By now it may have come to your attention that I’m not reliable or regular when it comes to writing these updates.  I could probably get individual carrier pigeons to distribute news quicker than me tapping at this keyboard.

Then again, why would you want me waffling on all the time? Over exposing myself like some delusional, ego-tripping art monster. Actually, I’d rather hear your news. I love to know what all of you are busy with, where you are going on holiday, that sort of thing….  In fact, if any of you would like to write this section for me that would be lovely!

So, what’s happening, Szikora?  Well, 2013 actually did get off to a productive start. I had managed TWO WHOLE paintings and a drawing of Russell Crowe – as a biscuit – before the brushes were abandoned and I went all ‘off road’ with other projects.

I got my hands on some modelling wax and have been making a new sculpture.  25 copies are currently being cast and handmade not far from where I live – details of that coming any day now!

Another thing stealing away the weeks have been some little public presentations. That’s right, ME standing up in front of people and talking.  It might not sound like a big deal but for anyone who has attended my exhibitions in the past, you will know that I normally stand on a chair for just about long enough to manage a mumbled “Thank you for coming” before running off to hide.   I thought it was high time I faced this fear, especially as the events are for good causes. If you are curious, the next talk I am involved with (in a smallish dose) is in London alongside a bunch of TV-type ladies.  We are going to do our best to destroy the “skinny = happy” myth. Amen to that. (Please click on the link at the bottom for further details)

Among these non-painty distractions, I even found myself considering a total change of job.  Giving up the art world altogether to do one of the following brilliant ideas…..

a) open a luxury cat hotel or

b) an ice cream parlour (inspired by an especially nice rum and raisin)

Then someone threw a bucket of cold water on me and I realised that I might have experienced a near collision with midlife crisis.

My trouble is, I’ve always had itchy feet and never like to stay anywhere very long. In reality, I could never, EVER give up art – What was I thinking?  So I’ve come up with a compromise.  I will move into a new studio that I can make all pretty and then, for special occasions, I’m going to open it, so that I can meet with my macaroons!

I’ve chosen a place and I’m chatting up some builders who will hopefully give me nice walls to hang stuff on.  It might take a while (everything does with me) but, as soon as I have my space, your invite will be on its way.  You can bring all your cats and I might even serve ice-creams J

Here’s the info about the London talk:

http://www.berealtalks.com/#!talk-information/ctzx

In the meantime I hope you all enjoy a very nice summer.  

SJ X

In the studio, I finally picked up some brushes and discovered that during the long period of time since I last did an oil painting, I am a little shocked at the rapid development of a few physical issues.
Realising that even wearing my trusty old jam jar spectacles, I couldn’t any longer see properly to paint, I went for an eye test. The 12 year old optician informed me that I had reached (at 41⅓ years old) the optimal age for massive jumps in sight deterioration. Along with the basic struggle to see clearly, everything appears double and my right eye is determined to swing out to the far right, giving me the appearance of someone looking in opposite directions at the same time. So I now need even thicker specs, which if they get any stronger will come in handy as spare lenses for the local lighthouse.

That was enough of a reminder that I’m rocketing into my middle years, without also discovering that at the end of a session in front of the easel, I now seize into a hunchback position. Worried about my terrible posture, I purchased from the internet, a mad little contraption which I hoped would help. It is a strappy affair, like a cup-less bra worn over the clothes and with a little speaker on the back. The idea is that every time the posture slumps, the thing begins tweeting like a noisy bird. Needless to say, it caused me no end of irritation and is now hanging on the studio floor.

Luckily, I discovered a better solution for this annoying stiffness, which is to whine pathetically until Mr Szikora leaves his office and comes to the rescue. He stands behind me and hooks his hands under my arms, I am then lifted up as high as his own fed up muscles will allow, and I am hung in the air for a few moments and given a gentle shake. There are always a series of pleasing cracks as the knots in my bones and muscles iron out and I can stand upright again – it feels lovely! Mr Szikora then takes some paracetemol and goes for a lie down.

