Spring Blossom

The first warm days of spring have brought the blossom out here at simonsgallery.com Mixing the splash art style in a more controlled manner with the floral theme these blossom paintings just seem to work.

The inspiration came while cycling through the Great Park in Windsor one morning as the first flush of spring blossom lit up the hedgerows. I wasn't sure I'd be able reproduce the essence of what I saw, but I'm very pleased with the way these work, a great blend of style and theme and very satisfying for an artist.

I'm looking forward to experimenting with different colours and these paintings just seem to work perfectly reflecting the colours of the season against clear blue skies. They certainly are a great focal point for any modern interior design.

simonsgallery.com - art direct from the artist

Unique Art for you

Creating unique art from your images.

Commissioned for a client in Hong Kong who sent me an image from their vacation in Vancouver Canada, ( right) As I began to construct this piece I realised how challenging it would be. Getting the tones correct and working in such detail especially reaching into the middle of a large painting wasn't easy but the result was certainly worth it. I think I captured it well and as a result created a very powerful piece with a huge wow factor.

I'm always happy to create art to suit your needs, if you have an idea or some images you want me to work from, I'll help you to personalise your art and create something special and unique for you.

simonsgallery.com

art direct from the artist

Getting Framed

By way of adding further value to my art I've begun to add some simple frames to my paintings. I have always finished off my pieces around the sides ensuring that all of my work is ready to hang, and this is an additional enhancement to that process.

I often look at other artists work and find myself disappointed with the lack of finishing that goes on. Often their work is not finished around the sides, is unvarnished and just has a look of carelessness. It's almost as if they are trying to do the least amount of work for the most amount of money!

I have always felt that if someone is going to spend their hard earned money on my art, the least I can do is make sure it is ready to hang straight from the box. I spend a lot of time making sure my work is finished to the highest standards and framing some of my paintngs is just a way of furthering this process without adding any additional cost to my clients.

 

simonsgallery.com

real art direct from the artist

London Frieze - an artists perspective

The moment you buy you're ticket you know what this fair is all about... £34.40 which includes a booking fee and a transaction fee, yes it's all about money. 70,000 visitors around £2.4 million in entrance fees and that's not counting exhibitor fees and sponsorship. It's about being seen and being able to show that you can afford to be seen. If you're still unsure a £30 catalogue and more security than Heathrow leaves you in no doubt.

Then you realise there is a lane for VIP's and it's very apparent you're not in it as very pretty people dressed in black point you in the opposite direction to those that are obviously better than you, oops sorry I mean richer. You are a plebian and can't afford to be on that side of the rope, and presumably it's for the coffee tables of our betters the £30 catalogue is destined.


Then there is the art. There were some thoughtful , well crafted, sometimes amusing great pieces on show and it was worth a visit to enjoy these. Unfortunately they were somewhat overwhelmed by the 80% of badly created, not finished, little thought out works that dominate. A chain hung from a ceiling with sunglasses stuck to it, a bannister jutting out of the wall, and some tights filled with sand hanging out of a bowl are the kind of works that leave me cold, and as for the four people with their heads poking through a black cotton sheet with four holes cut in it, well it's plainly not my kind of art.

Okay I get it the controversial aspect is supposed to make you think. So I've thought.... so what. When you actually get close to the vast majority of badly produced paintings, chairs with a post-it note on, piles of brica-brac, rocks, old crates and other bits of evereyday rubbish masquerading as art you realise that the formula is really very simple, for most of the artists at least. Expend the absolute minimum amount of effort to achieve the highest price.

This article is for all us hard working artists who produce good pieces of art at reasonable prices that we labour over so as to make the damn thing look perfect for our clients. It's for those artists who clearly have a huge amount of skill and create beautiful objects and paintings, art, which is often hidden by the obvious tat that surrounds it.

It's not rocket science in any other industry badly produced trash would not survive, but because it's labelled art the art establishment get away with it.

