The Make Up Artist

Jamie, of The Irrepressibles, kindly let me go along to their gig at the Source in London, late last year to do some photography before and during make up for their performance.

I was equipped with my camera and new flash unit which is triggered remotely by the camera. So holding this to the side of the subject, I managed to get some amazing photos of the group.

After the photography I got to see them perform their amazing set and later enjoyed a few drinks together. One of the best nights out for a long time.

The first painting completed is of their make up artist on the occasion . . . Wakama Yoshisara.
I have wanted to do a portrait on a panel in this format for ages and Wakama was the perfect subject for this.

I painted this in two main stages . . . the first in Luxor, Egypt (the light was wonderful) at Xmas and the second in my studio in London.

The Seer

Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2008

Nigel's oil painting "The Seer" has been selected for the The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2008.



The exhibition runs from the 28th April to the 11th May 2008 at The Mall Galleries, The Mall, London.

The Times suggested on 22 April 2006: "Of the country's two major annual portrait exhibitions, the BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery in June might be better known, but the one at the Royal Society is surely the more glittering, as it is to the society that many of the country's powerful institutions go to commission portraits of their leaders."

Me, Me, Me

Here's a few firsts for me . . .
A self portrait and one painted in the Chiaroscuro style (Light and Dark)

Me . . . never a subject that grabbed me, always felt there were more characterful or attractive people out there to paint.
Then I got to thinking (Oh how 'Sex in the City' is that expression. lol) some of my favourite artists who have painted the most amazing self portraits . . . i.e. Rembrandt and Odd Nerdrum . . . were no Oil Pintings either. lol.

Chiaroscuro . . . such a contrast to what I normally do and such an exciting journey into the unknown. The excitement of trying to solve the mysteries of painting the dark in sharp contrast to the light. I was addicted from the first minutes of setting down paint.

It all came about because, one morning I had no paintings that I felt like working on but I wanted to paint . . . so Camera, tripod and blackout backdrop in hand I undertook a photoshoot of me. A challenge in it's own right . . but the results got me all fired up and I started straight away on the underpainting . . and Hey Presto . . . months later the painting is finished.

I have now completed 3 paintings in this style . . . not all of me . . . but mostly. lol
I have a series of these to work on in the Summer. A group called the Irrepressibles kindly let me photograph them (All 10 of them) before a live performance and the results lend themselves beautifully to this style.

In the meantime I'm working flat out for my next solo show (GX Gallery, London, 4th July 2008) and I'm back painting in the light again.

Wood Nymph

My first blog in 2008 . . . Happy New Year to all.

I have always had a soft spot for things fantastical . . . The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever to name a few. So relished the opportunity to paint this charming Wood Nymph.

I spotted her last Summer, performing near the London Eye and found her mesmerizing. She hid behind a London Plain tree, peeking out at passers by with a twinkle in her eye. When she wasn't moving she was almost invisible against the tree.

For me, looking into the light is an optimistic almost spiritual gesture and so appropriate for this rare creature.

Frank N Furter

How many of us have heard about the Rocky Horror Show year after year and never been to see it . . . I'm GUILTY!!
I was lucky enough to catch it in the Spring, with the outstanding David Bedella playing Frank N Furter. I was hooked from the opening scene, the whole thing blew me away and I came out of the theatre needing to paint Frank N Furter.
I spoke with David a few weeks later and he kindly agreed to a photo-shoot between sets when next in London.
The photo-shoot was rewarding and great fun. So much so that we ended up going out for drinks after the show.

Elfin

About a month ago, after visiting the Dali exhibition at the Tate Modern in London, I spotted this elfin waif sitting on a wall waiting for a friend. She looked so fragile, yet exuded confidence.

W.A.A.F.

After my solo shows, I am inclined to take a while off to recharge the batteries.It's been about two and a half months since I put brush to canvas or panel so I thought I'd pop my first up here for you to see.

I have always loved WW2 uniforms, well that's not actually quite true. I've always loved uniforms in general and formal dress, white shirts, braces, evening dresses etc. So this beautiful WAAF was the one to start with.

The Opera Singer

Over the past year I have been captivated by the street performers in London.

One of these, with an exceptional talent, is an opera singer called Felicity who dresses in the most wonderfully nostalgic clothing and delights the crowds at Trafalgar Square.

Unusually for me, I got to know her (I don't often see the same people again on the streets of London) and she is as sweet and charming as she looks and sounds. This is not always the case in large cities, where the rat race changes us all. An exceptional person and talent.

Journeyman

Now and again I come across an amazing character. The ‘Journeyman’
was certainly one of these.
It was a hot sunny summer’s day with the sun almost directly overhead
beating down on him. He looked like he was on a mission to get
somewhere. He had a drink in one hand and a blue plastic bag full of
White Star cider cans in the other. His dreadlocks were in a very
different style than I had seen before, The front of his dreadlocks also
seemed to have been died a lighter colour.
The thing that surprised me most was the grace of movement for
someone of his stature . . . and considering the strength of the Cider
he was drinking.

The White Singlet

This is another one of my figures viewed from the foot-bridge.

The young man was immaculately turned out in a very individual style with sport labels aplenty. His skin tones were a beautiful contrast to the crisp white cap & singlet and the dramatic black ruc-sac.

As he stood below, watching the world go by, his fingers were playing with the piece of chain hanging from his belt . . . a wonderfully relaxed and natural pose.

Soul Searching

There has always been something about the robed figure
that fascinated me. Possibly ever since I saw the Exorcist when
I was 16 years old (it was an 18 cert movie). I was intrigued by
the struggle between good and evil and how the priest had to
confront his own demons in his attempts to save Regan.

Here, the title poses questions.

The Blue Beading

Now and again I find myself viewing life from a different perspective.

While standing on a foot-bridge watching people walking underneath, I noticed this woman as she moved with purpose to some unknown destination.

The light was from the evening sun and I was transfixed by the exaggerated proportions of her shadow . . . it was as if some hidden aspect of her was growing with each step, in readiness for the evening ahead.

The Pilgrim

The negative aspect of the Hoodie has been well reported, however
this young man was the least threatening person you could imagine
and it got me thinking about how society/the press demonizes
aspects of everyday life.
Historically this kind of hood would have been attached to a
priest's Habit and would have demanded awe, respect and
strangely enough, in some cases, fear.
This young man was wearing a crucifix and for me, crossed the
divide from threatening youth to serene, introspective traveller.

An Urban Solitude

This is the first painting from my up and coming show at
the GX Gallery in Camberwell, London this July.

I noticed this man sitting up on the fountain at Piccadilly
Circus. He seemed so calm, confident and settled,
unperturbed by the crowds of people around him . . .
true solitude amidst the urban chaos.

The Old Parasol

The more things change, the more they stay the same . . .

On a hot and sunny day you will eventually come across a parasol,
irrespective of it's form or style. In this case the girl had an old
battered umbrella which did the job and was a wonderful quirky
object for me to paint.