Meet Wilfred

 

 

I love "Art in the Park". The beautiful, if somewhat yellow, Jephson Gardens, are filled with stalls. Each of those stalls is manned by an artist selling their wares. All the hand-made creativity you could want, in a small(ish, it's getting bigger) space in Leamington Spa. 

Now, I know it's possible to spend a lot of money here. There is everything from ridiculously cheap cards (I stock up for Christmas) to serious paintings and sculpture costing well into four figures. I'm not in that market, but I do have a modest budget I'm willing to spend each year, as regular readers will know. 

There is also weird food on offer. My rule is that I should try something new each time, and this year I scoffed street food glazed duck. From a stand with a particularly muscular lucky cat. 

OK, dessert was (again) the toastie version of millionaire's shortbread from Jabberwocky, but it's sooooo nice. 

The weather was on the side of the organisers. Dry, sunny, but not quite as hot as it has been recently. The crowds were out in force, I just hope the artists did well. Standing there all day with everyone judging your efforts isn't going to be easy. You have to keep smiling, even when they are just tyre-kicking. 

Anyway, I blew a small part of my budget on a little creature that leapt out at me from the Clay Pidgin stand. My usual method of doing this event is to go around twice. Anything that has stuck in my head by the second visit, is a contender for my cash. Not this time though, Christina Callaghan was setting up and I dived in. No idea why, I just liked it. 

Wilfred, as a friend has named him, is a porcelain figure with several different glazes. The comb and lips are smooth, the rest textured. I think there is a hint of SuperLambanana about him. Apart from that, I really don't know why I like this little figure, but I do, and that's all art needs. Maybe it's a little bit mad, but then so am I. 
 

Sea Lion painting

OK, I'm a sucker for one particular Groudle Glen Railway engine. When I saw this painting of the best steam engine in the world on eBay, I managed to resist, for a couple of weeks. Week three, and £25 later, it was mine. 

The watercolour may be slightly "naive", as the art world might say, but there is a lot right about it. The proportions of the loco, and the perspective for a start. Distorted round parts are a mark of the less-than-able artist painting or drawing a steam engine. OK, hiding the wheels helps, but I don't think artist John Beckett has done a bad job. At least the rivet counters will have fun with the bufferbeam! I'm pretty sure the scene is near Lime Kiln Halt too, where a track comes down off the hillside. 

I can't find anything about Mr Beckett online, so I'm guessing he's a talented amateur rather than an important, named artist. To me, this doesn't matter if I like what he has produced, and I do. 

At 42cm x 34cm, and very nicely framed (the price is worth it for the frame alone), should I ever own somewhere suitable to hang it, at least finding wall space won't be too much of an issue.  

Taking photos of artists

It was Leamington's annual "Art in the Park" festival last weekend. I always buy something relatively small, and not too expensive, because I like owning things that a real person has produced. There is a connection between artist and work that really speaks to me. 

This year, the addition to my collection is a small, ceramic cat. 

For the last few years, when I buy a piece, I like to grab a photo of it with the artist. To me, it helps cement the connection between the person who has made the item, and the piece itself. 

A couple of years ago, the pick was this drawing of a Lemur.  

On a recent trip to the Isle of Man, some flowers made from giant pipecleaners. 

And in Lisbon, this drawing of a tram. 

 

I know most of the subjects look a little bemused, but they are talented people, who are quite modest about their skills. I think it's important to fill the internet with these photos, rather than talentless idiots, as it is at the moment. 

I'll keep doing this. OK, I'm not a big art collector. Neither money or space allows me to be that, but my little collection is enhanced by the photos I feel. 

How about everyone else? Do you enjoy the connection between creative and their creation? And yes, I do mean model railways, as well as art. 

This years Art in the Park haul

A couple of weeks ago, it was time for "Art in the Park", Leamington's celebration of arty types and the things they make. Obviously, I went a long as I love this stuff, and came away with a couple of items which I think you'll like. 

First up, a Hare from Ros Ingram Ceramics. I have another piece from Ros, a small fox, that I won on the tombola last year. At the time I didn't know who the artist was, but as soon as I saw her work on the stand, that question was answered. 

My approach with art is simple, I look at it, and then go for a wander around the event. If it's still in my head when I get back to the stand, then I have another look, and if it's within budget for the day, I'll be bringing it home. 

The only problem with the Hare was which pose? The version with his ears back looked lovely, but in the end, it was ears up that I couldn't get away from. He's now safe in the the display case, but for a couple of days, sat beside the computer looking up as me very sweetly. 

Now, Ros runs courses to teach others how to work the clay, and I have the leaflet on my wall. I think I'd enjoy having a go. 

The second buy was this piece from Baobab Tree Mosaics. I'm sure to some people this wouldn't count as proper "art", but every time I look at it, it makes me smile, and that's good enough for me. The 13cm diameter dome is hand made, and mosaic'd in shiny blue tiles, plus those eyes. 

I've fitted it to the display case behind me as my supervisor when working. He is called "Bob". You can see himn in Teams calls with me, although no one has yet.

Maybe this year, I didn't learn a new skill, but I did answer the question, "What is a burrito" with the answer "Delicious, and filling". And I have a couple of hand-made items that make me happy.

Lacquer the lobster!

 

While down at the RMweb members day earlier in the year, I enjoyed the Metal Head sculptures, by local artish Steven Heard.

There is a trail you can follow - using this map - if you are in the area. It's well worth it, as these are brilliant. 

Anyway, I was admiring some animals outside the town Internet Cafe, and they owner told me that Steven was appearing at a craft show in the next building!

