Making of: Remi Rough Notorious
This print had been in the planning for a while and I knew I could’t promise to print it unless I had proofed it and was happy enough to pursue and finish it! You ask why, but all is not that appears to be with this design.
Like most of Remi/Roughs art work, everything has layers and depths, some parts appear to jump right at you and some parts are pushed behind others with no heavy boarder or line to hide behind. I really like the fact the Remi doesn’t release a print at a drop of a hat, so I new that this had been cleverly thought about and deliberated and I had to treat this print with the same thought and consideration.
Putting aside the meticulous precision with the regiteration on this design I had to think long and hard with what sections of the print leaped out, what part balanced and what got pushed back. So, to cut a long long story short and about a month of sampling various hand cut artworks, colours and inks, here is the lovely four colour screen print on Somerset Satin paper, finished of with my current obsession, Gloss Overprint Varnish on the Black, just to make it pop!
Notorious will be available to view at the London Original Print fair (Royal Academy) through Scream Gallery from 25th-28th April 2013
Emperor Yes: Cosmos Exhibition
Forgive me blog post but it has been at least four months since my last long post…….
It was back in January when I was contacted by Ash from Emperor Yes to make new art work inspired by the bands new single Cosmos which was to be launched in March. Not long after I had excitedly said “YES YES”, the track was sent through. This was one was quite different from Wasps (first single)…quite melodic and it felt sentimental.
At, first, all the usual visual imagery popped into my head to do with the Cosmos, planets, stars etc….you know the deal. I had been doing a lot of research over the Christmas holidays in Scotland for my new body of work which was on the back burner and I seem to always be obsessing with the same imagery day after day from this bulk of photographs that I had taken to do with symbolism and hands (which has been another one of my obsession for the last year) & quite a bit of 60′s-70′s San Fran Psychedelic poster scene, and there it was staring me right in the face…..my eureka moment!!!!
The art work produced may look far from the “Cosmos” as we imagine it, but as a matter of fact it’s closer than most think. The work is about faith, believing in something that we can’t see or be at…..it’s about “Love” and a sense of feeling. May that be to a person or an entity! And who would have guessed the whole Pope thing happening all at the same time. Everyone asked me if I had done it because of that but in actuality, the art work had been made weeks before….I like to think I have foresight & a good intuition, but I’m not Psychic 
Watch Emperor Yes “Cosmos” video (the animation is awesome and took a whole month solid to finish) here
Find my Original art work titled “Devotion” here!
Into the Cosmos: Emperor Yes single launch
Dear Glorious House Friends, if you in or around London town this Thursday, our friends Emperor Yes will be putting on a great Art show to coincide with their latest single release “COSMOS”. Please join me for the opening reception which promises to tantalise your eyes & ears.
You Are Here: Exhibition @ London Framing Workshop
Thought it was about time that I actually posted some photo’s about the group show that I was in back in September appropriately titled “You Are Here” at the London Framing Workshop in Hackney Wick.
We had so much fun on the opening night, despite the rain down pour as the gallery doors were set to open. The three trays of Chicken & Quaver crisp sandwiches were scoffed within 15 minutes of me putting them out- think I might have to Trade Mark the recipe now!
Thank you for those of you who made it down and for all the support that has been given to me from my friends and family over the years.
It’s not everyday that I make “Original” print pieces, so this was quite a special exhibition for me…….especially as it was in my local hood.
Mobstr- “This One” Screen Print
As per usual, I swear to go into semi-retirement of producing commercial prints for artists but as per usual, something always entices me to get my special squeegees, and large pristine screens out and make an edition for someone.
This is my first screen print for the artist, that I actually got one of his previous prints a while ago, so I really do likeMobstr’s work. Those “word” pieces have some sort of resonance with me, maybe because, I have thought similar things in my head one time or other, and most of the time when I see one, I have a little chuckle to myself and say touche!
