Typical !!

Typically, the last thing I do goes wrong. The video isnt working on the blog, but it is on my facebook pages or you could just go straight to youtube. Technology........vursprung teknic not !

The Making of Maz (ic). The last video of 2010

Hi everyone, and a very happy and prosperous new year. This video is of course the last one of this year and takes me into next years work. Enjoy.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHoJ3gnDqxk I hope this has worked as it appears that YOUTUBE have offered me less in the way of code than usual. What is it with YOUTUBE? Or is it me? Normally I get an option to embed which gives me size and colour options for the viewing screen. This time all I got was a code to put in emails. Ah well, fingers crossed! Anyway, lets remember to bury the bad things in the past and move forward into a better future. Be content, be calm, love all and hurt none..... it leads to a better world. Happy New Year !!!

3D Evolution

Hi everyone, how are you all? Had enough Christmas pudding? Too much chocolate? Relax, take a look at my latest little video, have a chuckle and then maybe subscribe to my YOUTUBE channel....go on, make that your Christmas present to me. Hope you enjoyed that......... especially if you are my old young chum, Maz ! Well, remember to think positive, tell the Universe/God exactly what you want in your life, dont diversify, and see what happens in a couple of months. In the meantime, Love all and hurt none, it leads to a better world.

2010 with KLA

A little video sampling some,but not all the activities held by KLA this last year.It doesnt show the music/open day, nor the open day a couple of weeks ago, but it does give a taste of what KLA are about. Please enjoy, tell your friends, get them to subscribe to this blog or to my YOUTUBE channel; ARTCELLproductions. Hope you had a good Christmas and are looking forward to the new year. It may be that I post another short video before 2011............. arent you looking forward to that ! hahaha. Anyway, remember to love all and hurt none . Your thoughts create your future. Talk to the Universe. Cheerio for now !

See, I do take advice !

In this instance I took the advice of Maz and made this short video. Hope you enjoy it ! Love all and hurt none, its really the only way to harmony. Create your future with your thoughts.

Whats this got to do with art,then?

Bad News; Monday. Had to keep returning to the loo.......lets not go into it too much here, yuk ! Good News; after a day off now feeling better. Bad News; youngest son collapsed in his mums arms, Ambulance called. Had ECG etc., turns out to be a viral infection. Is still not well, but better than he was. Bad News; Youngest sons girlfriend is up all night vomiting Good News; She is fine now. Bad News; Molly the dog is now vomiting too. Good News; Have acquired a free desk from Quest House,Loughborough, as WEA are moving their adult education provision to new location in the town and need to lose so much furniture. This last good news means I have to, yet again, redesign my little studio space in order to fit it in. This is both bad and good news since I really want the desk but just dont know how Im going to rearrange things. My space is getting smaller by the minute. Maybe I need to hire a storage unit? Maybe I need to sell more of my paintings, actually. Good news from Sandi of KLA as she sells a painting at the Catmose Open, congrats to her.........Im not jealous..........much ! lol ! Marie-Louise offered an idea for my next video (the one after the KLA promotional Im currently working on), so watch out for that in the near future, probably early 2011. Thanks, Maz, Im sure it will be amazing. Anyway, have to go and view Val's Art Diary on Youtube. Have you ever seen her vids? NO? I cant believe it, what are you waiting for, oh and while you are there why not check out all of my videos on my channel............ ARTCELLproductions........and leave constructive comments and, hey, why not subscribe to my channel,then you wont miss any new postings. Remember folks, your thoughts create your future, so be clear what you want in life. Love all and hurt none.

People per hour.

peopleperhour.com

FREE WEBSITES

Ive discovered GET BRITISH BUSINESS ON-LINE, who provide websites FREE for two years and then you pay a small fee to keep it for a further two years. So, go now, to www.stevebrobinson.co.uk Im building a website there promoting just my art, not my community arts involvements etc. Got to be worth it,hasnt it? Free? what's to lose? On another subject, I went into a furniture store run by Prakesh, in Leicester, today to see if my painting had been sold yet. Nope,its still there. Prakesh wasnt there, but his business partner was. Everytime I see this guy he tells me that business is really slow,everyone wants things for free, his business is going down the drain etc.. This guy is, I believe, a Hindu so he should know better! He is telling the Universe that he wants to fail, therefore the Universe is giving him what it thinks he wants. He should be saying that business is great, that people are buying furniture all the time. Im willing to bet that in no time he would see an upward swing in his sales. He is creating his future with his thoughts Anyway good people, remember to love all and hurt none and create YOUR future with YOUR thoughts today.

