The film is shot over a period of 3 years following him as he leaves California, his home for the last 25 years, to return to his native Yorkshire to paint a very English countryside.
The film captures an extraordinary moment in Hockney's life and work as he approaches the age of 70 and captures his transcendence from a period of anti-photography in his work to post-photographic where he rediscovers what photography can lend to his work. Using interviews with Hockney and his sister Margaret, the film explores the more personal motives for his return and his homecoming coincides with a desire to re-invent his whole approach to oil painting, after a six-year break. He paints en plein air for the first time, out in the landscape, through the seasons and in all weathers.
IMAGINE David Hockney: A Bigger Picture, is on BBC1 30 June 10.35PM, a Coluga Pictures production. For more information go to www.colugapictures.com and interesting video clips.
Daily Telegraph review.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Fine Art Exhibition
Fine Art Exhibition by the 1st Year BA students from Blackpool Art School. At the Village Walks Art Spot, entrance off Queensway or from the entrance alongside the Post Office at the rear of Teanlowe Centre, Poulton le Fylde. The exhibition will run from 29th June to 31st July, Monday to Saturday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, entrance free.
A wide range of work from the end of year show. Artists exhibiting include Alistair Parker, Sue McAuley, Ann Charlesworth, Sue Godsiff, Claire Heaton, Anton Byrne-Carter and Rebecca Armitage.
A wide range of work from the end of year show. Artists exhibiting include Alistair Parker, Sue McAuley, Ann Charlesworth, Sue Godsiff, Claire Heaton, Anton Byrne-Carter and Rebecca Armitage.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Picasso Painting with Light
Looks like Picasso did light painting experiments in photography. Here's a gallery over at Life.com of his various light painting pictures.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Blackpool Art School Exhibition
'Variety'09', End of Year Exhibition at The Blackpool School of Art & Design, Palatine Road Campus Blackpool Lancashire FY1 4DW.
My work can be found in Year 1 Fine Art and Professional Practice Studio is on 1st Floor, top of stairs turn left. There will also be lots of really good stuff to see, Photography, Graphic Design etc etc. Foundation work can be seen at the Park Road site.
Private view 17th June 6-9pm General Public 10-4pm from the 18th-24th June
We hope to see you there!
My work can be found in Year 1 Fine Art and Professional Practice Studio is on 1st Floor, top of stairs turn left. There will also be lots of really good stuff to see, Photography, Graphic Design etc etc. Foundation work can be seen at the Park Road site.
Private view 17th June 6-9pm General Public 10-4pm from the 18th-24th June
We hope to see you there!
Layers of History - Mixed Media
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The Client From Hell
If you are thinking of setting up your own business you should watch this first!
RSVP
RSVP
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Channel 4 programme - Faking It - Graffiti
A nostalgia trip. Remember the Channel 4 programme, "Faking It". Below is one about the impossible task of converting a country "Toff" into a Hip Hoppy "Graffer"! An interesting insight into the "Graffers" world.
Link
Link
Street Art Influences - Matt Small
Artists draw their inspiration from a wide range of influences and sources. I am finding myself drawn more and more to the vibrant dynamic Street and Urban Art scene, not to be confused with Graffiti, although they share the same platform and there is a considerable crossover of cultures.
Typically these influences include increasingly familiar names such as Dale Grimshaw, Guy Denning, Connor Harrington, artists whose' art now commands exciting prices.
In the course of one of my Street Art photographic forays, I came across Matt Small, he likes to call himself an artist and although he is unquestionably in the Urban/Street camp. For anyone who likes to experiment with their art, media and materials this guy is an exciting inspiration.
Updated 15.05.17
Typically these influences include increasingly familiar names such as Dale Grimshaw, Guy Denning, Connor Harrington, artists whose' art now commands exciting prices.
In the course of one of my Street Art photographic forays, I came across Matt Small, he likes to call himself an artist and although he is unquestionably in the Urban/Street camp. For anyone who likes to experiment with their art, media and materials this guy is an exciting inspiration.
Updated 15.05.17
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Photoshop - Warping Text on a Circle
I am working on a digital imaging assignment at the moment which involves creating a design for a Windsock to be used as part of a public art installation on Blackpool south promenade.
One of the problems I have come across is creating text wrapped (warped) around a circle with a word at the top and another at the bottom of the circle. The word at the bottom the read left to right. I searched my Photoshop books and the Internet for a method, took me best part of a day. Part of the problem is the Warp Text tools in Photoshop don't quite do what you would expect them to do. I was about to give up when I came across a tutorial on YouTube by Chris Rose.
