The title is yet unknown however it loveable image of one of Doug’s characters in a tent, with his trusted dog asleep next to him and a lantern throwing light on them, a wonderful piece

thank you

James

Links:
How to go camping
Find a UK campsite

‘Ladies Wot Lunch’ by Sara Jane Szikora
(limited edition paper print & box canvas)

Yes, more gingerbread people, more fat ladies and more crazy humour is in store for you!!

‘Rude Food’ by Sara Jane Szikora
(limited edition paper print & box canvas)

“Rude Food”, Szikora’s new gingerbread piece, we are expecting to be extremely popular. In fact it might even be a sell-out within weeks!! As Sarah has a massive fan base who follow her gingerbread art specifically! I love her crazy imagination & would love to know what goes on inside her mind for a day! A pole dancing gingerbread lady;) honestly…

‘Home Sweet Home’ by Sara Jane Szikora
(limited edition paper print & box canvas)

As well as this piece we have “Home Sweet Home” where we have a family; a gingerbread man and a chocolate bunny! And they have some mixed-race children. That is to say, the children are gingerbread with *ahem* bunny ears and a bunny tail!!! Szikora will never cease to amaze us I’m sure!

‘Blushin’ Dolls’ by Sara Jane Szikora
(limited edition paper print & box canvas)

I don’t want to bore you with descriptions of her art when you can see it for yourselves but you really must see it, her sense of humour is amazing, if a little nefarious at times. Blushing Dolls is really amusing once you realise what’s so funny about it. For me, it took several glances at the picture until I clocked it!

‘Pet Grooming’ by Sara Jane Szikora
(limited edition paper print)

Links:
The Story Of The Gingerbread Man
What is a Russian Doll?

Thanks

Vicki

These pieces available to preorder until the end of March/beginning of April when the art will be officially released but by this time some of the pieces will have already sold out!! That’s how hot Caroline Shotton is right now.

‘Hoof Hearted’ by Caroline Shotton
(Limited edition box canvas)

There are five new pieces, some following on from previous popular themes and colours; all have humorous titles, like all of Caroline’s previous limited editions.

‘On The Mooove’ by Caroline Shotton
(Limited edition box canvas)

We expect ‘On the Mooove’ to be very popular as it themed similarly to previous releases “Handle With Care” and “Special Delivery” which sold out very quickly indeed. Also ‘So In Love With Moo’ has the same colour themes (red) as “I Give My Heart To Moo” and her four Autumn 2008 releases including “Moo Too” & “Two & A Calf” we expect it to be just as popular!

‘So In Love With Moo’ by Caroline Shotton
(Limited edition box canvas)

Caroline’s art has been ridiculed by art critics in the past & yet she continues to show that the opinion of the art buying public & not theirs is paramount. Kind hearted, she has previously released art for charity and today most of her art sells out within weeks of publication.

‘Sh*t Happens’ by Caroline Shotton
(Limited edition box canvas)

I believe it is the mixture of her signature endearing cows, humorous titles & all her limited editions being hand-embellished (making them as close as possible to the original) that make her art so unique and collectable with the British public. Added to the fact that we Brits have a natural affinity to the countryside and to the idyllic image of the English countryside that the diary cow is part of.

‘Girls Night Out’ by Caroline Shotton
(Limited edition box canvas)

Thanks

Vicki

Links:
How to paint a cow
Video about the Super Cow

Click above to view the new ‘Time Of My Life Collection’ (his 6th)

When the images are released, the above link will be updated with images & rest assured you will then be some of the first to see them in all their glory!!!

The set features: 4 sculpture, 5 limited edition prints, a set of 6 miniature prints & for the first time ever Doug has released a painting on glass & it looks amazing!

If you are interested the following pictures are also clickable and will show you the 5 previous Doug Hyde collections:

‘Beware Of The Dog’ limited edition by Doug Hyde
Click above to view the ‘The Hyde Experience’ (his 1st)

‘One In A Million’ limited edition by Doug Hyde
Click above to view the ‘The Smile Collection’ (his 2nd)

‘Secret Garden’ limited edition by Doug Hyde
Click above to view the ‘Reasons To Be Cheerful Collection’ (his 3rd)

‘A Great Night In’ limited edition by Doug Hyde
Click above to view the ‘Yours Truly Collection’ (his 4th)

‘One From The Heart’ limited edition by Doug Hyde
Click above to view the ‘One From The Heart Collection’ (his 5th)

I was lucky enough to attend the previews of these new releases and they are set to be his most coloured and fun packed yet, as usual with any of the top UK artists, we recommend ordering/ pre-ordering early as these limited editions will go very quickly indeed.

Thank you

James

Links:
Introduction to naive art
What is naive art?
Assocation of British Naive Artists

‘Dairy Milk’ limited edition box canvas by Caroline Shotton

Submitted to me earlier today was the evidence….see exhibit A above

This cow was caught ‘red hoofed’ inside a box of Cadbury’s dairy milk chocolate and will appear before magistrates later today

Asked for a comment the cow replied ‘Oh well chocs away!’

Thank you

James

Links:
www.cadbury.co.uk
Real story about cows eating chocolate!

It would be easy to dismiss his paintings at first glance as just ‘childish’ or ‘so easy anyone could do them’ but you must scrutinize them to appreciate the true genius behind them.

‘The Lowry’ limited edition print by John Wilson

Using bright colours which accentuate the naivety of parts of his art is his trademark & preferring slightly more subdued colours in many of his backgrounds. I find it amazing how he blends the aforementioned ‘art masterpieces’ and integrates them into his backgrounds, which often makes people do a double-take & demands several views to appreciate – it’s so subtle that in some instances you totally overlook they are even there!

