Fine Art Blog

Category: Humour

  • Artist Caroline Shotton gives evidence: Cadburys vs Dairy Cows

    Apparently it’s quite a problem here in the UK. Yes cows are eating through the country’s supplies of chocolate.


    ‘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!

  • Artist Beryl Cook: Sadly Missed but Never Forgotton

    She was well known for painting slightly larger ladies on a night out on the town, in short, tight dresses as well as enjoying other frivolities. Beryl Cook’s humorous take on the human race created a very big following for this talented lady. She was been lucky enough to be on TV, had films made about her, was made an OBE and all because a friend who owned an auction in Plymouth persuaded her to sell some of her art in their shop!


    Clubbing In The Rain by Beryl Cook

    She was born in 1926 and did not show any artisitc talent in her youth. However, in 1943 she was a showgirl in a touring production called “The Gypsy Princess” and that, coupled with work experience in the fashion industry, was her inspiration and caused her fascination with the way people look and dress. This we can clearly see in her art.


    Hen Night by Beryl Cook

    Later, while living in Plymouth with her husband, she used to go out to bars and clubs where they enjoyed watching the flamboyance of drag shows. This was another inspiration which has affected her style in her art work.


    Panto Dame by Beryl Cook

    Beryl Cook’s work was first exhibited in 1975 and was highly successful. In fact, it was so successful that an article was done in the Sunday Times about her works shortly after, followed by a call from a London Gallery who offered Beryl her first ever London Exhibition, and the rest is history!


    Tarzanogram by Beryl Cook

    She has said that other artists that have inspired her work include Stanley Spencer and Edward Burra.

    Beryl recieved an OBE in 1995, and even contributed to the Queens Golden Jubilee exhibition in 2002 which was another great success for her.

    Finally, she has been televised several times, whether they be in animation form, documentary or Chat show:
    A film was made about her for The South Bank Show.
    2 half hour animated films were made about her with an all star cast which was called “Bosom Pals” This also won some awards for Beryl.
    Also, in 2005 Channel 4 did a short film about her work, and in 2006 BBC featured her in a show called “Art School”.

    Sadly, Berly passed away in May 2008. But she lives on through her many fans and her sense of humour will forever be visible in her work.

    Click here to see The Guardians obituary for this talented lady

    Thanks for reading

    Vicki

  • Artist George Somerville: A Glaswegian Kiss Anyone?

    George Somerville was born in Glasgow and is a self-taught artist, as his family couldn’t afford to send him to art college despite his obvious talent from a young age. He began his career by painting pictures of community groups and factories of different types, as he felt that they reflected his childhood, growing up in 1950’s Glasgow. However, he soon realised that his work was changing and no longer had the industrial backgrounds of his early work, and the characters were becoming more prominent.

    Have a look a couple of his new pieces…


    An Unexpected Gust (original painting) by George Somerville

    Brrr! looks chilly! just like British weather-especially Scottish weather!


    Street Party (limited edition print) by George Somerville

    Something that rarely happens these days, a street party!!

    Somerville has also released some sculptures of his work, and here is an example of how it looks:


    Blown Away (sculpture) by George Somerville

    George Somerville’s work reminds me a lot of Alexander Millar’s work, in that they both have a similar style, painting older working-class gentlemen: ‘Gadgies,’ often sideways or with their backs to the viewer. As well as this, they both have a style where the background is hazy or blurry with no detail. They also both often feature a dog in the pictures with their main characters.

    I would love to hear from you if you agree or disagree, which artist you prefer or any comments and opinions you would like to post about George Somerville!!

    Thanks for reading,

    Tanya

    Useful Links:

    Glasgow
    Northern Art Prize (Competition)
    Northern Art prize 2009 finalists announced

  • Artist Caroline Shotton: Milking it for all she’s worth!!!

    Hi there!

    Here we are again with another Caroline Shotton Blog for you!

    She has released some more work and we thought we would show it to you fine people.

    In her new work, she has altered and developed her style and use of colours as well as mediums and given us some of her most colourful work to date.

    Please read on for more!


    Mini Moo and Mini Me by Caroline Shotton

    Mini Mee and Mini Moo

    One is Pink, one is Blue

    Bright and colourful, they will attract you!

    She hand-embellished them using glue,

    With her trademark cow watching you

    Some say her work makes them blue

    But Caroline Shotton: We love moo!


    Beef Dripping by Caroline Shotton

    How very apt! After all, her cows have got ‘dripping’ wet in the rain in this picture despite their umbrellas – lack of opposable thumbs you see. However, it doesn’t seem to have changed their expressions at all. They don’t look any more surprised than usual! As you can see, Shotton is developing her style once again using new colours and a slightly different style.

    .


    Mooon River by Caroline Shotton

    This style is a classic of Shottons, it is always popular and sells out very quickly. People must like cows and moons together, I wonder why… Hey, diddle-diddle. I do like this picture though, especially the reflection of the moon in the lake in the background half covered by the reeds.


    Kids by Caroline Shotton

    Here we see a family of cows, but the focus is obviously on the kids. But why are the kids all speckled with brown? I think it’s because they have been eating chocolate and got dirty, just like real kids!


    Have I Got Moos For You by Caroline Shotton

    In this piece she has made a collage of newspaper clippings for the background, which is another new style for Shotton. I read that she also added clippings from her critics to the background. I really like this picture, the texture and colour really intrigue me.

    Click on the links below for some random cow news!

    Cow Farts Collected by Scientists

    Get Your Very Own Mini Moo In Your Back Garden!

    Thanks for reading!

    Vicki