Roblog

September 19, 2007

Barry at the Scottish Gallery

here is Barry and Wendy at the Scottish Gallery Opening a couple of Fridays ago

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April 3, 2007

Barry at his opening at John Martin

I am not even at Barry’s opening tonight at John Martin, but by the powers of technology (Catharine is there), I have the first picture while the opening is still going.

Looks like he is having a good time. Well back to my gouaches for me…

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April 1, 2007

Barry McGlashan at John Martin

Just to alert you all that my good friend and wonderful artist, Barry McGlashan is having his second major show at John Martin in London this week. The work is based around his recent travels in America and I think that this is some of his best work ever. If you are in London over the next month, then I would highly reccommend going to see it.

I particularly liked this one called ‘The Big Eat’…

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June 24, 2006

Oxford Show and off to Cyprus

Well another change. Today is the last day in my current house in Oxford, so thank you Rachel and Michael for being great housemate. Today is also the opening of the show at Sarah WIseman Gallery. And Tomorrow I am off to Cyprus until the 28th July. Keep looking here for news of the trip. Nothing else to say as it is 6am in the morning and am annoyed I woke so early.

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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 Robbie

In 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..

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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.

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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…

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June 29, 2005

Cecily Brown at Modern Art Oxford

‘Almost every time a painting show happens, or a young painter makes a splash - in the market as much as on a canvas - someone crows about a return to painting. As if, in a moment of blinding revelation, the entire art world had come to its senses: what fools we’ve been! Painting! Now we don’t have to worry about all that impenetrable contemporary art rubbish! Sanity regained.’

Adrian Searle, Art Critic, The Guardian, Tuesday June 28, 2005. ( see full review here)

I went the the private view of Cecily Brown last night at Modern Art Oxford. And I for one thoroughly enjoyed it. Despite Adrian Searle’s (a wonderful art critic) take that we should be careful not to get over-excited everytime a genuine painter gets a contemporary art billing in a major museum, I was just so relieved to see someone who was exploring the stuff of paint in a sophisticated yet uncomplicated way. There are no post modern gimmicks, no wry asides within the images. They are luxuriously painted, and, I would expect, would have been dismissed had they been painted by a man for being exploitative and misogynistic due to to their highly sexual subject matter. But that is the stuff for a bigger debate than my feeble brain can cope with at this hour in the morning.

The opening itself was good, and I bumbed into and old aquaintance and artist from Aberdeen, Andy Stenhouse, who is now living and working in Oxford. It was nice to talk in a familiar venacular about things which matter and dont matter! Tracy Emin was there! I should have had the brass neck to go and speak to her (well she is a single girl), but I did not. I actually loved her recent show at the white cube in London and have been fascinated by her weekly column in the Independent (alas not published online). So it would have been nice just have said hello…

2 days until cyprus…

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November 3, 2004

Cork Street visit

Well I am still in London today as I am working in Rochester tomorrow and friday and it seem silly to go back to Hastings for one day.

So,took the opportunity to have a look around Cork Street. And what agood time to go as there were severalshows which interested me which is unusual.

First off there was my old art tutor from Edinburgh College of Art, John Houston at Browse and Darby.

John Houston

John was in his last year before retiring when he taught me in my degree year in 1989. He was such a gentle man who commanded respect, simply by being so down to earth. It is great to see him still making such vibrant and youthful work.

Next up was was Mary Fedden at the Redfern Gallery. No images on their site as yet, but yet another stalwart quirky painter who has a strong pictorial vision.

Mary Fedden

Then it was on to Richard Whatcock at the Adam Gallery. This is the first I had seen of this artist’s work, but I was bowled over by the luscious atmospheric landscapes, which reminded me of my early train journeys beofre dawn, to Rochester.

Richard Whatcock

Oh, and while I was at the Adam Gallery, I noticed a cataloue by another artist they show called Richard Cartwright. Now, this work I would like to see more of. Fairytale colour mixed with brief glimses of landscape and figues which resonate emotion. Was tempeted to buy the book but I must watch my money at the moment.

Richard Cartwright

Finally,I saw another great show at Houldsworth. The artist name is Gordon Cheung and his work comprises of huge colaged and painted images which are both painterly and contemporary in feel. It was quite a wee find to see so much I liked along one street. I didn’twant to see anything else in fear of gallery burn out.

Gordon Cheung

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November 1, 2004

Gwen and Augustus John, The Turner Prize

Well no painting done at all since my last blog; Tummy bug knocked me out for a few days and spent a bit of time preparing for my job interview at Oxford Brookes University tomorrow. In fact I am typing this on a horrible PC at the easyinternet cafe on Tottenham Court Road, while I kill some time before I go and stay with Billy in Finsbury Parkthis evening. I came up to London early, so as I could visit Tate Britain to see the Gwen and Augustus John and The Turner Prize exhibitions. Well I went throught Turner Prize in extra quick time (even for me). There is no point in me pretending that this stuff is interesting to me; the Turner prize has become a curator’s infliction and now going through the spaces I am reminded of academic and scholarly research, dispassionate and without any soul. I remember a few years ago when I worked at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, the head of research was very pleased with me as I was toying with abandoning painting to work on an animated project on the computer. She kept telling me that it was ‘so much more exciting than making yet more paintings, anyone can make paintings…’. This comment has eaten away inside me for years, and yes, for a while I dabbled with the possibilities of digital work, but it came nowhere near the raw experience of exposing one’s vision through marks with pencils and paint. I am now wholly commited to paint in my own particular way and shuffling through the Turner Prize as I have just done only confirms this to me.

I was delighted to visit the comprehensive show of Gwen and Augustus John’s work. However, it really did highlight just how much more sophisticated and charged Gwen’s work is in comparison to her more showy brother. Her brooding portraits resonating through understated tone and dabbled paint. And her drawing is exquisit…. a real tonic to see. Oh, and they even has on display the Gwen John which I have seen for years at Aberdeen Art Gallery. Like bumping into an old friend.

There was also a nice showcase of Paula Rego’s work on and an exhibition of drawing selected from the Tate’s collection.

I love the Tate Britain (The Old Tate Gallery). Its salons are so well proportioned and you can just drift into a room full of William Blakes or Stanley Spencers on your way out (as I did today). Wonderful.

Well off to Oxford tomorrow for the interview. Wish me luck as I think this does soundlike the job for me at the moment.

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September 26, 2004

Glenn Brown and Valie Export

Just a quickie to say that have spent the weekend in London to babysit my nephew Harper. Did manage to fit in a couple of shows:

Glenn Brown at the The Serpentine and Valie Export at Camden Arts Centre.

If you are in London you must go and see Glenn Brown. Extraordinary paintings, huge and all paintied with exacting precision with a small sable. Brown was a Turner Prize shortlister in 2000 and his work, for me, has given fresh imputus to contemporary painting.

Valie Export at Camden Arts Centre is an odd show. Apparently, she is a pioneer of performance and media art whose practice has exerted a considerable influence on a subsequent generation of artists. I love the Arts Centre and spent a considerable amount of time in the cafe and the bookshop, but not much looking at the work. oh well…

Bought a copy of Modern Painters and went to a noodle bar for lunch.

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