Lovely, lovely...

This is the sort of thing that makes me excited... still!

At the studio...

After a few days of indulgence (thanks to my lovely family) I am now down the studio to indulge myself in a different way. I'm intending to immerse myself as much as possible in my studio before the usual routine kicks back in. Let's hope I can resolve a few things and get going. I have surfaces to prepare and decisions to make... here goes...

Happy Christmas...

Road 6 (going home)

Excited...

Yesterday I needed to pick up an undelivered parcel from the Post Office. At first I couldn't think what it could be... however, I was so excited when I realised that it was my Manifest INPA1 catalogue from the States. I took the parcel back to the studio to open it in anticipation. I was so thrilled with the outstanding quality of this book. It has actually exceeded my expectations and is also much larger that I thought too. The photos here are taken on my mobile phone - so do not do it justice. The standard of work included is very high and I feel privileged to have been selected for this prize.

"... the INPA 1 Manifest received over 1200 submissions from 430 artists in 46 states and 26 countries. The publication includes 129 works by 79 artists from 30 states and the countries of Canada, China, England, and Germany. Essays by Patrick Adams, Charles Caldemeyer, and Blair Vaugh-Gruler are also included, along with an introduction by Manifest's Assistant Director, Tim Parsley.

Ten professional and academic advisors qualified in the fields of art, design, criticism, and art history juried the first International Painting Annual. The process of selection was by anonymous blind jury, with each jury member assigning a quality rating for artistic merit to each work submitted. The entries receiving the highest average combined score are included in this publication."

entre chien et loup (between dog and wolf)

I have been really busy recently helping coordinate the Art Space Portsmouth International Residency - and tomorrow we are celebrating the end of the third successful residency with Dominique Ghesquiere's exhibition 'entre chien et loup'. The work is on show across three venues: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, aspex, and Art Space Portsmouth (GASP). All welcome - details below. I will be back in my studio soon.

Preview times – Saturday 19th November 2011:

2pm to 2.45pm - The Mast Pond, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, PO1 3LJ

3pm to 4.45pm - Aspex, The Vulcan Building Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3BF
Includes an artist's talk by Dominique Ghesquière

5pm to 7pm - Art Space Portsmouth (GASP), 27 Brougham Road, Southsea PO5 4PA

Please note: A minibus service will be available on the day for those who require transportation between venues.

Exhibition continues:

Art Space Portsmouth (GASP), 27 Brougham Road, Southsea, Hants. PO5 4PA

Sunday 20th November to Wednesday 23rd November, 12 noon to 4pm
www.artspace.co.uk

Aspex, The Vulcan Building, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth PO1 3BF

Saturday 19th November to Sunday 11th December 2011, 11am to 4pm daily

www.aspex.org.uk

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard*, Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LJ

Saturday 19th November to Sunday 11th December 2011, 10am to 5.00pm daily
www.historicdockyard.co.uk

*Please note there will be an admission fee to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 25th, 26th and 27th November during their Christmas Festival.

The Mast Pond is located on the right hand side after entering the Historic Dockyard.

PLEASE NOTE THE ARTWORK IN THE MAST POND NEEDS TO BE VIEWED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.

The residency is generously funded by Arts Council England and Art Space Portsmouth and run in partnership with Aspex and the University of Portsmouth. Art Space Portsmouth would like to thank the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust for their additional support to realise part of this final project. www.artspace.co.uk

Painting, painting and more painting....

Richter, Sasnal and Mottisfont...

Mottisfont House

Last week I finally made a long-overdue trip to London. I was in my element, spending over three hours scrutinising the Gerhard Richter exhibition Panorama at Tate Modern and then the Wilhelm Sasnal show at Whitechapel. I now feel suitably inspired (and may have to visit the Richter show again). Work in my own studio is slow at the moment, partly due to the Art Space Portsmouth International Residency project. However, I am very pleased to be working with Dominique Ghesquiere on this exciting project that will culminate with an exhibition across three venues in the city, starting on Saturday 19th Novmeber. I will post more about this event soon.