Yak, yakety, yak-yak, oh ya

KLA & me @ the LCB

Wellcome to the "BITESIZE" exhibition of KLA being held in both the gallery and the cafeteria of LCB, Rutland Street, Leicester. The Private Viewing is this coming Monday, 15th November 2010, 6 - 8.00 p.m., come along and enjoy the works on offer. We have paintings, prints, drawings , textiles and sculptures. Something for everyone in fact.

The show comes to an end on November 30th.

The sculpture shown here is by Elaine Miller and the grouping of bitesized paintings is by yours truly.........................me, in other words.

Had a good day installing the works today with Elaine, Maggie, and Hamish, finished off with a little light lunch before visiting my good friend Dianne and persuading her to be at the P.V.

Anyway, time to go;

I do hope you are all getting ready for Christmas (Im actually looking forward to it for the first time in years, whats going on there? lol) and feeling good inside.

Remember to love all and hurt none. Create your tomorrow with your thoughts today.

KLA at CATMOSE & one for next week at LCB

The show I participated in as a member of KLA, at the Catmose Gallery, Oakham, Leics., UK, has now ended so if you missed it you missed a treat, but the good news is we are having another show at LCB, in Leicester's creative quarter, next week. The show, titled "BITESIZE", shows all small works, nothing over 40cm and includes paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures. The private viewing is Monday the 15th November, early evening. If you are around, then why not come take a peek. After all, Christmas is coming up and maybe something here could fill a stocking over somebodies fireplace ! I was a little unwell the other day, but am fine now, but the other half of my sky is not as bright as she should be, what with all the skin troubles ,the fibromyalgia and the diabeatis, but she soldiers on. But we give thanks for all the good we do have in our lives. I must wish any Hindus/ Seikhs a happy new year. Its a little late now I know, but I have done it in person to those I know, or by email, and its surely never too late say good things. So, namaste, love all and hurt none. Give thanks for what you have, set your mind to the things you want, and do good wherever you go. Seek out silence for that is where you will find your true self and possibly hear that which we call god.

The (Long) BIG DRAW part two

I organised the big draw at our KLA studios yesterday. It was the first time KLA had participated in this national event and it was a great success. We had a father bring his two children all the way from Dunton Basset ! But more importantly, local residents came into the studio and participated. I now have a lovely warm glow inside me, yummy.

I have to thank all of the studio members who gave their time in drawing, encouraging others to draw, tea making, tour guiding etc., especially Elaine who co-organised the event.

Where can we go from here? To the moon if we want to, thats where !!!!!!

This represents what Ive been saying for a while now, your thoughts create your future. So be careful what you think! Love all and hurt none, its the only religion you need, folks.

Namaste and Happy Navratri.

art-at-the-park@hotmail.co.uk

Its on! I know its quite a way off, but if you want to participate as an exhibiting/selling artist in my open air gallery this coming June then you should get in now. Be FIRST to apply. Date; June 11, 2011 Time; 10.00 til 5.00 p.m. Venue; Shakespeare Drive, Hinckley, Leics., UK Fee ; £12 per six foot (approx ) section. Flat, fine art only. No sculptures, jewellry, etc.. All is explained in application form with terms and conditions. Hurry, hurry, hurry ! Be the first to be the first in this first of an annual event, linked in with Proms in the Park. O.K. back to earth. Life drawing with KLA went very well , just for members for fun and practice (watch this space for news of proper classes with me (ARTCELLp). Im invigilating the KLA show at Catmose Gallery, Oakham on Friday, and Im participating in another Long BIG DRAW at the KLA studios on saturday afternoon (23 October), and, for those who didnt realise it, (surely not) today is twent ten twentyten...........oooo, I love that sort of rubbish ! Gotta go now, Peace and Love to all and to all who know us both . Love all, hurt none, and create your future with your thoughts. Happy Navratri. Namaste x

The Long BIG DRAW part one

Today, ARTCELLp , was engaged to bring the BIG DRAW to Hinckley once again. I had hoped that this would become an annual event and it looks like its going that way,which is great. Sadly though, funding cuts meant I couldnt employ an assistant.

