Fine Art Blog

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  • ‘Show Me The Monet:’ – New Art TV Series on BBC Two

    ‘Show Me The Monet’ is a brand new 10-part art series that aired for the first time yesterday evening at 17:15 on BBC Two in the UK. The series follows the competitive journey of both professional and amateur artists from every corner of the UK, as they battle to secure a spot in the ‘Show Me The Monet’ grand exhibition and sale held at the Royal College of Art, London.


    However, making it to the grand finale will be no easy feat for the contenders, as they will have to face three of the toughest critic’s from the art world. The first judge is art historian, critic, and broadcaster: Charlotte Mullins, the second: David Lee is an art critic, historian, and editor of art magazine ‘The Jackdaw,’ and the third judge is art dealer and historian: Roy Bolton. The contestants’ nerve-racking meeting with the judges could potentially lead to their dreams coming true, or for those that aren’t so lucky having their artistic creations dashed on national television.


    Picture of judges: David Lee, Charlotte Mullins & Roy Bolton


    Those that manage to secure the much needed stamp of approval from the judges could go on to make some serious cash at the grand exhibition, as members of the public and prestigious names from the art world alike will be bidding to buy the best art work on show.

    This brand new series continues tonight at the same time of 17:15 BBC Two

    Thanks

    Jess

    Useful Links
    www.showmethemonet.tv
    Watch the first show here (limited time)
    General Info about the show and its presenter & judges
    Royal College of Art, London

  • Artist Darren Baker is to paint Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Royal Appointment

    The outstanding Huddersfield born artist Darren Baker has well and truly made a name for himself as one of the leading painters of the classical realism genre. So far, Baker’s remarkable portfolio includes commissioned portraits for sports clubs, portraits of major sports personalities such as Lewis Hamilton, Jonny Wilkinson, and Steven Gerrard (to name drop a few), and even portraits of HRH Prince Charles and the now ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair. His art is highly sort after by both British and International collectors, and some of his works even hang in 10 Downing Street and the House of Lords.


    ‘Beckham’s Golden Generation’ by Darren Baker

    So how could the career of this already world renowned artist get any better, I hear you ask? Well I shall tell you. Baker’s portfolio is about to become even more extraordinary as Buckingham Palace has confirmed that he is to paint Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth by royal appointment. This Royal portrait is to be unveiled to Her Majesty this summer as a celebratory party of her 85th Birthday year. Baker will stand amongst a few elite artists to achieve an accolade of this standard.


    Photo of Darren Baker

    Alongside this exciting news, Baker has also revealed his new collection which further exemplifies the immense talent of this artist. Unlike his more formal portraits, this new collection includes stunning figurative pieces that appear much more sensual in tone and relaxed in atmosphere.


    ‘Vision Sensuelle III’ limited edition on canvas board by Darren Baker

    Baker’s prestige as a portrait artist of the sports world has also landed him the role of official artist for the London 2012 Olympics. He will be flying the flag for British art, and is most definitely going for the gold.

    Thank you

    Jessica

    Useful Links

    – Purchase Darren Baker Originals
    – ‘This Is Gloucester’ article on Darren

  • Beryl Cook News – Official Collectors edition release: ‘Dancing the Black Bottom’

    Although the wonderful Beryl Cook is no longer with us, she most certainly lives on in her popular postcard-esque paintings. Cook was known for her portrayals of saucy, larger than life characters, often seen to be completely engrossed in their spit-and-sawdust pub social life.


    Beryl Cook: ‘Dancing the Black Bottom’
    Published 2011, Official Collectors Edition
    Limited Edition of 650 (unsigned, posthumous release)

    The ‘larger’ ladies and male characters that commonly feature in her work are inspired by the colourful characters Beryl came across in the Dolphin Pub, whilst living in the seaside town of Plymouth. In stark contrast her characters Beryl was a shy, modest woman. You could say that it was this dissimilarity that drove her to perpetually observe these larger than life personalities, as although Beryl felt she could never be this way in person, she could, in a sense, be a bit flamboyant and saucy through her art.


    Beryl Cook ‘The Last Gasp’
    Published 2010, Official Collectors Edition
    Limited Edition of 650 (unsigned, posthumous release)

    Her pieces are always full of colour and have fun titles that have the ability to make you giggle. You feel that you could walk into any pub in any British seaside town and encounter the characters Beryl is famous for painting. Her art is all about pleasure; her characters are always seen enjoying the guilty pleasures of nightlife, including booze, fags, and with a little imagination sordid chitchat and gossip. She was most definitely a talented woman that will be deeply missed by the art world and fans alike.


    Beryl Cook: ‘Drinkies’
    Published 2009, Official Collectors Edition
    Limited Edition of 650 (unsigned, posthumous release)

    We have seen all of these releases in person and the colour reproduction is superb, we feel the printing technology continues to improve year on year in the UK. Also they are professionally printed, mounted, come with certificates & are personally approved by the family to print;

    It was their express wish that her pictures continue to be made available to the public. Our research shows that these lithographic prints remain the most cost effective way of owning high quality, large, collectable limited editions of her work.

    thank you

    Jenna

    Useful Links:
    BBC Audio slideshow featuring interviews with the artist
    www.thesun.co.uk – tribute and slideshow of images

  • Review of The ‘ART’ Collection by artist John Wilson & his ‘Mini Masters’ paintings

    Released early last year, John Wilson’s exciting series was named simply as the ‘ART’ COLLECTION:


    Official Banner for John Wilson’s the ‘Art’ COLLECTION
    (Click banner to view all 7 pieces)

    …featuring limited edition prints that are bright, colourful and full of surprises, surprises that as fans, we have now come to expect from his art. In the ‘ART’ COLLECTION, Wilson has moved from just his usual (art gallery) backgrounds, to now including his character’s homes, never previously featured up until that point.



    ‘Bedtime Story’ limited edition paper print by John Wilson

    John has included some famous modern paintings in mini format in the background: including Andy Warhol’s ‘Campbell’s Soup Can,’ seen in the ‘Masters II.’

    Once again, he has also included the world’s most famous Old Masters paintings (or as he calls it ‘Mini Masters’) in his backgrounds, including Gustav Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ (which has previously been recreated by some other modern popular artists we have blogged about: Rolf Harris and Caroline Shotton) & ‘The Mona Lisa’ by Leonardo DaVinci (also recreated by Caroline Shotton) to name just two.



    ‘The Masters II’ limited edition on canvas board by John Wilson

    John Wilson tells us that his ‘Mini Masters’ take him around four to five hours each to create and he feels he has to make them perfect to the original (except in miniature!) as firstly they are such well known and respected works of art they deserve such gravitas & secondly he feels if they were not perfect then his finished artwork would not have the same effect. In Wilson’s ‘ART’ COLLECTION there are 19 mini Masters, can you spot them all?



    ‘The Masters I’ limited edition on canvas board by John Wilson

    The 7 limited edition pieces featured in the John Wilson ‘ART’ COLLECTION where:
    – Bath Time
    – Bedtime Story
    – In The Spotlight
    – Smile
    – The Lowry
    – The Masters I
    – The Masters II

    Stayed tuned as in our next John Wilson post we will reveal all of the John Wilson ‘Mini Masters’ from the ‘ART’ COLLECTION, and you can check your answers!

    Links:
    What Is Naive Art?
    A World of Their Own: Twentieth Century British Naive Painters a book by Jill & Martin Leman
    Links to naive artist’s websites

    Thanks

    Tom