A Funny Old Job

Being a professional painter is a funny old job and if that's your calling you do find yourself in some curious situations.

ROI member Phillip James recalls the time when he was called in by a client to look at a problem they had with a watercolour portrait he has done of their children. The problem : "Our chidren have vanished! " . When Phillip saw the work  he observrd that the face of the boy had almost completely disappeared. A supernatural event? Faulty paints? No,quite simply, the family had hung  the picture in the conservatory and the sun had bleached out the colour.

Phillip was able to explain the fugitive nature of the medium, tinker with the boy's features and avoided giving a refund!  With future watercolours, Phillip says , he will put a warning on the back.

On another occasion he was painting en plein air on the Sussex Downs on a very hot day. An unexpected gust of wind  picked up the entire tripod easel and overturned the oil painting he had been working on all day. The picture  was virually complete and landed face down  in the field. Phillip was convinced the picture was ruined but his wife told him that, on the contrary,  the stubble and grit adhering to the paint made it a better picture! Phillip doesn't say if he has adapated this technique  for future work.

Phillip's paintings  is wonderfully atmospheric and painterly in style. Here are some examples of recent work, from him.

 

 

Upcoming Exhibition For ROI Vice President Ian Cryer

ROI Vice President Ian Cryer is currently engaged in Painting a series of paintings for an one man exhibition entitled "A year On Exmoor" . The exhibition which runs from May 6th to 1st of June 2013 at the Churchgate Gallery, Porlock, West Somerset. The show will feature more than 60  oil paintings  reflecting the life and landscape of this beautiful part of Somerset. This show follows a similar exhibition in 2001 called "A Year in West Somerset" at the Lynda Cotton Gallery, Watchet.

Ian Cryer said "I love a big challenge or theme to work on, it really focuses my energies and I am finding no shortage of idea's and inspiration on the moors and in the sheltered villages of West Somerset. "

Powerful Exhibition for Naomi Alexander ROI

 

After 6 months at The Museum of Florida, Naomi's exhibition, Once Upon a Time in Lithuania, has come to an end. It was not a selling exhibition but it has become political due to its subject of Jewish homes and killing fields of Lithuania.

 

Naomi writes: " I have been caught up in two different histories...one is rewriting history...in Lithuania. It became very unpleasant for me....and I will not go into details. It is next to be seen at the Shipley Art Gallery and Museum , Gateshead , in June 2013, and no doubt will carry on because of its nature!

 

"It has previously been shown in Leicester University, Lithuanian Embassy, London Jewish Cultural Centre and The Vilna Gaon State Museum in Lithuania, where I informed the American Ambassador ( for two hours) and the British Ambassador of the situation of Jews  before the Holocaust in Lithuania. It became a big event as I was also on state TV and radio. I am now preparing for a new residency....Art Deco in Miami in conjunction with UNESCO World Heritage City,Tel Aviv, Modernism and Bauhaus. "

 

 

Naomi's book Once Upon A Tim in Lithuania, published by David Paul books is available on Amazon via this link:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Lithuania-Naomi-Alexander/dp/0954848217/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350382013&sr=8-1

You can see more of Naomi's work on her web site: http://www.naomialexander.com/

 

ROI Masterclass Event

Yesterday more than 50 people attmeded the annual ROI masterclass event held at the Picturecraft Gallery in Holt North Norfolk. There were splendid demonstrations by ROI members David Curtis and Roger Dellar and the gallery also hosted a small exhibition of ROI members work, Here are some pictures from the day.

Inspiring Film

Provisional ROI member Adebanji Alade is featured in a new 9 minute documentary on his life as a compulsive sketcher. It's a great film which you can view below.

Tim Benson at Kensington Gore Art Fair

Tim Benson ROI will be exhibiting a number of small paintings at the 20/21 Art Fair in Kensington Gore with Panter and Hall Gallery from Thursday 13th until Sunday 16th September. For more details please click on the following link. http://www.britishartfair.co.uk/

Last Chance for Tickets For ROI Masterclass

Sales for the forthcoming Masterclass at Picturecraft in Holt, Norfolk, have been selling well but there are still some seats available. This is a wonderful opportunity to watch two of the master demonstrators of the R.O.I. David Curtis and Roger Dellar paint for the day on Sunday Sept 30

Last years Masterclass was a great success and many were sorry to have missed it.

The tickets include both demonstrations, a grand picnic lunch, free draw for a painting, a fully stocked Art shop with discounts on materials.

So now is your chance to grab the last of the tickets by telephoning Picturecraft on 01263 711040 today to get full information of the day and book your place.”