tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51220041317524935372024-02-06T18:19:25.173-08:00PortfolioTOM CULLEN on art, the universe and everything.tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-85522620179188384152022-07-11T02:42:00.005-07:002022-07-12T09:44:52.322-07:00It's all about colour..........<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBHSP54h7Htup7AQofJ87pLuQ1uA31PW9rHtVvx2Nhrs_qaMQ0RPn-uj_nuCJzwXh4p_xMLsPQGUDyx7zM4HiXjuIIDHCz-mOuhKV0dgI7Ax9FP7eFL-n4iaqOoQWCLVs49nyaTxKTy9UeWFaYS29zUpu4RkrpBkeyg3jlMFLB9miho3H4Tf-oX7Rgg/s2048/292378340_568738271409246_2049656284846191160_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBHSP54h7Htup7AQofJ87pLuQ1uA31PW9rHtVvx2Nhrs_qaMQ0RPn-uj_nuCJzwXh4p_xMLsPQGUDyx7zM4HiXjuIIDHCz-mOuhKV0dgI7Ax9FP7eFL-n4iaqOoQWCLVs49nyaTxKTy9UeWFaYS29zUpu4RkrpBkeyg3jlMFLB9miho3H4Tf-oX7Rgg/s320/292378340_568738271409246_2049656284846191160_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the opening of "The Art of Carnival" at the W3 Gallery</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"Carnavale" oil on canvas 131 x 76cm</b></span></i></div><div><br /></div> I painted "Carnavale" in 2010 at the Hampstead School of Art as part of a pair of paintings - the second an abstract interpretation of the Mona Lisa. Having visited the Dublin City, Hugh Lane Gallery previously, I was struck in awe and heavily influenced by Sean Scully's "Walls of Lights"paintings. In "Carnavale", I explored the boundaries of contrasting, subjued colours and it developed as an expression of the spirit of the annual Venice spectacle.<div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHmL4WcdK95ydBR13Z-FyccLZ39MXEMeUrA0qiUKpfYPENHruu_LBL1o_fPgrm4_1DmR9O1dPcysmDcFObZjAGJkCBr6AT768AEH1typK5Pqw49vp6FdIa_1eXpuecpIMXaMgeitJZyLlRFd1foVrZN2gAFiZ6K1G8Yzo-TgWm9ETfbNJcpg3HHnpbA/s2048/292201289_776137253395803_5924780598126750890_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHmL4WcdK95ydBR13Z-FyccLZ39MXEMeUrA0qiUKpfYPENHruu_LBL1o_fPgrm4_1DmR9O1dPcysmDcFObZjAGJkCBr6AT768AEH1typK5Pqw49vp6FdIa_1eXpuecpIMXaMgeitJZyLlRFd1foVrZN2gAFiZ6K1G8Yzo-TgWm9ETfbNJcpg3HHnpbA/s320/292201289_776137253395803_5924780598126750890_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />I am pleased this painting along with six others, have been included in the "Art of Carnival" Exhibition at the W3 Gallery, Acton Town, London. The common denominator to these pieces is the exploration of colour and allowing the colour to dictate the painting process above all other considerations. "Stanza" painted in 2011, was conceived at the Slade School of Art, in which I tried to convey a sense of the rhythm, harmony and freedom expressed in poetry. The rest of the pieces on show were painted during recent lockdowns between 2020 and 2021.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking about colour, Roy Lichenstein said "Colour is crucial in painting, but is very hard to talk about... It depends on too may factors". Colour has a life of it's own. It can set a mood, attract attention or make a statement. It can be used to energise, cool things down or create a feeling of or tranquility. Those visually impaired or blind have a sense of colour.