The last post.......possibly........of 2012

Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year everyone ! and remember, Love all, hurt none and walk in soft shoes.

Its been a while since I blogged but Im here now so its all o.k..

The above image is what Ive been working on for the last week. Its part of "The Chair" series of works I have been doing. The series wasnt a conscious idea at the start. It was never a project, but I realised that my work had started putting people in chairs, so now its a project, which is probably going to end it. Thats the way of things, as soon as you become aware that what you were doing was a cohesive pattern then it becomes harder to continue. The happy happenchance ceases to exist and work becomes laboured. Already , in my sketchbook, the Chair series has morphed into images of just a chair with nobody employing it. That may be the long term outcome, but of course, now that my conscious self is aware of what my subconscience is attempting to do then that also is scuppered! Is there any way I can win in this situation? Probably not.............so I give up.  Anyway, the painting is charcoal, graphite, emulsion paint on canvas sized 50 x 50 cm. Im not absolutely convinced it is finished, but I like to think it is.  

So that is what Ive been getting up to lately on my own.

As part of a group (Knighton Lane Artists Ltd.) I have had work shown at Leicesters New Walk Gallery, at a Fabrika pop-up gallery in lieu of their regular abode and am looking to be part of another KLA show early in the new year. Not to mention the KLA studio tea party this month.

So, until next time, Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes.

GO ! (rescued art)

Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes. Hope you all enjoyed the video !!!!!

STOP !

Never be afraid to show your failures and your failings, they are what make you human.

Thankfully Im not a human ! lol



LOVE ALL, HURT NONE, AND WALK IN soft shoes .

Old yet New \1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqyCv0UJZmo&feature=share&list=ULvqyCv0UJZmo

oh no, how embarrasing ! Especially when her boyfriend sees it ! What do you mean, she's only 7 days old? Listen , you cant start scaring them off too early you know, lol. !

Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes. Peace is within you.

Studio32 / 3; first mention of new birth.

Hi there ! said I would try to make a video each week and here is this weeks. I hope you enjoy. I have to say here, congratulations to my son Samuel and his fiance Gemma on the birth of my lovely grandaughter. They have called her Ava Maria Robinson and she weighed in at 5lb 14oz. She wasnt due till September 18 but due to minor complications; such as lack of amniotic fluid, Leicester Royal decided to induce her.

So tiny, so gorgeous, so has my eyes !!!

Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes. See you next week !!!

two videos in two successive weekends. Im going to try and make a video each week. Hope you all approve.  Tuesday the 28th of August is my wedding anniversary;  36 years. I cant understand why she (Agnes) has put up with me for so long. It certainly isn't for my money ! ha ha ! Anyway, thats all for now. Remember to Love All, Hurt None and Walk in Soft Shoes.  Peace within you and without you.

Another Nude from Studio 32

Studio32; the first video

Hope you enjoyed. Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes.

Number 3 from the Sparkenhoe Studio

"#3; Empathy "

the third painting from my Sparkenhoe Studio. It is confirmation that I am now wholly (well, almost) following the figurative in my artworks, clothed or not. This work also marks a first, as I incorporated drawing with painting and made no attempt to hide the drawing marks. They are an equal constituent on the canvass.

My number 2 son, Samuel, is celebrating his 30th birthday and received a book of photographs taken by the Hubble telescope. Fantastic space abstraction in their own right, they sort of made me wonder if I could produce paintings in a similar vein. Maybe on a larger scale than my norm. But that is for the future. For now, I have to follow my heart.

On another note I planted perhaps a 100 carrot seeds and produced one, solitary, carrot ! lol ! Never mind.

In the meantime, amidst the awful news coming from the middle east and from a cinema in the USA, lets all remember to Love All, Hurt None, and Walk in Soft Shoes.

