Fine Art Blog

News and Opinions on published UK Fine Art

  • Sarah Jane Szikora – Spring 2009 New Releases – Comment 2

    Finally, we managed to get round to the final part of the Press Release that came with Sarah’s spring releases, hopefully we will be a bit quicker come the next releases due in September 2009 and I have had word they will be amazing!


    (‘The Merry Widdow’)

    “In a piece in joyous celebration of the end of an era, ‘Merry Widow’ has an old style musical feel with a chorus line of jelly babies and shows the absolute freedom Sarah-Jane now has after 13 years of being published by other people, to paint and publish her own limited editions prints.


    (‘Sweet Music’)

    This fresh start inspired Sarah-Jane Szikora to paint 3 wonderfully happy paintings. In ‘Sweet Music’ we view the artist conducting her own choir of gingerbread men, singing her song 🙂 and even though they maybe playing out of tune a little, it’s clearly music to Sarah’s ears!


    (‘UFO – Unidentified Fizzing Object’)

    What do jelly babies do behind closed doors? Well ‘Unidentified fizzing Objects’ playfully shows the secret double life of some of the nations favourite sweets and manages to capture our hearts at the same time.


    (‘The Makeover’)

    And last but not least there is ‘The Makeover.’ (which has proved to be the most popular piece – Emily) Sarah-Jane’s mischievous sense of humour, at a gloomy economic time, brings a welcome smile back to your face. In an art business that takes itself very seriously, gingerbread men in their underpants is just what the doctor ordered!”

    thanks

    Emily

  • Artist Rolf Harris – Playing tennis at ‘Wimbledon Legends’ this year?

    Well not quite but Rolf did manage to unveil a new piece of work this year at the event entitled: ‘Wimbledon Champions’ and which is now available to own as a limited edition print.

    On the 15th June, a few days before the tournament, Rolf unveiled the piece himself in the presence of Martina Navratilova and Bjorn Borg, players featured in the painting and Britain’s much loved former No.1 Tim Henman.

    In this new work, Rolf pays tribute to 10 of the greatest Wimbledon Champions: Bjorn Borg, Steffi Graf, Billie-Jean King, Rod Laver, Suzanne Lenglen, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras and Venus Williams & of course the man who would go on to win: Roger Federer.

    Again Rolf shows his versatility as an artist, showing he is just as talented with figurative portraits as any other subject matter!

    Useful Links:

    BBC Video of the event & interviews
    SKY News Video of the event & interviews
    7 Quick questions with Rolf

    thank you

    Emily

  • Sarah Jane Szikora – Spring 2009 New Releases – Comment 1

    We have delved into the archives again to give you some of the info that Sarah-Jane Szikora people released with her Spring 2009 collection as many of you have been emailing for more and it explains, in her own words, the thinking behind each painting:


    (L’Enfant Terrible by Sarah Jane Szikora)

    “Sarah-Jane paints from her own experiences and this collection of new limited edition prints catalogues both an unusual and troublesome year in her life & career. In ‘L’Enfant Terrible’ and ‘Misfit’, Sarah-Jane records the strained relationship with her old publisher Washington Green. This situation led to what has so far been a 2 year legal dispute, an appearance at London’s High Courts in January 2008 and Sarah herself as ‘The Defendant.’


    (Misfit by Sarah Jane Szikora)

    These paintings are highly personal and to a degree the pictures describe themselves.
    During this period, Sarah-Jane has been delighted to discover huge support & goodwill from both galleries and collectors worldwide, receiving scores of letters & emails urging her to hang in there. Cleverly Sarah painted those who have followed her artwork for years and continue to do so in ‘Mischief of Mice.’


    (The Defendant by Sarah Jane Szikora)

    Part 2 coming soon! So stay tuned!


    (Mischief Of Mice by Sarah Jane Szikora)

    thank you

    James

  • UK artist Steven Townsend – ‘Waiting For Stan,’ border collie at Bamburgh Sands

    Well once again, its better late than never and here is my thoughts on this marvelous artwork, released 2 years ago this month.


    (‘Waiting For Stan’)

    ‘Waiting For Stan’ has become one of Steven Townsend’s best selling limited editions of recent years. There is something about this image that has captured the imagination of Dog lover’s.

    The idyllic setting, walking your dog through the surf, with the cool refreshing wind on your face and the salty smell of the sea in your nose, I’m sure triggers memories for a lot of people; however it is the way he has captured the collie in the painting that ‘sells’ this picture. So many people have commented to me that the collie ‘is their dog’ and that Steven has captured him or her perfectly. As I’m sure you’ll agree it is an absolute classic image.


    (Photo of the beautiful Bamburgh Castle)

    Here is the original Press Release from Steven Townsend: “We are pleased to announce the publication in print of the latest dog painting by Steven Townsend.

    It is titled ‘Waiting For Stan’ and features a beautiful collie by the name of Ollie on Bamburgh Sands, which is one of Steven’s favourite places. He spotted Ollie, waiting for his owner to catch up, on one of his very early morning walks.

    As in all of Steven’s dogs these new prints are already being eagerly awaited and it promises to be another top seller.”

    thank you

    James

    Useful links:
    Beaches of Bamburgh Sands
    Bamburgh and the Farne Islands