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.

Trewirgie Junior School Murals

The Trewirgie "Cornish Studies" Mural.

Earlier this year I completed a series of three murals at Trewirgie Junior School in Redruth.

"Creativity and Watersports" A mural about favourite leisure activities.

This was such a great project. The pupils involved chose and designed all the content and it was their choice to theme the murals on their studies.

For each wall, a design team of pupils came up with the ideas and directed me through the sketches straight onto the wall during a consultation workshop, and returned to class. I called them back when it was time to colour.

Most of the paint that was applied was the work of the pupils involved. Really, in a way, all I did was help with outlines and tidying up the edges!

Most had never used spray paint before and they responded well to a responsible introduction to this versatile medium.

The "Trewirgie Regal" playground theatre space mural. Designed by Trewirgie pupils.

These workshops are hugely beneficial in using drawing as a visual skill which supports other communication skills like reading and writing.

Here is an write-up from the West Briton newspaper.

A Short Time-lapse.

Time Lapse of Aggie Surf Shop Wall

I saw this last week. Markie from Aggie Surf Shop made this video when I painted the wall at the shop but I don't seem to have posted it on here.

It's a great video that shows the length of time it takes to actually paint a wall, and also how engaging it is for passers-by.

Cosmic wall at aggie surfshop from marcus lascelles on Vimeo.

The finished piece.

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.

Music School Drop In

In 2010 Cornwall Music Academy opened and I drew all over their walls.  This May they moved to a much larger premises and... I drew all over their walls!

Cornwall Music Academy are still in Hayle. The massive new premises are at the big industrial estate by the A30 (Rugby ground/M+S).

It was a very busy, hectic day full of live music and taster lessons. As they mooched about and had music taster lessons, visitors could call out stories, quotes and references for me to draw.

It was full-on, imagine this... A corridor full of rooms with the doors open, where keen novice musicians play various musical instruments for the first time, at the same time.  Live bands playing through a PA outside and people of all ages the most random suggestions for images, ever!

It's not always like this, apparently the rooms are sound-proofed, but there are things drawn on these walls that defy the furthest realms of imagination!

I took some paint as well and gave the pianos a bit of a lift!

NYC!!

(...Newquay Youth Centre!)

I re-visited Newquay Youth Centre to paint the walls based on ideas that had emerged from the "drawingonthings workshop" (everybody drawing whatever they wanted on the wall) I held there during an open day at the youth centre almost 2 weeks ago.

Check out the consultation doodles here!

This time it was just me painting to get the walls ready for the centre to open again in September. I tried to remain true to the lively and imaginative use of shapes, colours and imagery that emerged from the first session (which were drawn on the wooden triangular panel, and are a big part of the work! See bottom picture) and almost follow on from those first group doodles in the "drawingonthings workshop".

The major surfing and nightlife town has a bright and colourful reputation but quite often focus, in the press for example, is drawn towards the negative. Projects like this help to remind residents and visitors of all the positive aspects to Newquay.

I purposefully avoided the obvious and direct images and used the open and non-judgemental collective doodles from the "drawingonthings workshop" to dictate the content of the murals to ensure a unique and original piece that could only belong to Newquay.

Skate park tees

This summer I did some t-shirt designs for Mount Hawke Skatepark in Cornwall, and they are selling well! Which is good as the profits go to the large indoor Skatepark (and education/ media centre)'s fund. There are 4 limited edition designs, all intended to enhance balance, style and resistance to gravity.

Hayle Vets Summer Fete Mural

This was a really good project. The vets in Hayle, Cornwall held a summer fete for all their customers to come and meet and raise money for for the National Animal Welfare Trust and the Cats Protection League.

They booked me to paint their new mural during the same day so that their client's younger and more creative owners could help me design and paint as an extra activity during the fete. Which was a fantastic idea!

Read this→ article from The West Briton newspaper. (Make sure you scroll along to see Scampy Williams' fancy dress costume)

MOR artwork!

MOR Surf Lodge in Newquay called me up to paint a unique mural on the front wall, which will be a 'sunset beach in the evening'.

It has amazing sunsets from the front beer garden. So, the beach, sunset, the company logo (an "O" with a 'tor' above it -from MOR, which is celtic for something) and brand, surfing and Newquay were all in the brief.

It's opening any day now. They have a board store and tons of quirky additions to make your trip 100% ace and memorable! It does look like it's going to be a very cool place.

Even if you live in Cornwall it's well worth a visit. The bar is open to non-residents and, if you're enjoying yourselves, ditch the car and get a room!

I also did a "60 second makeover" on a chest of drawers for the interior designer while I was there.

Directions: Get to Newquay, find Mount Wise (the highest road which runs along the ridge of the town from the roundabout, before south fistral, to the traffic lights, before the railway station) and look out for a massive blue and white building with this artwork on the front!

More photos, links and info to come when MOR Surf Lodge, Newquay opens to the public.

Last chance Truro

The large flower and garage doors in Truro may soon be removed.

Jane Adele Flowers have moved premises to the sunny surf-laden shores of Porthtowan.
Their old building is ready for new tennants. So, it is most probably the last chance to get a peek at this stuff.

Music Academy walls

The Cornwall Music Academy opened yesterday in Hayle, and I was asked to go and draw on the walls outside their brand new practice rooms to be kept as inspiring decoration.

The visitors were encouraged to offer suggestions of things for me to draw on the walls throughout the day. One of the best had to be 'batman with flutes for legs'!

There was loads of live jazz, brass bands and quoir music and a samba band.

The local radio, Atlantic FM were broadcasting from there all day, there was also a bbq, face painting and tons of free music lessons, and lots of excited people!

All Images © Cosmic 2010

florist shutters

A second peice at Jane Adele's florist in Truro. Last year I drew a big flower on the wall which is still there.

As this is painted on the roller shutters, this is only visible at night. Although I went over the edge so you can see the side bits during the day. They love it and have plans for more... watch this space... or their space

The theme is the florist's connection to their base in Porthtowan and in Cornwall. Kenny, the deliver driver, can be seen flying around the county in the delivery van, at the top.

The brief was: "Whatever you think." :)

Qbar Falmouth

Heading down to the Qbar in Falmouth's headonistic 'Moor' area to start on the re-furbishment. Has to be finished this Friday! I'll post a few pics on here of the finished result.

This picture is 'before':

florist fresco

heres a pic of a hand painted lily on a florist's wall i finished yesterday. took about 10 hours in total..