It is so easy when you know how and a picture (video) is worth a thousand words. Thanks Chris.
One of the problems I have come across is creating text wrapped (warped) around a circle with a word at the top and another at the bottom of the circle. The word at the bottom the read left to right. I searched my Photoshop books and the Internet for a method, took me best part of a day. Part of the problem is the Warp Text tools in Photoshop don't quite do what you would expect them to do. I was about to give up when I came across a tutorial on YouTube by Chris Rose.
It is so easy when you know how and a picture (video) is worth a thousand words. Thanks Chris.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saatchi On-Line Showdown Submission
I have entered Red Umbrella in the Saatchi On-Line competition "Showdown". I need your help to vote for the work should you consider it worthy of your consideration. You can see the work and VOTE here. The work will be displayed between 9.3.09 and 16.3.09. Thanks in advance.
This is a piece from my Foundation panel. The work is created using a process I developed as part of my graduation project. Starting as a digitally manipulated photograph which is rendered as a series of inkjet prints which are tiled and transferred onto a gesso primed MDF board ground using an acrylic medium process. The process results in an individual image with a uniquely distressed appearance.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Reality of Childhood
Following from the CS lecture of 16th February 09 about Reality and Representation, I relate an incident which happened to me that brought home some aspects of that lecture.
On Saturday morning my 3 year old grandson he asked me if I knew where his “pooma” was. What is a “pooma” I asked, my wife informed me that is was a snorkel and an AA battery which when used as an offensive weapon was accompanied by the onamatapia “poom” when fired, hence a to Joe a snorkel and a battery represents a "pooma".
So what has this to do with CS? I felt this incident brought together the whole subject of visual communication as defined by Shannon and Weaver, Pierce, Saussure and Barthes.
Here we appear to have practical example of Semiotics and Linguistics at work . The information being received by me and my grandson about these objects is clearly quite different. From the visual information, he sees something that looks rather like a weapon based on signifiers picked up from watching Power Rangers and playing with his friends and cousins. I of course know this to be a snorkel and a battery.
But to Joe a tube with a "handle", signifies a weapon (gun) and a small cylindrical object that will fit down the tube, signifies a “bullet/missile”.
Is this in Pierces terms a convention? The conventional use of these items is one, to aid breathing under water, two, a source of power. But to Joe his connotation of a tube loaded with an AA battery is quite an effective weapon, a "pooma"!
In the words of Bathes, Joe’s connotation of these items is quite different to mine. Not only that but he has developed his own code, I had no idea what a "poom" or a "pooma" were but I am sure his friends and cousins do. And my wife of course who is an expert in juvenile linguistics!
POOM ...........................ya dead!!!!!!!!
On Saturday morning my 3 year old grandson he asked me if I knew where his “pooma” was. What is a “pooma” I asked, my wife informed me that is was a snorkel and an AA battery which when used as an offensive weapon was accompanied by the onamatapia “poom” when fired, hence a to Joe a snorkel and a battery represents a "pooma".
So what has this to do with CS? I felt this incident brought together the whole subject of visual communication as defined by Shannon and Weaver, Pierce, Saussure and Barthes.
Here we appear to have practical example of Semiotics and Linguistics at work . The information being received by me and my grandson about these objects is clearly quite different. From the visual information, he sees something that looks rather like a weapon based on signifiers picked up from watching Power Rangers and playing with his friends and cousins. I of course know this to be a snorkel and a battery.
But to Joe a tube with a "handle", signifies a weapon (gun) and a small cylindrical object that will fit down the tube, signifies a “bullet/missile”.
Is this in Pierces terms a convention? The conventional use of these items is one, to aid breathing under water, two, a source of power. But to Joe his connotation of a tube loaded with an AA battery is quite an effective weapon, a "pooma"!
In the words of Bathes, Joe’s connotation of these items is quite different to mine. Not only that but he has developed his own code, I had no idea what a "poom" or a "pooma" were but I am sure his friends and cousins do. And my wife of course who is an expert in juvenile linguistics!
POOM ...........................ya dead!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Semiotics - Toilet Signage
Whilst researching images for an article on the Semiotics of symbol based signs I was looking for an image of a toilet sign. Little did I know what a can of worms I was opening. As a compulsive photographer of just about anything and everything. I have an unhealthy collection of toilet signs of which this is just one, from Marks and Spencer, Manchester. I want to know why little boys seem to be excluded!
