Although there is still a month to go, our Christmas exhibition opens next Sunday.

I would make the usual excuses about why I haven't shown anything as yet but sometimes,

just sometimes it is not all my fault.

There are things that I am excited about and would like to show but I am unable to

The reason being that many are still being created as we speak.
They are all worth waiting for.

I am very excited about their arrival and I have seen many pictures of

"work in progress"

The finished artworks promise to be very special but they can't be shown in their entirety

until they arrive here in the gallery.

Until then I thought it worthwhile to show you some "teaser" pictures of some pieces that are still being created.

The first is by the artist Anne Bachelier.

This is to be a very special piece of art, she is creating a book.

I should first explain that the title for the exhibition is  "A Christmas Carol"

A theme taken from the famous book by Charles Dickens, a story that I have loved from the age of nine. Every Christmas I read it again and each time it still holds the same magic for me.

I think that it captures the spirit [or three] and the innocence of the occasion and with every reading it still makes me feel young again.

Stupid I know, but it makes me smile and think of better times when the world didn't seem as bad.

A time when Christmas was about magic.

For many years I have intended this book to be the theme for a Christmas show.

This year it is happening.

Anne Bachelier was one of the first artists that I approached to be involved.

Fortunately her imagination, creativity and ability far out exceeds my own, but the idea

excited her in the same way as it had me.
From our initial conversation we were comparing ideas and inspirations, it was exciting as I had someone who shared the same vision, plus the ability to make it happen.
These are the best days when running the gallery

Anne offered to create her version of the book

Not just a version illustrated by her but a very special childish version,

It was to be a "Pop-Up" book.

I am sure that the idea of something like that makes us all remember Christmas as a child.

The idea of something like that really excited me.

The perfect Christmas art, created by the perfect artist for such a task.

A Pop-Up book for adults.

The creation of the book has taken many months, and is still to be finished.

That she was prepared to attempt such a project is testament to her creativity and work ethos. 

Especially considering that this has been one of her busiest and most productive years with exhibitions back to back in many different countries.

But to know Anne you understand that she lives to create, she travels with her brushes and paints each and every day.

However the creation of this special book was so much more than painting,

It was creating paintings that were then cut by hand to fit and fold behind other paintings.

Also the whole book has been handwritten with her beautiful script,

In English I might add, which certainly must have been an enormous task.

[Of course not for myself, being multi-lingual and fluent in all languages, especially Cockney].

The thing that I find most amazing is that each page works as a "stand alone" painting.

Just because there has been so much work to do has not tempted her to cut corners or create

"throw away" images. She is treating the whole book as if it is one piece of art.

I eagerly await its arrival, when it does I will turn each page slowly.

This will be a once in a lifetime experience.

I can't thank Anne enough for taking the time and effort to indulge my passion for this project.

It speaks volumes about her, her generosity and willingness to help a friend.

I know that I will never own the book but what a wonderful present for the gallery.
I can't wait to show you the finished book,

I really do feel like a child awaiting the magic of Christmas.

Here at last is a small selection of sculptures that form the other half of our current exhibition.

They are by the artist Evelyne Galinski.

A year ago Evelyne contacted me asking would I be interested in seeing some of her sculptures?

She was traveling from France to deliver work to one of her many UK customers and she offered to call at the gallery before returning home.

After seeing a couple of images of her work I could never say no.

This sculpture was so good it was an opportunity not to be missed.

So, a couple of weeks later she arrived here at my doorstep.

She is one of those artists whose work has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

It is very complex yet at the same time very gentle and beguiling, there are stories to be told about Each unique piece of sculpture.

I am sure that my own interpretations of her work will differ from her own

But that is not important it is the emotion captured in her art that is so moving and personal,

That is important

I was really intrigued in the way her work was created

So on her visit here she showed me many pictures of the work in progress.

One image has been fixed on my mind ever since, it was a white hot sculpture with rain cascading upon it.

Well that is what I thought.

However, it was not rain but sawdust scattered in the air

Where the random flakes hit the hot surface of the ceramic it ignited and changed the surface.

I really wanted to have these images to show you as they were so dramatic,

Unfortunately for me Evelyne is in the progress of producing a book where the photographs will be Shown for the first time so I had to suffice with just a few close up shots of her working.

Her sculptures are sized from those just a few inches tall to others of a giant proportions.

Whatever the size the attention to detail is superb, they can only really be appreciated in the flesh.

There are details and shapes in area's that would not easily be seen

Unless the sculpture is rotated and viewed from every angle, unfortunately although

I am sure that can be done, I am unable to do that for you.

Hey! What do you expect I'm an aging man?

What I would really like to show you is just the raw emotion in each sculpture.

This is very hard to capture in a photograph but I have tried.

I can only say that my life is richer for having this work here with me for a short time.

It is all so dramatic and moving I just know that in the future

I will look back and feel amazed that I ever had this art here on display in "MY" gallery.

Perhaps I should keep one piece a prisoner to enjoy forever.

Under Pressure

I'm getting very behind.

