art by Washington Green artists.” — Paul Reeve My Simon Claridge pieces mean the world to me! As soon as I saw Twiggy on display, I fell in love, it was an impromptu purchase. I knew that I simply had to have Bridget Bardot too. I think they look nothing short of stunning. LOVE LOVE LOVE!” – Dawn Sandovi
“This piece by Emma Grzonkowski is so special to both myself and my daughter. She spent a very long time in hospital this year and I bought this - her favourite by Emma as her 14th birthday present. I completely transformed her room in secret for her for when she was finally allowed home, and this piece finished it off perfectly.” – Joanne Jenkins
“We b Blak Bob them Tom
IN THE GALLERY
Emma Grzonkowski Unique 2 � Enchanted Boxed canvas
Framed Size 36¼" x 36¼" Framed £1,650
Be Torn Unique 4 � ToBoxed canvas
Framed Size 32¼" x 40" Framed £1,650
D'Amour � Assoiffee Unique 4
Boxed canvas Framed Size 24¾" x 55½" Framed £1,650
�
� 14 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
ďż˝ Speaking to the soul, Emma's new collection evokes passion and deep emotion in the viewer. Each piece is diverse, with the choice of colour and freedom of brush strokes. Adding depth and texture, the unique hand embellishment by the artist in the studio reveals a broad and confident approach
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
15
Thames � Still Boxed canvas
Edition of 150 Image Size 28” x 48” £695
IN THE GALLERY
Paul Kenton �
Last Light � London's Boxed canvas Edition of 150 Image Size 38” x 38” £750
Shard � Towering Boxed canvas
Edition of 150 Image Size 24” x 60” £750
Path � Thames Boxed canvas
Edition of 150 Image Size 32” x 54” £950
� 16 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Elements of spontaneity help bring each scene to life and open up new ideas and thoughts for future pieces. ďż˝ AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
17
TEMPER Cover � Temper's Versions Graffiti Gang
Stretched canvas Edition of 33 Image Size 33” x 33” Framed Size 47½” x 47½” TheFramed Location£3,950 Temper Studio, 1212 Music Street. Graff Town 334578. The Date Tuesday November 04 2015 Giclée edition of 195 Image Size 12” x 12” Framed Size 22” x 23” Framed £395
1
3
2
4 11
10
9
5
20
8 15
14
13
19
17
7
6
12
16
21 23
22
25
24
18
33 26
27
28
29
30
31
32 34
35
36 37
45 38 39
48
40
41
50
42
43
51
49
46 44
47
52 53
54
55
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Drum ‘N’ Base Geezer Brit Pop Guy Soul Music Man Heavy Metal Dude Acid House Raver Country Boy Jazz Death Metal Rocker CV - Daves Star Quest (Character 1) 10 Punk Rock Girl 11 Rock ‘N’ Roller 12 80’s New Romantic 13 Rapper 14 70’s Disco 15 Ska Guy 16 Mod Fella 17 CV - Graffiti is Physical (Character 1) 18 Progressive Rock Boy 19 CV - Unusual Times (Character) 20 CV - Daves Star Quest (Character 2) 21 Reggae Man 22 CV - Scrawls New Peek (Character) 23 CV - Pink Gum (Character) 24 CV - Overshadowed Intro (Character) 25 60’s 26 Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 1)
Temper Insert 2.indd 1
18 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
56
27 Techno Raver 28 Northern Souler 29-32 Graffiti Gang 33 Hip Hop 34 Madchester Rave 35 70’s Rocker 36 Trumpet 37 Buddha 38 Union Jack Flag 39 Plastic Toy Snake 40 Barcode 41 Big Drum 42 Cassette Tape 43 Golf Clubs 44 Vinyl 45 Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 2) 46 Spray Cans 47 Doll In Pushchair 48 Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 3) 49 Head Stones (R.I.P George Harrison & John Lennon) 50 Elephant 51 Apple Computer & Mouse 52 Samsung Tv & Apple iPhone 53 Tribal Hieroglyphic 54 Floral TEMPER Tag 55 Separated Human Sculpture (Male & Female) 56 Floral 'WOW'
AUTUMN 2015
1. Drum ‘N’ Base Geezer 2. Brit Pop Guy 3. Soul Music Man 4. Heavy Metal Dude 5. Acid House Raver 6. Country Boy 7. Jazz 8. Death Metal Rocker 9. CV - Daves Star Quest (Character 1) 10. Punk Rock Girl 11. Rock ‘N’ Roller 12. 80’s New Romantic 13. Rapper 14. 70’s Disco 15. Ska Guy 16. Mod Fella 17. CV - Graffiti is Physical (Character 1) 18. Progressive Rock Boy 19. CV - Unusual Times (Character) 20. CV - Daves Star Quest (Character 2) 21. Reggae Man 22. CV - Scrawls New Peek (Character) 23. CV - Pink Gum (Character) 24. CV - Overshadowed Intro (Character) 25. 60’s 26. Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 1) 27. Techno Raver 28. Northern Souler 29. Graffiti Gang 30. Graffiti Gang 31. Graffiti Gang 32. Graffiti Gang 33. Hip Hop 34. Madchester Rave 35. 70’s Rocker 36. Trumpet 37. Buddha 38. Union Jack Flag 39. Plastic Toy Snake 40. Barcode 41. Big Drum 42. Cassette Tape 43. Golf Clubs 44. Vinyl 45. Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 2) 46. Spray Cans 47. Doll In Pushchair 48. Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 3) 49. Head Stones (R.I.P George Harrison & John Lennon 50. Elephant 51. Apple Computer & Mouse 52. Samsung TV & Apple iPhone 53. Tribal Hieroglyphic 54. Floral TEMPER Tag 55. Separated Human Sculpture (Male & Female) 56. Floral ‘WOW’ *Painted out because he wanted money $ painted out due to being wrongly used Tem% also used by for realism *Sculpture (Buddha) from a bird house
10/08/2015 09:50
Ho t
R
The graffiti artist Temper (aka Arron Bird) first picked up a spray can at the age of 10 and hasn’t looked back! Following a critically acclaimed collection last year, his ambitious new creation reinterprets the famous Beatles album cover of the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band LP, designed by the artist Peter Blake. It’s an audacious move that works – exactly as you would expect from this Midlands boy made good idely recognised as one of the most successful and talented graffiti artists of his generation, Temper’s inaugural ‘cover:versions’ collection for Washington Green caused a sensation in 2014, and now his latest work is making waves, hitting the galleries with his inimitable street style graffiti. Like his previous collection, he harnesses the iconography and graffiti reproduction of album cover art, (often regarded by modern art collectors as the ultimate example of classic late twentieth century artistic innovation in terms of style, inspiration and typography) and this time takes on the legendary 1967 Beatles album. “Album covers were like an art gallery to me as a child, they had a magic about them that would transport me to another place. It provided me with a playground for my creativity and imagination,” explains Temper, whose gritty working class upbringing have given his graphic, edgy graffiti art an authentic urban. “When I was a child, my grandad used to carefully unfold cigarette packets and then flatten them out so that I could draw on them. That was the only time I ever got to draw as a kid” says Temper who never had any formal art education. Obsessively studying sleeve artwork on vinyl records, he absorbed himself into the whole experience whilst listening to the music, then honing his aerosol skills from the age of ten, spraying tags, bubble letters and figurative images on disused railway lines and factory units. He would be the first to acknowledge that he has come a long way! » AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
19
TEMPER
1
