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.

Exhibition

The new Art Extravaganza exhibition is on at The Riverbank in Truro. Last night was the opening bash with live music from Kaj Skjervic.

Here is some of what's in store from one artist showing in the exhibition (me!!). See more of my work in there.

Enjoy it if you go!

Cosmic

Edit: This is actually my first exhibition, believe it or not, to commemorate it I made a "cake"...

Halloweendow

Today I popped down to Falmouth and drew on a window.



The Q Bar is an ex-juice bar (called Quench before it got an alcohol license) these days it serves Falmouth's more discerning bohemian and hedonistic customers.



Every halloween they really go to town with fancy dress and even dress the bar from top to bottom along with theme. This year (tomorrow night) it's a "Rock n' Roll Macabreret" with a twisted circus theme complete with punk acrobats, jugglers and magicians.

Earlier this year the "old bar" that the loyal customers loved but was showing signs of age so they asked me to design and commission some furniture, develop a modest colour scheme and paint all over the walls (see earlier posts tagged: qbar).

The walls are a continued project and a huge source of interest and discussion for the staff and diverse range of customers. I am due down there very soon to add more!

The bar is located on the moor in Falmouth (opposite the post office) and the window painting will be on until this Sunday (1st Nov).

Q Bar: Update 2

Got to the bar just before 2am today to begin a night painting session.

This pic also shows the seating.

I designed all the furniture along with the interior, and had it made within the 5 day refit. The frames are coloured the same 'blank canvas' grey as the walls with blood-red leatherette upholstery to match the ceiling and woodwork.

All of the furniture moves round to make the room into a small art-house cinema (with some awesome film choices!!) on tuesday nights...

My brief was to create a brand-new version of the old bar, which all the staff and customers loved, with an excess of my artwork on the walls.

I still have a lot of painting work to do. A few more sessions like this and I'll be done. The bar is open so customers can follow the progress and see how the artwork continues to completion.

The Q Bar is on the Moor in Falmouth, Cornwall and is well worth a visit!

Q Bar: Update 1

The bar re-opened on Saturday. It was supposed to be Friday but, despite everybody's best efforts, five days was not long enough to do a complete re-furbishment of a bar of this size!

I pre-designed the furniture and managed to get it built from scratch in these five days too.

Stuck around long enough on Saturday to see the bar get absolutely full! :)

Here are a couple of pics of the artwork during the hectic five day project:

The bar is complete and open and the artwork is still in progress so if you call in you can see it as I complete it.

More pics and finished bar and artwork coming soon..

Interior Design and Artwork © Cosmic Images 2010

if fish knew something we wanted to know..

if fish knew something we wanted to know..

i think this picture is about communication

i ate fish tonight

tomorrow, ill be surfing in the rain

goodnight.

cosmic

new prints: nailed

is he marching for world peace? handing you a nail to hang your new print? hitting the casinos? ..who knows?

(well cosmic might, but he's not letting on if he does!)

nailed: limited edition of 25 individually numbered and signed prints

available online at  cosmicimagesok.co.uk

and in the fantastic here and now gallery falmouth. 

there will only be 25, ever, so move fast!!