The day started slowly, built to a mild crescendo (if that isnt a contradiction in terms) and I left just before the rain came down. Not so many participated this year. We were higher up Castle Street, which means less footfall, it was a week later than last year and was the beginning of half term here and what I did was less colourful. Maybe one or all of these things added up to the reason why it didnt go quite so well as last year. However, we all learn and next year I will plan something very much diferent.............funding permitting.

This coming Saturday, October 23, the KLA are doing the same thing in our studios from 12 noon until 4.00 p.m. We are in a residential area so its quite a diferent proposition to Hinckley. However, the flyers have gone out so we can only hope.

Speaking of KLA, our Catmose Gallery Exhibition (Oakham, Leics. UK) starts now and I will be invigilating on Friday, should anyone find themselves in the area and want to come see me. This is really bad, but I cant recall if we are having a private view for this..........its not in my diary........but maybe I forgot (me? forget? surely not!).

I entered four paintings, Maggie and Tom brought two of them back due, Im told, to space limitations.

Anyway, try to come, if not, no worries.

Remember folks, Love all and hurt none, think positive and your life will be positive. Happy Navratri everyone !

Every Day is a Good Day

It seems Ive had a real sea-change. Last week I suddenly realised that whenever anyone said what a bad day it was (usually because it was raining) I automatically, without thinking, replied that it was actually a good day because every day is a good day............. and what is more I really meant it. Since then I am feeling so light............inside...........in my head and I am, for the first time in how many years, actually looking forward to Christmas! I cant explain properly how I feel, but I just want it to stay that way. I think it may have something to do with my encounter with that person I told you about last time........how I broke the ice by talking and how I suddenly realised that this person was not as mature as she liked to believe. Its like the last remnant of a hurt had healed. I truly saw her for what she is and at the same time realised I was so much better. Plus, the funding cuts..............everyone thinks its bad, but Im thinking that , for me anyway, it has helped me to focus. If there are no funded school placements for artists then its one less wall to knock my head against, and other things, self initiated things, are slowly coming in and it feels right. Im even o.k. driving the taxi ! God, I must be cured ! lol. Im doing the Long BIG DRAW in Hinckley Market again this coming Saturday, diferent format to last year (the Little BIG DRAW) and a DMU third year student found my website and wanted to volunteer to work with me. I have given her details but await confirmation. Last year I was able to employ Melissa Theobold but this year the funding, as we just spoke about, has been slashed. Im working for less and there is no cash for an assistant, but its o.k. Im also running the same thing on the 23rd October, 12 til 4 p.m., at the KLA studios, in Leicester, with Elaine and any other of the groups members who want to turn up. Plus, and this is the really good thing, a self intitiated project for next year has just about been given the green light and i dont envisage any more hurdles to jump. Its a one day event and if you want to know a little more , maybe get in early, then please go to a website I have set up just for this project.............. www.acp-arts.webeden.co.uk ............. O.K. I have more to talk about, but not right now. Now I need to sleep, so I will say buenos noches and ask you to remember that your thoughts create your future, so love all and hurt none.

CLAY, SUPPLY AND TEETH...........AGAIN!

Look, I know what you are going to say...I fiddled again this evening with this painting. I think it improves it in the photograph, but not sure in the flesh. The problem is that I probably dont actually like it, and never will no matter what I do. So, it may be painted over sometime in the near future. Let me know what you think. Lets vote on it............. remove or save? The waste mould I made was a complete disaster, as you know and so I had to repair the clay figure which altered the way it looked. No problem. So I returned to good old modrok to mould it and.........................yes, you guessed it, probably another disaster. So its back to square one next time Im in my studio, remodel the clay again and use a much more expensive, but hopefully more reliable, material and technique. But dont hold your breath folks ! So, what about the Supply? Well Teachers UK texted me with the offer of a weeks work next week, I replied, but now they have gone silent on me. Ah well. And the Teeth? As you know, I had a tooth extracted last week and since then it has felt like food has got stuck in the gap, but upon further inspection with a mirror and my finger I have deduced that he has left part of the tooth in my mouth! It moves, it still gives me tooth ache, and it makes me feel ill thinking about it. Im tempted to pull it out myself, but A, Im not brave enough and B, having already paid for the extraction of the tooth I feel the dentist should really complete the job. Went to Hunstanton for the day yesterday. Been driving for money today. When I tell you all that your thoughts create your future let me tell you mine............ I will be making a good living from my arts endeavours..........its just a matter of time. so now tell me your thoughts. Love all and hurt none my friends, its the only religion you ever really need. Your future is already assured, its just a matter of fitting it into your current lifespan. Bye for now.