Now, as the one of the most successful graffiti artists in the country, he has paved the way for a younger generation to take art off the street and into the galleries, having elevated it into a recognised art form that has progressed from the traditional stereotype of a hooded youth vandalising neighbourhoods with senseless abandon, to work that holds its place in a gallery on artistic merit. “If you put a knife in someone’s hand, one person might want to chop up onions with it, the other might want to attack you. There is not one mentality for all” says Temper, who sees his difficult formative years as the key to his later success. “I spent 11 years doing illegal graffiti but I was the first one to take my kind of work into a commercial gallery and I turned the whole lot upside down.” Taking direct inspiration for this unique piece of art from the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover, he will please his followers having drawn up a montage of previous characters from his other ‘cover:versions’ characters as well as new ones specially created from the musical inspiration of his youth - Punk, Ska and Rock, all crowded into the monochrome background. Using his illustrative skills alongside a free-hand ‘traditional’ graffiti style, the detailed figurative work shows a characteristic dexterity and attention to detail. In Peter Blake’s original version the band was depicted posing in front of a tableau of celebrities and historical figures from Marlene Dietrich to Oscar Wilde. In Temper’s version he replaces the ‘Fab Four’ with his signature B-boy characters, complete with an urban attitude, in a similar colour palette to The Beatles original cover. In the same way that the original Sgt Pepper album was considered as a template for the cultural typography of the 1960’s, so this dynamic and brave interpretation by Temper revitalises this iconic album cover to make it instantly relevant and modern. Made out of photocopy cut-outs, illustration, sketches, tissue paper, glue, poster paint, marker pens, and even the humble pencil, it was a risky move, but Temper succeeds in creating something truly different, with a graceful nod to the original’s unique place in rock history and album iconography. GALLERY The new collection from Temper is available now. View online at washingtongreen.co.uk
20 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Two layers of Gel Coat are painted into the mould tool – a specially designed material is blended to create the exact colour of vinyl giving the authentic look and feel of records for the frames.
2 3kg of resin with filler is spread over the painted area, and again left to dry.
3 A layer of fibreglass is inserted into the frame to give strength.
The Frame x
An exciting and innovative feature of this new work is the frame designed by Temper which is amazingly derived from original vinyl records! Reproducing this unique vinyl frame was a time consuming and labour intensive process, in order to provide an exact replica of Temper’s original in detail, colour and finish. The original frame, which used 36 vinyl records, was used as a template for a series of mould tools designed to replicate exactly the surface finish of the original frame. Two layers of precisely blended gelcoat, the colour and texture of the original vinyl, were painted into the mould and left to dry, after which resin was spread over the painted area. Once dry, a layer of fibreglass was inserted into the frame to toughen it, followed by another thick layer of resin. Once removed from the mould, the front was buffed to the finish of an original vinyl record, complete with authentic scratches!
5
4
A full clean and polish is then given to the front of the frame to give the authentic look and feel of vinyl records.
Once completely set the frame is taken out of the mould, and the back of the frame is cleaned.
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
21
IN HIS OWN WORDS ACCLAIMED ARTIST LAWRENCE COULSON SHARES A PERSONAL VIEW OF HIS WORLD AND REVEALS HIS FEAR OF 'PAINTER'S BLOCK'
22 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Lawrence Coulson
Walk To Forever � Our Canvas edition of 150
Image Size 16¾” x 28” Framed Size 22” x 23” Framed £550
I find that walking in the countryside and getting some fresh air is a favourite way to relax, which sounds like a cliché but it’s true. Just doing simple things like lying under the tree in the garden, or even washing the car.
f I could be 21 again I would tell myself to have some self belief and to be more confident. Also to lighten up and not worry about what I have no control over. All of the things I still tell myself at 53... Current affairs and politics are something that I try to keep abreast of, even if it is just by watching the evening news, but I have never been a banner waver or any kind of radical. Whatever is going on in the world certainly has no effect on whatever is happening in the studio, once in there I am lost in the work.
There are two very good pieces of advice that I have received, firstly from my father who presented me with a copy of the book covering his artistic career. Inside the front cover were the words ‘Just keep trying’. Secondly these words of wisdom from Halcyon Gallery’s Paul Green; ‘Just paint…’. The best advice I would give to someone would be to give themselves time to breathe, be open minded, not to suffocate the ones you love and to be a good friend. Again, probably things I am still trying to accomplish myself. To any aspiring artist I would say this; paint pictures twice as good as you are now, and be grateful to receive at least half of the money you were expecting to be paid for them. »
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
23
Lawrence Coulson
Can Dream � We Canvas edition of 150
Image Size 22” x 22” Framed Size 28” x 28” Framed £550
I only once ever experienced ‘painter’s block’. I have no idea why it happened but it was around 10 years ago and, for several days, every move I made was wrong. Colours, tones, everything. Every brushstroke took me deeper into despair, very frightening. Until one day all my abilities suddenly returned, like the needle on a record dropping into the groove, and I have been fine ever since. If I could converse with any artist it would be J.M.W. Turner. I have only one question; "Please sir, could you teach me to paint?..." If I hadn’t been lucky enough to become a professional painter I would have loved to have been a car designer. This was an ambition during my schooldays but academically was never going to happen. Half of the reason I failed most of my exams was probably down to a lack of concentration due to doodling some car or other. When I am not working my main interest is cars, always has been. Not so much the exotic stuff like Ferraris or Lamborghinis but older cars, from the ‘60s to the ‘80s. I’m no mechanic by any means so my tinkering involves no more than cleaning and polishing. My wife and I attend classic car events in an old Mercedes that my father passed to me, but I am just as happy charging around in my ten year old Saab estate. I love music too, I can’t play anything (yet) but there is always something booming out in the studio, anything from Gary Numan to Beck to The Stranglers to Kate Bush. I would always rather have a phone conversation to an e-mail. I prefer the personal touch. I was always a dreadful pessimist, looking on the darker side of things, cup half empty, all of that. These days I am a little more optimistic and clearer thinking. Sometimes things happen in your life that force a change for the better.
