Fine Art Blog

Category: Washington Green Fine Art

  • Painter Louise Dear – ‘An Artist In Love With Colour’

    Louise Dear’s first collection of 5 artworks, published by Washington Green Fine Art Publishers, has caused quite a reaction, turning heads in many a gallery window & indeed in the home of buyers. Her beautiful multicoloured, hand layered art work has shone a ray of light onto the UK art scene.


    ‘Yum Yum’ by Louise Dear
    (Limited edition box canvas)

    Louise’s inspiration comes from her extensive travels throughout the world during her youth, from Europe to Asia and beyond. Her beautiful pictures draw the eye with wonderful colours, bold outlined figures & large floral designs, as well as the sultry poses of her subjects, which are either self-portraits or pictures of her daughter, Lama.


    ‘Crush II’ by Louise Dear
    (Limited edition box canvas)

    I love the varying array of colours that she uses, they are vibrant and a lot different from those usually seen in high street galleries; at the same time they are not gaudy or over the top. How would one describe the work?: Figurative, urban, contemporary? I guess that is up to the viewer but there is something that grips the viewer, a style and a vision that is communicated through these evocative images.

    Louise says that many women respond to her artwork and the message within them – that women enjoy their sexuality and are in control & she tells us that men also buy her artwork, as it reminds them of their partner. The artist tells us: ‘My pictures are about women feeling lush and gorgeous and free and I think a lot of women who buy my paintings can relate to that.’


    ‘Lovely’ by Louise Dear
    (Limited edition on paper)

    By not adding too much detail to her subjects, Louise makes her figures stand out & their poses all the more seductive and alluring. The artist believes that less is more & her figures and faces are only really outlined with the use of black & then these are cleverly sited onto the backgrounds. Louise then accentuates the figures with large and eyes & lips or masses of flowing hair.


    ‘Coo…ee!’ by Louise Dear
    (Limited edition on paper)

    Louise is one of Fine Art Blog’s hot picks for success in 2010, keep doing what you’re doing Louise, because it’s absolutely gorgeous.

    The other piece not featured that is also in the collection is ‘Crush I’

    thanks

    Vicki

    Links:

    Empowering women through art & music
    Sexuality & Love in the Arts

  • Keith Proctor, an artist who is a bit of a ‘Jack The Lad’

    This blog will features Keith’s debut collection from earlier in the year.

    Keith Proctor is a newly published artist for 2010, whose sketches and paintings currently feature his own son, ‘Jack.’ His artwork will obviously be endearing to those who have children and it will bring back fond memories for those that have grown up sons and daughters as well.


    ‘Jumpin’ Jack’ limited edition print by Keith Proctor

    Keith is also friend of fellow artist Alexander Millar; as well as sharing artistic similarities, they also now share the same publisher, Washington Green Fine Art, thanks to Millar for introducing Keith to them and for singing his praises. Incidentally Keith also lives in the same area of the country, Northumberland, as Millar.


    ‘Bzzz’ limited edition print by Keith Proctor

    Keith Proctor’s first published collection is called the ‘Jack The Lad’ – Tour and is still available to buy but you will need to hurry, as there are only few copies remaining from this magnificent collection of 7 limited editions. He has proved to be extremely popular with art lovers & most of his available originals have now sold to his new fan base. Keith appearance on the published art scene has caused a bit of whirlwind of excitement from buyers across the country and galleries have reported great sales since he was published In February.



    ‘I Have A Dream’ limited edition on board by Keith Proctor

    Keith told us that despite attempts over many years, the ‘Biscuit Factory’ in Newcastle did not show his art. The Biscuit Factory is the UK’s largest commercial gallery space & where numerous artists are able to showcase their work. This is the same area that Washington Green Fine Art first found Sarah Jane Szikora, another of the UK’s most popular artists. Ill bet the Biscuit Factory wished they had shown his art now huh?!

    I love the cheeky poses and actions in these pieces by Proctor and the fact that is his own child, ‘Jack’ in many of the pictures, puts extra emotion into the art for me. Art lovers can look at this art and see their own children, little brothers or nephews.

    Although they are clearly prints taken from ‘oil paintings’ that have a traditional painting style about them, there is also a vibrancy, a freshness and lightness to the art somehow. Perhaps it is the subject mater that causes this and draws the viewer. The youthfulness and energy of children is a constant source of wonder for many people.

    Useful Links:

    How to paint and draw children
    The Biscuit Factory gallery space in Newcastle

    thank you

    Vicki

  • Artist Lawrence Coulson – the UK’s most successful limited edition artist?

    We have not yet mentioned the extraordinary artist Lawrence Coulson in our blog, so I am going to tell you a little about him, his background and his art.


    Shoreline Fire, limited edition print by Lawrence Coulson

    Coulson grew up around art, as his father Gerald Coulson was a successful artist, painting mainly landscape and aviation scenes. However, Lawrence did not feel as adept at painting as his father & so never viewed art as a career choice, painting only as a hobby.

    His favourite medium at that time was watercolours but later his father persuaded him to experiment with oils instead. This he did, with much trepidation and soon realised he much preferred the results he achieved with oil paints. Eventually, Lawrence Coulson & other began to realised he did have artistic talent…


    Catching The Breeze limited edition print by Lawrence Coulson

    Coulson was working as a retail manager during this time and struggled with the exciting prospect of trying to become a successful professional artist or playing it safe and staying in his job. But the demand for his art continued to grow until Coulson had to choose between keeping his job or pursuing art as a full time career. Luckily for us, he decided on the latter and plunged into his new career in 1997, inspired by the comments of both his father and many others, including a restaurant owner who asked Lawrence to try selling artwork on his walls – & shortly after that Lawrence got his first customer!

    Coulson paints landscapes, and he himself states this is because he loves the British countryside & all the different atmospheres he discovers at different times, in different weathers and in different places, which in essence is what he tries to capture in his paintings.


    Moonlight Sparkle limited edition print by Lawrence Coulson

    In 2003 Lawrence Coulson won the Fine Art Trade Guilds award for “Best Selling Published Artist” which is a great accomplishment for a self-taught artist. Coulson has also experienced much commercial success and a large fan base & is one of the most recognisable artwork in any high street gallery. It is amazing to think that he was reluctant to leave his other job & become an artist in case he was not successful (he and his wife had a baby at that time) given the phenomenal popularity he has enjoyed.

    Today he is one of the most long standing & recognisable Artists working with Washington Green Fine Art publishers & the demand for his work has never been higher


    Freedom Is A Place limited edition print by Lawrence Coulson

    Thanks

    Vicki

    Links:
    How to paint landscape art
    English Countryside Images
    BBC Article ‘English countryside almost gone’

  • Artist Mackenzie Thorpe to go ‘Self-publishing’ as of Jan 1st 2010

    We have heard news that Mackenzie Thorpe is to go ‘self-publishing’ as of January 1st 2010 and he will end his publishing/distribution through Washington Green Fine Art Publishers of the UK.

    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?