I know I need to take more care of the body. Having undergone and fully recovered from hip surgery last year, I’ve run out of excuses for not exercising and, If I’m not careful, my sedentary artist life might be cut tragically short, either from lack of health and fitness or from blindly wandering under a bus because my eyes are idiots.
I will keep up the brave struggle in the studio to bring you more pictures and I hope to be revealing a new (very) limited edition sculpture this Springtime – I’ll keep you informed.
Love,
SJ

First of all, for those of you who have been following my long running legal case, I’m delighted to announce that the dispute with my former representing gallery has finally ended.  Details are of course confidential but I can say this: “ZIP A DEE DOO DAH!!” *shimmies around room waving arms in circular motion *

With a new lease of life, I am presenting a small exhibition this month on my home turf.

For a short while I am returning to The Biscuit Factory; home of my old painting studio, to help celebrate the tenth anniversary of the gallery. Alongside lots of other artists, I will be showing some of the artworks that I painted here several years ago.

If you want to come along, you can find more details on the news page.

For those of you who cannot get to Newcastle but would still like to see the paintings, you can download the catalogue on November 16^th 2012 via the homepage of this site.

In the meantime, wrap up well and kick up some leaves.

Love
SJ

The Biscuit has many artists housed within a spacious contemporary gallery and you are welcome to attend their special 10^th birthday preview event on the evening of November 16^th between 6pm – 9pm.
Not all of Sarah-Jane’s paintings will be on display in Newcastle but if you would like to see the full collection of original artworks, you can download the complete catalogue on November 16^th – there will be a link on the homepage of this website.

Venue:
The Biscuit Factory
Stoddart Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 1AN
www.thebiscuitfactory.com

Printed works and some original pieces are also now available at:
Artsbank
29 Milton Street
Saltburn-By-The-Sea
TS12 1DJ
&
Artsbank
137 High Street
Yarm
TS15 9AY
www.artsbank.co.uk

How’s your summer going out there? Got your sou’wester on?

I don’t know about you, but I quite like rain (maybe not quite as much rain as we’ve had in the last 8 weeks) but the kind of comforting rain that patters down on your windows and smells lovely.  Give in to the water; torrential downpours are now as much a part of English summer as Wimbledon and hay fever.

North Tyneside like so many other areas did not escape the recent flooding and mayhem.  The Tyne Bridge was hit by lightning and friends nearby watched dinghies sailing past their lounge window – just as well the British population are resilient and good humoured about it.  In Newcastle on the worst day of flooding, strangers in the city were actually communicating….! Places all over the UK saw citizens helping each other, pitching in to rescue pets and possessions and grannies. The rain brought us together.

Mainly though, I like the rain because I can’t concentrate on anything, especially work, when it’s sunny out.  I’ve had to take time off lately and going back into the studio was easier because I wasn’t missing glorious weather.  As much as I love to paint, it’s really hard to stay put when you just want to take advantage of rare sunshine

I’ve tried painting outside, but it doesn’t work for me; it’s either too warm or too cold or too bright, flies land on wet paint and unless the air is completely still, wind blows stuff around and so by the time mother nature has finished playing her part, the overall effect on me is less ‘serene artist’ and more Basil Fawlty.

I don’t know how fellow artists do it – tramping about in the countryside, over hill and dale.  It sounds nice but trying to keep paper from flapping away or getting your easel to stand still is bad enough, I would personally be half dead from the pollen abuse too.   No wonder Vincent went mad among the fields of Arles.

Then there’s the issue of people watching as you work.  I have a friend who walks the highways and byways of Tyneside and will happily position himself in a busy street to draw. Friendly observers don’t appear to faze him and he chatters away to them politely, sorry, but I’m FAR too unsociable for that.

Nope, I’ll leave all that ‘plein air’ business to the more hardy types and stay where I belong, within four walls, listening to the rain.

Love

SJ

Ps this is the view from my attic studio today, 30^th of July.

It’s May again, already.

I have tried to shove a few bulbs in the garden and attempt some weeding but happily, the driving rain has forced me back indoors.  I’m a hopeless gardener and any visitor to my home would testify that you can’t even see it for the overgrown front hedge.  If I walk across what is supposed to be the front ‘lawn’ I disappear down mysterious, ankle deep holes – I just don’t know where they oome from.

It’s not just the scruffy grass; other areas in my life are also in need of TLC.  For example, being an artist does tend to require a certain amount of time creating some art.  It has been 3 years since my last exhibition and the next one sits, just out of reach on the distant horizon.  I do occasionally remember what I do as a living and make the effort to visit my studio – I can announce that you will be seeing my next collection of original paintings in 2053.