New Phone, et al

I was going to upload a pic of my latest "work in progress", but my new Galaxy Ace mobile phone is crap so you will have to wait and see it when I can work out whats going on with this so-called upgrade.  You can of course see it as it was a few days ago (not how it is now) by seeing it on my facebook page. This pic was taken with my lovely old phone ! How I miss it !

Anyway, KLA now seems to be drifting away from me as I find it so hard to drive that far just for a meeting where I no longer get a vote......I want to be a part of it still, but Ive noticed that when studio members leave and say they want to remain as associate members that the opposite actually happens.  I wonder why that is?

Im putting together a set of paintings and prints, all figurative (clothed and nude), because this is where my heart lies and I have to be true to myself. I just need to find somewhere to show them and, please God, sell them !

In the meantime I keep popping into my new studio at lunch times and weekends, breathing it all in in my own lovely silence, enclosed, locked in, encompassed, and embraced by all the artistic references within. I continue, as you all should try, to Love All, Hurt None, and Walk in Soft Shoes.

Let the inner peace out and change your world.

I saw my painting, "Because I Trust You", through the window of the Exchange Bar, Leicester and had to take this funky photograph ! It is there as part of the Knighton Lane Artist's show. There was a oneday sale in the basement room which went quite well. Oh, which is my work? Its the yellow ochre headless nude in the centre of the image. There seems to be two impossibly small people underneath it ! Its the KLA 30th anniversary year this year.

The Sumo Bar show for "Windows-on" charity event, went very well. The sun shone and my work looked good up on the wall.In fact , everyone's artwork looked really good. I just hope they last out the year outside like that.

Well, time to enjoy the cooling evening having worked/baked in my taxi all day. Just remember to Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes. Its all there within you, reach down and discover your potential.

Numero uno and a second work for charity

The above is called "#2: Love, Lust, Legacy", its just over a square metre in size and its acrylic on board. I made it in a bit of a hurry for the "Windows-on" project at Leicester's SUMO BAR. The event is solely for charity and, although the festivities (live music, food, craft,drinks etc.,) are on the 26th May 2012, the actual exhibition lasts a whole year. The works are all hanged (hung?) outside so they are probably not for resale at the end of it all. The theme this year is "World Party". Didnt really inspire me but I gave it a go.
              This is the second work to come out of my new studio and you will see the figure 2 just above my tag in the lower right hand corner.

This painting is the first to come out of my studio and is so marked in the bottom right corner, above my tag. It is based on Maz and is acrylic on canvas. The title is "#1: M-L T ".

The blogger people have fiddled with the workings of the site and its now sooooo hard to manipulate.........or maybe its just me? !

Anyway, going to the opening of the Sumo Bar saturday, camera in hand, maybe camcorder too, and hope that lots of other people attend, support my art and the works of 19 other artists whilst also supporting the charity.

In the meantime, love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes.

Sh, you know who !

So, first of all, this started out as just a play canvass as its old, and been painted on several times already, but I now rather like what has appeared. Its referencing a photo of my old uni chumette, Marie-Louise (Maz) that I stole from facebook (along with several others; she just seems a natural in front of the camera. Maybe she has missed a career choice there ! ) Anyway, just a few more dabs of paint or graphite and I think it will be finished and ready for the public eye !

As for this cheeky chap telling us to sush..............he looks kind of familiar, which is really spooky , as the mask isnt of me at all !!! I notice that Archie the puppet, who starred in a youtube video of mine, is taking the high ground. Can you spot him?

Well, its all going quite well in my new studio so we will see what works come out of it before I decide if I can afford it or not. Happily my prime income stream is going very well at the minute so, touch wood, its all hunky dory right now. Anyway, Love all, hurt none and walk in soft shoes my dears !!!! Its all an illusion.

