the allotment fair Posted Sunday, 6th of December

am currently working on an oil painting and the preparatory drawing is below. The painting is based on an event at my mum’s allotment.

As the growing season nears its end the members organise an “Allotment show”. Quite a jovial affair. They pitch a large marquee, have a jumble sale and sell cake. At least thirty varieties of cake. So much cake!

The culmination of the show is the grand prize giving for the finest fruits and vegetables. They have the usual categories, ‘Largest pumpkin’, ‘Best onions’ and so on. Each winner is presented with a small trophy and large applause. No better way to while away a late summer afternoon.



Drawing note:
I really struggled to make the child at the rear column come alive. I was looking for somewhere between “Butter wouldn’t melt in the mouth” as a first impression, then on closer inspection “Precocious little bastard”. The subtleties of this contrast eluded me. I finally discovered a child painted by Michelangelo on the wall of the Sistine Chapel, and he appeared to have what i was lookng for. Interestingly the child was frozen in purgatory awaiting the lord’s judgment. Perhaps the great man was searching for this good/bad expression too?


I am not Michelangelo so of course I am still not sure I have captured him. I will try to work him up at the painting stage. We shall see,

liamofarrell.com

three watercolours sold on the first day Posted Friday, 13th of November

All good news that three of my six paintings have sold on the first day of the exhibition at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in waterloo. One of which is featured below. It is of the bridges above Bourough Market. When i was painting it every second person kept telling me “That pub was in Bridget [...]

art exhibition in waterloo Posted Sunday, 1st of November

Latest newsI have an eight man show at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in waterloo. Exhibiting both watercolour and oil paintings. It starts on the 8 – 28 November. Private view on Wednesday 4th. Gallery Open 10am to 7:30pm Monday to Saturday:124 -126 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LN UK(Opposite the Old Vic Theatre)Tel: 020 7620 [...]

Has the world finally discovered damian hirsts' true talent? Posted Thursday, 15th of October

Brian Sewellhttp://www.thisislondon.co.uk/arts/review-23756950-stop-it-damien-hirst-youre-embarrassing-yourself.do;jsessionid=F5D2C9B5BAF88C12E664A66BDFE633F1I take this as licence, for this occasion only, to declare this detestable exhibition fucking dreadful. The Guardianhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/oct/14/damien-hirst-paintings-wallace-collectionAt its worst, Hirst’s drawing just looks amateurish and adolescent. His brushwork lacks that oomph and panache that makes you believe in the painter’s lies. He can’t yet carry it off. Telegraphhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/6329047/It-couldnt-get-worse-for-Damien-Hirst.htmlReading Hirst’s comments in this Saturday’s [...]