</div><div><br /></div><div>Matisse once said about painting "Colour helps to express light,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHQwbR4yAJ3m4ZZRwz28CunxpCiVOpGO1goeaJc-_EaKqtsGoVAiFNrLaPdPpBa9roTRqAiNrr-jUKOp1e6VT8AP3v9LUPeiVe6AEKmidD2NGELVneuglUHRzLNchBtj0kksUw8Q_PQl3u70B6a7BWJ1j39pZ1FqeNUkKEG7M2QKJX0ROfpVYJH4xGw/s2762/279184411_1055667305298893_6778268753493905843_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2090" data-original-width="2762" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHQwbR4yAJ3m4ZZRwz28CunxpCiVOpGO1goeaJc-_EaKqtsGoVAiFNrLaPdPpBa9roTRqAiNrr-jUKOp1e6VT8AP3v9LUPeiVe6AEKmidD2NGELVneuglUHRzLNchBtj0kksUw8Q_PQl3u70B6a7BWJ1j39pZ1FqeNUkKEG7M2QKJX0ROfpVYJH4xGw/w200-h132/279184411_1055667305298893_6778268753493905843_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Untitled" Acrylic on canvas<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> not the physical phenomenon, but the only light that really exists, that in the artists brain". </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, it's all about colour and many thanks to the W3 Gallery for the opportunity to show these pieces as part of this years "Art of Carnival" Exhibition.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5cDwp3CCcirl4DwghdtL1Urc5NuCZ6dwGqmvgZd4wtGHZUT785UnTbnKCgdf3iQgzvzffHDIL0SIeXlBHwkp3MCLZiFwFqKtYiuWHJyGqcaXg5e_EEHC-5rhI92v6Z_98g3JlDtCpYCuJkB4u5Q5LYeNP-SuBKg6R5S6nuljlg9FoOzVQK-XfPQUkg/s999/292548728_555796236277910_4754921624473816802_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5cDwp3CCcirl4DwghdtL1Urc5NuCZ6dwGqmvgZd4wtGHZUT785UnTbnKCgdf3iQgzvzffHDIL0SIeXlBHwkp3MCLZiFwFqKtYiuWHJyGqcaXg5e_EEHC-5rhI92v6Z_98g3JlDtCpYCuJkB4u5Q5LYeNP-SuBKg6R5S6nuljlg9FoOzVQK-XfPQUkg/s320/292548728_555796236277910_4754921624473816802_n.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">W3 Gallery, 185 High St, Acton, W3 9DJ</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">opening hours updated weekly on google</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-11421470945734862432022-04-29T05:10:00.004-07:002022-04-29T09:02:52.312-07:00Under the Influence of Lockdown<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LxZtqn9QgTXZm1kf98fLgDvp_bZWhTlaxOhmAgGuKElUem_haBKMIWA7n98ebWIDiXQ3Wv9DNxLEgcmkJTorxzthk26CMFu5LsXK91RW7-DfZUi3gac8s6k4gIGjriH5NSRg0PtoowG2v27rOZa2n3ZDDKZAJ0nn5s5la9MKCL7H6ONkjo8e5CLelQ/s1813/279321537_692481275396577_5612257821025736424_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1813" data-original-width="1462" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LxZtqn9QgTXZm1kf98fLgDvp_bZWhTlaxOhmAgGuKElUem_haBKMIWA7n98ebWIDiXQ3Wv9DNxLEgcmkJTorxzthk26CMFu5LsXK91RW7-DfZUi3gac8s6k4gIGjriH5NSRg0PtoowG2v27rOZa2n3ZDDKZAJ0nn5s5la9MKCL7H6ONkjo8e5CLelQ/w323-h419/279321537_692481275396577_5612257821025736424_n.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Under the Influence of Lockdown" Acrylic on canvas 61x51cm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">I am pleased to be showing three pieces at the Acton Open Exhibition, W3 Gallery, from Thursday May 5th. The work selected, all acrylics on canvas have one common denominator - they were painted during the lockdowns of 2020. The painting above appropriately entitled "Under the Influence of Lockdown" was completed during the first, which began in the UK on March 23rd. It had been started a couple of years earlier and left as "unresolved". In one sense, the lockdown forced me to re-visit this piece with heightened focus, given that most other human activities were on hold. I was reminded of how prisoners use art as a means of being in touch with the "outside world" and Van Gogh's productive time at the asylum in Saint-Remy de Provence.