EASTER RISING

One of the entrances to the Sparkenhoe Business Centre, Hinckley, which is now housing my new studio. N0.32 !Thats my place, down past the coffee bar, through the doors at the end and Bob's your uncle. But to get there means travelling through a labyrinth of corridors (ok, I exaggerate slightly for comedic effect) And here is another corridor............. .........and finally here it is. All moved in and set up ready for working. In fact I started a work today. Its the blue piece on the easel. And having paced around for ages Molly, the merry cocker, sorted out a bed for herself! Clever dog :) ! So this is Easter, the period that for Pagans symbolises the rebirth of Nature, flowers springing up from the cold earth, and animals hatching their young, and for Christians is all about the death and the rebirth of their saviour figure. For me, it is the restarting of my art life. All works will be numbered as if this is the beginning.............which it kind of is. So, if anyone wishes to visit please let me know and I will try to arrange a mutually convenient day and time. In the meantime just remember to Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes. HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY !!!

NEW START IN NEW "HOME"

I have almost completely moved in to my new studio at the Sparkenhoe Business Centre on Southfield Road, Hinckley, Leics. So far I have made two journeys with a filled to capacity car and almost certainly will need another two. I didnt realise I had collected so much stuff in my time at KLA ! But doesnt the nameplate good good?

This panoramic picture shows the inner world of my new arthouse. I spent a couple of hours there today organising what goes where and, despite having some reservations last week, I felt so comfortable and at ease. This was definitely the right, the best, move for me. Isolating myself I can make art which is not influenced by those around me. That was a problem at Uni, and was becoming a problem at KLA.

Can you see the space? Wow, and with light pouring in through the skylight above I think I have almost the perfect setting. My only concern is the floor,which looks to be too good and puts me in fear of making a mess on it.

To demonstrate the space just look at the image above; a drawing on a large (approx, 4 feet square) sheet of Fabriano paper laid out on the floor. It hasnt been unrolled since DMU days as I didnt have the floor area to do it.

More information and pics when Im finally and completely moved in so, in the meantime, remember to Love all and hurt none and walk in soft shoes.

TEA IN THE GARDEN

Had a lovely, if too brief, catchup with Chez today. We had tea on the patio as the weather was so nice and we chatted about this and that, mostly "that"; the thing we dont want to mention (blackdog)........oops, I mentioned it! Damn! She showed me her home studio and the art she is currently working on. I was much impressed by her photographs of a doll she has created and given "sets" for her/it to pose in. I think there may be a future in that. Sadly I didnt have long enough and have promised to be able to stay a little longer next time and, for the first time ever from ANYBODY, she suggested it might be nice for her and Ralph to come visit Agnes and myself. Now that would be a first. Apart from that, members of KLA gathered at the Exchange Bar in Leicester to investigate an art event there in May. Decide on logistics etc.. It will be some time in May and we also have a week at Fabrika in October. Just as Im leaving the studio things are looking up, but I will remain an associate member so I will continue to be involved. Sign paperwork this week on the new studio and will move in on April 1st, which Im hoping isnt an omen. Cant wait. OK, thats all for now folks. Remember to Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes.

Black Dog Campaign | SANE

Black Dog Campaign | SANE

I have known BlackDog, suffered under its teeth but, eventually, fought it off. Always it lingers in the shadows but now I know the warning signs I put my defences into action and cage the BlackDog once more. I will never allow it to sink its teeth into me again. If anyone out there is suffering  why not let me know and maybe together we can bring it to heel.

Love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes.

NEW PAINTING IN PROGRESS

The start of a new painting; the last one to come out of my studio space at Knighton Lane, so its quite poignant (spelling?). It isnt complete, I can see looking at it now that there is at least one place that badly needs revisiting, but it could be another week before I get into the studios again. It has been confirmed that I can move into my new studio in April and, although I shall miss the KLA building, I cant wait to get my things in there. I have even been given permition to have an open studio evening to mark my arrival at the new studio so watch out for invitations! Well, thats all for now so remember, Love all, hurt none and walk in soft shoes. Peace lives within.

