This weekend was Derbyshire Open Arts, where artists all over Derbyshire open their studios and show paintings to the public. I was displaying a selection of landscapes at the Little Gallery in Belper.
Over the weekend we had over 130 visitors and it was a great opportunity to explain techniques, materials and the motivation behind painting. I popped out on a couple of days at lunchtime to visit two very interesting artists.
Emma Simcock-Tooth paints hyper-realistic portraits, her choice of subjects is fascinating and her latest commision involves painting hoodies.
Lewis Noble produces landscapes in very expressive and abstract style and I have been a fan of his work for long time, it was nice to finally meet him in person.
As well as getting some good feedback about my work and chatting with people I also sold three original landscapes and a print, which is nice :-)
Monday, May 26, 2008
Success - Derbyshire Open Arts
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Cork Street Open Art Competition Deadline Extended
The 1st annual Cork Street Charity Open Art Exhibition is an international exhibition of contemporary fine art held to showcase both emerging and established artists while raising funds and increasing the profile of a selected charity.
The deadline for entries has been extended to the 30th May. Click here for details of how to enter.
The deadline for entries has been extended to the 30th May. Click here for details of how to enter.
Northumberland Art Tour
The Network Open Studios 'Art Tour' kicks off next month with 70 Artists opening their studios, including OC Artist Mike Bell in the beautiful Redesdale Valley.
Opening hours: Sundays 11am-5pm
MIKE [Venue no. 34 of the tour] will be at Brandy Bank House, West Woodburn, which has full B&B facilities open all week (except Tuesdays) & there is a tearoom for light refreshments!
Just follow the Art Tour Signs!
Opening hours: Sundays 11am-5pm
MIKE [Venue no. 34 of the tour] will be at Brandy Bank House, West Woodburn, which has full B&B facilities open all week (except Tuesdays) & there is a tearoom for light refreshments!
Just follow the Art Tour Signs!
2 Weeks Left To See Henriette Busch Solo at Needhams
'Fields Of Dreams', the solo exhibition by Henriette Busch, finishes on 5th June so there is still time to get along to Needhams to have a look, if you haven't done so already!The Berlin-born Artist Henriette Busch is the daughter of a little-known German Artist called Eddy Smith. Whilst she spent her early life surrounded by her fathers' subversive copper-etchings and portraits of Berlin society figures in pre-and post-war Germany, it was not until much later that she would decide to follow in his footsteps and embark upon a career in Art. Henriette's portfolio displays a keen interest in lines and symmetry, blurring any distinction between painting and digital art as she goes. Her ability to extract an image and lift it to a higher sense of perception, so that it is more vivid and potent, imbues her work with a dream-like quality, suggesting that our own memories work in a similar way. Her countryside scenes take on a vibrancy that exaggerates shade, contrast & hue, yet somehow retain a sense of familiarity.
Quotation For The Day
Usually when someone says a thing is too simple, they're saying that certain familiar things aren't there, and they're seeing a couple maybe that are left, which they count as a couple, that's all. But actually there may be those couple of things and several new things to which they aren't paying attention. These may be quite complex.
Judd was an American minimalist sculptor, perhaps best known for his large square or cubed sculpture.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Sales at Carpenters Arms
One of Jean Picton's large flower series paintings, shown above, which is part of 'Eclectibition 08' at The Carpenters Arms has sold in the last couple of days. The exhibition was only installed less than a week ago, so not a bad start! Let's hope it keeps up...Monologues & Duologues
The Littleport-based Writer Jean Rees, (partner of OC Artist John Lyons) has an extract from her monologue 'The Philosopher's Wife: A monologue for three voices' in the forthcoming Monologues & Duologues Festival at Cambridge's B-Bar on 29th June.The festival is five nights of dramatic monologues and duologues from writers all over Britain with directed readings (at least six shorts per night) performed by an ensemble in the luxurious surroundings of the B-Bar.
Quotation For The Day
For me, spirit is the impulse towards life, the Eros in a person leaping forward, whereas soul refers to something possibly long.. suffering, where meanings are made, where there is a sense of this gathering of perceptions, that our death is not the most important thing, nor our life.
Michael Leunig (1945-) Australian Poet, Cartoonist & Illustrator
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Female artists dominate The Turner Prize shortlist
Sculptors and film-makers reign on the shortlist for the 2008 Turner prize, which was unveiled yesterday.
Three women are in the running for this year's prize, which is awarded to a British-based artist under 50 for work created in the past year. They are sculptor Cathy Wilkes, Runa Islam, who works primarily in film, and Goshka Macuga, who has been described as a "cultural archaeologist". The final artist on the shortlist is Mark Leckey, who was nominated for his solo exhibition Industrial Light & Magic and works in a variety of media, including video.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Quotation for the day
A controversial opinion is offered in the following quote from French Realist Painter Gustave Courbet...