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw5wTGcoSAkKLGCqY8zryEZ0g9rSJio7AKfA_VbTxHXm9Oq3Hs3kyDC1EymjpWapfvy0K66_JCnCvKro2ZUCWpfCq7j69A3hgi_UPXGyBgq8ck-Q1_MWUy_Q09AqEp2-mMGfVJmXFQwwbtFwF-SCfxc9X-Rr4I8pR9Mcfm1qeBuBJVLJrO3AftFiPgA/s694/279093658_693289568765453_299070136019431468_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="694" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw5wTGcoSAkKLGCqY8zryEZ0g9rSJio7AKfA_VbTxHXm9Oq3Hs3kyDC1EymjpWapfvy0K66_JCnCvKro2ZUCWpfCq7j69A3hgi_UPXGyBgq8ck-Q1_MWUy_Q09AqEp2-mMGfVJmXFQwwbtFwF-SCfxc9X-Rr4I8pR9Mcfm1qeBuBJVLJrO3AftFiPgA/w200-h197/279093658_693289568765453_299070136019431468_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early stage of re-working the canvas</td></tr></tbody></table> The first lockdown lasted until June 23rd. These were times of facing fear and uncertainty. There were no vaccinations or boosters, just an instruction to self isolate and take paracetamol if you had symptoms. We watched the daily updates on TV and every Thursday evening at 8pm we saluted the true heroes - the NHS workers who took enormous risks to their own lives for the sake of others.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Art is a cathartic thing and can take you to places inwardly you cannot physically travel to. It can put you in a state of creative mindfulness. Colour has power and used the right way can provide hope and possibility. And so, art became even more important to me during these periods of lockdown. Like a Joycean experience, it felt like the spirits of both the living and the dead artists came to visit during these times. Looking at this work now, I can feel the immediate influences of Rothko, Scully and Heron. In the worst of circumstances, something kicks us on and the best of humanity shines through. And so, this canvas which lay "unresolved" for a couple of years gained new life and being. "Under the Influence of Lockdown".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>I</b></i><span style="font-style: italic;"><b>n</b> <b>memory of all those we have lost from coronavirus and also to those who risked their own lives in our hospitals, care homes and services for the sake of others.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b> <span style="color: red;">"UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LOCKDOWN", along with these other two works are on show at the W3 GALLERY, ACTON, LONDON W3 9DJ FROM MAY 5TH.</span></b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohOV9mPIwpW9lw24uEMWfaGmTzsyuWPvcUn8Kke_4d_btiqqr9LDmCq3pzI9kydMl1F4h99tKF1xobGMYv6cxFGA_hcWP63WRzQHpl6ItAq59JDO68OL30QavkBY0A_a1BWPJ4yb8vPAOPt6SQcuWvJ5jPxBCZv5TzE85V6TDeAYqasNMXfOnsd5HSA/s2762/279184411_1055667305298893_6778268753493905843_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2090" data-original-width="2762" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohOV9mPIwpW9lw24uEMWfaGmTzsyuWPvcUn8Kke_4d_btiqqr9LDmCq3pzI9kydMl1F4h99tKF1xobGMYv6cxFGA_hcWP63WRzQHpl6ItAq59JDO68OL30QavkBY0A_a1BWPJ4yb8vPAOPt6SQcuWvJ5jPxBCZv5TzE85V6TDeAYqasNMXfOnsd5HSA/w200-h151/279184411_1055667305298893_6778268753493905843_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Untitled Acrylic on canvas 