PAINTERCOM

Today The Metro featured an artist on page 3. There were a number of points that were particularly interesting to me, not just because I’m an artist (failing). Sarah Graham, the featured painter, is from Hitchin, Herts, I am from Stevenage, the new town next door neighbour. We went to the same University, De Montfort in Leicester, she graduated the year before me (only because I dropped out ‘to find myself’ for three years) 2000, we never spoke.

Sarah never painted sweets and toys at Uni she did beautiful portraits in a wide-screen format, transforming everyday people (friends) into something canny and strangely familiar if only in the same sense that we feel closer to a films characters as the story unravels.

Sarah would have been aware of Greg Hertault in the year above and James Ingall in my year, the year below, both of whom painted large-scale photo-real toys. To say that the artist had been slightly disingenuous to cite Warhol as an influence would be too harsh, he’s well known, it sounds good and there’s a link (albeit a tenuous one), but to not name drop Richard Patterson and Jeff Koons suggests she may be trying to cling on to a perceived sense of originality that happily skirts around the idea of selling out. A theory nicely rounded off from the original copy here:

“Now Miss Graham has been signed up by Washington Green Fine Art Publishing, which has released a series of limited edition canvases of her work.”

God that makes me angry, not bitter but angry. Firstly I think printing reproduction four colour work on canvas is not just a sell out, it’s a trite cop out (But Bret, the consumer will vote with their wallets!… of course the ‘informed’ consumer will). Secondly any sense of Hyper-realism or Irony is lost in reproducing it. The “joke” should be ‘Aha… it’s not a photograph, it’s a painting. How wonderful, how ironic.’ and entirely for the viewer at no cost whatsoever. But now the joke is “Ho, ho… those idiots have not just bought a tacky reproduction print on canvas, but its a reproduction print of a painting of a photo on canvas.” and not only is the joke for the Washington Green Fine Art Publishing and Miss Graham but the revenue generated is as well.

I may post at a later date the details of why artists aren’t as good as cameras, CMYK prints never replicate art well and why anyone that prints on canvas should be shot, but if I calm down I probably wont.

“The International Olympic Committee has expressed its serious concern and calls for a rapid peaceful resolution in Tibet,” Mr Rogge said.

He condemned the attempts to disrupt the torch relay, saying violent protests, “for whatever reason,” are “not compatible with the values of the torch relay or the Olympic Games”.

As the BBC reports it, it seems IOC President, Jacques Rogge, condems violent protests but immediately calls for “a rapid and peaceful resolution in Tibet,”. I have no doubt that nothing would have been said had the nature of the protests been less provoking, equally I fear that the horse will have bolted by the time the IOC realise China wont listen to them either… silly boys.

Yes, not one but two blogs. Equally surprising today I learnt that my girlfriend unwittingly owns a one off original by Pietro Psaier from 1965, also know as “Peter the Italian” by his on/off boyfriend of ten or so years Andy Warhol. He was apparently the engine of Warhols factory and the skillful one of the two.

What is possibly more amazing is that no-one we know has heard of him, but in the last month there has been a major retrospective of his in london followed by an auction.

I had assumed that the gf had already researched the piece and artist so I never really bothered to look into it. I also assumed it was a second rate Warhol in some kind of art school appropriation thingamybob but it seems to be better than that, I now look at it in a completely different light and even quite like it. Who knows, after I get it valued on Friday I may even love it. Is that wrong?

Ha It will hang opposite my Hung in my extensive collection containing Cornelia Parker, James Ingall (get in touch you tart!), Stewart Evans, Sean Parfitt, Gilbert and George and my own touches of class.

“I always said my taking part in the procession doesn’t mean I condone China in any way”

Wonderful words from the ex Blue Peter presenter, Konnie Huq. Of course we’d all like to enjoy a free ride courtesy of our criminal friends now and again, turning a blind eye whilst simultaneously quaffing the breast milk of attention, fame and money… stupid girl!

The Olympic torch carry on was the best bit of entertainment I’ve seen in quite a while, it should be an Olympic event or, at least, a west end musical. I even enjoyed the novelty of seeing my flat as the procession passed. Perhaps we could let Zimbabwe host the football world cup so long as Mugabe stays in.

Nothing for three weeks then a small burst of imput as flaccid as cold Pot Noodle. I guess I have moved and been on holiday since, all that with no home internet… Until now! Prepare for some venting.

I’ve decided to see if i can maintain a blog if only for the experience of playing with WordPress.