Treasure Of Life � The Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 14½” x 44” Framed Size 20” x 50” Framed £750
24 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
"WHEN I AM NOT PAINTING MY MAIN INTEREST IS CARS, ALWAYS HAS BEEN."
�
�
If I was given a plane ticket to anywhere at all it would be to California’s West coast, the Santa Monica area. I would love to experience that whole surfing, skateboarding, cool car culture whilst being immersed in constant sunshine. The technology that allows so much visual reference is like any new tech, it carries advantages and disadvantages. In the case of the artist it allows instant sharing of new work to gain feedback, and is a valuable marketing tool. However it can prove to be a massive distraction and can probably be blamed for totally destroying the art of conversation. My most recent collection ‘Through All Seasons’ contains two themes. Firstly I wanted to present a collection with as much variety as possible, to give as much interest to collectors both old and new. Secondly the ‘Seasons’ in the title may not be literal, but periods in ones life where one has to battle through the challenges thrown at them and it is only the love and support of those around you that can pull you through. I would hope that by taking the time to look at my work the viewer is momentarily transported to a quieter place, maybe into a distant memory. I would also like to think that in this digital age they could appreciate the time and craftsmanship that is present. To reference my father, ‘There are only two things that matter; the skill of the artist and the beauty of the subject.’
Struck � Love Canvas edition of 150
Image Size 26” x 10½” Framed Size 31” x 16” Framed £395
Moment Of � That Wonder
Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 16¾” x 28” Framed Size 22” x 33” Framed £550
A CHANCE TO SHINE
Editorial Feature Emerging artists step into the limelight through unique campaign to cultivate talent arlier this year, Washington Green launched a campaign to find the UK's newest emerging artistic talent and give them an opportunity to have their work publicly showcased. Aiming to reach a nationwide audience, IN:SIGHT 2015 was an open call to all unsigned artists - from painters, street artists and sculptors to photographers and sketchers. With no style, genre or medium off limits, artists were invited to submit their portfolios for review by the publisher's creative team, for the chance to be selected to exhibit their work at an inaugural Summer Exhibition. Glyn Washington, founder and creative director said: "With ongoing government cuts in arts funding, we feel that as the UK’s leading fine art publisher, we have a responsibility to give something back and invest in the future of the UK arts scene. Nurturing home grown talent and providing a stage for artists to express themselves and shine is vital, and setting up IN:SIGHT and the subsequent Summer Exhibition is our way of recognising this." Last year's success stories included Dan Lane aka Mechanica, Scarlett Raven and Frédéric Daty.
TALENT ON SHOW The response to IN:SIGHT was overwhelming, with over 400 submissions received. With so much talent to choose from, whittling them down to a final 20 artists for inclusion in Summer Exhibition 2015 was not an easy task. Held at Castle Fine Art at Birmingham’s prestigious International Convention Centre, the 4-week long exhibition in August showcased an exceptional array of works and represented the diverse nature of contemporary art. Differing in age, methodology, subject matter and medium, the exhibitors ranged from painters, photographers and sculptors working in a myriad of materials - from pen and pastels to charcoal and oils. Some had honed their skills by undertaking fine art degrees, whilst others were self-taught and had chosen a creative path after first having careers in fields as varied as healthcare, architecture, textiles and blacksmithing. Their collective talents combined to take the viewer on a journey from the precision of pointillism portraiture to visual storytelling through photography, and from the intricate beauty of origami to striking landscapes, oil paintings of heroes from childhood literature and more. "We have great belief in the promise of this eclectic and talented group," said Glyn Washington "and we look forward to watching as their respective success stories unfold over the coming months and years." With the work on show throughout August, the exhibition gave a vast number of people the opportunity to view the remarkable portfolios. Visitors were also invited to choose their favourite artist, with the 'People's Choice Award' going to Glyn Davies.
One of the success stories of IN:SIGHT and the Summer Exhibition is Robert Oxley who has recently been signed by Washington Green, with three newly published pieces unveiled here Manchester-based Oxley's work explores themes of loss of natural habitat and species extinction. A completely selftaught artist, his love of nature and wildlife began in his childhood. “As a kid I would make and paint dioramas for imaginary zoos and when I was about 12 years old, I became obsessed with birds and natural history. My grandad challenged me to draw every bird in his Illustrated Book of Birds, which I still have." »
�
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
27
�
� Cowslip Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 36” x 36” £695
� Flood Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 36” x 36” £695
� Flux Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 36” x 36” £695
“I took a bunch of canvases and with no ideas, no references, and no vision of a finished painting I just painted and let it happen. I realised I wanted something loose and expressionist, yet was controlled and detailed." Using acrylics on canvas, for many years his work was characterised by a photo-realistic style, drawing on diverse references and inspiration ranging from wildlife to American lowbrow pop surrealism. For his new body of work, however, he wanted to do something totally different. “With no ideas, no references and no vision of a finished painting I just painted and let it happen," he said. “As the paintings grew I realised that I wanted something loose and expressionistic yet also controlled and detailed – work that looks like it was done quickly but on inspection reveals that every brushstroke is considered and meticulously painted. Loose and free but in fact complex is what nature is all about.” GALLERY The new collection from Robert Oxley is available now. View online at washingtongreen.co.uk
28 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
�
IN THE GALLERY
Ronnie Wood
� Hendrix Giclée edition of 150
Image Size 30” x 20” Framed Size 44” x 34” Framed £1,450
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
29
NEW ARTISTS � Velocity Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 38” x 48” £950
New
editions
AT WASHINGTON GREEN, WE ARE THRILLED WHEN NEW ARTISTS JOIN OUR RANKS AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO GROW OUR DIVERSE AND ENORMOUSLY TALENTED FAMILY. TWO OF OUR NEWEST ARTISTS ARE CARLY ASHDOWN AND LAURA TINALD, WHOSE STUNNING WORK OOZES UNIQUE MAGNETISM AND CHARM
30 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Ca rly Ashd ow n
F “I PAINT VERY INSTINCTIVELY AND I KNOW IN THE FIRST 10 TO 20 MINUTES IF I’M CREATING SOMETHING WITH MAGIC IN IT.”