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877). Famous Courbet paintings included everyday scenes or rural scenes that many artists didn't find interesting enough to paint.
Painting is an essentially concrete art and can only consist of the representation of real and existing things. It is a completely physical language, the words of which consist of all visible objects. An object which is abstract, not visible, non-existent, is not within the realm of painting.
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877). Famous Courbet paintings included everyday scenes or rural scenes that many artists didn't find interesting enough to paint.
Mike Bell at AAF Bristol
Mike Bell will be represented by The Brownston Gallery, Modbury, Devon, at the Affordable Art Fair in Bristol between 16-18th May 2008 at The Old Passenger Shed in Bristol. If you would like a complimentary email ticket to the event, e-mail us so that we can put you in contact with Mike.Impromptu Art Demonstration
This is an interesting photo of OC Artist Kaine Kulczak 'enhancing' an orange juice carton at the recent Hertfordshire Art Fair during a quiet period. He did a couple of these and offered them up for sale. The irony was lost on most of the people attending the event who were only interested in finding a nice watercolour landscape for their entrance hall.Kaine also brought along several cardboard pieces (see below) that were hung up and offered for free to anyone willing to take them. This was an interesting 'experiment' as several people showed great interest in the free work but were surprisingly timid about taking them.
A Series Of Lines
'A Series Of Lines', the collaborative exhibition by Esther Appleyard & Craig Kerrecoe runs until 31st May at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum. The show features abstract paintings and multiples by Esther & Craig, as well as two installation pieces and a short film called 'Within The Weave' on continuous loop in The Watercolour Gallery.
Click Here to view the short film 'Within The Weave', made to accompany the exhibition at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum.Eclectibition 08
We have uploaded the installation photos for 'Eclectibition 08' at The Carpenters Arms. Click here to take a look...
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Quotation For The Day
Time for another Saatchi quote?...
Charles Saatchi (1943-)
Like any religious convert I have discovered the internet terribly late. The more interested I got in the site, the more I thought it could be a useful outlet - showcase, whatever - for artists who don't have dealers. Let them deal directly with collectors. Scanning a website to see work by an artist halfway across the world is the lazy way to do it, but probably the only effective way.
Charles Saatchi (1943-)
Artist(s) Of The Week- Neil & Sion
They display a real understanding of the power of the photograph- capturing the essence, defying the transience of a moment and holding it still, forever.
There's a wonderful symbiosis present in the partnership of Cambridgeshire-based photographers Sioned Eleri and Neil Graham-Cameron. Embracing both digital and manual methods, their combined portfolio contains so many beautifully captured moments from the natural and built environments, predominantly in and around Cambridge.Their work clearly displays a real understanding of the power of the photograph- capturing the essence, defying the transience of a moment and holding it still, forever.
They seem to share an appreciation of the quality, the value of a shadow against a wall. They see the majesty of an old man leaning against a pillar, gracefully smoking a pipe, where the rest of us might see nothing more than an old man. They see these moments and are compelled to preserve them, cheating the relentlessness of time passing.Click Here to see the short film 'Minus 2.8' by Neil & Sion! And look out for a four page article and interview in the forthcoming issue of The Bullet magazine.
Henriette Busch Solo Show at Needhams
There's one month left to see the beautiful portfolio of Henriette Busch at Needhams Restaurant & Art Gallery in Witchford, just outside Ely in Cambridgeshire. 
This Berlin-born Artist is the daughter of a little-known German Artist called Eddy Smith. Whilst she spent her early life surrounded by her fathers' subversive copper-etchings and portraits of Berlin society figures in pre-and post-war Germany, it was not until much later that she would decide to follow in his footsteps and embark upon a career in Art.Henriette's portfolio displays a keen interest in lines and symmetry, blurring any distinction between painting and digital art as she goes. Her ability to extract an image and lift it to a higher sense of perception, so that it is more vivid and potent, imbues her work with a dream-like quality, suggesting that our own memories work in a similar way. Her countryside scenes take on a vibrancy that exaggerates shade, contrast & hue, yet somehow retain a sense of familiarity.
The exhibition finishes on 6th June so call 01353 661405 to book a table or a visit to see the paintings and prints.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Eclectibition 08 at The Carpenters Arms
We are pleased to present our second 'Eclectibition' at The Carpenters Arms, a diverse group exhibition of paintings by nine Artists specially selected from the Ovenden Contemporary portfolio: Hertfordshire Art Fair Photos
Here are a few photos from last weekend's Hertfordshire Art Fair at Artshed in Ware, Herts. The fair featured two large stands occupied by 5 OC Artists, namely Geetha Alagirisamy, Kaine Kulczak, John Lyons, Richard Friend and Craig Kerrecoe.The fair was reasonably well attended, although sales in general were lower than expected- a result of the current economic climate? Having said that, Kaine managed to sell three separate pieces in his first self-representing art fair so congratulations to him!