Another painfully slow project keeping me from my easel is the book that I’ve been working on.  As you can tell from these occasional web wafflings, I’m not a gifted writer – but it was something I had to ‘get out of my system’.  Anyway, I’ve reached the last leg and currently limping towards the finish line on a pair of tired and bloodied stumps – I can hear a stampede of editors running away – but I will keep you updated!

The reason for all this slowdown is my own dear mammy.  I have been spending a lot of time caring for my mother, who suffers from dementia and it has been a very difficult time trying to manage the later stages of this appalling condition.   Anyone who has witnessed their loved one gradually (or suddenly) losing their mental capacity and physical function will know where we are at.   I see her every day, she is vulnerable and she needs me and, as much as I’d love to get up to my neck in shocking pink oil paint, I will make do with the odd dabble and daub.

In the meantime, as I inch towards various ends, don’t forget to give your own, special oldies a little squeeze; maybe even take them for a day out at the seaside.   And for heaven’s sake, make sure your hedges are trimmed.

Love,

SJ

New release: More tea, vicar?

‘More tea, vicar?’

Sarah-Jane presents her usual sideways look at British society -

Recalling the street party held in honour of HRH’s Silver Jubilee she says:

“I still have my cup with the Queen’s face on it, from 1977”

Click here to view details

The recent winter months have been filled with all manner of worldly hassles: European debt crisis and Syrian strife, football scandals and phone hacking; not the most inspiring of winters, was it? So, as we all face various economic and social difficulties globally, what, you might wonder (or more likely not), have I been doing?

Well, since you ask, I’ve been pondering on, among other things, the incredible contrasts in the art business. In January, I visited the splendid city of Edinburgh. It was brass monkeys up there, so I headed straight indoors to the Scottish National Gallery where they were exhibiting a collection of Turner watercolours. As it happens, I can take or leave a Turner and, since the room was full to bursting, I went instead to take advantage of the quieter galleries. After getting over the shock of the curators tartan trousers (men and women), I spent a very happy couple of hours mooching around before finally allowing my jaw to go slack in wonder before ‘The three graces’.

Leaving in a contented frame of mind, I then allowed the jaw thing to happen again somewhat less happily while observing two copper pipes leaning against a wall in a nearby contemporary art gallery.  I can’t recall what this majestically stupid installation was called but suspect it was probably ‘Two copper pipes’.

While considering these different arenas of the art business, I began to think about the more everyday commercial end of things (I had wanted to ask the cost of the copper pipes but instinctively knew it wasn’t ‘that sort of gallery’ and only Charles Saatchi may ask such questions).

To the regular collector, it may be that interest in the art business stops at choosing something pretty to hang on the wall but, for the savvy, there is so much more to consider.

My very great worry is that too few collecting individuals truly know the pitfalls of buying art.  There is no regulating body for this industry and that makes it very hard to get protection in the event of being sold artworks of poor quality, fudged edition numbers or, worst of all, as an investment. This is all before you get into the far more expensive and risky game of buying originals.

Beware the slickly marketed ‘collectable’ art scene. It’s your hard earned dosh and you want to be confident in your purchase. Should it bother you if the ‘unique’ picture you bought is uncannily similar to another? Infringement is widespread in fashion led art. I’ve certainly noticed that a popular artist can very quickly spawn copycats, all jumping onto the bandwagon; hey presto!, the thing you paid a lot of money for (so you could express your individuality) is suddenly all over the high street. It is then notoriously difficult and expensive for those original artists to prove and defend their copyright.

Having tried the alternative, I became an independent artist (self-representing and publishing) so that I could keep a tight control over my own artwork in what I see as a highly exploitative industry with a potential for unfairness to both artist and collector that makes my head spin.

It is a highly privileged job creating art; the least I can do is make sure it is homed with integrity. When I no longer feel this way, I’ll bin my brushes.

So, in between the painting and domestic grind, I am sitting here tapping away slowly but steadily on a new book about my personal experiences of the art biz which, with a good back wind, will be finished sometime later this year and will hopefully happen alongside a new bunch of paintings.

In the meantime, if you feel like buying a piece of art to cheer yourself through the economic gloom, do it but ONLY if you are in love and, even then, use precautions.

SJ