30x40cm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4XZrwbApfp_ss2g9qOK-V0Riuda-Ff0n3sPNvHmZb_tmLTzN4FuxpuP9iQDDCg9jplkJd3-Y781voMPuFEtA5a5t1BWGb6cbnANpQRrtre3kogXpWbQ75vB602hlS9fuQ_Z3N-hrbt6P-NrADAkzz6i8SRIdRpQILfQKAdbAxmDFFfL5nOwxlw-tTg/s2668/279314766_1761097027562016_4817972508628443329_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2111" data-original-width="2668" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4XZrwbApfp_ss2g9qOK-V0Riuda-Ff0n3sPNvHmZb_tmLTzN4FuxpuP9iQDDCg9jplkJd3-Y781voMPuFEtA5a5t1BWGb6cbnANpQRrtre3kogXpWbQ75vB602hlS9fuQ_Z3N-hrbt6P-NrADAkzz6i8SRIdRpQILfQKAdbAxmDFFfL5nOwxlw-tTg/w200-h158/279314766_1761097027562016_4817972508628443329_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monochrome Acrylic on canvas 28x35cm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <br /><p></p>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-79790881057814633642021-09-14T07:47:00.005-07:002021-10-06T08:15:43.066-07:00Something Is Changing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqFYwkBOjscmTJvYPfiVbRS0U9omlpE24eGiW7IHUADgjzgwikmYFj5mhiUmUJcYPeYZ-I2a0mYnMnnDobkJdAXK8WuNIXU1dGzkC51R9a9_2sIqKtBX7oirnSuPZOzxAFpltAfDZpmiC/s1452/244132863_385747853034076_2918081331238976032_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1452" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqFYwkBOjscmTJvYPfiVbRS0U9omlpE24eGiW7IHUADgjzgwikmYFj5mhiUmUJcYPeYZ-I2a0mYnMnnDobkJdAXK8WuNIXU1dGzkC51R9a9_2sIqKtBX7oirnSuPZOzxAFpltAfDZpmiC/w400-h304/244132863_385747853034076_2918081331238976032_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the opening night of "HARVEST" at the W3 Gallery.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>In 2018, I started a small series of paintings on the theme of Climate Change entitled "Something Is Changing". I am pleased that three of these pieces have been selected for this years Harvest Exhibition entitled "GATHER" at the W3 Gallery, Acton Town, London, which opened last month.<div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioclL3bL4lFBDgw7msp_DKUWqvvQrEt4UQmqYo3tfdPjvPEZ8nzLHf2sJLxN5vQw7V6FDnlcnYYHvBK0IfBJZa63EMJxucxy8XQaK5VugDdKY9qtfbx66VGxfAEJie1ElzGARQK1c4Z2Sw/s1600/70784859_2486087741667063_5441491055977431040_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="1600" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioclL3bL4lFBDgw7msp_DKUWqvvQrEt4UQmqYo3tfdPjvPEZ8nzLHf2sJLxN5vQw7V6FDnlcnYYHvBK0IfBJZa63EMJxucxy8XQaK5VugDdKY9qtfbx66VGxfAEJie1ElzGARQK1c4Z2Sw/s200/70784859_2486087741667063_5441491055977431040_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Something is Changing 6"<br />25x20cm. Acrylic on canvas 2019</td></tr></tbody></table>Since these works were first completed before the pandemic, we have seen even more extremities in the Global weather structures. Flash floods in New York City, wildfires across West America and Europe, not to mention the melting ice caps on both the North and South Poles have caused catastrophic destruction and loss of human life.