However my searches revealed that I am not the only sad soul in the world there are others much sadder than I. In the interest of researching the fascinating subject of Semiotics here is a selection of the toilet sign sites signs I found............
Gender signs
Semiotics-Toilet signs
Toilet signs
Coolest toilet signs around the world
Oltremara
If you know of any others leave me a comment
However my searches revealed that I am not the only sad soul in the world there are others much sadder than I. In the interest of researching the fascinating subject of Semiotics here is a selection of the toilet sign sites signs I found............
Gender signs
Semiotics-Toilet signs
Toilet signs
Coolest toilet signs around the world
Oltremara
If you know of any others leave me a comment
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Marxists Internet Archive
From Barthes to Zola and much more the Marxists Internet Archive is a cornucopia of information on all Marx related subjects. A essential bookmark.
I discovered the site whilst searching for information about Roland Barthes, I found an interesting essay, "Elements of Semiology".
I discovered the site whilst searching for information about Roland Barthes, I found an interesting essay, "Elements of Semiology".
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Daler Rowney - Make Your Mark Competition
They say if you don't buy a ticket you can't win the raffle. In a moment of madness I entered the Daler Rowney - Make Your Mark Competition way back in in October 08, I received an email in January to say I had been short listed. I could not even remember entering, let alone what work I had entered! Apparently there were over 1400 entries.
Just discovered I was a runner up in the Education Section with a piece from my Foundation panel "The Three Faces of Blackpool".
The winner was a Turkish artist Engin Dogan with his painting "Mongol" (Obviously being PC isn't an issue in Turkey). My congratulations, it was a very accomplished portrait with a very distinctive contemporary style.
What did the winner get? Two nights in London and a day with acclaimed artist Annie Kevans. Plus a year's subscription of the Artist magazine. And work displayed in the Mall Gallery!
What did I win? Well I thought it was Zilch, but I have, since my initial posting, discovered that I will have my work displayed in the Mall Gallery in London, the home of the Federation of British Artists, for 7 days, from 5th to 11th July 2009. This will be accompanied by a national press launch, so I am well chuffed.
The Chairman of the judges was the internationally acclaimed artist Romeo di Girolamo, President Royal Society British Artists. The other three judges were Annie Kevans, Patrick Giraud CEO of Daler Rowney and Stephen Doherty, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of American Artist, Watercolor, Drawing, and Workshop magazines.
Romero di Girolamo said “This new competition demonstrates that art is thriving all over the world. The standard of entries was exceptionally high and to have entries from five continents means the competition is truly international. It was particularly pleasing to see so many entries from young people showing that art has a great future and is in safe hands. We hope the competition will inspire more people to paint and make their mark".
The Three Faces of Blackpool - Acrylic Transfer on Board
See www.alisterparkerart.com
Just discovered I was a runner up in the Education Section with a piece from my Foundation panel "The Three Faces of Blackpool".
The winner was a Turkish artist Engin Dogan with his painting "Mongol" (Obviously being PC isn't an issue in Turkey). My congratulations, it was a very accomplished portrait with a very distinctive contemporary style.
What did the winner get? Two nights in London and a day with acclaimed artist Annie Kevans. Plus a year's subscription of the Artist magazine. And work displayed in the Mall Gallery!
What did I win? Well I thought it was Zilch, but I have, since my initial posting, discovered that I will have my work displayed in the Mall Gallery in London, the home of the Federation of British Artists, for 7 days, from 5th to 11th July 2009. This will be accompanied by a national press launch, so I am well chuffed.
The Chairman of the judges was the internationally acclaimed artist Romeo di Girolamo, President Royal Society British Artists. The other three judges were Annie Kevans, Patrick Giraud CEO of Daler Rowney and Stephen Doherty, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of American Artist, Watercolor, Drawing, and Workshop magazines.
Romero di Girolamo said “This new competition demonstrates that art is thriving all over the world. The standard of entries was exceptionally high and to have entries from five continents means the competition is truly international. It was particularly pleasing to see so many entries from young people showing that art has a great future and is in safe hands. We hope the competition will inspire more people to paint and make their mark".
The Three Faces of Blackpool - Acrylic Transfer on Board
See www.alisterparkerart.com
I LEGO NY
An article in Tuesdays Guardian (10.2.09) included, in the G2 supplement an item about the use of LEGO as a means of communication. In view of the CS lecture on Monday I thought this provides an interesting twist on the subject of "Symbol-based writing system".