or London-based Carly Ashdown, sketching has been part of her life from a very young age, however it wasn't until she turned 30 that she began painting. Before becoming a full time artist, she spent five years doing postproduction work in television, including for the BBC and Channel 4. "I was happy in my job and my career was flourishing," she says "but I had such a powerful sense of wanting to paint that I decided to leave the television industry and follow my heart." Although Carly had never stopped sketching, painting was a new medium for her. "I did an art and design degree at what was then Leeds Metropolitan University but my focus was film and photography, so when I started painting almost 10 years later it was all quite new to me. I’m pretty much self taught and I’m still learning."
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Surrender � Sweet Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 38” x 48” £950
Working in acrylic on canvas, her spirited figures are an exploration of the human experience and the indefinable sense of feeling alive. Self-understanding, interaction with the world and particularly personal transformation have long fascinated and inspired Carly. "Opening the heart, connecting to whom we really are, letting go and being open to possibilities
requires real bravery," she observes. "This is when energy flows and we positively sparkle."
STRUCTURE AND INSTINCT Strongly influenced by Jackson Pollock's working methods, creating a new piece is an intricate process that fuses structure, instinct, patience and high energy. "The process is very organic and it’s hard to say where the work is heading because the paintings lead me. When I take a break and return to the piece the next day or a few hours later, new paths and doorways often open and I see where to head next." Carly starts with sketches of figures, which develop and evolve as she fine-tunes and changes elements to create more dynamic poses and bring them to life. She then paints a charcoal outline washed over with water on the canvas and begins dripping acrylic paint down it. "I paint very instinctively and I know in the first 10 to 20 minutes if I’m creating something with magic in it." Working with a small brush, she applies detailed shading to help the figure 'pop out'. She follows by dripping more paint then flicking it at the canvas to create the sense of vivid movement and exact look that she wants. Flicking is normally done using forefinger and thumb but Carly will use anything to get the right look - even the flat end of paint tubes. When pieces are nearing completion, she paints in the white background and drips more paint onto the figure to further break it up. Once the canvas is dry, she might flick more paint and add final bits of shading. "My aim is to create beautiful pieces that are expressive, dynamic and vibrant," she says. "Paintings that are a celebration of the human form, the beauty of movement and freedom from personal limitations - and most importantly, a celebration of life itself."
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
31
Laura Tin ald
�
W
ith her father's creative flair and passion for the arts, drawing and painting have been part of Laura Tinald's life since childhood. At a young age, she was fascinated by vintage Disney animation and, when her parents started taking her to art galleries, she became utterly captivated by Pre-Raphaelite paintings, and in particular Dante Rossetti's Proserpine. "I spent hours drawing ladies with long flowing locks, trying to capture the textures as Rossetti did," she says. After completing an art foundation course at Bournville Art College in Birmingham, Laura studied fashion promotion and illustration at the University for Creative Arts in Surrey, and she has refined much of her craft by endlessly drawing and painting whenever she has a free moment. Applying stylised paint strokes and fine pencil lines, her hypnotic portraits of beautiful faces are akin to fashion illustrations but with a depth of character and emotion that transcends the genre. To this day, she continues to be inspired by Rossetti. "His ability to capture the curve of a woman’s lips or the shine in her hair remains unrivalled in my opinion. I also adore the work of fashion illustrator David Downton. He has a keen eye for detail and can capture the essence of a woman’s beauty so perfectly with so few lines."
HAPPY ACCIDENTS
“ALL OF THESE ACTRESSES ARE CLASSICALLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY ARE ALSO STRONG WOMEN WITH VERY DISTINCT PERSONALITIES AND RICH AND INTERESTING STORIES, WHICH IS WHY I WAS DRAWN TO THEM. THEY ARE VERY MUCH ROLE MODELS.”
�
�
Working on hot press watercolour paper, her favourite medium is Indian ink. "I love the rich, vivid colours that they achieve and how easily you can manipulate them - and with such striking results!" Using the inks and pencil lines, her technique is a combination of precision and 'happy accidents'. With the eyes always the focal point, the pencil lines are strategic but the ink splashes are completely spontaneous. "If I think a picture needs an extra something to give it more life, I'll add an impulsive splash. Indian ink has a life of its own, which gives a more natural, organic feel, and I hope that the haphazard quirks that it creates, and colour that is rarely kept within the lines, adds a certain magic to my work."
CLASSIC BEAUTY Laura's collection features four iconic movie stars, and she has deliberately limited the amount of colour to reflect the more muted look of movies in Greta, Lauren, Bette and Katharine’s heyday. "All of these actresses are classically beautiful," she says "but they are also strong women with very distinct personalities and rich and interesting stories, which is why I was drawn to them. They are very much role models."
