NEW SHOW: EGO II

Logo by Alexi K, 2011

Mood Flag #13, Acrylic on canvas, 2011

For more details, go to:

http://www.ego-kit.blogspot.com/p/ego-2-photo-essay.html

NEW SHOW: 'EGO', Minerva Works, Birmingham UK, October 21st - 28th.

Logo by Alexi K, 2011

Here's a shot of one of my EGO pieces ( below ), in the middle of production. For in-depth details on these pieces, see the ESSAYS ON ART tab, at the top of this page.

Studio wall - spare cellotape..!

Here are the finished pieces:

Brazilian Mood Flag, Acrylic on canvas, 2011

Gambian Mood Flag, Acrylic on canvas, 2011

For more details of the show, and a photo journal, check out the dedicated show-blog at: http://ego-kit.blogspot.com/



NEWS: COFFEE LOUNGE SHOW EXTENDED FOR THE REST OF JULY!

For art and prices featured in the Coffee Lounge show, click on the COFFEE LOUNGE tab, above.

UNION JACK 'MOOD FLAG' - PROGRESSIONS

A single work-in-progress, acrylic on canvas, approx 2 ft by 3 ft.

( Scroll down and see if you can spot the changes from one stage to the next...on the other hand, those prone to headaches may want to look away..! )

Below is the final version...he says, tentatively..!

I wish I could remember which way was 'up'...

THREE'S COMPANY

I seem to design everything in sets of three, and even divide many of my paintings into three compositional elements. The paintings in this pic are currently spending the month apart for the first time: The two on the left - RIOT POLICE , and GREEN FIGHTER-JET - are currently on show in the art space below COFFEE LOUNGE, Navigation Street, Birmingham, and the one on the right - ARCHIPELAGO - is currently on show at ZELLIG, Digbeth, Birmingham, as part of the UNITED COLOURS OF BIRMINGHAM exhibition.

( See http://unitedcoloursofbirmingham.blogspot.com/ ).

BOX OF FLAGS - 1

My flags, originally, were intended to either stand alone as individual entities, or go together as a formation ( see below ), fitting together like LEGO bricks. Depending on the arranger's mood and sense of equilibrium, the set could look different each time. However, a friend pointed out that I needn't be restricted to just these formats...

BOX OF FLAGS - 2

...that instead they could be stacked like this, and stand in the middle of the floor.

BOX OF FLAGS - 3

I like it. The swatch effect at the side reminds me of DNA slides. Which of course, also goes with the idea of tribalism, territory and allegiance. 

BOX OF FLAGS - 4

'GREEN FIGHTER-JET' - Getting started

Being a fan of Futurism, and its obsession with vigorousness, conflict, and of existing purely in the moment, what better homage than a jet smashing through the sound-barrier? Lot's of lovely straight lines and sharp angles...

'GREEN FIGHTER-JET' - Colouring in

If you look closely, you can see my original drawing, under the roll of tape.

'GREEN FIGHTER-JET' - White lines

'GREEN FIGHTER-JET' - Green is good

Almost finished - just mixing the right shades of green.

'GREEN FIGHTER-JET' - Completed

Acrylic on 1m sq. canvas



GREEK MOOD FLAG - Intro

Throughout my work, I have been trying to reduce landscapes into the sparest constituent parts possible, so that ultimately, simply evoking a MOOD should put you right there. I am also a big fan of flags, and find it fascinating how a few blocks of colour can represent an entire nation. Somewhere in between the two ideas, I came up with the idea of a MOOD FLAG. In the modern world, people are more individualistic than ever. So why not declare yourself a 'territory'? And going further still, maybe a flag should represent your personality? So the idea is to create a 'snapshot', containing colours corresponding to your personality, background, and mood, capturing the essence of you in just one statement. This flag represents me, when I am in Greece, during the late summer.

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Mixing colours

You absolutely cannot do any painting referring to Greece, without using the most spectacular shades of blue. It's in the sky, on the buildings, on the national flag, and of course, in the sea.

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Getting started

Time to get the ruler out...

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Masking tape

I use simple cellotape for these particular canvases. I don't even need to 'fluff it up' on my trousers first, it seems to peel off easily. Not so on the more expensive canvases, where it would definitely be more difficult to peel off without making it less sticky, first.

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Liz's nail varnish

Around the same time that I was doing the painting, my studio neighbour Liz came over, and happened to be using the exact shade of yellow that I put in my work..!

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Close-up

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Detail

At a certain angle, I love being able to see the texture of the canvas, and the different heights of the paint.

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Masking tape

Some of my artist friends thought the actual tape I used, peeled off, then stuck to my wall, would make a great art installation. I beg to differ - it's just tape. Yes, it may look attractive and quirky. It may be a point of conversation for thirty seconds. But that still doesn't make it art..! That said, if the Arts Council think it's art, and want to give me a massive grant, then actually, yes, it is art. I take back what I said earlier.

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Top left corner, detail

GREEK MOOD FLAG - Close-up, top left corner

GREEK MOOD FLAG - COMPLETED

Acrylic on canvas. 20 inches x 16 inches. ( Canvas 1cm deep ).