And finally, I managed to visit Mottisfont House where a couple of my paintings were on show as part of the Mottisfont Open 2011. I was unable to attend the preview, so was happy to see the show in their newly refurbished gallery before the exhibition closed on Sunday.

Mottisfont House & Gardens, Nr Romsey

In memory and honour of Phil Turner...

I recently made a trip to the East Midlands to see 'Visual Narratives' an exhibition by Phil Turner.

Phil was a very good friend and fellow artist who sadly passed away last month. Phil was working hard towards this solo show and with much courage, his family's wish was for the exhibition to continue. This was an emotional event - but I wouldn't have missed the opening. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to honour the promise I had made to Phil to see his new paintings. Phil was an extremely dedicated and very talented artist, who is sadly missed by many people. The exhibition continues until the 12th November at the Brewhouse, Burton-on-Trent.

A 'snip' from the archive...

During my recent studio move and major 'sort out' I stumbled across many almost forgotten artworks. I was pleased to be reacquainted with my 'cut & paste' scissor sculptures (there are seven of these in total). They were sand cast in aluminium and then heavily polished.

I made use of an existing hole in the wall this afternoon whilst giving my latest paintings some thought. The only thing missing is the black dotted lines on that go on the wall (and across the floor and ceiling) - which is an intrinsic element of these sculptures.

Mottisfont Open Exhibition 2011...

I have two paintings selected for the Mottisfont Open 2011. A group exhibition in the newly refurbished gallery spaces.

Exhibition - 15th October to 30th October.
Open daily 11am to 5pm (there is an admission fee to the House and Gardens)
at Mottisfont Abbey (National Trust)
Nr. Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0LP

Google Map

Wax combs...

Wax combs

My Little Pony

A couple of people have asked me what the bright coloured objects are hanging on my studio wall (see post below). They are in fact enlarged replicas of 'My Little Pony' toy combs. I made them as part of a series of work 11 years ago for an exhibition, 'This town ain't big enough for the both of us'. The combs are made from candle wax, and were scented - however, the scent has now worn off. The combs have been packed away in boxes for years and many damaged over time (they are very fragile). So I threw the broken ones away in my recent studio clear out, saving the ones that had survived. I am now giving them away to any visitor who would like one! They are simply hanging on the studio wall in order to save on space. The combs were originally hung alongside two large paintings, 'My little Whistlejacket' and 'Morning Glory'. Both paintings are based on the work of renowned horse painter George Stubbs and combined with 'My Little Pony' toy figurines.

Please see images of the paintings below from my archive.
Apologies for the quality of the images but they have been scanned from old slides, however, it gives an overview of the installation and scale of the work.

My Little Whistlejacket and Grooming Kit installation shot

Grooming Kit and Morning Glory installation shot 

My Little Whistlejacket - Oil on canvas, 2000

Finished and ready at last...

Finally the studio is finished. It's been really hard work... new stud wall, new storage rack, painting walls and floor, moving and sorting all my work and 'stuff', trip to the dump... however, at last an amazing space to work in... feeling very lucky indeed!

Thankfully I had plenty of help.

Now time to get down to business...

Phase two ...

Four days in and perhaps a light at the end of the tunnel. Now just need to sort this lot out, either by launching it, or finding a space ... moving studios is not to be recommended. However, a chance to get rid of 'stuff' perhaps!

Stuff!

A hard weekend in the studio...

As previously mentioned ... the time had come to start moving my old artwork and equipment into the new studio. This process starting on Friday afternoon and as predicted the lovely space was slowly taken over. Only half the contents have been moved so far, but with a very good friend, we set about making a new storage rack today. Needless to say we were both aching by the end. However, good progress was made and tomorrow I have to move the rest ... I may have to start seriously culling old artworks, and I'm glad I have started to scale down my work recently. I'm quite pleased with myself, as for the very first time, I managed to cut a full length (8 foot) piece of chipboard with a hand saw ... it took ages!

The beginning - 10am

The end (some paintings rehoused) - 7pm