VALENTINE

So it's St.Valentine's day once more. I don't normally make a great deal of effort for this because, after all, it is supposed to be about letting someone know that you are their secret admirer. My wife is not a secret. However, all things considered, what with Dad passing, our time passing , I did go overboard. I booked two tickets to see "The Stomp" at Birmingham Hippodrome this Friday (more sensible than a Tuesday but it is still for my Valentine and its the matinee performance so we can travel on the train, I can have a drink without the worry of driving home, and we can look around the shops ( thats how we suffer for our cause, lads) and we can dine too. A full day. The special card for my special half was made by me and I left it in situ for Agnes to discover in the morning. Aint I romantic?

I started by mentioning my dad, my step dad actually but that never made a diference, and so I will end with the coincidental information that his father was an immigrant from Germany who's surname, before changing it to Wakefield, was, I believe, Valentin. I hope all of you lovers out there found each other today, but above all, remember to love all, hurt none, and walk in soft shoes.

A YEAR GOES BY

It is with sadness that today, I am forced to look back a whole year. Today is the first anniversary of Dad's passing away and what makes it worse is that it has just flown by! We didn't go to the crematorium where his ashes are scattered; there didn't seem much point. I don't believe he is there. I believe he is fully active somewhere else, spreading his knowledge, and just occasionally, maybe, looking in on Mum. Im going to hold an open night at the new studio (if I'm permitted) when I've moved in and Dad would have been so good at helping me to arrange the unit into a workable space. Never mind. Still thinking of you Dad ! Remember, folks, to be positive, to hurt none and love all, and above all try to walk in soft shoes.

MOVING NEWS

The decision; I have today handed in my notice at Knighton Lane Artist's Studios. I shall be moving in to a more secure, warmer, private studio unit, which is most importantly in Hinckley so I can walk there if I want to. Thus saving money on travel etc.. So thats the big secret. I know Im going to be happier there although it isnt an artist colony, just a lot of units within an old factory. There is one other artist in the complex but I doubt I will see anyone else. Bliss ! I shall of course complete my treasury duties and may even continue in that role as would like to continue being part of the group, but as an associate rather than a studio member..

thats all for now, love all, hurt none and walk in soft shoes.

OMG !

I entered three paintings into the Hinckley Themed Open Exhibition, "Loved Ones".

I've never been so dissappointed ! £15 it cost me to enter ; NO PRIVATE VIEW, NO PRESS INVOLVEMENT and, by the look of it, hardly any art either! I think there were ten paintings/drawings and three of them are mine! I am seriously considering asking for my money back...........and look how they installed my work. Just because one of them is very small is no reason to put underneath another.

I find it so disrespectful.

Anyway, if anyone out there is reading this and they find themselves near Hinckley you should pop into the library and have a look at my work and let me know what you think.

Well, deep breath, keep calm and carry on. Love all and hurt none ( I never said it would be easy) and walk in soft shoes.

POSTARDS ON EBAY

better images of my postcards, now available on ebay (so you can use paypal) and soon to be on my website, (where you can also use paypal).

Start collecting me now in this small scale, low cost, format and enjoy my imagery for endless hours of priceless pleasure. The reverse displays the title, medium and size of the original painting for your records.

Havent been in to studio for over a week now, and will be so busy working non stop this week that I wont be able to get in for the foreseeable future. So, the outcome will either be; a healthier bank balance or a nervous breakdown; or both; or neither ! Watch this space !!! Well, enough said, remember to hurt none, love all and walk in soft shoes .

POSTCARD ART; START YOUR COLLECTION NOW!

The postcards are here ! Start your collection of my art by purchasing one or more of these postcards ! cost = £1 each or just £3.50 if you purchase all four at once !! Send your cheques, made out to Steve B. Robinson, to "15 Cowper Road, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 2LW". Hurry before they sell out, go on, start your collection of my works NOW !!!!!its the perfect , and cheap , way of starting your collection of my artworks. Postcards are a growing trend in the art world. Get started NOW !

Thank you very much, and remember to love all , hurt none, and walk in soft shoes.