Quote For The Day
I think a single sentence by Van Gogh is better than the whole work of all the art critics and art historians put together.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Derbyshire Open Arts
This month Derbyshire Open Arts 2008 will take place (Spring Bank Holiday Weekend: 24th to 26th May) . Artists and craftspeople from all over the county will be opening their studios to the public to show their art. I will be showing a large selection of paintings at the "Little Gallery" in Belper. There will be paintings of all sizes from 8x8 to 20x30 inch, a selection of prints and some "working" paintings. It would be great if you could pop in to show your support (there will be coffee/tea and drinks available!). I will be available at the gallery 10 till 5 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (with a lunch-break from 12 - 2pm). The gallery is planning a preview evening on the Friday night.
Don't forget that there will a total of 105 other people exhibiting across the county, with a fantastic variety of creativity! For more details go to www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk
Don't forget that there will a total of 105 other people exhibiting across the county, with a fantastic variety of creativity! For more details go to www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk
Delacroix Painting Used For Coldplay Album Cover
UK rock band Coldplay have revealed the cover art for their forthcoming new album, 'Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends'. The album artwork features the painting 'Liberty Leading The People' by the French Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix with 'VIVA LA VIDA' scribbled over it in white paint, as seen above.
Delacroix created the painting in 1830. Probably Delacroix's best known painting, it is an unforgettable image of Parisians, having taken up arms, marching forward under the banner of the tricolour representing liberty and freedom; Delacroix was inspired by contemporary events to invoke the romantic image of the spirit of liberty. The soldiers lying dead in the foreground offer poignant counterpoint to the symbolic female figure, who is illuminated triumphantly, as if in a spotlight.
The painting is currently on display in the Louvre gallery in Paris.
Delacroix created the painting in 1830. Probably Delacroix's best known painting, it is an unforgettable image of Parisians, having taken up arms, marching forward under the banner of the tricolour representing liberty and freedom; Delacroix was inspired by contemporary events to invoke the romantic image of the spirit of liberty. The soldiers lying dead in the foreground offer poignant counterpoint to the symbolic female figure, who is illuminated triumphantly, as if in a spotlight.
The painting is currently on display in the Louvre gallery in Paris.
More Work From John Lyons
'Leaping' (1990)
'Soul Of Carnival' (1997)We've uploaded the third batch of paintings from the portfolio of John Lyons, two of which are shown above. As before, the paintings in this batch span the last three decades of John's wonderful career and include some interesting didactic pieces produced in the 80's.
We now have the largest selection of pieces by John Lyons available to view or buy anywhere. Look out for a 'retrospective' article in the next issue of 'The Bullet'. John is showing a selection of his work at the 5th Hertfordshire Art Fair this weekend at Artshed in Ware.
We now have the largest selection of pieces by John Lyons available to view or buy anywhere. Look out for a 'retrospective' article in the next issue of 'The Bullet'. John is showing a selection of his work at the 5th Hertfordshire Art Fair this weekend at Artshed in Ware.
Quotation For The Day
He has painted a few portraits which have turned out well, but he always does them for no payment. It is a pity that he does not want to earn something, for if he did want to he could make something here, but you can't change a person.
Theo Van Gogh (1857-1891), a successful art dealer, talking about his older brother Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Beginning in 1880, Theo's unfailing financial support allowed his brother to devote himself entirely to painting.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Hertfordshire Art Fair
Five Artists from the Ovenden Contemporary portfolio will be presenting their own work at the 5th Hertfordshire Art Fair: John Lyons
Craig Kerrecoe
Kaine Kulczak
Geetha Alagirisamy
Richard Friend
The Preview Reception takes place on Friday 2nd May from 7pm and entry is free the whole weekend so why not pop along to see if you can pick up a bargain?
Park Facades by Jeremy Mayes
This is a new painting by the popular OC Artist Jeremy Mayes. It's called 'Park Facades' and is on a large 36" square canvas. It's good to see those 'lollipop' trees making a welcome return!Friday, April 25, 2008
Quotation For The Day
Artistic imagination must remain free. It is by definition free from any fidelity to circumstances, especially to the intoxicating circumstances of history.
Andre Breton (1896-1966) was a French writer, poet, and surrealist theorist, and is best known as the main founder of surrealism. His writings include the Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism".
