New Materials New Opportunities

One of the joys of being an artist is that you get to try new materials and mediums I can't help but get a little excited at the prospect of exploring the possibilities of my new acrylic inks. When I work away from my studio I require a more portable medium that will allow me to do some quick pen and ink sketches and at the same time completed pieces with the same intensity of colour which acrylic paints allow me to achieve. Humping a whole load of canvas, paints and associated brushes, pallet knives, varnishes and other materials is just sometimes not possible, or convenient.

I also want to revisit the style of my New York Sketches which were quick little studies completed on street corners in Manhattan in 5 or 10 minutes. I love the fun, naivety and freshness of these and will try to emulate this with views of London. The added advantage is that I can work in a fresh watercolour style too. My first finished work is a painting of a landscape at sunset, which for a first effort I'm very pleased with.

You can follow all of my art and progress at my website where you'll find many pieces of contemporary art across a range of price points. Affordable art direct from the Artist.

www.simonsgallery.com

How Long to Commission a Painting

In this instance over 10 years! My client had seen some of my abstract paintings at an exhibition over ten years ago and had promised that when she bought her first home she would treat herself to a piece my art. Sure enough having got on the property ladder this year she found me via google, we exchanged a few emails to discuss size, style and colour and 2 weeks later she has fulfilled her promise to herself.

This large red abstract painting now adorns the walls of her new home, and she is over the moon with it. Some promises are definitely worth keeping. Each painting tells it's own individual story and in this case it's a long one.

www.simonsgallery.com

Sailing Away

Small abstract paintings for all you sailors out there

 

I love painting these small abstract sailing paintings, they are bright and cheerful pieces to enhance a small space or make great gifts for all you sailors out there. For me they also serve another purpose. They allow me to explore shapes colours and tones before committing myself to larger works. You can find these on my website and for £45.00 which includes international delivery further proof that original art really can be affordable.

www.simonsgallery.com

Art materials from fire

I just can't help but be pleased with myself this morning. Fed up with ordering sticks of charcoal for my art at ridiculous prices I decided to make my own and what a success. It's really simple to do and exceptionally satisfying. All you need is a buscuit tin some twigs and a fire. Having had the tin in for about 3 hours here are the results.

I shall be using these in my next set of abstract seascapes which make fantastic little gifts or just bring a touch of colour to that small space.The other additional advantage of course is that you get to eat a whole load of chocolate biscuits too, doubley satisfying :0)

www.simonsgallery.com

I Love Marmite

Love it or hate it (as the advertising goes) these bright fun iconic PopArt paintings will certainly attract attention. I love creating these images they are the paintings which people cannot walk past without passing comment. These are certainly pieces of art with a huge Wow factor.

For the next few weeks I'll be up to my knees in Marmite as I create a large 60x60 inches painting of this iconic British brand, made up of 9 individual segments. Available to buy individually or as one large artwork you can build up your piece of art over time, limit yourself to three or four pieces, or buy all nine segments together. You can watch my progress on my popart page.

Popart Gallery - @ simonsgallery.com

Eros Piccadilly London Painting

 

Eros Piccadilly

My Latest London painting of Eros in Piccadilly Circus, a colourful center piece reflecting the vibrancy of London 2012.

Someone once told me that if ever you lost someone if you stood in Piccadilly Circus for the rest of your life you would eventually find them again as everyone visits Piccadilly at least once in their lives. An intriguing thought. Personally I'd use facebook or google them :0)

Eros, the Greek god of love and sexual desire (the word eros, which is found in the Iliad by Homer, is a common noun meaning sexual desire). The Roman equivalent was Cupid..... ooo....er!

www.simonsgallery.com

London Tube Map Painting

 

London Underground

Original London Painting by Simon Fairless

I had considered creating this as a more abstract piece leaving out the station names and other details. When I was painting it however I realised that this was going to hang probably in a London Flat and it might be useful to include the station names.

I've used it myself planning a journey before leaving for London and it's probably the most useful London Painting you're ever likely to own. It is a stunning piece even though I say so myself and and I'm happy to have it hanging in my home at the moment. I have considered carrying it around the tube network using it to guide me through London, it would raise a few eyebrows I'm sure as I got my not so convenient map out! I hope you enjoy a design classic which it certainly is with a twist of Simon Style.

View more great art at: www.simonsgallery.com

Less is More

How much information can you subtract from a photograph and still have it recognisable as a powerful iconic image of London?.... the answer seems to be a lot. In my latest London Painting I took my original photographic image on the left and created a two tone powerful popart styled  image of St Pauls, as seen from the OXO Tower.

Painted in contemporary cream and brown this is a stunning painting a timeless image for 21st Century Living in London. More of my paintings and artworks can be seen at:

www.simonsgallery.com

London View

My latest commission was created as a retirement gift, a view of London looking towards Tower Bridge from the river Thames. Whilst painting it i realised just how many landmarks there are in this view. Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, Canon Street Station, BT Tower, Thames Barges, St Pauls, The Monument & St Katherines Dock. Quite a collection worthy of a painting.

Tower Bridge the painting

Original Photograph

The client... well they simply loved it, and that gives me the greatest pleasure of all, to create something memorable for a special occasion. You can commission your own view, or see more of my works at www.simonsgallery.com

It's what you don't see that makes the difference

Let's face it modern cameras can make most people look good, but it's often what you don't see that makes the difference.

Very often I'll wait for hours in the same spot just waiting for the light to be right or for a bus to move ionto the field of view, or out of it, or a crane to move. Here's a good example.

I waited for an hour on Waterloo Bridge for the light to change to take my first shot, 2 minutes later the light had gone and so had the shot. Whilst I was waiting several people walked past and were snapping away. They all missed their opportunity.

It makes a great deal of difference to plan the shot properly and if you're wondering how I manage to take such good images, well now you know, patience and planning and whilst you can get lucky by beng in the right place at the right time, the more often you put yourself there and the more patience you have, the luckier you get.

View from Waterloo Bridge

2 minutes later

For this shot of Battersea power station I waited 8 weeks! To get the reflection I had to wait for a high tide on the Thames and this had to coincide with a clear weather window with little or no wind to avoid ripples in the water. In addition I'd calculated at which time of year the sun would be at the correct angle in order to create the reflection and not to place the building in shadow or silhoette.

 

Battersea Power Station

So next time you wander past a man with a camera in London who's still there an hour later staring at the same view, waiting for the light to change.. say hello it could be me!

www.simonsgallery.com