GETTING BETTER........?

the promo video I made for KLA studio artists group is now completed and up on Youtube, so I thought I would try and post it here too. A nice start to the blog. Its the second blog in two days! Like a bus, you wait ages then two come along together ! So, today, I spent the morning at cafe creative in Leicesters LCB where I got talking to several diferent artists including a sculptress and a musician. One other person also turned up with her new friend who was there the other evening. Once again she failed to acknowledge me but at the end I broke the ice , said it was nice to see her and said goodbye. I think she begrudgingly muttered something back as I left the room. Its sad how this friendship has died. Last time I saw her we hugged good bye, she followed me in her car to her parents,flashed her lights to say cheerio, said we would "be in touch" (which sounded a little too businesslike at the time), then the next thing I know she hates me and yet we havent had an argument or anything. Strange, and sad. I hope she is happy now, but sadly she didnt appear so. And I was left wondering why she wasnt working in the job she loves. I hope there is nothing amiss there, because as much as it upsets me that a once close friend can now treat me in this manner, I would only wish her well. Well, look, you dont know who Im talking about, so lets move one. NICK! NICK!, I shouted across the road, near DMU today, but Nick didnt hear me. Went on to DMU and left package of gallery hire literature for the professional project module in fine art, missed the Lancaster and the Ruth, but did speak to the marvellous Ed Rennie and the Adam. When I got home I was absolutely kna...ered. Yet I hadnt actually done any work! Which makes me wonder what actually constitutes "work". Maybe this could be my next SOAPBOX video. In studio at Knighton Lane all day tomorrow. Im so thankful for the little space where I can be with myself and make arts. I am trying to succesfully remove plaster mould from the clay figure. Wish me luck. Then what I am cast it in is unresolved. OK, well, time to go. The gum is still a little sore, and Im so tired. Oh, Jane got her MA grade today, congrats to Jane ! Love all and hurt none folks. Create your good future with your good thoughts, tell the Universe what you desire, be specific, and be sure that you deserve it.

CLAY and TEETH

The sketchbook image was made while the person who posed was actually taking a break.

It inspired a drawing that now lives with the poser.

It inspired a painting (shown here) that was rejected by the poser, but accepted by the City Gallery Open, Leicester in 2009.

And now the painting has inspired the sculpture.

I know a song like that................."I know an old lady who swallowed a fly, etc.," Do you know it?

Anyway, this clay figure now sits covered in plaster awaiting its final casting. Havent decided on material yet as bronze is now out of the question.

Am attending networking events in the creative industries sector publicising ARTCELL to those who might engage it in community events/schools/etc.,or who may like to collaborate on a project, and am also pushing STEVE B. ROBINSON in the line of Unique Works of Art to Your Commission, i.e. portraiture and abstracts. Meanwhile am also organising life drawing events where I am tutor and...........nope, not gonna say until its sorted.........

Oh, and the tooth part of the blog title? Its sympathy seeking............ had a tooth extracted today. Lots of blood. Thought dentist was going to dislocate my jaw.........he did dislocate my wallet, lol.

Well, keep life interesting folks, happy birthday to Claire Hilton at end of this week, think good thoughts, love all and hurt none.

Namaste

To talk or not to talk..........

Went to a creative industries networking event this evening. It was pretty good. Not sure Im getting any better at networking though. However, somebody else was there. Somebody I met at University, and somebody who dumped me in my hour of need because I was needy (go figure!). Should I have spoken to her? Should she have spoken to me? Its a tricky situation, but the chances are that ,since we exist in the same geography and still share the same passions, we will come across each other again. Any suggestions on how to deal with this situation next time it arises will be gratefully received. I hate avoiding people like this. It seems so immature. I have, by the way, resolved to return to my reason for being on this planet. Ive had the break I asked for and now its back to destiny once more. Anyone seen that bloke with the scythe? hahahaha Oh, and the sculpture is almost completed but..........there had to be a but didnt there?........ the qoutes Ive had for casting it in bronze are just horrendously high! Am now looking at diferent mediums. Will let you know when I know. OK folks, time to go. All day in studio tomorrow...............my haven of sanity...............so remember to think carefully as your thoughts create your future. Love all and hurt none, its all we can ask of ourselves and others. ............ Namaste.

