Painting the “Crucifixion in Oxford Circus 2” in Los Angeles








Valentines day-the beginning

























_____________________________________________________




JIMMY BASTARD
GLASGOW SCOTLAND
Like a gigantic aromatic phoenix rising from the ashes. Jimmy, the most handsome Glaswegian in Scotland returns once again to prove that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword. Unless of course the sword is sticking in your back. Remember... In Glasgow they cannae hear you scream.

It came to my attention that one of my paintings was being used by some one on a blog site http://nevermindthebollix.blogspot.com.
I checked it out and it turned out that a Glaswegian writer/artist going by the apt name of Jimmy Bastard .
He had used my painting "man to meat" as the basis of a short story he had written.
This I found greatly uplifting as the same day I had heard that they had put our crucifixion at Oxford Circus on the front page of the Baptist Times, having just had the exhibition Heaven Hell I felt gloriously in tune with my universe.


"man to meat"


_____________________________________________________



Photos from photographer Jens Marott for an upcoming book on artists in action.













_____________________________________________________


The exhibition Heaven and Hell is over it was a critical success with over 100 people attending the opening and a stream of artists all week visiting and commenting on the work all photos can be seen on exhibition Heaven and Hell page

The project I mentioned earlier happened Friday 24th in the morning we re-enacted the crucifixion at 9.00 am. outside Oxford Circus station.It was quite an event we had the Evening Standard there, and all the team worked beautifully. We have got some great pictures for me to use in a future painting and we have got some media coverage. For more information and photos go to the The crucifixion at Oxford Circus page.

Less than one week to the exhibition Heaven and Hell at the Maverik Showrooms, do not miss it.

Just had a look at Foxtrot Films web site Maureen Murray produced the documentary Heaven Hell and Bagguley, it is well worth checking out. http://www.foxtrotfilms.com/news/

"From the hatred in the racist's eyes to the sacred bond of father and child, in the mystery of the inspired and divine, through the self same eyes we find Heaven or Hell..."
Richard Bagguley

All the preparation is completed for our big ambitious project with award winning photographer André Camara who spent many years with the Times,he was one of the inspirations to make this project happen. Although the details have been kept under wraps I can say that this involves a small team of friends and models and we are creating a live situation in a public place which will be photographed, filmed and will form the basis of a painting. The painting will be the main painting for the exhibition at the Maverik Showroom at the end of October.


I was so impressed with these large Graffiti murals in Brighton that I had to photograph them.








Having started to use "social realism" to describe the type of paintings I have been doing, I deliberated as to how accurate that was, I decided it is the appropriate term. This is the official birth of "social realism", there is nothing new in making social commentary through art, Hogarth, Goya and a multitude of artists have been doing it for centuries. The coining of the expression in this case refers to the fact that the painting style is realism but with reference to social situations.

For those that like to follow these things I am showing the stages of the work in progress on my latest canvas.






























I enter my paintings into the online Saatchi competition and they get good ratings, most get to the top 5% The northern line, Connect with Om and now The Virgin Mary in LA got into the top 10 out of the 2,360, ending in the top 35 favourites.

Below the top 35 favourites from the last round, the first two finalists are top left, the final winner will be shown in the new Saatchi gallery, (The Virgin in LA, 6th row down)






I have just finished this painting and have not decided on a title, I really wanted an excuse to capture a look of innocence, trust and faith and wanted to add a twist. I have my own story in mind which links up with Connect with Om, to do with the failing of the nirvana pass rate in direct proportion to the materialistic temptations swaying the young monks...


I wanted to go in a slightly different direction with the spiritual angle lots of thoughts sprang to mind I wanted to do something to do with Buddha but he is so immovable and rocklike that it became obvious that I would have to use Buddhist monks as they were more transient, human and pliant.


"Connect with OM"
This was a great painting, I could paint something lighter and airy and bring in a sense of humour but be suitably ambiguous to let people see what they want to see, that is so important with these open ended images.
This painting got a good reception on Saatchi web site competition which surprised me a as most of the popular paintings are more Stella Vine, Stuckist, non figurative but there are no rules today in contemporary art which makes it exciting and frustrating in equal measures.