The author, Christopher Niemann, an American born Illustrator and Photographer, currently based in Berlin, claims he came up with the idea for his LEGO symbols whilst trying to entertain his sons through the long winter evenings.
This is the link to the Guardian article and this is the link to Christopher Niemanns blog, Abstract City in the New York Times, the origin of the piece. This is just one of many LEGO symbols he has designed. There is now a huge following of fellow contributors to the symbol gallery.
The author, Christopher Niemann, an American born Illustrator and Photographer, currently based in Berlin, claims he came up with the idea for his LEGO symbols whilst trying to entertain his sons through the long winter evenings.
This is the link to the Guardian article and this is the link to Christopher Niemanns blog, Abstract City in the New York Times, the origin of the piece. This is just one of many LEGO symbols he has designed. There is now a huge following of fellow contributors to the symbol gallery.
Deconstructing and Advert
This full page advert for Standard Life SIPP Pensions appeared in the Sunday Times 1st Feb 09.
The text in the advertisement reads
I have to confess that although I assumed the person in the advert was probably famous I did not recognise them immediately. They are obviously an outdoor type, with lean rugged features, stubbly beard, light coloured piercing eyes, wearing an anorak, age, from the look of the eyebrows (grey and wiry), about 55 to 60, probably the age group of the target customer. I later realised the subject was Ranaulph Fiennes.
The advert is one of three in the campaign. This one appeared on successive right hand pages with an almost identical advert which included an image (which I again did not recognise immediately) of Mariella Fostrop. The only difference between the adverts was a variation in the wording of the first sentence in the boiler plate copy:-
"Whether you dedicate your life to art and culture, or just make the most of every waking moment, ............."
The third personality is Marco Pierre White.
Will the message be diminished if you don't recognise the person in the advert? Will it be enhanced if you do?
Why don't they name the celebrity?
Is the male character intended to appeal to males or females and vica versa?
Will investing your money with Standard Life be an adventure? In the current economic climate, probably!
Why choose three celebrities? Why choose these particular celebrities?
The Standard Life website suggests the target audience is over 44! The age of the celebrities are; Fiennes 65, Foster 50. White 50!
Not sure why this image is duplicated!
The text in the advertisement reads
"PEOPLE DON'T GROW OLD LIKE THEY USED TO"
"why should your money"
"Whether you dedicate your life to adventure, or just pack as much as possible into every single day, .............""why should your money"
I have to confess that although I assumed the person in the advert was probably famous I did not recognise them immediately. They are obviously an outdoor type, with lean rugged features, stubbly beard, light coloured piercing eyes, wearing an anorak, age, from the look of the eyebrows (grey and wiry), about 55 to 60, probably the age group of the target customer. I later realised the subject was Ranaulph Fiennes.
The advert is one of three in the campaign. This one appeared on successive right hand pages with an almost identical advert which included an image (which I again did not recognise immediately) of Mariella Fostrop. The only difference between the adverts was a variation in the wording of the first sentence in the boiler plate copy:-
"Whether you dedicate your life to art and culture, or just make the most of every waking moment, ............."
The third personality is Marco Pierre White.
Analysis
To me the message in this advert is confused. The strap line poses a statement which is ambiguous.Will the message be diminished if you don't recognise the person in the advert? Will it be enhanced if you do?
Why don't they name the celebrity?
Is the male character intended to appeal to males or females and vica versa?
Will investing your money with Standard Life be an adventure? In the current economic climate, probably!
Why choose three celebrities? Why choose these particular celebrities?
The Standard Life website suggests the target audience is over 44! The age of the celebrities are; Fiennes 65, Foster 50. White 50!
Not sure why this image is duplicated!
Alter-Modernism
Following on from my post of the 18/01/09 Post-Post-Modernism I was drawn to the title of the Tate Britain Triennial exhibition Alter-Modern which has just started. The exhibition claims Post-Modernism is dead! Does this mean we will not have to study it any more? Unfortunately they do not seem to be sure what has replaced it! The curator Nicholas Bourriard described as a French cultural theorist, coined the name "Alter-Modern" (see below) apparently it is written as Altermodern but I think it looks much more important with a hyphen! The curator an admirer of Baudrillard and Foucault defines the new "ism as follows:-
- "Altermodernism can be defined as that moment when it became possible for us to produce something that made sense starting from an assumed heterochrony (Def: a developmental change in the timing of events), that is, from a vision of human history as constituted of multiple temporalities, disdaining the nostalgia for the avant-garde and indeed for any kind of era - a positive vision of chaos and complexity".
