artbyjaxx
Photo-log blog of the art on the walls at ‘Jaxx in a Box’ my house and studio which was open to the public this May for Artists Open Houses for more info visit www.aoh.org
All over the city of Brighton and Hove, local artists open their houses and studios to the public. Follow the trail at Kemptown Arts Brighton
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What a sociable month May was – I had so many lovely conversations with people that it’s going to take a while to remember the people that came to visit my open house so I’m going to make a little list quickly.
Those who made it to the trail’s ‘outpost’ had dedication and conviction. They had made the effort, as it were. Thank you all for coming – I hope some of you might be reading this 😉
Here’s some photos of a few moments I managed to capture but I’m gonna set a photo booth next year as I would love to have portrayed or made portraits even, of the people that came. (Welcome to come back and take part – new project) . I kept many people chatting for up to an hour and had a steady flow of people that gave me time to have some really decent conversations. A thoroughly enjoyable experience and far more relaxed ‘doing it from home’ … (draft)
Therefore with four out of the five small pieces in the series now sold, there’s just one more to catch, before it flies away!
The paintings in this series of seascapes preceded the similar but square works. These first studies have a spontaneous quality that comes with the initial response to a subject. The detail is more delicate and somehow finer. The birds that feature in several works, are starlings doing their sunset dance, and is a spectacle that’s hard to replicate in paint, compared to first-hand experience. The movements they make as a flock, the swirling shapes, the swoops overhead are incredibly absorbing as well as beautiful, the birds have an impeccable synchronicity that’s humbling and one of those wonders of nature that has the power to make human beings pause and observe
Whilst priming the board for my piece for the outside wall and thinking what to paint, I thought I’d just whack some paint directly on the wall. The ridges of glue left behind from the printed canvas on there before made a great texture for picking up paint and overlaying colours.
The result was a kind of Monet effect, until abstraction became an abortion! Classic case of of going too far and ruining it. This is what can happen when I don’t have anything in mind as to what I’m painting, I don’t take it seriously and get carried away, then attempts to rescue the piece only make it worse. Not the best method for such a public piece. Best get down there again tomorrow and do something with it.
It wasn’t too bad at this stage:
I’m very pleased to hear that my painting raised £160 for Teenage Cancer Trust in the art auction held on Thursday 14th June 2012. A total of £1,500 was raised for the charity from the sale of donated artworks by renowned local artists. Excellent stuff!
I have donated this painting to an auction in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust to be held on Thursday 14th June 2012 at 7.30pm at Wickwoods Country Club in Hassocks.
‘Sit and Throw’ is an early piece in a popular series titled ‘The Groyne Series’ that depicts teenagers and kids having fun and hanging out on the stone walled sea groynes along the shoreline of the beach where I live in Brighton. Often submerged, the groynes are revealed as the tide changes and make ideal platforms for jumping into the sea or ‘tomb stoning’, as it’s referred to in the media.
The series came about from observing these lively activities on those (rare) sunny days spent by the seaside at my local beach, although people often remark that the scene could be anywhere in the world. The silhouettes of the figures are defined against the brightness of the sky, evoking fond memories of the height of summer.
Several in this series have already been sold at previous exhibitions. All the initial mini 10x10cm paintings have been snapped up, but this is the first 40 x 40 cm canvas in the series. To view the other works in the series take a look at The Groyne Series Gallery on my website.
Local established artists have kindly donated work to be auctioned off in a Silent Auction format. Each painting will be assigned a number and there will be ballot points where you are able to fill out your contact details and the highest amount you wish to bid on the painting. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day.
Artists include: myself (obviously) Karen Burt, Claire Fearon, Romany Mark Bruce, Julieanne Gilbert, Grant DeJonge & Julia Schultz and many more…
All proceeds from the auction will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Any Queries please contact Karen on karenannburt@aol.com