32 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Landscapes NEW ARTISTS � Greta Giclée edition of 95
�
Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £295
� Bette Giclée edition of 95
Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £295
� Katharine Giclée edition of 95
Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £295
� Lauren Giclée edition of 95
Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £295
Screen Sirens Set of Four Giclée edition of 95 Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £995
Inevitably, Laura used photos as reference for the images, however she would love to draw a movie icon from life. "Capturing someone’s features in natural light whilst they sit for you is far more difficult than working from pictures, but so much more rewarding. It would be wonderful to be the artist chosen to capture a modern day screen siren’s beauty, and for the image to be remembered for many years to come." GALLERY Both artists' collections are available in galleries across the country. View online at washingtongreen.co.uk
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
33
IN THE GALLERY
Bob Barker Sweet � Bitter Canvas edition of 195 Image Size 24” x 24” Framed Size 31” x 31” Framed £575
34 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Of The Mill � Run Canvas edition of 195 Image Size 24” x 24” Framed Size 31” x 31” Framed £575
Of The Day � Match (1914, Christmas Truce) Bronze sculpture Edition of 95 Height 13” £1,950
In My Heart � Thunder Canvas edition of 195 Image Size 14” x 44” Framed Size 22” x 50” Framed £695
� �
I have to paint, there is a need to paint. I suppose you could say I am addicted. �
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
35
Editorial
A LEGEND
THROUGH THE EYE OF A
LENS
A captivating photographic archive of the most celebrated football player in history and, perhaps, the most popular athlete the world has ever known charts the rise of global sports icon, Pelé 36 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
e is a living footballing legend; a man who was named Football Player of the Century by FIFA and who in 2014 was awarded the first FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur in recognition of his career. He is the most successful league goal scorer in the world, with 541 league goals under his belt, and a player who scored a total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 games in his career. He is also the only football player to have won three World Cup tournaments. He is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known simply as Pelé.
�
From the age of 15, Pelé was being hailed as a great player. And as Brazil’s interest in this young footballer started to pique, his astonishing career was already being captured in black and white by fellow countryman, José Dias Herrera. Herrera, a founder member of the São Paulo State Syndicate of Professional Journalists, noticed this precocious talent who was making a name for himself at Santos Futebol Clube when he was working for Diários Associados. He took a keen interest in the teen and it was an association that was to last more than 20 years, with Herrera chronicling Pelé’s ascent from the promising player who joined Santos Futebol Clube in 1956 at the tender age of 15 to the man who reached the peak of global soccer fame. Now photography and footballer lovers can reflect on this friendship and own their own piece of rare football history, as Washington Green presents Art Life Football: The Herrera Archive. This new limited edition collection comprises eight of Herrera’s unique photographs and each giclée and silver gelatin print has been hand
�
� Bicycle Kick Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 195 Paper Size 24” x 36” Framed Size 27” x 39” Framed £1,450 Paper Size 30” x 40” Framed Size 33” x 43” Framed £2,450 Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 75 Paper Size 60” x 40” Framed Size 63” x 43” Framed £4,950
Cup Winner � World (Herrera)
Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495
FC (Herrera) � Santos Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495
�
signed by Pelé, giving the collection the ultimate seal of approval. The photographs comprise key moments in the footballer’s career, including his call up for his country in 1957 and him proudly holding aloft the Jules Rimet Cup when Brazil won the World Cup tournament for a second consecutive time in 1962. A further six hand-selected images show the maestro, who was also known as A Pérola Negra (The Black Pearl) and O Rei (The King), in action for Santos and his national team between the 1960s and 1970s. These exceptional photographs blend art with sport, depicting in sharp focus Pelé as a man who exudes passion for his sport whether he is clutching the back of the net after a run up the field, taking a break on the pitch or demonstrating his header skills in the locker room. They also show Herrera as a photographer of rare skill. Born in São Paulo in 1920 to Spanish immigrant parents, he moved to the industrial port city of Santos at the age of seven. When he was just 14, he began to learn the art of photography in a studio AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
»
37
Room Skills � Locker (Herrera)
�
Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495
(Herrera) � Pelé Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495
Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 150 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed £1,950 Image Size 40” x 40” Framed £2,950
�
Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 75 Image Size 60” x 60” Framed £3,950 Up (Herrera) � Warm Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495
Hard (Herrera) � Training Signed Limited Edition
�
�
“I WAS BORN TO PLAY FOOTBALL, JUST LIKE BEETHOVEN WAS BORN TO WRITE MUSIC AND MICHELANGELO WAS BORN TO PAINT.” laboratory. It was then that Herrera knew he had found his passion and he went on to document Santos through the eye of a camera lens. In 1937, he began his professional photographic career when he joined the newsroom of the Gazette newspaper and he remained there until 1953, when he moved to the Tribuna de Santos, working as a photographer until 1980. After that, he went to the city’s Department of Communication. But photography was more than just a way of life for Herrera. Despite his body of work, cap-
38 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
turing the growing city of Santos, political developments in Brazil and the country’s famous figures, it is his unprecedented access to Pelé’s personal life for which he is now renowned. Their association saw him document Pelé’s career, including the World Cups of 1958, 1962 and 1966, with Herrera producing iconic photographs that came to shape the footballer’s reputation and image for decades to come. In 2002, many of Herrera’s photographs were included in the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art exhibition 'Pelé, the Art of the King'. It was this exposition that revealed the extent of Herrera’s role in creating Pelé’s almost mythical status. The Washington Green collection offers a small and fascinating snapshot into this incredible relationship between Pelé and Herrera, charting not only the rise of a global sports icon but
Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495
Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 150 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed £1,950 Image Size 40” x 40” Framed £2,950 Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 75 Image Size 60” x 60” Framed £3,950
also that of an incredibly talented photographer. GALLERY Art Life Football: The Herrera Archive collection is available as a boxed set of eight limited edition giclée of 195. Four titles from the collection are also available as Silver Gelatin editions, which are available in three sizes: small (30” x 30”), medium (40” x 40”), and large (60” x 60”)
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on October 23, 1940, to Dondinho and Dona Celeste in Três Corações. Pelé played for a number of amateur football teams as a child but it was when he joined Bauru that his talent was immediately spotted by coach, former Brazilian World Cup player, Waldemar de Brito. De Brito took the young teen to Santos, a club team on the coast of Brazil, telling the club that the 15-year-old would be the greatest player in the world. The club were impressed by the footballer and signed him in June 1956. He was just 16 when he played his first official game for the club. Soon afterwards, he was called up to the Brazilian national team. At 17, Pelé was selected to play for the Seleção at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, scoring the winning goal in the quarter finals and a hat trick in the semi finals. Brazil went on to win their first Jules Rimet trophy and the world saw a glimpse of the greatness that was to come from this young player Pelé. He led Brazil to two more World Cup titles, 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico, and also played in the 1966 tournament in England, where he became the first player to score in three successive World Cups. Even today, Pelé is the only football player to have won three World Cup tournaments and he is the top scorer Brazil’s national team with 77 goals. After 18 years with Santos FC, Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1975, playing his last game in October 1977.