GOOD ENERGY

Had that annual reunion with the good young folks of my alumni, and this year Chez came too. Sadly her Ralph wasnt feeling up to it so I hope he feels better now. It was a lovely afternoon sitting on the balcony at Soar Point Pub drinking (my wife was introduced to toffee cider by Laura !), and eating, and it was good to see Neal there too. Sadly Nick didnt make it, never mind, maybe next year, although it has been suggested that we meet up again before Christmas. I believe Mel was going to meet up with the others in the evening but I declined that one. Sometimes age does matter. I have been a member of New Dawn Art Group Facebook site for a little while now (which lead, via an innocent and nice comment from me, to the inevitable, it seems, ending to what I thought was a friendship. Que sera, sera) but now it has just vanished! How does that happen? Good thing I made contacts while it was there. The sculpture is not going too well. Waiting for the clay to become workable is just like watching cricket, if you know what I mean. But the new painting is coming along nicely. I will upload when completed. I have decided that its about time I stopped making art to please other people and make art that pleases me. Thus the figure is making a re-appearance. Well, more to say later. Remember what I keep telling you folks; your thoughts create your future so be carefulwhat you think. Love all and hurt none. oh, and if you ever see Vals Art Diary on Youtube you will have heard this............... " Eat Your Cookies". She is a little crazy, worth a visit. Bye for now.

BAD ENERGY

BAD ENERGY; I can do without bad energy these days. I have been party to the effects, and perhaps even been the cause , in the past and no longer am able to indulge in this waste of energy. Since my depression I have found that I am acutely aware of the ill effects of these vibrations and tonight just proved the point.

Had a meeting, wont say where or with whom, but there was definitely a lot of aggression in the room. A couple of strong minds were at conflict and this even spread itself to the lesser ego's. I thought at one point that I would have to leave but I stuck it out, not wanting to cause a fuss. However, often this sort of behaviour becomes the seeds that force some personalities to permanently leave and is never good. I know because I have been there and got the t-shirt, as they say.

Things are said which would not ordinarily be said and cannot be taken back; for instance, I am left wondering, because of what a couple of people said, what the group thinks of my work. I saw some work today from an outsider wanting to be an insider and I just thought, wow, his work is so much better than mine, and it has an eco message too, and I found myself becoming excited by the idea of his coming inside. He had a very calm centre which made me feel safe. Maybe it was the turbulance of the meeting and his own energy being so opposite to that which was growing in the room which made me feel so good about him.

That said though, I wonder about my own work. I have put up a pic of my studio which now has a few recent paintings on the wall. Are they any good? Do they make you "feel" ? Would anyone want to hang one in their lounge? I dont know. Im feeling lost again, but I vowed to concentrate on my first love and try to make it pay and Im sticking to my guns. If you have any constructive remarks regarding my work please let me know.

I have to start making small works for our LCB show. I have to start asap. I have to find the money to buy the materials. I have to.......blah blah blah.

Anyway, Im in studio most of day tomorrow, working on the clay and maybe starting another painting in the nude genre.

Tomorrow, Friday, I wanted to attend the MA show at DMU but family comes first and I have been seconded by number three son. Hope to see it later in week. Saturday I am excited about. Its the DMU reunion. I dont actually attend the nightlife but some of my year group get together for lunch at Soar Point Public House. So it will be Laura and her boyfriend and their mutual friend Science Boy, Amy and her " Sock", Neal, me and my Agnes, hopefully Chez and her Ralph, possibly Nick and any others who can make it. Who would have thought that these girls would still be in touch with me, a man old enough to be their fathers, so many years after graduating? Interesting that they are all girls. Hmm.

Well, got to go. Just remember folks, be careful what you think as your thoughts create your future. Love all and hurt none, its the only religion you really need.