The Curator suggests that Post-Modernism endeavoured to answer the question "Where am I from?" "Altermodernism, thanks to the Internet, means we need no longer define ourselves within traditional boundaries. The artist is a wanderer, drifting about in space and time, drawing from a vast, fluid fund of collective ideas. And his or her work is far less about a single finished object than about continuing processes of development and connection in which one thing always seems to be leading to the next.
Nicholas Bourriard claims he invented the term Alter-Modern, I think not!
Alter-Modernism is a neologism (new word) attributed to Croatian writer Filip Erceg. It is apparently an analogy to the term Alterglobalism (a social movement that supports global cooperation and interaction) and is supposed to be an alternative to Post-Modernist nihilism (nothingness).
The critics appear to be unconvinced that this is the replacement for Post-Modernism. The Times are not even sure were the exhibition is being held, Tate Modern or Tate Britain, it is the later, from 3 Feb 09 to 26 April 09.
If the critics are not in favour that probably means it is worth seeing!
Academic Language #2 - Ownership
In one of my earlier posts I remarked about my difficulty, as a member of the proletariat, coming to terms with academic language. Since then I have experienced significant exposure to this elitist form of communication during the researches for my essay.
One thing that now concerns me is, how do I know when this new found academic vocabulary becomes mine? I seem to recall someone in a CS lecture warning us not to use our own language in our essay. Because we did not know enough! I have to say I find myself constantly concerned that my writing simply paraphrases the words of others!
One thing that now concerns me is, how do I know when this new found academic vocabulary becomes mine? I seem to recall someone in a CS lecture warning us not to use our own language in our essay. Because we did not know enough! I have to say I find myself constantly concerned that my writing simply paraphrases the words of others!
Critical Studies Essay December 08 - Reflections
Critical Studies Essay December 08
A belated reflection on the essay. At the time of writing I have not had my marks for the essay. I will have to reflect further on this post when I have.
The essay proved to be a marathon. Mainly due to my lack of initial planning. I quickly realised that in my panic to grab as much reference material as possible I became overloaded with information. Much of which I did not reference sufficiently well that I could go back to the source. Result was I lost focus, could not see the wood for the trees. I pulled myself together by reaffirming that although this was a research based essay, it was essentially a technical exercise and it was probably more important at this stage to get the structure and presentation right as come up with an earth shattering academic work. I am sure that is what Steve said!
I made the notes that in future I should stay more focussed, produce my thesis statement at an early stage, make sure my notes were clear and well referenced, make sure reading is relevant. Avoid being side tracked. Start the bibliography and reference collection from day one. I discovered a brilliant Word plug-in for collating citations, called Zotero.
As for the essay, I think my technical structure is OK but I am not so sure about the actual essay structure. I feel my conclusion may prove to be a major weakness, too short! Time will tell.
Just need to wait and see if my thoughts prove to be correct. Grade ? C+?????
Jackson Pollock at work - the main focus of my essay
A belated reflection on the essay. At the time of writing I have not had my marks for the essay. I will have to reflect further on this post when I have.
The essay proved to be a marathon. Mainly due to my lack of initial planning. I quickly realised that in my panic to grab as much reference material as possible I became overloaded with information. Much of which I did not reference sufficiently well that I could go back to the source. Result was I lost focus, could not see the wood for the trees. I pulled myself together by reaffirming that although this was a research based essay, it was essentially a technical exercise and it was probably more important at this stage to get the structure and presentation right as come up with an earth shattering academic work. I am sure that is what Steve said!
I made the notes that in future I should stay more focussed, produce my thesis statement at an early stage, make sure my notes were clear and well referenced, make sure reading is relevant. Avoid being side tracked. Start the bibliography and reference collection from day one. I discovered a brilliant Word plug-in for collating citations, called Zotero.
As for the essay, I think my technical structure is OK but I am not so sure about the actual essay structure. I feel my conclusion may prove to be a major weakness, too short! Time will tell.
Just need to wait and see if my thoughts prove to be correct. Grade ? C+?????
Jackson Pollock at work - the main focus of my essay
13 photographs that changed the world
"Omaha Beach, Normandy, France" Robert Capa, 1944
This post may be a little late for some. I would assume that many of these images could have been the subject of the last essay assignment, for the photographers anyway.
The photographs are aggregated and commented on on Neatorama's blog.
Possibly the most interesting part of the post are the comments suggesting other images which could have been included.
How many more could you add to the list?
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