Of The Net � Back (Herrera)
Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495 Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 150 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed £1,950 Image Size 40” x 40” Framed £2,950 Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 75 Image Size 60” x 60” Framed £3,950
� AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
39
Editorial �
“Against the 1970 Brazil team, the nerves were incredible until the whistle blew, then the concentration and focus took over. Of all the greats I played against - Bobby Moore, George Best, Bobby Charlton - Pelé was the best."
Greatest Save � The Signed By Gordon Banks and Pelé Giclée edition of 295 Paper Size 20½” x 53½” Framed £1,250
– Gordon Banks
�
One & Only 10 � The 3-D Wall sculpture
Edition of 195 Framed Size 24” x 24” Framed £1,450
The Summit � On 3-D Wall sculpture
Edition of 195 Framed Size 25” x 25” Framed £1,450
� 40 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
�
ART LIFE FOOTBALL In celebration of Pelé’s 75th Birthday and his lifetime of achievements, three of our acclaimed artists have created unique pieces to honour this legend; his creativity, his life and his incredible sporting career. Stuart McAlpine Miller (above): "This painting suggests the extraordinary force that was Pelé. Likened to that of a superhero he achieved a status far and beyond that of most mere mortals" Nic Joly (left): "I made the number 10 and name 'Pelé' as close to the exact lettering on Pelé's iconic shirt. Each figure in
the piece I have carved and made, using poses I found of him in action. 'On the Summit' shows Pelé on top of the world, having helped Brazil to its 3rd World Cup win reaching the pinnacle of skill, inspiring generations. But there is so much more to take from both sculptures that the viewer can interpret for themselves." Keith Maiden (right) "I wanted to strip back the public mask of Pelé, and reveal the genuine, 'humble' guy beneath with a serious, honest and raw painting. My composition avoids the 'bling' of football. Sadly the modern day game has sold its soul for money.'
� The Power Within � From Boxed canvas Edition of 195 Image Size 40” x 26½” Framed £1,495 Edition of 75 Image Size 50” x 33” Framed £1,950
A Jack To A King � From Boxed canvas Edition of 195 Image Size 36” x 21¾” Framed £995 Edition of 75 Image Size 48” x 29” Framed £1,450
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
41
IN THE GALLERY
David Rees �
Dream � Harlequin Boxed canvas
Edition of 95 Image Size 42” x 33” £695
From Corsica � Echoes Boxed canvas Edition of 95 Image Size 42” x 33” £695
The figure is given power and beauty by a raw approach to its construction, creating a narrative which is open to the viewer. 42 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
�
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
43
I N TH E F R A M E
Mechanica Rising star, Dan Lane a.k.a. Mechanica unveiled his stunning new collection ‘Every Piece of Me’ at a Private View earlier this summer. The intricate metalliclook sculptures are crafted from an eclectic mix of industrial machine parts, interesting and unusual shaped objects, home appliances, and items collected from everyday life. The eye-catching works of art reminiscent of ornate, Baroque style sculptures were enthusiastically received by the assembled guests.
44 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
IN THE GALLERY
Caroline Shotton �
By Your Man � Stand Boxed canvas Edition of 150 Image Size 30” x 40” £695
Of The Road � King Boxed canvas
Edition of 150 Image Size 26” x 42” £650
� Rawhide Boxed canvas
Edition of 150 Image Size 26” x 42” £650
�
�
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
45
IN THE GALLERY
Craig Davison
46 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Resembled � Avengers Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 28” x 35” Framed Size 35” x 42” Framed £795
Boxed canvas Edition of 50 Image Size 35” x 44” Framed Size 38” x 48” Unframed £835 Framed £1,095
Everywhere I look images and ideas are lining up to be used.
Of A � Swords Thousand Men
Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 28” x 35” Framed Size 35” x 42” Framed £795 Boxed canvas Edition of 50 Image Size 35” x 44” Framed Size 38” x 48” Unframed £835 Framed £1,095
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
47
IN THE GALLERY
Paul Horton
ďż˝
Despite being intrinsically personal it can be your world too, whatever you conceive that to be. 48 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Golden Tree � The Remarqued Edition
�
Giclée edition of 195 Image Size 21” x 26” Framed Size 34” x 37” Framed £750
Of The Rainbow � Sign Giclée edition of 195
Image Size 17½” x 14½” Framed Size 30” x 25” Framed £395
In The Sun � Seasons Giclée edition of 195
Image Size 11” x 32” Framed Size 23” x 43” Framed £495
�
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
49
IN THE GALLERY
Xue Wang
ďż˝
We cannot escape the past and our sweet yesterdays, whether imagined or real, they are my repository.
50 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
�
Years Good Luck � Seven Canvas edition of 95
�
Image Size 17” x 24” Framed Size 22” x 30” Framed £395
Glance � Fleeting Canvas edition of 95
Image Size 24” x 17” Framed Size 30” x 22” Framed £395
Mercies � Tender Canvas edition of 95
Image Size 24” x 17” Framed Size 30” x 22” Framed £395
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
51
Alice � Queen Resin sculpture Edition of 150 Height 10” £295
Most Curious Way To � AWonderland Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 34” x 17” Framed Size 42” x 25” Framed £550
�
52 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Editorial Feature
“OH, YOU CAN’T HELP THAT,” SAID THE CAT. “WE’RE ALL MAD HERE.”
�
overs of the children’s classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland will recognise that line – and it’s something that artist Peter Smith can relate to only too well. He and his wife Jayne, a fellow artist with whom he collaborates frequently, could not let the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s story go by without marking the milestone in the only way they know how: taking something familiar and transforming it into something original. Anyone who is a fan of Smith’s art will know only too well that he and Jayne treat all creative projects as a real labour of love. And so it is with the latest Peter Smith collection for Washington Green, Lost Alice. He began by thinking how he could move the story on and began to commit to paper a new novel about Alice and her adventures in Wonderland.
