Fine Art Blog

Category: Art Styles

  • Caroline Shotton – contemporary ‘Cow’ art & sculptures!

    Well it looks like Caroline Shotton has done it again and produced some amazing new pieces for Autumn 07. I really think her work is continuing to improve and the images are fabulous.

    Dirty Cows by artist Caroline Shotton

    Unlike some artists she is not intent on simply rehashing old ideas/images and making a ‘quick buck’ but she is intentionally adding a lot of depth and imagination to her work and developing the ideas behind them.

    ‘Cow-Moo-Flage’ & ‘Dirty Cows’ are 2 great examples, with her imaginative use of background colours and effects and also the tie in with the name of the picture itself:
    ‘Cow-Moo-Flage’ – with the cows bodies hidden within the the background and the ‘Dirty Cows’ – being covered in mud, a typical scene no doubt throughout many English farms!

    Cow-Moo-Flage by artist Caroline Shotton

    I find her work to be fresh, funky and vibrant.

    Sculptures are a new idea from her for 2007 and ‘My Fa-Moo-Ly’ is the 2nd one produced by Caroline, allowing her comedic cows to be appreciated in another touchable medium! I like the fact the sculpture is the same cows taken from her box canvas limited edition of the same name. I am sure the sculptures must be very appealing to those who own or liked the accompanying box canvas (also called ‘My Fa-Moo-Ly’)

    My Fa-Moo-Ly - sculpture by artist Caroline Shotton

    I think Caroline Shotton will stay ahead of her ‘field’ for many years to come, I couldn’t resist that one!

    thank you

    Russell

  • Daisy Boman – New Sculptor, New Limited Editions

    Flemish sculptor, Daisy Boman is now releasing some of her sculptures as exclusive limited edition pieces, for the first time through, Washington Green Fine Art Publishers (UK)

    Climb to Heaven by Daisy Boman

    “Sometimes its difficult to put things into words, my works says a good deal more”

    Already an established sculptor of some standing, selling her original sculptures I believe in her own gallery in Belgium, her work has brought something fresh and different to the limited edition sculpture market. With the unique design to here figures ‘in action,’ whether climbing up a ladder, a rope or escaping, they are a talking point from the moment I laid eyes on them and doubtless will be for galleries who stock her work and customers who hang them on their walls.

    Washington Green’s give us their explanation of the human aspect to the characters:

    “Alone, but mostly in numbers, Boman’s figures climb, interact with each other, fall, crawl, run-telling us stories about life, human destiny and universal feelings. The ‘Bo-men’ are there to remind us how much struggle defines our lives in the world. But are we all that different in our struggling? Daisy Boman suggests not, offering us a unique look at ourselves.”

    Have No Fear by Daisy Boman

    Her Launch collection 2 months ago consisted of 5 sculptures:
    ‘Climb to Heaven,’ ‘To The Edge Of The World,’ ‘From Here To Eternity,’ ‘Don’t Look Back’ and ‘Belonging.’

    Her distinctive ‘Bo-men’ figures are seen scaling the heights of 4 ‘boxed wall sculptures’ and a unique perspex enclosed sculpture: ‘Belonging’ – which is my personal favourites.

    For Spring 2007 a further 5 sculptures were released and these 5 follow the same theme as some of her previous work, 5 different work produced on a 34’’ inch square background or ‘boxed wall sculptures’ with her sculptures scaling this background.

    When I first encountered Daisy Boman’s work I found them to be very amusing, cheerful and naive to some extent but as I read more about the artist, I realized there was a deeper significance to her work. I personally interpret them as describing the struggle that is the human condition, and that we too, like the Boman characters, will win in the end.

    By the way I believe her characters are plain in colour (off white) and faceless for a specific purpose of making the viewer think as she put it: “Faceless, they ask us to look at them for what they are, not for what they look like. Their movements, situations and attitudes speak for themselves.”

    My favorite of her first releases, ‘Belonging’:

    Belonging by Daisy Boman

    All credit must go the publisher Washington Green, again finding and bringing something unique to the UK and International limited edition art market.

    These sculptures are very low edition numbers of 95 each and can be bought from only a few select galleries, I can personally recommend www.chelmerfineart.com if u want to view or buy her collection.

    thank you

    Russell

  • Jack Vettriano New limited editions & an auction

    Scottish artist Jack Vettriano has recently released two new limited edition prints, released to galleries by his new publisher, Demontfort Fine Art of the UK.

    Jack Vettriano is possibly Scotland’s most famous living artist. His paintings have a ’film noir’ context to them and often display nude or romantic themes. Vettriano’s work has been published in print (unlimited) format for many years, certainly within the UK and whether a person has knowledge of the artist or not, his work is instantly recognizable to most.

    The first of his new Limited Edition prints is ‘The Tourist Trap’:

    The Tourist Trap by artist Jack Vettriano

    I find his work to be thought evoking and provocative and he is the master of this style of painting. I am pleased that more limited editions are being produced, as many people have expressed an interest in his ‘collectable’ (limited edition) artwork but obviously not everyone has half a million £ sterling to spend!: On 21 April 2004 the original canvas of ‘The Singing Butler’ sold at auction for £744,500.

    The second new Limited Edition print is ‘The Defenders Of Virtue’:

    The Defenders Of Virtue by artist Jack Vettriano

    In related news, Sotheby’s auction house are auctioning one of Vettriano’s paintings: ‘Bluebird At Bonneville’ on 29th August 2007 with an estimate of £400,000 to £600,000 GBP Sterling.

    Here is a link to the auction on Sotheby’s website
    (You need to create a free account to browse website)
    The auctioning of Jack Vettriano’s ‘Bluebird At Bonneville’

    Image of ‘Bluebird At Bonneville’:

    Bluebird At Bonneville by artist Jack Vettriano

    Full Title & Address of the auction:
    Sotheby’s ‘Scottish & Sporting Pictures,’ lot 231, 29th August 2007, Gleneagles Hotel, London

    thank you

    Russell

  • Rolf Harris – ‘Blue Elvis’ new Limited Edition print

    Popular Australian born artist Rolf Harris has released a new Limited Edition print for July 2007, his first this year, to the UK and Worldwide art market. ‘Blue Elvis’ is a fitting tribute to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley and was painted to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Elvis’s passing in 1977. Rolf talks about what made him paint Elvis:

    Blue Elvis by artist Rolf Harris

    ‘My Wife and I have a very dear friend who has been a huge Elvis Presley fan since he was a child. He seems to know every song that Elvis ever sang, let along recorded. In conversation with him a couple of years ago, I found out, to my amazement, that it would soon be thirty years since Elvis passed away and I thought that this remarkable man, on stage, in his trademark white jumpsuit, would make a wonderful painting.

    Photograph of artist Rolf Harris

    Well, to cut a long story short, I did the painting as a celebration of his life and I’m really proud of if it. I hope you fell that it captures the king as he is best remembered.’

    Personally I think ‘Blue Elvis’ reveals Rolf Harris’s versatility as a painter and this is an outstanding figurative piece of work in its own right; the fact that it is a tribute to such a beloved icon makes it even more satisfying to me.

    thank you

    Russell