TIMOTHY SUTTONGeneral news and chit-chat of what I have been up to in the studio and on the road.
I am offering lockdown portrait commissions in watercolour as part of the Artists Support Pledge project on Instagram #artistsupportpledge. Commissions accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Just send me your favourite photograph to work from for the perfect lockdown gift for you or a friend. See my shopping page for payment details click here
ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE is a culture and economy in support of artists and makers established and led by artist Matthew Burrows on 16th March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now a global movement of connected communities committed to an equitable and sustainable economy for artist and makers of all countries, media and ethnicities.
The project uses social media platform Instagram, which is a popular platform for artists to post images and share their work. Artists and makers can post their images using #artistsupportpledge giving details of their works and price (no more than £200 or equivelent). If people are interested in buying, they message (DM) the artist. Anyone can buy the work and artists don’t need permission to join.
Every time an artist reaches £1,000 of sales, they pledge to buy £200 of work from other artist(s). Donations are encouraged to other concerns too, such as @_hopsitalrooms @screen.south @samaratanscharity @s_lawrencetrust @refugecharity @survivalinternational
ASP works by example, showing how a generous culture behaves and exploring the values that maintain its ethos. At the core of this is a commitment to equality of opportunity FOR ALL and an accessible platform to participate.
ASP believes that an equitable and sustainable future economically and environmentally must begin by examining the cultural values we live by; that artists are central to this debate; and that ALL artists are important in maintaining the permaculture that is our global artistic ecosystem. If one part suffers we all do.
While we’re all locked down I thought I’d use the time to test my sketch speed. I set a time limit of 4 hours maximum and started with some biro scribbles, then progressed to coloured pencil after which I dug out my old water colour set, which I haven’t used for years.
As they say, a change is as good as a rest and I was quite pleased with the results. Let me know what you think.
Some of my favourite parts of completing a portait are the eyes, often referred to as ‘the windows of the soul’. It is at this stage that the painting really comes alive and I am working with a real live person or pet and not just with the medium, be that oils or inks.
HOW TO WIN:
Identify whose eye is from which paintings displayed on the first page of my web site.
This competition has now closed. Congratulations to the winner James Emery.
The winner of this competition will receive a framed lino-cut print of Izzy the tabby cat.
It’s starting to get a bit cold in the studio with my old, partially working, radiator so I’m having to wrap up warm. However the benefit is that it slows down the drying times allowing me to blend the paints more, so not all bad.
I have just completed the above portrait of Flori who is bravely fighting on despite the vet’s diagnosis. She has such a love of life which hopefully I have managed to capture in her eyes so wish her, and her owner, all the best.
Lastly I have attached a detail of some work in progress from a new self portrait. This is a bit of an experiment for the Sky Portrait Artist competition which I have entered. Must admit this took me way longer than the four hours given so need to find a quicker method of getting the paint down on the canvas. Fingers crossed I get in, and also find a new way of working!
Glad to say it has been another busy month at my West Norwood studios with some very pleasurable commisssions.
First up was the portrait of Zola the Yellow Labrador who lives in Wimbledon. A very excitable pup who was more interested in watching the local rugby players than posing for the camera. However, with a little patience and dog-treat distraction from owners Maia and Georgie, we managed to get the shot we needed. This was to be a birthday present for the father of the family who I have been told was “absolutely delighted”.
Next was a portrait of Olivia, a two year old girl who I photographed a few months back at my studio. Together with her Mum Kathryn, we had a grand old time trying different poses and expressions before finally settling on this very animated beaming smile which certainlty summed up her mood that day. Who says “never work with children and animals”?!
In these extraordinary times both myself and Jennie are joining forces, with hope and optimism, for our annual exhibition at the Fountain Gallery, East Molesey KT8 9HA. We will be showing our usual distinctive trade mark work: Jennie with her linocuts of local and London scenes and myself with portraits of pets and people.
Jennie is a local artist and prints her many layered colourful linocuts on a 170 year old albion press. She is a member of the Printmakers Council, Greenwich Printmakers and Southbank Printmakers, and has work in the V&A collection and the Scarborough Art Gallery archive, as well as in private collections in the UK and abroad.
It would be lovely to see you if you are in the area during our two week show. We are unable to offer a Private View this year because of Covid restrictions, but I am sure we can rustle up a glass of wine or a cup of tea if you ask. We will be taking it in turns to curate the gallery. Please call me to find out which days I wil be there 07803 206 204.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
I posed a question on social media the other day asking if you could guess the breed of dog from the palette I was mixing? Well the answer was a Border Terrier, not just one, but two commissions which I have just finished. Lovely little chaps Berry and Twiglet, one for a birthday present down in Kent and the other to partner a cat I painted in Twickenham.
While the Border Terrier wasn’t recognised as a breed until the early 1900s, they had been a well-known and much-admired type of terrier working in the border regions since the 17th century. They developed as a hardy, workmanlike, friendly little dog who would go out with hounds – and both be fast and fit enough to be able to keep up but also to squeeze into small spaces to chase out a hiding fox. Their coat is dense and weatherproof plus they have fairly loose-fitting, thick skin to protect them from bites and injury.
Border Terriers are know for being affectionate and fun-loving. They are brave, adaptable and good with people, especially with children. Generally easy-going, they have an independent nature and like to make their own decisions. Great for active owners who loves the ‘big dog in a small body’ attitude of a terrier but who prefers a softer, less feisty and more social version.
It is always a pleasure to paint this breed of dog, with their flecked coats of sandy colours and always an alert, devlish glint in their eyes. No wonder they are the favourite of celebrities such as singer Janet Street Porter, David Walliams, Andy Murray and Glenn Close.