Randomness

One new painting and a work in progress. Not sure about the painting title just yet so lets have a vote or maybe you can come up with something even better. Consider it a competition without a prize. So far I have considered, "A 1001 Nights". or, "Contemplation of Tales Untold". The thing is I think she is in a calm disposition and has lots to tell us, if we ask the right question. The work in progress is a clay rendition of "The Brown Shawl" (the painting that got into the City Open in 2009 having been rejected by the model; I took it back once I discovered she had just put it into her garage as I believe it needs to be loved, not discarded). This clay model, which I hope to produce a few copies of,in bronze, is taking far too long. I keep changing it and then running out of clay. Im awaiting the recomposition of previously used clay (from the portraiture class I ran), which is also proving to be problematical. Anyway, today Agnes and I spent time in Leicester, got new phones, and bumped into Johnny who was on my DMU degree course. Had a good chat in the street, but boy, that handshake of his ! I swear he almost broke all of my fingers. I dont like limp wristed vicar handshakes but I do like to keep my bones intact! Anyway, was good to meet him again. And talking of meeting....................... this saturday am meeting up with Laura and hopefully a few more of the dmu alumni of 2008 for lunch prior to them boogying in the evening. Really looking forward to what is becoming an annual event. And dont forget its the MA show on Friday evening where Jane (dmu alumni), and Leila (of mentoring scheme) are graduating. Have to support them. Well, my new phone is calling me...............have to play with it in order to get used to it..........so I have to go, but before I go, please let me know what you think of the videos previously posted.They are also on Youtube. Muchimas gracias amigos. Remember folks, Love all and hurt none. Create your future with your thoughts, so be careful what you think! Thats all for now folks

CLAY PORTRAITURE COURSE

The old Atkins factory in Hinckley, now the home of Creative Hinckley, and where I ran my clay portraiture class for the last two days.

Funny how life goes in circles. I worked for almost 18 years in the dyehouse of this hosiery and knitwear company; at one time the worlds oldest hosiery manufacturer. The main entrance is now really smart with sliding glass doors and a metal staircase leading up to reception and thence to meeting rooms, artists studios, cafe, gallery and education room. A really smart building being put to good use.

Spent so long making the armatures, but Im rather proud of them. They stood up to the task and are robust enough to be used many more times. (how did that blurry photo get in here?)

I employed freelance model Dianne, who I have known and worked with for many years, to sit for the six adult students and her chatter helped to release any tensions that might have been in the room............mostly from myself, it has to be said!

It was expected that each clay head would look diferent, whilst still retaining some essence of Dianne. Over the years I have found this to be quite normal. Often the clay will look more like the student than the model.

on the second day we moved into mould making and casting. Unfortunately we didnt get too far with this part of the course as the room was very humid and the clay refused to dry out and the mod-roc sympathised with it. In the end the heads, still on the armature, were taken home with instructions and some casting plaster in order for them to dry out and be completed by the student. Fingers crossed on that one.

If I had to make an evaluation it would , in summary, be along the lines of; really good day. all students discovered something and said they enjoyed it and that it was good value for money. They liked me and Di. For myself, I think perhaps I was rather ambitious in trying to make clay heads and cast from them over just two days. Future projects will be just the clay and people can have photographs of the work.

All in all, the two days were really good, made me really tired in a satisfying manner, and has spurred me on to organise other events. To infinity and beyond ! ha ha ha ha.

Thats all for now folks, so its a very tired but very happy me signing off. Remember to think creative and positive. Your subconscious is more powerful than your conscious, it is desirable therefore that you dont just give lipservice to positivity since it is your subself who directs you to the places and the people that will help you to create your better future. Be the best soul you can be. Listen to yourself.

Love all , hurt none; its as simple as that.

CLAY PORTRAITURE PROJECT

Kem chow (excuse any spelling mistake please)

Buenas dias, etc.,

Well, the two day taster workshop is now fully booked so I went into studio today and completed the armatures for the six students.

They dont look much now but, hopefully, when covered in clay they will look something like the model.

The model is Dianne Cotteril, who has years of experience and is also an artist in her own right, who I have known and been friends with for many years.

I know this is going to be a great success and is going to lead to many more similar projects. For instance, I plan to start Life Drawing workshops in September in order to add to my income stream. Also, I now have my GTC number and am registered with a good teaching supply agency so hopefully I shall have work via them starting in September. Fingers crossed. I know I keep saying, "its starting to happen", but this time...................

