
A revealing insight into the state of my studio. From mess to progress with projects and paintings, the accumulated artifacts and other random snippets.
Stop the war on …

When the largest industry in the world is no longer War, I will accept Darwin’s theory of Evolution.
~Dale S. Mugford
For me war has become a flat, black depression without highlights, a revulsion of the mind and an exhaustion of the spirit.
~Ernie Pyle
Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.
~General Omar N. Bradley
Chauvinism is a proud and bellicose form of patriotism…which equates the national honor with military victory.
~Colonel James A. Donovan, Marine Corps
Under conditions of peace the warlike man attacks himself.
~Friedrich Nietzsche
I’m fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.
~George McGovern
All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.
~George Orwell
About the quote: This quote comes from “Homage to Catalonia,” Orwell’s 1936 eyewitness account of the Spanish Civil War.
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.
~George Orwell
Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable
~George Orwell
About the quote: from his ‘Politics and the English Language.’
War is too serious a matter to entrust to military men.
~Georges Clemenceau
It is far easier to make war than peace.
~Georges Clemenceau
“My country right or wrong” is like saying, “My mother drunk or sober.”
~G. K. Chesterton
There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance.
~Goethe
There’s no difference between one’s killing and making decisions that will send others to kill. It’s exactly the same thing, or even worse.
~Golda Meir
Every move we make in fear of the next war in fact hastens it.
~Gregory Bateson
Mankind is becoming a single unit, and that for a unit to fight against itself is suicide.
~Havelock Ellis
In peace, sons bury their fathers; in war, fathers bury their sons.
~Herodotus
The lies the government and media tell are amplifications of the lies we tell ourselves. To stop being conned, stop conning yourself.
~James Wolcott
About the quote: in his article “From Fear to Eternity,” Vanity Fair, March 2005
I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, ‘Mother, what was war?’
~Eve Merriam
Quote taken from – http://antiwar.com/quotes.php

All artists, namely painters should read this and consider what the potential ban on cadmium pigments means to them and contact the ECHA. I will be hastily writing to them as other yellows do not cut the mustard like cadmium yellow. The ban will be considered next month so act now to save cadmium paints. I’m going to stock up now!
If you would like to comment on this proposed change, please visit http://www.echa.europa.eu/restrictions-under-consideration.


The following excerpt taken from:
Cadmium in Crisis!
By Julie Caves · On May 7, 2014, Jackson’s Art Blog
http://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2014/05/07/cadmium-crisis/
Cadmium in Crisis!
There is a possibility that Cadmium Pigments will be banned by the EU.
The authorities concerned, however, are currently assessing the situation and taking on comments from the public.
We know that a ban would affect many of our customers so we are writing to you in the hope that you can help us raise awareness of this issue and we are asking as many artists as possible to visit the ECHA (European Chemical Agency) website to give their opinions on the use, unique characteristics and handling of these special paints.
Below is an article written by our friend Michael Craine, from Spectrum Paints, who expains all the issues. We invite you to read his article before passing comment on the ECHA website.
What are the possible outcomes?
The worst-case scenario is that Cadmiums could be banned within a couple of years, which in the view of many of us in the industry is both distressing and entirely unnecessary. If it did come into effect, the tap would be turned off the supply of pigment and we would see the remaining stock pass through the supply chain until it is gone.
Is there a petition to sign?
We are not organising a petition as mass numbers don’t help or inform ECHA greatly. What is helpful is an understanding on how artists handle residual paint from brushes and tubes and indeed how much paint is wasted. In addition anecdotal stories on the power and beauty of cadmium colours and the influence on the selling price of a painting would also be relevant.
How can individual artists have their say?
ECHA would like to hear from artists who use Cadmium pigments in acrylic, oil or water colour to gauge what level of risk this represents. They would like to build up a view of the experiences of users so they can constructively contribute to the debate in a genuinely informed way. For example they would like to discover how much Cadmium paint is left when old tubes and tins are discarded and how much paint is wasted when brushes and palettes are cleaned? A recent study in the USA estimated that less than 5% of all cadmium paints fails to reach the canvas. Do artists feel that is a fair estimate? ECHA are also likely to be interested to hear if Cadmium paints add value to paintings by their strength, vibrancy and longevity.
How can I have my say?
If you would like to comment on this proposed change, please visit http://www.echa.europa.eu/restrictions-under-consideration
What is the deadline for contributions and opinions?
No time like the present! Submissions in the next few weeks would be most effective.
When will we find out if cadmium has survived?
The consultation ends in September after which the ECHA will retire for several months’ discussion during which time the committee members cannot be lobbied or contacted.
The Signification of the Poppy’ series began with a painting created for a web based competition in 2007 – ‘Seeking Picasso’ in which I was a finalist.
In week 3 the theme was ‘A Troubled World’ and the painting I produced was inspired by the situation in Afghanistan at the time and the metaphor of the poppy and its association with war.
Here are some images of the preliminary work behind the piece:
The final piece – A Troubled World, 70x70cm, Acrylics on canvas, Jacqueline Hammond

After the painting challenge came to an end I was commissioned by one of the judges from Seeking Picasso to produce a series of paintings for The McNeill Gallery, Radlett, Hertfordshire. This series was exhibited in the gallery and led to further representation. http://www.mcneillgallery.com (the gallery has now relocated to Pewsey in Wiltshire)

Synopsis to the Signification of the Poppy series:
The works finely depict the poppy as a metaphor. Some represent the emblem of poppy worn for Remembrance Day: another life, another loss. Others depict farmed opium poppies; their beauty offset by the reason for their existence, these represent the many current causes of conflict. In ‘A Troubled World’ and ‘Carpet of Red’ the suggestion of war is confirmed in the distance, where the rolling green hills when viewed more closely have a river of blood running between them, flowing down from the bloodshed in the barren, sandy, habituated hills.
Just proves beauty can be deceiving. A field of flowers; more than a pretty picture.

The series became a collection – View the collection here


All enquiries – info@jacquelinehammond.co.uk