»
And what is the use of a book, thought Alice, without pictures or conversation?” AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
53
� Place Of Uncommon � ANonsense Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 22½” x 40” Framed Size 30” x 48” Framed £695
All Quite Mad � We're Here!
Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 28” x 15¼” Framed Size 36” x 23” Framed £450
As A Hatter � Mad Resin sculpture Edition of 150 Height 14” £295
�
�
54 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
In his 14-chapter story, Alice is now 50 years old. One day she hears a knock on the door and when she opens it she finds a cigar box on the floor with a label that simply says “Alice”. The box starts to talk to her and inside she finds a key that fits the grandfather clock in her house. When she unlocks the door she sees a tiny fleck of light at the bottom but when she peers inside she is suddenly grabbed and she finds herself falling down a long hole. She’s back in Wonderland again, but something has changed: not only is she is back to her young self half of her is now the Red Queen. As Smith’s story unfolded, with Alice meeting characters from other children’s fairy tales and stories, he and Jayne combined their creative talents to begin their new art collection. It took nine months to complete – 36kg of clay, six eight foot sets, 36 maquettes, and more than 5,000 individually made objects. And each of the items was painstakingly staged and placed over days, sometimes weeks, in his studio so that he could commit the scene to canvas.
�
� For Two, And Two � Tea For Tea
“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle. The result, however, is a different kind of Wonderland from that imagined by Carroll. Think more Tim Burton – it’s darker, more eccentric, and slightly macabre. But with a wicked sense of humour. The Lost Alice collection comprises six magnificent paintings, each of which depicts a part of the reimagined story. It is, Smith says, a wonderland that is twisted and crafted around classic literature mixed with fairy tales – all through the eyes of a very different Alice. The devil, as always with Smith’s work, is in the detail. Each painting is packed with symbolism and even the smallest objects have hidden meaning. A Place of Uncommon Nonsense, a painting that is reminiscent of the last supper, was created using a four feet long table upon which he
Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 19¾” x 26” Framed Size 28” x 34” Framed £495
Mirror On The � Mirror, Wall, Who's The Fairest Of Them All Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 24” x 14¾” Framed Size 32” x 23” Framed £375
Who Are You? � And Resin sculpture Edition of 150 Height 11” £295
» AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
55
Editorial Do And � Tweedle Tweedle Don't
�
Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 20” x 20” Framed Size 28” x 28” Framed £395
�
Late, I'm Late! � I'm Resin sculpture Edition of 150 Height 9” £295
To � Welcome Wonderland
Mixed Media Original Image Size 27½” x27½” £1,950 Image Size 31½” x31½” £2,250
Tomorrow And Jam � Jam Yesterday, But Never Jam Today Mixed Media Original Image Size 27½” x27½” £1,950
�
GALLERY The new collection from Peter Smith is available now. View online at washingtongreen.co.uk
� 56 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
designed an intricate tableau comprising hundreds of hand-made objects. Among the visual treasures are 20 locks and 20 keyholes, and quirky detail such as the Owl and the Pussycat who are seen floating in their beautiful peagreen boat along a river of tea that is being poured from a teapot. It’s little wonder that this painting took four months to complete, from creating the models to the final brushstroke. With every viewing of A Most Curious Way to Wonderland, We’re All Quite Mad Here!, Tweedle Do and Tweedle Don’t and the other paintings in the collection, you’ll find new and different idiosyncratic characteristics and tiny repeated themes. It was important to Smith that the Tim Burton-esque style of the characters reflected the quirky nature of the book that accompanies the collection. “When I used to read as a child, I didn’t like it if the illustrations didn’t reflect the book; it was if the illustrator hasn’t read it,” he said. “I wanted to make sure you aren’t let down when you read the story.” The oil on board paintings are prepared meticulously. After spending days or weeks staging the objects and setting up the lighting, and photographing each and every aspect, Smith draws the outline on the board, making sure that every detail is perfect. Only once he is happy does he seal the board with varnish to create a smooth surface on which to work on. Then he carefully fills his canvas with colour before repeating the process to get the detail just right. “It’s a hard slog,” he admits. “The techniques I use are really quite old fashioned.” While Smith might consider his painting methods “old school”, there’s certainly nothing staid or ordinary in the magical worlds he creates on canvas.
AUTUMN 2015
IN THE GALLERY
Perfect Afternoon � The Boxed canvas Edition of 95 Image Size 20” x 60” Framed Size 24” x 64” Framed £950
Alex Echo
In essence I seek to create beautiful original, totally unique artwork that is driven by a desire to be green and conscientious. AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
57
Hamish Blakely
I N TH E F R A M E
Hamish Blakely Acclaimed painter Hamish Blakely brought his heavenly creatures down to Earth in his highly anticipated collection ‘Out Of Work Angels’ with the artist in attendance at the exclusive private view. The exhibition voices moral questions about religion and its place in modern society, and prompted much thoughtprovoking discussion amongst the guests. “Each bravura piece in the collection exemplifies this very contemporary and relevant project. We are very excited to be showcasing his unique talent through the ground breaking body of work,” commented Glyn Washington, creative director of Washington Green.
58 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
59
Editorial
IN THE FRAME
Frédéric Daty A new collection of original wall sculptures from innovative French artist Frédéric Daty was launched at Castle Fine Art, South Molton Street on Thursday 23rd July, 6-8pm. Specially invited guests enjoyed a private viewing of pieces from Daty’s first UK solo show, ‘Trinity’ featuring iconic London city scenes depicted in metal – from Westminster and Big Ben, to Piccadilly Circus and stations across the capital, such as Borough, and Canary Wharf.
60 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
IN THE GALLERY
Neil Dawson �
Reflections � Piccadilly Boxed canvas Edition of 50 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed Size 34” x 34” Framed £695 Unframed £495
Cab Ride � Soho Boxed canvas
Edition of 50 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed Size 34” x 34” Framed £695 Unframed £495
I am trying to capture a sense of the excitement and life of the city at night.
� AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
61
IN THE GALLERY
Jeff Rowland �
62 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
The Last Minute � Until Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 19” x 24” Framed Size 26½” x 31” Framed £495
Almost There � We're Canvas edition of 150
Image Size 19” x 24” Framed Size 26½” x 31” Framed £495
Kissed In The Rain � We Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 19” x 24” Framed Size 26½” x 31” Framed £495
I have always tried to portray my work as a piece of cinema, maybe the end of a movie or the high point. �
� AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
63
IN THE GALLERY
John Wilson
� On The � Hanging Telephone
3-D edition of 150 Image Size 19” x 39” Framed Size 22” x 42” Framed £850
� 64 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Kick Off � Late 3-D edition of 150
Image Size 19” x 28” Framed Size 22” x 31” Framed £650
IN THE GALLERY
Richard Blunt �
Sands � Sunset Canvas edition of 150
Image Size 17¾” x 36” Framed Size 24” x 42” Framed £595
Girl In The Sequin � The Dress
Canvas edition of 95 Image Size 23½” x 23½” Framed Size 29” x 29” Framed £495
Oil is kind of alluring in a way. The richness of colour, the texture and smell can feel almost edible at times.
� AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
65
new horizons Richard Rowan's powerful new collection pays spellbinding homage to the glory of nature
ďż˝
66 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Richard Rowan
rom glowing sunsets and dramatic bolts of lightning through a brooding mist to luminous cloud formations reminiscent of the Northern Lights, the 'New Horizons' collection brilliantly captures nature in all her majesty. Drawing on his travels from the Lake District to Hanoi, the powerful and evocative collection was also inspired by Richard's children, in particular 'Enlightenment'. “My children were scared of thunderstorms and I wanted to help them turn their fear into an appreciation of nature – to help them see the beauty that I see. So we started chasing storms, photographing them and then painting them.” Using his signature 'back to front' technique of painting in oils on glass, the precise and painstaking work includes an incredible amount of fine detail, such as applying 2500 stars with the tip of a scalpel to 'Aurora'. Paradoxically, Richard likes his patience to all but go unnoticed. “The better the piece, the less people notice the level of detail - their eye is taken with the complete picture.”
� The detailing in the pieces also includes flights of birds, which are Richard's loving tribute to his family and friends. Two bigger birds and two smaller birds depict Richard, his wife and their two children as a strong family unit. One bigger bird with smaller ones convey that his family are in his thoughts when work takes him away from them, and a flock of birds symbolises happy moments in the company of friends and family. The pieces have a hypnotic effect, enticing viewers in and taking them on their own journey through nature's splendour. “These scenes transport me to places of beauty when I’m working on them," said Richard "and I hope they do the same for those viewing them.”
� Aurora Glass edition of 95
Image Size 13” x 29” Framed Size 25” x 39” Framed £695
Hope II � Endless Glass edition of 95
Image Size 13” x 27½” Framed Size 25” x 39” Framed £695
SEE HOW RICHARD'S WORK IS REPRODUCED
»
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
67
printing made perfect
1
Reproducing Richard's stunning work as limited edition prints on glass takes specialist skill, creative thinking and cutting edge technology. The process starts with scanning the original piece at a very high resolution then retouching on a computer to remove any dust particles, ensure absolute colour accuracy and resize if needed. A proof copy is then printed onto glass, which is carefully checked by Washington Green for colour quality and fidelity. Once approved, preparation and printing begins.
“It's fantastic working with such exceptional original art and it's very rewarding to devise solutions to technological challenges so that we can guarantee a top quality reproduction." 68 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Richard Rowan � Enlightenment Glass edition of 95
Image Size 25” x 25” Framed Size 38” x 38” Framed £950
2
Using toughened 4 mm glass, each piece is sized precisely to match Richard's original. Printing is done directly onto the back of the glass using a new state-of-the-art specialist printer that builds the colours in layers, with the ink cured by UV light. This type of curing keys the colours into the surface, and as they dry, they harden, ensuring permanence and durability. The next stage is to layer white ink carefully over the colours. When the image is then viewed from the front, the white acts as a 'solid' background for the colours, creating a depth and vibrancy that perfectly emulates Richard's original piece.
3
Each piece takes a considerable amount of time to print, as the printer is deliberately operated at its slowest setting. This ensures the highest quality print resolution and enables double the normal amount of white ink to be layered on, making the colour as intense as possible.
GALLERY Each of the three pieces in the New Horizons collection is available in a limited edition of 95. AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
69
IN THE GALLERY
Nic Joly
ďż˝
As a child the process of watching my father create things from nothing seemed like a kind of Alchemy, and the joy of making and sculpting has never left me. 70 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
I Come Down Now � Can Dad?
�
Wall sculpture Edition of 90 Framed Size 17” x 17” Framed £695
A Hard Life � It's Wall sculpture
Edition of 90 Framed Size 14” x 14” Framed £495
Not? � Why Wall sculpture
Edition of 90 Framed Size 15” x 35” Framed £995
�
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
71
IN THE GALLERY
Paul Corfield
�
At Middle Beach � Sunset Canvas edition of 150
I’m interested in using the best methods and materials so that the owners of my paintings will get something that will last their own lifetime and hopefully many generations after that. 72 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
AUTUMN 2015
Image Size 21” x 42” Framed Size 27” x 48” Framed £750
The Edge Of A Forest � On Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 21” x 42” Framed Size 27” x 48” Framed £750
� Sunburst Canvas edition of 150
Image Size 21” x 42” Framed Size 27” x 48” Framed £750
�
�
AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
73
IN THE GALLERY
Keith Maiden �
I Were The Devil � IfBoxed canvas
Edition of 150 Image Size 25” x 50” Framed Size 29” x 54” Framed £950 Unframed £675
Edition of 150 Image Size 42” x 28” Framed Size 46” x 32” Framed £850 Unframed £595
Up And Smell � Wake The Corruption
Boxed canvas Edition of 150 Image Size 42” x 28” Framed Size 46” x 32” Framed £850 Unframed £595
The prophetic words of ‘If I were the Devil’ by Paul Harvey proved inspirational in this collection. A form of social criticism, it’s a transcript that postulates what steps the Devil might take in order to corrupt society.
� 74 FINe ART CoLLeCToR
To A Noose � Halo Boxed canvas
AUTUMN 2015
AUTUMN COLLECTION — 2015 —
AUTUMN COLLECTION — 2015 —
197 H a l l g ate C ot ti n g h a m H U16 4B B
014 82 876 0 0 3 a r tm a r ket.c o.u k g a l l e r y @a r tm a r ket.c o.u k