Anyway, thats all for now folks so dont forget, you create your future with your thoughts so be careful what you think. Love all, hurt none, its the only religion you really need. Namaste.

NEW VIDEO; search YOUTUBE/ARTCELLproductions

Hope you like ! why not check out my other vids on youtube. ARTCELLproduction channel is the place to view them all.

Love All, Hurt None. Let your thoughts create your future.

BRIXTON ADVENTURE

The BRIXTON ADVENTURE in street art at the BRIXTON URBAN ARTS FAIR was a great weekend. Pitched in the pedestrianised area on the Saturday where, unfortunately, the hessian covered the metal grill of the fencing supplied which made hanging work a little difficult. The resultant string looked messy and amateur. However, the Sunday pitch was on iron railings on the junction of Appach Road/Josephine Avenue and my work sat a little better. Some were clearly old hands at this sort of thing and brought their own structures and even their own lightweight walls to enhance their work the way a gallery would. There were prints as well as originals, live music on the first day, clean toilets, and fresh food being cooked. I learned so much from this event and will be using that knowledge in future adventures. However, the really good thing was................ I MADE SALES ! (as did Claire who shared the adventure with me). On another note; Reminder for interested parties; CLAY PORTRAITURE PROJECT; OVER TWO DAYS (August 6 & 7, 2010), all materials and tools supplied, live model and tution from yours truly. It is hoped that on the second day the heads will be moulded and cast in plaster. The COST is a mere £70 payable in advance. Please phone me to book on 07743781943. ONLY THREE PLACES LEFT!! and on that note........... take care and Love All, Hurt None, its the only religion you need, and remember that your thoughts create your future so be careful what you think. Bye for now !

Book for sale

Self published my first childrens book. Click on the link and it should take you straight to a preview of the book on the printers website where you can also purchase the book if you really like it. Its aimed at children and includes a time-telling element within the illustrations and text. Also a game of finding Buger in the illustrations. There is also another game which is just for fun. Let me know if you can see what it is. On another front I am now registered with the General Teaching Council as an instructor and am having my references reviewed by a teacher supply agency who contacted me after my son, who they have found lots of work for this year, supplied them with my C.V. Hopefully then, all those school arts projects will have flowered into something else, something which may provide me with more time for my art projects. The KLA is getting exciting............. exhibitions at Catmose Gallery, LCB, hopefully delivering Big Draw community art in October, plus Open Studio in August, the annual Tea Party around November, hopefully an auction early December too, but most of this is to be confirmed. However I have full confidence that this will all happen. Before then Claire and I will be selling our art in Brixton next month and maybe some of you will purchase that book that I started this blog promoting ! Thats all for now folks! Remember to love all and hurt none, and create your future from your thoughts. What you desire, the Universe will provide.

DEGREE SHOW'S 2010

Two degree shows in a week of each other, which makes a nice change as they usually clash. So, the second one first; DMU; I cant believe how few people attended. It was like going around on a Saturday instead of the opening night. Such a shame for the graduating students. No buzz at all, and I dont think there were any awards given out. I certainly didnt hear any of the usual speeches and Ian Kirkwood was conspicous by his absence. Well, I didnt see him anywhere anyway. Had a very short chat with Ed Rennie and John Lancaster (might be arranging something with the latter via KLA). More importantly though I met up with old comrades Laura, Laura and Emma.

These first four pictures are examples of the DMU show, with work from my old mate Tracy Walker, Maureen Anderson, Chloe Beardmore and Joe Moran. For me, these are the works that stood out from a show that really didnt make me quiver much.

This last group of four are from the Loughborough Fine Art degree show. A lot of fabulous work there, although the presentation of one or two of the works left a lot to be desired and I wondered what tutors there were thinking of as this must look bad on the University, not just the students who committed this sin.

However, these are just a few examples of the many really good works on offer. They were created by Kim Sharratt, Phil Turner, Deborah Aves and Victoria Parry, who embroidered her female figure on a large canvass.

Its probably unfair to compare as everyone is an individual and its probably just luck that the works in LUSAD were more to my taste than those of DMU. I may not understand art but I know what I like, as somebody is reputed to have once said!

