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November 29, 2005
Nothing to report
It has been a very quiet week for me after an intense period getting all my pictures completed and sent off. As I predicted, I came down with some kind of bug and the weather has been extremely cold so it has been a very lethargic week. All I want to do is hybernate! Things are much busier at Brookes, and there is much to do in organising the field trip to Brussels and Amsterdam for early January. The students have also now specialised into their choosen subject and we now have an intense period as they begin to get their portfolios together for degree applications.
I now have a completely bare walled studio - which is quite intimidating. I have a series of pictures to make for the Sarah Wiseman Gallery for a group show in May. So that gives me another realistic deadline to work for. Therefore I need another few sessions of drawing from life in Oxford. I think I may now concentrate less on the landscape and more on the types of people and situations I encounter. But I have said that before and things will change...
Posted by robbie at 8:48 AM | Comments (0)
November 21, 2005
framed and sent off (phew)
I quite enjoyed my last week; by day I was this mild mannered lecturer - by night I was this demon framer working to a tight deadline. But got them all done and sent off. I even went to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as a wee treat last night. (bloody good!) Anyway, much too tired to give you chapter and verse so here are some picures of the works framed:
going to the Scottish Gallery
Going to John Martin Gallery
Not going anywhere (just yet)
Posted by robbie at 11:10 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2005
Man in Bath
It is amazing what turn up on the net when you dig deep enough. On a vanity search for my own name on Google, I discovered a little gem under the heading of:
ARTBOX, The Eric Robinson Art Trust working with Shropshire County Council
A treasure chest of original works of art for Shropshire schools
‘A resource and catalyst for creative activity’ - Eric Robinson
This turned out to be an art project for Schools in Shropshire which I could think of no reason why my name could be associated with, until I scolled down and read this:
Activities and techniques Using the 2-D aspect of the pictures, classes developed their own work in 3-D, a variety of scale and an amazing spectrum of materials. ‘Man in Bath’, a work by Robbie Bushe in charcoal and crayon, was interpreted into a 3-D diorama using Modroc and clay to create a bathroom scene. Pupils looked closely at the perspective and scale of Bushe’s work but produced their own colour and decorative variations.
I knew I had done many pictures which could have the title of Man in Bath, but I could not think of which is was, so I emailed the organiser of the project, Sara Grant Thorold (Arts Development Officer) and asked her to shed some light on this,. I was very intrigued. She replied as follows:
Hi RobbieIn 2003-4 I organised a project called Artbox, with a private collector called Eric Robinson, who was exploring leaving his extensive art collection to the people of Shropshire. It was a large 'treasure chest' designed by artist Andy Hazell containing 30 works of art from EricRobinson's collection, together with a cd rom and a travelling curator. It went to 12 schools and was very successful. We organised an exhibition of some of the works of art created by pupils in response to the project, and there were a lot of 'men in the bath'. Unfortunately, all these works are now back with the schools, but I will have a look at the photos from the exhibition and see if any men in baths were taken.
Best wishes
Sara
Now it came back to me. Eric Robinson, was in fact one of the first people to buy my work when I was a final year student at Edinburgh College of Art in 1989. He also bought a number of others in 1990 of which 'man in bath' must have been one.
Anyway, Sara very kindly sent me back this image which shows the above mentioned 'man in bath' exhibited with some of the results of the children's project:
And here it is again after I had restretched it in photoshop so that you can see the image straight on:
Asolutely fantastic work and very humbling! Well done.
Other News!
As predicted, my painting has come to a stuttering halt as I make way for framing the work for the forthcoming shows which I am doing in the evenings at Brookes this week.
Today I had a visit from Sarah Wiseman of the Sarah Wiseman Gallery in Oxford. She had come to look at my work for possible inclusion in her gallery. So this gave me an excuse yesterday to do some spring cleaning down the studio and I even built myself a new painting trolley for my pallette with selves for all my paints. I know my good friend Barry McGlashan will be amused by this..
Posted by robbie at 5:10 PM | Comments (0)
November 9, 2005
Scottish Gallery Website
I have been a bit lethargic since I got back from Chichester and have not been very productive this week. I am not being too hard on myself as I have been burning the candles at both ends now for over two months. Anyway just a quickie to let you know that my work is now on the Scottish Gallery's website as part of the 'Human Condition' exhibition which runs from 3 December - 24 December 2005. See and buy the work here.
Oh - and a quick mention and thank you to Billy who has been very active in his support of my work on his blog.
Posted by robbie at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)
November 5, 2005
Chichester Art Open and fantasizing about buying iPods
Phew - a mad few days!
I am typing this from my work PC at Brooke, after teaching school kids taster workshops in art foundation. I had driven up from Chichester this morning at 6.30am after a couple days in seeing friends and attending the opening of the Chichester Open. Bloody exhausted, but might still go down to the studio this evening as I am getting withdrawal symptoms after not painting since tuesday night..
Anyway - I had Thursday and Friday off work so I borrowed a car to go down to Chichester and get back in time to work this morning. I stayed with my old colleague, Vicki Brown and her family in Emsworth, and also visited my old friend Suzie who was in hospital after an operation, (which was a success). I went to the 'artists preview' of the Open at luchtime after spending a bit of time reaquainting myself with the old place (not much to it really). I had been fantasizing about what I would do with the money if I won the first prize of £3500; new iPod, power book etc, etc.. trying not to get too carried away. Anyway - I had thought that that the prizes would be announced at the proper private view in the evening. However, as I arrived at the Minerva Theatre (where the Open is held), the judges were already making speeches about 'what a difficult but exhilarating job it was choosing a winner.. the standard this year of the entries was overwhelming...' Anyway, before I could catch my breadth or notice where my works were hung, there was tthe anti-climax of hearing 'the first prize goes to (someone who was not me)' - and I thought - 'shit! I wanted to be dissapointed tonight and not before I have even had my lunch'.. oh well..! Then they called out my name as one the artists whose work was 'highly commended' for the Battle of Hastings picture. 'Shit', I thought again! 'I cant buy a new iPod with a highly commended' '. Then I went out for a breather..then rational thought resumed and I became very pleased with the whole thing. Gosh, competitions are just awful really, for what they make you go through. I dont think it is because I am arrogent and thought I might have won - I am just the same whenever I buy a lottery ticket.
Did not know many people at the 'artists preview', so went for a wander and a pint. Found out that Tom (whom I met in Cyprus this year) was in town - so we met up before the main private view for a pint and then he was my 'and guest' for the night.
Still not many people I knew at the opening. It was quite ironic how many of the types I had satirised in my Battle for Chichester Cross painting there in attendance.
Near the end of the private view, Nick (who is the administrator of the Open and a former student of mine from UCC),sauntered up to me and quietly told me that my Hastings picture had sold (had a good price too).. to Molly from Bognor. Thank you Molly - I am so pleased you like the picture. Images of cool gadgets were once again entering my mind...
A night in the pub, followed by a curry and then a bed in my old flat in North Street (where Andrew now lives, keep up wont you).. then back to reality today.
Now for the framing weeks...
Posted by robbie at 5:20 PM | Comments (0)