INTRODUCING: Say You Can't Draw Try This!

Over the past few years I have been testing out this experience workshop. The results have been really amazing! Remember, no experience is unnecessary.

TROPICAL PRESSURE FESTIVAL 16th/17th JULY 2016 There is an entry fee to the festival but on this occasion these two SAY YOU CANT DRAW TRY THIS workshops are free to participate.

If you are thinking "But, I really can't draw!" this workshop is for you.

If you want to get into a conversation with me about drawing and wether or not anyone can or can't, be my guest. This is my favourite subject and I am ready to talk about this all day and night.

Come and draw!

EMAIL: cosmicimages@live.com to find out about these workshops near you.

The Zen Boardroom

The brief: "Being mindful of the chaos outside as we work with calm in the boardroom."

My third visit to Jambo's offices. A year since I painted two rooms in their building in Manchester I'm back in Truro installing a huge Zen Wave Garden mural in their boardroom and an Accounts/Contracts/IT themed mural in the accounts department.

Using low odour spray paint and a fume extractor means I can paint indoors as the company works around me.

Be Unrivalled!

A few weeks ago Unrivalled Legacy were having a stand at the BodyPower Expo at Birmingham NEC Centre.
Unrivalled Legacy is a great fitness and bodybuilding label based right here in St Agnes, Cornwall.

To stand out agahey got me in to paint the stand with strong lines and powerful

Big lad inne!

Strong lines and images associated with power.

The lightning bolt is a great symbol of energy.

Create Your Own Legacy! and Be Unrivalled are the companies tag lines.

The Unrivalled Legacy team at the stall in Birmingham.

Open Art Surgery

In September we ran an "Open Art Surgery" on the Moor in Falmouth as part of Healthwatch Cornwall's open day. 

Members of the public could take part in a drawing, painting or sculpture workshop and point out any areas in which their art skills needed improvement.

They were then given a "prescription" that included a repeated art excersize that would help their skill most in need of improvement, and some art materials best suited to their needs.

The aim of our workshop was to create awareness of Healthwatch Cornwall, who listen to the experiences people have of local, publicly funded care, whether good or bad, and uses this evidence to help inform and influence the commissioners and providers of services. 

We were busy all day and had a very positive response from all participants and Healthwatch Cornwall.

Do something about it.

Last week the Big Lunch Extras team from The Eden Project took me on a mystery tour up to Northfleet, next to the Thanes in North Kent. 

An ex-colleague of mine, Peter Scollard, works (often unpaid) with other volunteers to improve their community environment and open spaces, sometimes without any permission from anywhere!

It was a huge surprise to see Pete, and for him to see me (he didn't know I was coming up either) and to see the work he, and Carl, Gary, Kelly and team are doing to improve local open spaces and improve morale in the community.

It was inspiring to meet so many other people and groups that Big Lunch Extras help and mentor during the presentations and an absolute pleasure to deliver a Drawingonthings art workshop in Wallace Gardens Housing Estate nearby!

Check out http://nowallsgardens.org/

And http://www.biglunchextras.com

For more info.

Drawing on Ice

Earlier this month I got up very early and, using giant paint brushes, rollers and car wash sponges added some art to Truro Ice Skate rink...

The writing on the Whale

Recently I completed a large wall at Falmouth Marine School for Cornwall College Student Union...

Besides the marine biology, there is also sailing, boat engines, boat building, kayaking, diving and marine science (weather etc) in the painting. All these subjects and activities are taught at the college.

All ideas were generated with students during an open day in the famous Cornish maritime college's fresher week in September, by sketching ideas on the wall that was going to be painted.

There were some great ideas, but when someone mentioned that the humpback whale was their favourite it sparked a whole round of unanimous approval that this was in fact everyone's favourite whale! The same thing happened when someone mentioned Hokusai's "Great Wave off Kanagawa" print, the most famous Japanese image of all time. So those two images where high on the list!

The college was open as I was working on the mural and all staff and students were encouraged to stop and get involved with more ideas and even some painting!