‘A Day In Provence’ limited edition print by John Wilson

John Wilson also makes 3D wall sculptures, which look brilliant because, firstly they are so boldly shaped & because the finished product often contains optical illusions within them – with the figures & objects moving as you view the piece from different angles.

In the 3D piece ‘Mind Games’ it’s as though you are looking down several corridors in an art gallery and the characters appear to move before your eyes!. It is ‘mind’ boggling how he is able to achieve this unique finish.

‘Mind Games’ limited edition wall sculpture by John Wilson
(seen from 2 angles)

John also released two sculptures featuring the child-like figures within his paintings. Named ‘Boisterous Boys’ and ‘Gorgeous Girls,’ they are brightly coloured & vivid recreations, as though they have stepped off the canvas! I find it exciting to see his characters brought to life in sculpture, they immediately make you smile and think of your own childhood or perhaps your first painting lesson?

‘Boisterous Boy’ limited edition sculpture by John Wilson

The artist also paints in a yet another very different style. Using more ‘reserved’ colouring, he paints towns & streets with houses & concrete pavements but normally with beautiful blue or yellow skies & a splash of colour on some of the houses! They are much more non-descript in comparison to his other naive art but wonderful in their own right - ‘Underneath The Arches’ & ‘Timeless Town’ are 2 such pieces that spring to mind.

‘The Corner Shop’ limited edition print by John Wilson

It is interesting to juxtapose the artist’s two very distinct & almost opposing styles & the two mediums: paintings & sculptures; perhaps as a result, this is why he has such a large fan base. I believe his second style (see ‘The Corner Shop’ above) shares certain similarities with Paul Horton’s artwork, because they paint similar people & houses in similar styles in similar colours but both amazingly uplifting images as well.

Thank you

Vicki

Links
3D Sculptures
Naive Art Movement
Discussion on naive art

‘Loved’ limited edition print by Doug Hyde

…art from which a percentage of the profits goes to a good cause.

Yes it’s true, the UK’s most popular contemporary artist: the ever-optimistic, fantastic, artistic Doug Hyde is also generous to a fault. One such painting, called ‘Loved’ was originally released through one outlet in the UK and a small percentage of profits went to the ‘Families for Children’ adoption charity - The piece has never been on general release in the UK.

Now available from January 2010 for anyone to buy for the first time, this cute picture has been released with a special Time Limited £ offer!…up until Feb 14th 2009

Fans that missed this piece the first time around will be thrilled. As you can see, it features a little boy hugging a huge teddy bear. I find this piece very emotive, making me think of my own childhood, of love, hope and happiness. So it is very apt that it was originally released for the ‘Families for Children’ Charity.

Don’t forget the ever popular Hearts & Smiles! This was another title that was released to benefit a National Charity called: ‘Look Good…Feel Better’ which is a charity that helps female cancer patients, Look Good! & Feel Better!…simple! As with ‘Loved’ a small percentage of profits again went to charity.

‘Hearts & Smiles’ Open Edition & signed print by Doug Hyde

Do use the links at the bottom to find out more about the charity & remember that many of these charities rely on the generous donations of the public to continue their vital work. The team at Fineartblog would like to thank in advance everyone who decides to donate to these charities.

Links

www.familiesforchildren.org.uk
www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk

Its A Wonderful Life by Paul Horton

Click here for some snowman jokes

Did you know that when Horton’s pictures feature ‘the snowman’ such as “On A Magical Winter’s Eve” and “When You Need A Special Friend” they sell out like wildfire? So, anyone who wants one of these snowman pictures is advised to order theirs ASAP.

Somewhere Only We Know by Paul Horton

Aww is’nt that sweet? A happy couple on their jollies beside the sea with their pet doggy.

So, as we are nearing Christmas, (Only 4 Weeks to go peeps, woohoo!) Im going to tell you about Horton’s ickle pressies he has released as well…

Summer Days, Winter Nights Cufflinks by Paul Horton

Cufflinks!! What man’s Christmas stocking is’nt complete without a pair of cufflinks? Especially if they are made by his favourite artist!

Heart And Soul Keyring by Paul Horton

Keyrings!! A nice little wrap-up for any Paul Horton fans out there.

Click here to find out how many Christmas traditions began

Thanks for reading
Vicki:)

(Surprise, limited edition print by Doug Hyde)

A bit short on detail perhaps, his little character never even wears shoes & I bet he has cold feet. Also there’s not much facial features about him either but I fell this endears the audience to the little character’s face, wondering what has made him so happy & proud to be the latest gift!

Amazingly, these sold out within under a week of them being released to UK galleries, truly Doug Hyde continues to be an art phenomena & long may it last

(Surprise, limited edition sculpture by Doug Hyde)

thank you

Vickie

Links:

The Meaning Of Christmas
Yahoo Answers Discuss The Meaning Of Christmas

This represents a massive shift in how Mackenzie’s limited edition prints & sculptures will be marketed and the availability of his works, either he will be more ‘findable’ to the average art buyer or harder to obtain as he will now be obtained only few a few select galleries, so potentially this could be good or bad news for the art buyer. How this will effect pricing of his works, i.e. higher or lower! is yet to be determined.

This will also likely effect distribution of his work in the USA and abroad as well. As soon as we have more details we will let you know.

There is a rumour that Washington Green will do a retrospective collection which is normally involves: new brochures, promotion and a ‘tour’ in select galleries of previously published Mackenzie Thorpe work, will have to wait and see.

Thank you

James

Useful Links:

Niave Art Movement
What is naive art?