We are having a few "back to back" exhibitions and everything is starting to blur a little.

Of course the art is totally different each time but the magazines and printers

work on a different deadline to me.

It seems that as soon as we have held the opening of one exhibition I am being chased for images

of our next exhibition, or I remember that I only have a few days to design

the invitation for the next show, which in my mind seems so far away as I am still so involved

with the current exhibition.

In reality it should not be too much of a problem, but on occasions the artist for a forthcoming

exhibition doesn't understand how far in advance I need information and pictures.

But, of course there are exceptions.

Rob Van Hoek

Is an artist that is one of those exceptions.

In fact he was "so far ahead of the game" I found myself trying to keep up with him. 

Although he is from Holland he is very collected here in the UK and America

Over two months ago he sent me small images of his new paintings so that I could have first choice

of his paintings for his exhibition with us.

My first thought was "this is going to make it easy for me".

But no!

Because I had lots of time I dithered about "umming and ahrring"

Should I go for this one or that one?

Meanwhile his collectors were buying.

Once I understood this I became more focused and made quick decisions.

Immediately Rob sent me "Hi Resolution" pictures in case I needed them.

This gives a small insight into how professional he is.

We have been showing Robert's art for a couple of years but this was to be his first exhibition with us.

I could not be happier.

The photographs just do not do justice to the paintings that arrived,

They are beautiful yet also different to the kind of art that I would normally want to show.

I can't put my finger on the difference but in a way I find them very sculptural.

This perhaps is because after finishing painting he then scratches though the paint to reveal the canvas.

In fact the details are actually the canvas revealed beneath the layers of paint.

The finished artwork has texture plus an almost a 3D affect.

Coupled with the simple innocence of the landscapes his technique is refreshing,

Very contemporary and beautiful.

The Titles!

I confess that in the past I have read the title of his paintings but then have struggled sometimes to make the painting fit the title.

Some are obvious others not so.

Then I learned that Rob plays music while he is painting, and it is the mood and atmosphere of the music that can decide the title of the painting.

It may be the title or just a few lyrics that then become the name of the painting.

I'm sure that we can all relate to that.

The way that music can make us happy or sad or can transport us to another time

memory or place.

 

I don't really need the titles

His paintings move me and my emotions.

This coupled with his professional manner has made this an [almost] easy approach to an exhibition.

Except that it put me in front for a couple of days so I decided to paint the gallery.

Big Mistake.

I am now behind as ever.

Also, Rob will be exhibiting alongside the sculptor

Evelyne Galinski

Whose work will arrive from France on Friday night, one day before the opening.

So it seems like it will be pressure as usual up to the wire.

I couldn't work any other way.

"Under Pressure"

Now isn't that a title of a song?

At last, although very  late in the day I am telling you about our new exhibition.

It is very late in the telling, as it opened today

Of course I have many reasons for being late, and they are totally true.
Honest!

It is a miracle that the artist Nom Kinnear has been able to produce an exhibition's worth of paintings.

This long desired exhibition was planned for earlier in the year until I received a call.

"Can we put back the exhibition for a later date, as I am having another baby"?

What could I say?

So the exhibition was set for a later date but it is still a miracle that it has happened.

With complications, Nom gave birth, and although she was told to rest she continued to paint whenever she could, which was not easy as also she has a young daughter to care for.

But, like all true artists she somehow continued to create whenever she could.
Here are a few of her creations.

As a result of her desire for perfection coupled with being a very busy Mother
I have been framing paintings whenever they were available.

Hence at 10.00pm on the night before the private view, I finished the very last.

We have been exhibiting her work for a long time now, but this is her first exhibition at our gallery.

Because of her circumstances we are now showing the best of her last years work. 

As you can see, her work is anything but normal.

She uses many different objects to be the "canvas" for her art.

For the beautiful painting above she has used the skin of on an Antique Tambourine. 

Below, the surface of a very old "Zither" harp.

Another painting is on the surface of a Mandolin.

I think it would be true to say that she is a very different artist. 

Her exhibition with us is titled 'Fallowmoor'.

Fallowmoor is a land of her imagination which is peopled by the figures in her paintings.

The paintings all link together and tell a story.

But although the images are from her imagination I have become to learn that some are based

Upon the features of very real people.

Including Nom and her own beautiful daughter.

Each time I talked with her I could see her face in a painting by her mother .

Although all very different each painting links to another.

However it has been the individual beauty of each piece that has captivated me.

I want to own them all, but of course I can't.

Because as I have been framing them they have been selling, which is the reason that I have shown nothing sooner.

I have been too busy framing them.

This is something which has been a difficult task, as I have wanted each frame to be different,
Yet, complimenting the painting.

I confess I have been dreaming about frames.

How sad can you get?

I tell myself "this must stop I have got to get a life".

Then I look at the beautiful framed paintings and realise that I do have a life.

A very fortunate life.

 What other job could give me so much pleasure? 

It has seemed that today every visitor has loved a different painting.

For many different reasons of their own

Above is my own favourite.