So if you are an Oligarch or have just received your financial bonus and can afford some of this dross, wouldn't you be better off demonstrating you had real taste and buy some art from real artists who can demonstrate that the sole purpose of their passion isn't just to rip you off.

simonsgallery.com

real art direct from the artist

The Importance of Remembrance

REMEMBRANCE - Zachor

A client asked me if I would create a painting which would encompass the act of remembrance, for an annonymous donation to the Jewish Military Museum which is moving to Camden, London. In July 2013 I presented my finished painting to Lord Sterling, in front of an audience of AJEX members - The Association of Jewish Ex Servicemen.

This is for all of those who have fallen, and for those left behind.

Follow the link below to read a full and detailed description as to why I created this work and it's significance to the act of remembrance.

simonsgallery.com - "remembrance"

Is art on the High Street dead?

 

 

I hear a great deal of people complaining about their High Street and lack of variety, one high street is the same as the other these days. Some of these same people buy cheap prints and mass produced artwork on ebay, and cheaply created art from Asia and Africa whilst on vacation and then wonder why their local gallery has closed.

There will always be a place for a well run gallery on or around the High Street. However with the high cost of retail space and the growth of online shopping they are becoming thin on the ground. What we're left with is high priced limited edition prints from celebrities masquerading as artists. In truth it's just a way for art publishing houses to make a great deal of money from celebrity culture.

It's not all bad news though, more artists and galleries have an online offering, and if you're buying art direct from the artist on his or her website it is considerably cheaper than doing it through a physical gallery which adds 40% commission on top. There is more variety too, webspace online is unlimited to display artworks whereas in a physical gallery you only have a limited wall space.

Visit my website www.simonsgallery.com to see what I mean, there's more original artwork available on this site than most physical galleries are able to offer and as it's art direct from the artist, many of the pieces are well within reach of most peoples budgets.

 www.simonsgallery.com

Complimentary Art

 "Autumn Mosaic II" 20x20 inches

Commissioned to compliment one of my earlier pieces of art this abstract painting is full of texture and the vibrant colours of fall. I was asked by the client who had purchased an earlier painting to create a complimentary piece of artwork for their home in the USA. Painted in the same style as the earlier work, this has a little more red in it and reflects a carpet of leaves on a crisp autumn morning.

I'm always happy to create art to suit your unique living space, if you have an idea or some images you want me to work from, I'm always happy to help you personalise your art for your living space.

www.simonsgallery.com

 

Making Art Special

Commissioning a piece of art gives you the opportunity to own something extremely special. Recently I finished a painting for a client which demonstrates how you can help create something very personal to you.

The client supplied me with a photo their children holding hands which was lovely, We agreed that showing the view from Parliament Hill across the London cityscape was important to this piece. Using photoshop I combined one of my images of the London Cityscape from Parliament Hill with their original photo.

The result is a beautiful painting, which is extra special to them, incorporating a superb view of London from Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath.

www.simonsgallery.com

Understanding Drip Art

The renowned artist Jackson Pollock was the creator of this style, and I can't help but feel his influence when using this technique.

When creating these pieces I try to look passively and receive what the painting has to offer as it develops and not to bring a subject matter or preconceived idea of what I'm trying to achieve. It can look haphazard and random, however to achieve a balance across the whole painting with many layers is actually quite difficult. Manipulating the paint in the direction you wish the painting to go is actually quite challenging, sometimes the painting wins, more often than not it's a draw. A combination of where the painting leads and where I managed to influence it.

These paintings don't not come from the easel. I prefer to lay the canvas horizontal, on the floor, this way I can walk around it, working from all four sides. This enables me to create a balanced work being able to apply paint from all directions. I use hardened brushes, pouring techniques and syringes to apply the paint with a fluidity which wouldn't be possible using a conventional upright surface and tools. Each layer is also applied at varying stages of drying to further add complexity to the process.

I hope you enjoy them, they're great fun to create and can bring a huge impact to a room.

www.simonsgallery.com

Art to make you smile

I guess it's okay to like your own paintings, sometimes I create art that just makes me smile. It's all in the title and these abstract still life paintings have a real sense of fun to them. Cheese and wine... well to be honest mostly wine :0) A perfect addition to your art collection they will look fantastic in a kitchen or dining room.

we're going to need bigger glasses!

5 bottles 2 glasses no problem!

2 bottles each that should do it!

www.simonsgallery.com