Saturday 30 July 2011

Mon 1st Aug: Lucien Freud









In the light of recent inexplicable tragedies, I just wanted to dedicate some space to the legend that was Lucien Freud. It was always a joy for me to be at a modern art museum and turn a corner to see one of his paintings in the midst of mixed collections........ and learn that he constantly worked on 2 paintings at once - one in daylight and one in artificial light.
Here are some different various clippings I have been collecting to keep in a book that I got from a retrospective at Fondazione Musei Civici Venezia and a couple of photos from one of my Cecil Beaton books........ which relate to this lovely quote from the obituary in last week's Independent by Richard Calvocoressi:

".....photographs of Freud at the period suggest strikingly romantic looks: a lean, intelligent alert face crowned with a mop of dark curls. Ever the dandy, when not painting Freud favoured tailor-made suits in the finest cloth or cashmere, silk shirts worn with scarves of the most discreet hue, and hand made shoes."

Ive also picked out this line which is a nice, neat description of his approach / process :

"Freud never worked from photographs but only from the living model, scrutinising every nuance and inflection of this sitter's appearance close up. His penetrating gaze seemed to probe beneath the skin, exposing a landscape of muscle, bone, blood and flesh - each blotch, bruise and swelling recreated in a palette of grey-blue, yellow and red"

But the best quote is from the man himself:

"As far as I am concerned, the paint is the person. I want it to work fro me just as flesh does".

To read Bella Freud's dedication to her dad, head over to the Vogue blog ........ which is very, very sad as her mother died only four days after her father .......

Sat 30th July: Tracey Emin at Selfridges







To coincide with Tracey Emin's show "Love Is What You Want" at the Hayward Gallery, she has curated a selection of her most loved pieces from Selfridges in a special pop up shop in store. If you haven't already been, its the last day tomorrow (Sunday) so make sure you visit to see some pieces of her own work in addition to the gathered goodies.
Ive been listening to Tracey's favourite songs recently via her Desert Island Discs and a playlist she has compiled for http://www.studiomusic.fm/........... an excellent new site dedicated to soundtracks from artist's studios soundsystems ....... head over to hear what Peter Blake, Anthony Burrill, Rob Ryan etc. have spinning whilst they create........

Sat 30th July: Rainbow Wedding Cake



........ and on the subject of extra special amazing cake......... check out this totally cosmic rainbow wedding cake designed for Katie Shillingford's big day by Karen Langley and Natasha Chietiyawardana. Cor blimey, its dreamy!!
Thanks to Elisha for the snap - knowing this would be up my street!

For a method to make your own rainbow cake, check out my 2 Part article on Lily Vanilli here and here.

Sat 30th July: A Little Of What You Fancy





The perfect start to a Saturday at "A Little Of What Your Fancy"
After Elaine's gooseberry and Elder flower Victoria sponge birthday cake for JJ earlier in the week, I had to make a bee line for her restaurant for weekend brunch treat. I recommend you do the same. Especially if you like home made baked beans. Oh, and espresso served over caramel ice-cream.
464 Kingsland Road

Friday 29 July 2011

Friday 29th July: Barry McGee








Thanks to Bethan Smith for the tip-off about this colourful graphic patterned show in town by USA artist Barry McGee. McGee was part of the Mission School art movement and a graffiti boom which occurred in San Francisco Bay through the nineties. The exhibition with Modern Art marks McGee’s third solo show with the gallery, and his first exhibition in London for six years............ stop by next time you are breezing thru Oxford Street ..........

30 June – 13 August, 2011
Modern Art, 23/25 Eastcastle Street, London
W1W 8DF

Thursday 28 July 2011

Thurs 28th July: Life is like a box of accessories



Packaging pieces up with Patternity parcel-tape.

Thurs 28th July: Andy Macgregor's Rainbow cont.......






Having posted Andy Macgregor's rainbow book ident earlier this week, he has just sent over some shots from the set. The manifestation of the most cosmic way to order a book collection was conceived by Andy for Oxfam's 3rd annual Bookfest. This brings a whole new dimension to colour coding spines on a shelf!! Wouldn't it be lush if Oxfam bookshops adopted that system!

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Weds 27th July: Happy Birthday JJ





Happy Birthday JJ Hudson (a.k.a NOKI).
Piers Atkinson snapped this moment of a mirage of physcadelically clad girls having a chin wag ............. to which Judy Blame was prompted to ask if he was photographing in black and white .................
(Left to right: Carly, Bethan, Cesca and me and final photo of thier watermelon birthday surprise shot by Jez Tozer for his Twitter)

Weds 27th July: Stinkfish at Tina We Salute You




Its not just the interior of cafe "Tina We Salute You" that gets covered in art for exhibitions and installations ........ now the exterior is becoming a canvas for work. Love this burst of colour from Colombian street artist Stinkfish.

Monday 25 July 2011

Mon 25th July: Kristina Records






On the subject of music ............. a new record shop has opened up just a hop'skip'n'jump from my studio............ oh dear, empty pockets will ensue......... but my record bag will fill up .......... already purchased Sub Sub and A Guy Called Gerald.............

http://www.kristinarecords.com/

If for any reason you may like a daily announcement of what is spinning on my turn table in the morning ......... follow my Twitter feed for the trending topic I invented last year for photographing my record artwork each day ........... #thismorningimlisteningto ....... its a seasonal disorder as I can't do it in the Winter when its too dark in the early hours to snap the sleeves....... dark days indeed.......

Mon 25th July: ATP curated by Portishead







Thanks to Anna Leader for her photos from yesterday's "All Tomorrow's Parties" music festival at Alexandra Palace. This weekend's two day event was guest curated by Portishead with acts on the line up including PJ Harvey, Grinderman, Caribou ........ and special installations from the likes if David Wilson.

See Anna's photography from the film "L'Annulaire" for which Beth Gibbons penned the score and was the acting debut for Olga Kurylenko.