Live with joy. Love all and hurt none, and remember that your thoughts create your future so be focused on what you really desire. Bye for now.

Something old, something new 2010

This is one of the new. Hangover II is the title. Its a small piece in acrylic on board. It may be upgrading to a larger canvass. I have several small works on board now which may also prove to be not just works in their own merit but also templates for larger painting on canvass.

This small work of a female perched on the end of a bed (or something) is called Vogue, and is one of those destined to be enlarged.

And of course, this is one of the old. I have been repainting the figure sitting with a glass of wine at the Al-Hambra. I have removed the detail from the face in order to fit in with the style of the rest of the painting. It is called Passing The Time, and Im finally rather happy with it.

We are going to the Loughborough University Degree Show tomorrow. Missed the p.v. tonight but at least there will be less crowds on a Saturday, although it means I have probably missed a good networking opportunity, but you cant have everything. Its usually a great show so I will let you all know later, after England have beaten USA in South Africa! Next week its the turn of good old DeMontfort University where I hope I shall see some of you. Have a good night and remember;

Love all, hurt none, and be careful with your thoughts.

one day before 54

Well, I cant believe its been this long since I last blogged. Easter it was, and now here we are at Spring Bank Holiday, the penultimate day (to be precise as I type this) of May, with the ultimate day being not just a bank holiday but also My Birthday! The whole nation is celebrating me running out of time. How nice of you all. And just to celebrate I thought I would post a couple of pics of my latest artworks and a couple of the KLA studio where Maggie and Rikke have co-curated works of the group around the place. So, here we go; Ive sort of returned to the idea I had in 2007 that I didnt want a top or bottom to the paintings as they werent telling a narrative tale. I have been attempting to recreate my meditative visions, sometimes resorting to re-using older images to represent my imaginings, or sometimes simply because those images did actually make an appearance in my vision-quests. This one is called, I think, "The Repetitive Echoes of Karma". This mostly black and white painting is my latest, which I think is completed but I cant be sure. It represents partly something that used to happen to me in my bed as a child. A vortex seemed to want to suck me in and all these faces and people would appear on the periphery.I didnt like it and would force myself not to get sucked down into the vortex. This painting did the same thing whilst I was comtemplating it. A funny feeling. Imagination? Maybe, but often imagination is more real than that which we term "real". I think this is titled: " Constellations of Inner Space Partly Bordered by Repetitive Karma". The last one, with the clock (it isnt art.........but it could be) is my space. Not officially part of the curating, I just decided to hang these as there was a big meeting of important arts people in the building and I know they were given a tour as part of their meeting. I believe Im right in calling the group that used the KLA as a venue the East Midlands Visual Arts Group. Or something very similar anyway. Anyway, off to bed now in order to wake up as a young 54 year old. I think a picnic might be in order. I would invite you but alas, I still havent decided where to go. Rutland Water perhaps. See you later then. Love all and hurt none. Let your thoughts create your future.

Easter Blog

Its

Easter Monday, not working today. Instead we spent some lovely time at Kingsbury Water Park. We managed to keep Molly out of the water, which is no mean feat. She just loves to swim!

But I managed to find art in the natural surroundings, which may, at some point, feed into my art somehow. For instance; this fabulous old tree trunk. I would love to cast it in bronze, its just so...................I want to hug it, and make it feel young again!

And, although man has clearly interfered by weilding a saw, this pile of logs I found to be very beautiful. They may wind up as prints.

But basically it was just a time to chill out, far from home,

away from the television and the decorating (that doesnt seem to be getting anywhere). Just some "us-time".

So we had a little pic-nic. Havent done this in years and it was so nice we shall be doing it again.

So, this week Im off to Liverpool, meeting up with Maz for what is becoming an annual event, and also the following week will be catching up with Amy and Neal. Its good to keep in touch isnt it? Its interesting to discover how my old (young) alumni are progressing, swap notes, insights and advice.

Well, got a lot to do, and the G & T is beckoning, lol. Lent is over now so I hope those of you who gave up the drink can now join me and toast the future.

Remember folks, tell the Universe your deepest desires and wants, be specific, and know that the Universe listens and responds. God has many names. Love all, hurt none, its surely what Jesus was saying, and the Prince Buddha, and the Prophet Mohammed, so its the only religion you really need.