This design is a slight departure from the trademark “Word” pieces which I thought I would be printing when I was first asked. But I was pleasantly surprised with the design, which was very bold and graphic & thoughtful, which I guess is the common thread between the two styles of work. As most of you know, I love printing those flat, block colours so this was a dream….well, it was a dream, until I was asked if I could print another image on the back of the same print…..Ahhhhhh, went through my mind as most printers know, trying to keep both side of a paper which works out roughly a Lady Godiva a sheet pristine isn’t so easy at best of times.Especially as the second side had the ink going right up to the edge of the paper, major seepage came to mind! Never mind the accuracy needed, so when the lines and the bottom of the paper were hand cut, it would all look lined up.
So, the lesson is, even when you think your getting a quick print job, and that it looks pretty straight forward and easy…..it never is.
“A SIMPLE PRINT JOB DOES NOT EXSIST- FACT”
And as I was sworn off doing another double sided print for another millennia, I’m just waiting for a layer of ink to dry on my double sided print as I write this now! FACT!!!!!!
This beautiful graphic print titled “This One” is available from here and its a “Double” sided Screen Print- 5 colours in total on Somerset Tub Sized Satin 310gsm, Hand Cut, Edition of 35, signed & numbered. I believe you can even order it with a custom made clear acrylic frame, so depending on your mood you can hang it which ever side you like! Quality…….
Guess which side mine is hanging on………..
Hackney Wicked 2012 @Red Market & Beyond
So this years Hackney WickEd extravaganza took a slight back seat from it’s usual home (due to the Olympics, I guess) and materialised itself in the guise of diverse events which were held in several locations across the East London.
We had the opportunity to make some “art” and sell our wares at one of the events that was held at the Red Market which is part of the Red Gallery in Rivington Street. The venue which was open from the beginning of Summer till early October was a great central location with a fabulous food stalls & beach style bar….with real sand, hammocks and long canteen style benches to chill out & mingle.
Not sure if many of you will remember this far back but the Saturday that we set up was the day when the heavens opened up and we had the torrential rainfall, that nearly ruined most of our stock and never mind trying to pulp my 7ft ZeVra stencil that I had made to put up on the wall! Luckily, I had packed my mega tarpaulin in my Marry Poppins bag that I nailed over the wall whilst getting absolutely soaking wet to save it for the next day……
Day two was a brighter start…..managed to set the stall early, take the “Tarp” of the rescued stencil and we were on our way…..I even managed to finish my wall piece and do a collaboration with my friend Perspicere until the sun set…..
Hopefully the full festival will be back with a Bang in it’s usual venue next year, until then, here are some of my highlights.
Release the Wolves- Grand Prix Expo
Back in September, The Glorious House of Brag’s friend Gold Peg organised a community event under the name of RELEASE THE WOLVES , which was a collaboration between various street artists and ROCKINGHAM ESTATE PLAY ASSOCIATION, MINT STREET ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND, OASIS ADVENTURE PLAY, GOTITAS DE SABOR AND PEMBROKE HOUSE COMMUNITY GARDEN. The various groups are all spread south-side across Southwark and Lambeth, and the misadventures culminated with a GRAND PRIX EXPO in the wreckage of the Heygate Estate. Each group spent the summer pimping up their GO-karts with various outlandish themes. The project which was a real labour of love by the organisers involved and was a huge success, which proves that goodness & the community spirit is still alive and well (at least in South London anyways).
Whitecross St party 2012
It was the third year that we participated in Whitecross Street Party. I think having been there from the start, I can honestly say that it just keeps getting better and better.There is just so much to do & it’s really family friendly with lots of activities for the little one’s. Although I am at our stall majority of the time over the two days, I did manage to see a few things like the fire breathing horse and my friends Brassroots performing on the new stage area on the Sunday.
I am sure we will back next year for more rising of the none-conformists!
Sweet Memories-Sweet Revenge
I really don’t need to say much this time, the photo’s explain it all!
It was all decks on hand when the Sweet Toof Sweet Revenge show was getting put up by the High Roller Society. The mammoth space in Hackney Wicks Colour Works building was transformed in to a “sweet delight” in the middle of the Olympics!!!!!
The preparation was immense and everything manged to get pulled together in the final stages, although I did feel really bad in pulling the big Blue shutters down on peering faces just when the show was meant to start! Sorry! They didn’t stay shut for too long though.