As with all of her paintings it has a long story to go with it, but I don't need to tell you that.

When Nom handed me the painting, saying "this is for the gallery".

My immediate response was

"This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen".

I haven't changed my mind since.

Short Film

Above is the short film of Anne Bachelier demonstrating at the opening of her new exhibition

Here at the gallery.

I have tried many times to show this but with no success

So if this doesn't work it is back to single pictures.

Last weekend we had the pleasure of a visit by the artist

Anne Bachelier

Anne was here to attend the opening of her second exhibition at Imagine Gallery.

She came with the company of her husband, organiser and chauffeur Claude

Who drove them both from the French Alps to our small village in England.

Excluding the time on the cross channel ferry it was a journey of 14 hours.

A sign of true love.

It must have been, as the weekend was the occasion of their 47th wedding anniversary.

Still, what better way to spend it than here in my gallery?

Well, I can think of other more romantic locations

But surely we must be a close second.

Not only did they arrive but we also had a visit from a couple of her good friends.

Her friend Philippe had come with the intention of making a short film of the exhibition.

This he did in his own very unobtrusive, very polite way [a lovely man]

It was to be made even more interesting as Anne had agreed to demonstrate her method of painting.

This she did, and to say that it was fascinating would be something of an understatement. 

I was determined to capture the procedure on camera.

Unfortunately I had many distractions and people to occupy my time so I was unable to record

it from start to finish.

What amazed me was how many times the painting was altered as Anne's idea's progressed.

The painting was not completed while Anne was here, but it was a pleasure to see the progression.

Luckily the process was recorded by Philippe, and today he has sent me a copy.

Unfortunately at the moment it is too large for me to include with this post

But I hope to show it in the next.

Meanwhile.

Here are a few of the snaps of "work in progress".

The painting is still to be finished.

I am sure that it is totally different to anything that she might create in her own studio,

Their she creates without distraction and her idea's are very private

She has spoken in a previous filmed interview that having people watching takes something away

From her art.

This I understand and I am very grateful that she took the time and had the patience

To share a little of her world with the people [and me] who visited.
Thank you Anne.

I have been in the "doldrums" for far too long but now I'm back.

Of course I appreciate that the world has not been waiting with baited breath, but still it bothered me.

The reason I have not been motivated to write is because of the bloody 'Brexit'.

The ramifications of what has happened has had me fixated with changing events and the news 

each day, I have been waiting to learn it was a great mistake.

It wasn't, we did it or half the country did and they have taken the rest of us down with them.

Just days before the referendum the 'Washington Post' predicted that it could not happen

A whole nation cannot be mad! They told us.

Of course the are not subjected to the shit that we are fed by our so called newspapers.

So it happened, and like so many people I have been in a state of shock.

Perhaps for too long.

We have a wonderful exhibition approaching that I have been busy preparing for,

I should be really happy.

I needed to forget what has happened and enjoy life.

So I did.

A few months ago Irene had purchased me a ticket to go and see my favourite band

Tears For Fears

At last the day of the concert arrived, and there I was just ten feet from the stage

With a few beers inside, having the time of my life singing along to every song.

Life was back on track. 

Now, I really am getting excited about our new exhibition.

Excited and nervous.

The artist is Anne Bachelier, one of my biggest art heroines, this is the reason for being nervous.

Although I know I should not worry because Anne would tell me

"I am just an artist".

But, of course it is always harder when you really admire someone.

I am not bothered for myself I just want Anne Bachelier to enjoy the exhibition,

Which of course makes me put unseen pressure upon myself.

To be honest, what can go wrong?

We have some fantastic paintings, drawings and mixed media that has arrived

From her studio in the French Alps.

All I have to do is put it on display.

Of course I can't make it that simple for myself I have to worry about something.

So I have.

First I worried about the frames I was making. Were the y good enough?

Then my design for the invitation! Could it be better?

The printer of the invitation! Is he an idiot?

The advertising! Should it have been more simple?

In what area's should I display the different work, should I keep oil paintings separate from the

mixed media?

Should I create a banner?

The list goes on and on, there is a lot to worry about and all of it in my mind.

At least I don't have to worry about the art, as usual Anne has sent some beautiful work.

This is amazing as she has just opened a major retrospective exhibition of her art at

'Chateau de Lavardens' in the south of France.

There she has managed to fill an entire castle with her paintings.

Yet, she still makes the time to create a new exhibition for us.

I have told her "This is impossible, you are only one women".

But, she lives to paint.

Also she is one of those rare people who delivers what she promises.

So despite the worries that I am still creating for myself I am becoming increasingly excited.

Her paintings all have such a strong narrative, and there is nothing I like more

than reading a story in a painting.

Perhaps this is why in the past she has been asked to illustrate several famous books.

Although I think it would be easy to create a book from just one of her paintings.

Evidence of this is the painting below which is the one I chose for advertising.

So if you would like to see some amazing art and have the opportunity to speak with the artist

This is the place to be in a weeks time.

Of course you can also ask me about Tears For Fears.

Just don't mention 'BREXIT'.