One of the UK’s most well known and best loved canine artists, Nigel Hemming, is about to release a new limited edition print for July 2007: ‘Friends Reunited.’ This piece will also be released to mark Nigel’s 30th anniversary as a professional artist and is set to be an incredibly popular print with huge demand from canine art collectors.
‘Friends Reunited’ – Image:
‘Friends Reunited’ is the final print that has now spanned a trilogy of pictures, the earlier two being: ‘In Retirement’ & its follow up ‘As Time Goes By.’
The image, which is again of an older Black Labrador in the doorway of a home, watching his master with the younger dogs at the front drive, seems to have struck a chord with Gun Dog lovers everywhere over the years; even owners of other breeds have commented on what lovely prints ‘In Retirement’ & its follow up ‘As Time Goes By’ are.
Perhaps the old dog provokes sympathy with the viewer? or perhaps it is the perceived story behind the image (which each viewer will see differently) that creates the great love of these pieces. Why is the dog in the doorway? Is the master coming back home or just leaving? What will happen next? What’s the old dog thinking?
Undoubtedly the master of this genre, which I call ‘Narrative Canine Art,’ Nigel Hemming makes the viewer think of the narrative story behind the image. With some of his limited edition prints, Nigel actually releases his own version of the story, as a short story or a poem – When I receive the one that accompanies ‘Friends Reunited’ I will post it to the blog.
‘As Time Goes By’ – Image:
Nigel has issued a press release on the forth coming limited edition print, ’Friends Reunited’: (dated May 2007)
“Although not conceived as a series, the popular success of ‘In Retirement’ almost inevitably led to my painting ‘As Time Goes By.’ Its pre-publication promotion as the follow-up image to ‘In Retirement’ generated an unexpected ordering frenzy that culminated in the image selling out before practically anyone had even seen it. However, that was thirteen years ago.
I cannot say exactly how long I have considered producing a final image to ‘close the circle’ so to speak but it was last year, after Sue (Sue Hemming, Nigel’s wife and fellow artist) joined the internet website Friends Reunited in order to make contact with some of her old school friends, that the concept for the picture first began to evolve and my thirtieth anniversary seemed an appropriate time to publish it.
I’ve always preferred stories with a happy ending – being an old softie at heart – and as the two previous images are really quite despondent – a number of gallery owners had telephoned to say that they had had customers in tears over ‘In Retirement’ – I thought a more uplifting finalé was called for.
‘In Retirement’ – Image:
Although ‘As Time Goes By’ utilises the same devises as ‘In Retirement’ – namely a doorway setting and a mirror that reflects the vital elements of the narrative – the composition has a very different feel to it. With ‘Friends Reunited’ I have consciously returned to ‘In Retirement’ even using the same mirror on the wall behind the old dog.
In this final chapter, we see the old boy still waiting patiently on the door step. However, unlike the two previous works, instead of a poor, dejected soul, he has his head held high, ears pricked and tail wagging happily as he spies his master returning. He is accompanied by not one but two other Labs. The second being a reference to the young pup in ‘As Time Goes By.’
The art market today, however, is very different from that of the early 1990’s. Nevertheless, all indications are that, as a specific final image to this series, ‘Friends Reunited’ has the makings of a very sort-after work.†– Nigel Hemming
thank you
Russell