The most amazing thing about the show for me was to see all the great works made through the years under one roof. All the past pieces reminded me of the time and place when I had first seen them and the people that had been with me. Sweet memories of times gone by…….
Hope you enjoy the photo’s, and thanks to the High Roller Society and all those who helped with the show for letting me part of it.
Ax
You are here exhibition
London Framing Workshop presents:
You Are Here
You Are here is the second in the installment of the summer exhibitions brought to you by London Print Workshop.
Hackney Wick has been home for the swarm of young creatives descending into its raw industrial makeshift studios in the last decade or so. And has quickly become one of the biggest artist communities in London.
You Are Here celebrates this flourishing talent and diversity by showcasing five artists who practice/live in the “Wick” and explores their very individual and personal development within this close nit community. The various disciplines and subject matters are very personal in technique and style and range from the medium of painting, illustration, printmaking and street art.
Aida
A political refugee from the Middle East in the early 80′s, Aida describes herself foremost as a designer maker, a full time screen printer and a “some time educator.”
Having taken some time out from dressing Brick Lane’s Fashionistas with her label Brag, she’s set to concentrate on her fine art printing and independent production house “Aida Prints”
Since then, Aida has exhibited in various exhibitions with more major ones including Mutate Britain(One Foot in The Grove) in West London (2009). In 2011 completed a street art inspired print project with Safewalls, an art project set up by Cirque du Soleil. More recently she has showcased two major screen print releases at Pick Me Up (Contemporary Graphic Design) 2012, and just completed the Banger Art project alongside major international street artists with Nelly Duff which involved transforming an old car in to a piece of art.
https://www.facebook.com/Bragstarrs
Mantis
South African born artist Mantis has been a steady contributor to the urban and contemporary art scene for the last ten years.
He has exhibited internationally, showing numerous times in group shows with some of the worlds leading galleries from Los Angeles, Miami, Australia, Bangkok, Berlin, Italy and his current base in London. His First solo show “Altered State” in 2010 was in Hackney Wick’s very own derelict Lord Napier pub.
Mantis’s work reflects mostly on the social issues that confront us in our daily city grind and although full of hope it rides and questions on the darker edge of the social conscience. With his work, he asks that we enter into a new way of thinking and that we play the game of life with heart, pushing forward collectively in a positive and constructive new direction.
John Atherton
John Atherton attended Glasgow School of Art where he studied Graphic Design. He has worked in many design fields but more recently his work has a fine art direction. In his latest series of ‘unusual portraits’ his working process dictates the narrative of each piece, the subsequent gallery of historical, aristocratic freaks uses various techniques that include painting, screen-printing and collage.
Luke Moss
Luke received a diploma in Architecture from the University of Westminster in 2007. Having previously studied Fine Art at Byam Shaw and the Central School of Speech and Drama.
He currently works as a Robotics Engineer for the Shadow Robot Company.He has been exhibiting artwork in group shows for the last fifteen years under the pseudonym ‘Dybbuk’ and as part of the creative sound system ‘Hekate,’ in and around Europe including; Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
With a focus on the anthropomorphic interpretation of machines and objects, Luke’s painting could be described as narrative-driven Synthetic-Surrealism.
His drawing and design work stretches across numerous records, canvases, human skin and walls.
http://www.hekate.co.uk/LUKE%20MOSS/frontpageLuke.htm
Sweet Toof
You can’t miss Sweet Toofs recognizable pink fleshy gums and skull heads which are plastered onto almost every rooftop building as you enter and leave Hackney Wick, these iconic images have almost become the identity of the area.
Sweet Toof’s painting starts with and evolves out of his street art; whether as a solo graffiti artist or in collaboration with the esteemed Burning Candy crew.
Like the streets of 1980’s New York, an ever-increasing army of street artists of which Sweet Toof is one of the most prolific and artful today is reclaiming London’s streets.
Equally disciplined in traditional painting and printmaking techniques, Sweet Toof masterfully blends urban detritus with bygone decadence. Fusing ancient methods with modern materials, Sweet Toof’s imagery combines layers of historical and current cultural references to create unconventional, iconoclastic art that is at once both traditional and contemporary.