Off I trotted, and there he was, along with some other work he'd produced. Well, this seemed like a good time to do a bit of present shopping, since I know my Mum loves this sort of thing. She also loved lobster, so the choice of subject was easy. 

Best of all, I was able to grab a photo of the man himself with the lobster. 

The only problem is, this needs to live outside. So, once it had been handed over, I promised to give it a bit of weather protection. 

Spraying lacquer onto metal isn't a great idea if it's cold and damp. Hence the delay of many weeks while I waited for the sun to come out. When it did, the lobster sunbathed on the garden table to get the metal nice and warm, then half a can of Halfords' best was applied in several coats, being sure to protect the nooks and cranies. 

I know this won't last forever, the lobster will still rust, but hopefully more slowly. 

You can read more about the Metalheads project here. 

Ships on the rock

Wandering around Ramsgate at what appeared to be considered late on a Friday evening, I searched for a postcard to send to a friend. Despite being a seaside town in the high season, and it not quite being 7pm, everywhere was shut apart from a dodgy newsagent/general store where I purchased my breakfast from for the next day. (Swiss roll since you ask. It was the best option sadly).

Anyway, walking past an art gallery, I spotted cards and they were open.

My luck was in, they were open for the launch of a new exhibition, so as well selling me a couple of cards, a glass of prosecco was thrust into my hand.

Mooching around and drinking my wine, I was really taken by may of the objects on sale. I like a bit of art and the stone above just leapt out at me. There were three to chose from but I like the colours in this, almost like a sunset.

 It might look like a pebble that someone has drawn on, but I love it. I like the simplicity and effectiveness of the drawing. I like that it is signed by the artist - Juanita Newton.

I also like that I knew I had space for it in a display cabinet and that I could own such a thing for a fiver. Something unique and made by a real person.

Chatting to owner Suzy Humphries about art and more importantly, the joy of making things, my eye was drawn to several other goodies and I eventually left with a couple of Christmas presents. The pottery fish didn't come with me as I simply can't think where they could go, and the stunning glasswork was just too much for my pocket even though the price was very reasonable.

If you find yourself in Ramsgate, head to the Nice Things gallery on Harbour street. It's a real jewel in the centre. 

L.Cornelissen & Son

 

Wander around our capital city and you'll be disappointed by the lack of model shops. It seems that shops selling buttons can thrive (there are 2 more), try and flog conventional model making stuff and you'll run out of money very quickly. (4D Models don't count, they are trading to designers and students).

That doesn't mean there is nothing interesting, we just have to be imaginative. A couple of weeks ago, I was wandering the streets and tripped over L.Cornelisson & Son. The shop proclaims them to be artists colourmen. I think that means they sell the ingredients for art paints. 

With time to spare, I had a look inside and what a delight. The basic fittings appear to date back to their founding in 1855 and could come of of the BBC cupboard marked "Victorian Shop". 

The stock is just as interesting. As expected, there are ingredients for colours, something I don't think I have ever seen before. Jars of powders which I assume are to be mixed up. If that's too much trouble, and I'm not sure why you'd bother, then pre-mixed paint is also on sale. I spent quite a long while considering the range of metal colours and wondering if they would be any better then the ones I already have in stock. 

In the window there is a press for printing etchings along with the tools and equipment for making them along with lino cutting. I also spent time looking at gravers since Odds seems to think they are invaluable and on that basis I want one. 

As it was, I enjoyed 20 minutes browsing and left with three more brown pencil crayons for my collection. Pathetic really, but I'll be back. This is one of those shops where you want to try some of the techniques just so you can buy the tools and materials in an informed way. The staff are ever so helpful, one was advising someone on calligraphy pens and materials which sounded fascinating, that being informed should be easy.

One thing that has moved with the times, the shop has an extensive website with on-line shop. Visiting in person is much more fun though.

Watercolour of the week: Lifford Lane Kings Norton

 

No, not a new feature on the blog, it's just that I spotted this lovely image by Frank Taylor Lockwood on the  Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery website and thought I'd share it with you.

More detail on the BM&AG website.

Mystery Artist

Christopher Bell asks: I live on the west coast of Canada and a long time ago I acquired a painting of an older English yard locomotive (puffy?) pulling a few cars and it is signed either Phil Packer or Phil Parker and I wonder if you are the artist or know who might know who the artist is?

I can certainly help with the locomotive. It's a Fowler 3F "Jinty".  In the painting it appears to be hauling milk tanks in the snow. The number, 47662, would suggest that the scene is in BR days. Thanks to the Internet, I can even find a photo of this very loco working as a station pilot at Lancaster.

The artist is more of a problem. It's not me for a start. While I'm pretty handy with a paint brush on 3D things, in 2D, despite lessons, I have negligible talent.

Google doesn't help much either, no Phil Packers or Phil Parkers appear as artists.

My feeling is that we have a reasonably talented amateurs work. However, does anyone out there know better?

I'm no art expert so maybe Mr Packer/Parker is a named artist somewhere or maybe you have one of his paintings hanging on your wall. I can't imagine this is the only canvas he painted so there must be more somewhere. Answers in the comments section please.

Art for Engineers

 

 

Yesterday's post ended with a cutaway illustration showing a railway breakdown crane. It was found on the Illustration Art Gallery website which also features the above image of the original Advanced Passenger Train design by Leslie Ashwell Wood.

 

I've spent far too long already today digging through this site. If finances allowed, there would be a few technical pictures winging thier way to Parker Mansions to build a collection that would be a lot more interesting to look at than a lot of stuff in art galleries.

 

Now, if I could find one of the pictures from the Ladybird Commercial Vehicles book...