Fine Art Blog

Artists Jeff Rowland and Alexander Millar - dynamic duo paint together for charity!

The pair have recently teamed up to paint a piece of art for the Birmingham (UK) Children’s Hospital. ‘Singin’ In the Rain’ was then produced as a limited edition print & has the classic aspects of both artists work, Millar’s ‘gadgie’ character and Rowland’s atmospheric rain & grey blue colours. Incidentally, both artists share a studio in Newcastle, so it must have been easy for them to take turns in painting the picture!

‘Singin’ In The Rain’ by Alexander Millar and Jeff Rowland
(Available as a print or canvas limited edition)

Millar and Rowland have pledged all of their royalties to Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s new state of the art renal unit, which is very generous, and on top of that, their publisher Washington Green has agreed to match the figure the artists make!!

thanks

Vicki

Links:
Birmingham Children’s Hospital: www.bch.org.uk

Elephants Parade London 2010 - Love Art, Love Elephants!

Many of you may have ‘herd’ about the Elephant parade that happened in London in June and July this year…

Above: elephants painted by Peter Smith (left) and John Wilson (right)

The Elephant Parade was the largest outdoor art exhibition ever staged in the UK, with 258 life sized baby elephant sculptures, set in locations all over London’s city centre. They were thought up and created for the leading wild elephant charity called ‘Elephant Family’ www.elephantfamily.org The interesting thing is that each elephant is a unique piece of art, hand painted by renowned artists and designers. The Parade ran for around two months; from May to July 2010. The elephants were placed in streets, parks and squares right across Central London at some of London’s leading landmarks.

Above: elephants painted by Alexander Millar (left) and Jeff Rowland (right)

With an estimated audience of 25 million (you cannot count every person in London who has viewed them can you?!), the campaign aimed to raise over £1 million for the endangered Asian elephant. It was a fresh and unique fundraising and awareness campaign that everyone could enjoy. Elephant Parade’s mission is to become the world’s largest financial support organisation for elephants, while attempting to save the Asian elephant from extinction in the wild.

Above: elephants painted by Paul Kenton (left) and Louise Dear (right)

Some of the UK’s finest artists and designers were sponsoring and painting an elephant including the previously blogged about: Alexander Millar, Jack Vettriano, Jeff Rowland John Wilson, Louise Dear, Paul Kenton & Peter Smith!…Many of these are artists licensed exclusively to Washington Green fine art publishers, so big thank you to them for allowing them to help out!

After going on display in various locations all over London, a select number of elephants were then auctioned off by Sotheby’s, whilst the remainder were auctioned online.

thank you

Vicki

Useful Links
Elephant Parade Main site: www.elephantparadelondon.org
Elephant Family Charity Main Site: www.elephantfamily.org
Donate to Elephant Family: www.justgiving.com/elephantfamily/donate

Painter Louise Dear - ‘An Artist In Love With Colour’

Louise Dear’s first collection of 5 artworks, published by Washington Green Fine Art Publishers, has caused quite a reaction, turning heads in many a gallery window & indeed in the home of buyers. Her beautiful multicoloured, hand layered art work has shone a ray of light onto the UK art scene.

‘Yum Yum’ by Louise Dear
(Limited edition box canvas)

Louise’s inspiration comes from her extensive travels throughout the world during her youth, from Europe to Asia and beyond. Her beautiful pictures draw the eye with wonderful colours, bold outlined figures & large floral designs, as well as the sultry poses of her subjects, which are either self-portraits or pictures of her daughter, Lama.

‘Crush II’ by Louise Dear
(Limited edition box canvas)

I love the varying array of colours that she uses, they are vibrant and a lot different from those usually seen in high street galleries; at the same time they are not gaudy or over the top. How would one describe the work?: Figurative, urban, contemporary? I guess that is up to the viewer but there is something that grips the viewer, a style and a vision that is communicated through these evocative images.

Louise says that many women respond to her artwork and the message within them – that women enjoy their sexuality and are in control & she tells us that men also buy her artwork, as it reminds them of their partner. The artist tells us: ‘My pictures are about women feeling lush and gorgeous and free and I think a lot of women who buy my paintings can relate to that.’

‘Lovely’ by Louise Dear
(Limited edition on paper)

By not adding too much detail to her subjects, Louise makes her figures stand out & their poses all the more seductive and alluring. The artist believes that less is more & her figures and faces are only really outlined with the use of black & then these are cleverly sited onto the backgrounds. Louise then accentuates the figures with large and eyes & lips or masses of flowing hair.

‘Coo…ee!’ by Louise Dear
(Limited edition on paper)

Louise is one of Fine Art Blog’s hot picks for success in 2010, keep doing what you’re doing Louise, because it’s absolutely gorgeous.

The other piece not featured that is also in the collection is ‘Crush I’

thanks

Vicki

Links:

Empowering women through art & music
Sexuality & Love in the Arts

Keith Proctor, an artist who is a bit of a ‘Jack The Lad’

This blog will features Keith’s debut collection from earlier in the year.

Keith Proctor is a newly published artist for 2010, whose sketches and paintings currently feature his own son, ‘Jack.’ His artwork will obviously be endearing to those who have children and it will bring back fond memories for those that have grown up sons and daughters as well.

‘Jumpin’ Jack’ limited edition print by Keith Proctor

Keith is also friend of fellow artist Alexander Millar; as well as sharing artistic similarities, they also now share the same publisher, Washington Green Fine Art, thanks to Millar for introducing Keith to them and for singing his praises. Incidentally Keith also lives in the same area of the country, Northumberland, as Millar.

‘Bzzz’ limited edition print by Keith Proctor

Keith Proctor’s first published collection is called the ‘Jack The Lad’ - Tour and is still available to buy but you will need to hurry, as there are only few copies remaining from this magnificent collection of 7 limited editions. He has proved to be extremely popular with art lovers & most of his available originals have now sold to his new fan base. Keith appearance on the published art scene has caused a bit of whirlwind of excitement from buyers across the country and galleries have reported great sales since he was published In February.

‘I Have A Dream’ limited edition on board by Keith Proctor

Keith told us that despite attempts over many years, the ‘Biscuit Factory’ in Newcastle did not show his art. The Biscuit Factory is the UK’s largest commercial gallery space & where numerous artists are able to showcase their work. This is the same area that Washington Green Fine Art first found Sarah Jane Szikora, another of the UK’s most popular artists. Ill bet the Biscuit Factory wished they had shown his art now huh?!

I love the cheeky poses and actions in these pieces by Proctor and the fact that is his own child, ‘Jack’ in many of the pictures, puts extra emotion into the art for me. Art lovers can look at this art and see their own children, little brothers or nephews.

Although they are clearly prints taken from ‘oil paintings’ that have a traditional painting style about them, there is also a vibrancy, a freshness and lightness to the art somehow. Perhaps it is the subject mater that causes this and draws the viewer. The youthfulness and energy of children is a constant source of wonder for many people.

Useful Links:

How to paint and draw children
The Biscuit Factory gallery space in Newcastle

thank you

Vicki