The turtle in the picture is based on the caretaker, Pete, who is seen as the 'backbone' of the college and the Puffer fish on the wall is based on his namesake, Pete Jnr, who lives in a tank in the Marine Biology department.

Sketches

Someone mentioned the 'wild' rubber ducks that float around the oceans of the world.

Heartlands Urban Festival

Summer is over and just before we plunge headfirst into the depths of winter I need to crank up the blog. Stand back!

First up: Heartlands Urban Festival

Such a busy weekend with stacks going on like DJs, mini ramps, street skate section, tons of walls to paint on, bands, dance groups and tons more.

From West Briton: Article

Photo Stuart Burton: "Thank you so much for taking the time to teach my boys how to write with aerosols. You really gave them a day they'll never forget."

Photo Stuart Burton

The Butterfly Effect, Lanson

Volunteers from Barefoot had made this amazing ceramic butterfly to go outside the town hall in Launceston. 
They called me in me to come and assist them in creating something to go around it.
Each cloud was coloured and transformed from the usual plain white by the volunteers.

The finished image shows the diversity and creativity of the people which is underlying every scene of Launceston.

Barefoot continue to do great work in engaging local people with creative community projects that serve to enhance the town for the pleasure of residents and visitors alike, and are fantastic people to work with. I can thoroughly recommend getting involved on an art project with these guys!

Drawingonthings TV!

The first DrawingonthingsTV live event took place last week at Jacobs Ladder in Falmouth. There will be many more to come. This one was very mellow and quiet but just what we wanted at it was really an experiment.

DrawingonthingsTV are films made by myself and maverick film-maker and Falmouth University graduate Kevin Murphy. When I recently did a projection on a prominent building (Police station) in Newquay I brought along a DJ from Falmouth called Mr Bee to play some music. Mr Bee was interested in bringing a projection inside at his next gig.

So we did!

DrawingonthingsTV is an experimental, artistic platform and it's creators cannot be held responsible for any inspiration that may be generated as a result by it's viewers.

News of more DrawingonthingsTV showings at gigs will be on here and on facebook, Twitter,Instagram, in local press, or anywhere you see this symbol:

If you have an idea for DrawingonthingsTV or have a wall/car/boat/friend that you think would look good covered in paint, or are a fantastic DJ or promoter wanting to get in touch, please do so on here or through the social media platform that is...

Newquay Art8 Festival

When you head over to Newquay to check out the Art8 festival, from today look out for this!

(Hint, its on a main road.)

More...

Art In The City

On Wednesday I found a car parked on Lemon Quay in Truro. I happened to have a few cans of paint on me so...


Art in The City festival continues until Sunday 15th April.

Skulls

I hid a few of my skulls about Cornwall this Halloween.

Since about 2009 skull images have appeared regularly in my work. When I am drawing larger or more complicated images or doodles I tend to draw before I think (or think unconsciously instead of consciously) of what images I draw. Because of this, there is always an underlying reason for images which re-occur in my work.

With this skull motif it is no mystery to me. I have always liked the sugar skull images from Mexico's macabre but positive Day Of The Dead festival, when Mexican people celebrate the lives of their ancestors on November 1st and 2nd the day after our Halloween (not a coincidence!).
The sugar skulls and Catrinas also serve the living as a reminder of their mortality.

So, when I only have a moment and have to paint something that reflects me, I often do a skull. Over the last few years these have evolve into a sort of elephant's-foot-shaped pot!

Just like the sugar skulls, my skulls have always had a positivity about them but at the same time reflect an underlying message that nothing will last forever and that, underneath it all, every man is equal.

So, our Halloween season seems like a great time for me to get some of my skulls out there.

New boards painted

Just finished these spray jobs today on two brand new boards for Nicola Bunt, who is competing in the Sundowners Sessions comp tomorrow at Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay.

She won it last year, so I hope she wins it this year too with my artwork! Get down there and yell things at her with encouraging tones.

Reef (who have reef-ormed:) are playing after the comp.