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY98jbPUNhJoZahkiarjJckYS17M1QsrEKG_uVX9uhScP1syO4VoPCE9m3kToTxF5I14AFIPI7pGtscR8t7VzBmObUwDO4jMZmAJC25xUtcDFQZZ-kWYMGBbvD5ftSINa_MSC1zR26d6z/s1600/40888498_659360264446631_6370536514106949632_n+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="275" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY98jbPUNhJoZahkiarjJckYS17M1QsrEKG_uVX9uhScP1syO4VoPCE9m3kToTxF5I14AFIPI7pGtscR8t7VzBmObUwDO4jMZmAJC25xUtcDFQZZ-kWYMGBbvD5ftSINa_MSC1zR26d6z/s200/40888498_659360264446631_6370536514106949632_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Something is Changing 1"<br />21x45cm. Acrylic on canvas 2018</td></tr></tbody></table>In these abstract works, I use bands of colour to suggest temperature, atmosphere and the changing shape of the landscape. I am influenced by the Colour Field artists such as Mark Rothko, Sean Scully and the St Ives Artists - Patrick Heron and Ben Nicholson. "Something is Changing 4" reflects on Global Warming and was conceived after the highest temperature was recorded on July 25th, 2019 in the UK. The fifth painting in the series embraces the tragedy of the melting ice caps in the Artic and Antartic. "Something is Changing 6" invites us to look at our relationship with the earth and landscape.<br /><br /><br /><br />We are all aware and have experienced in one way or another the effect of Global Warming and Climate Change in the past few years. I hope the paintings are a reminder that "Something Is Changing"and inspire us in our own individual ways of our responsibilities.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">"GATHER" EXHIBITION IS OPEN</span></b></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">NOW UNTIL OCT 23RD</span></b></div><div style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">W3 GALLERY,185 ACTON HIGH ST,</span></b></div><div style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">LONDON W3 9DJ</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOmlqBM6so-fsEQvzAZa36H6HqN6-hcE-VuMFkFyq0-GhKeYPNI7atGt4-f-siay3FSnRopm1EJyv993CHf8W3Wemue50SDEJRQhIeqEJ4rE-h7dSh8TBDc4y95TVWiC8fLOG06QAM4_1/w320-h240/244545802_1027246471408568_7568876752926862176_n.jpg" width="320" /></strike></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span> </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6c6pk6-EV1vSswAHIsnJcJ3UPJY_zKOnwkNuzryEmSQmh8WDXFxjGm3l6CdM9qzlJaTSxVv8YIhnX4i_ZKikrAFuinhryNMaEcNd0egtsEhlaNcz753OAMaCE295qyYu6TmUAijWtnyeA/s1600/244355048_220182570102155_6919683443923936393_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6c6pk6-EV1vSswAHIsnJcJ3UPJY_zKOnwkNuzryEmSQmh8WDXFxjGm3l6CdM9qzlJaTSxVv8YIhnX4i_ZKikrAFuinhryNMaEcNd0egtsEhlaNcz753OAMaCE295qyYu6TmUAijWtnyeA/s320/244355048_220182570102155_6919683443923936393_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneUTdYYn77TFFI2m78LEijsBaDMGpogn504kdgVNQUwYB1Y1EL1Zu1AOqoy3jKqBKoxBLkRF8BRZ_OlQkjJvlarX5FajY1JM_T8roZcL0oEgqYfGydsXodGKCa1NN0B8U1T-oJMsa8W6l/s960/244475184_1144922242704038_526185190177850914_n.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><span> </span> <span> </span><span> </span></span></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-_tEhWJhoX5QgOz_PJDXq1McxSkoEpQD9UYpnT8Z5mbYe8rI8tUoEKSiCM3hqgzhkEsB6rEdqBOwR4L3QjrR8BLcr7u5QHyY2742-QzH7po1CezCFzIkM6YV8FIiFR_rH15Ee-0EJdPP/s2016/244296044_759366188795437_6801795193341556381_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-_tEhWJhoX5QgOz_PJDXq1McxSkoEpQD9UYpnT8Z5mbYe8rI8tUoEKSiCM3hqgzhkEsB6rEdqBOwR4L3QjrR8BLcr7u5QHyY2742-QzH7po1CezCFzIkM6YV8FIiFR_rH15Ee-0EJdPP/w320-h240/244296044_759366188795437_6801795193341556381_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>All the above photographs taken on opening night of "HARVEST" at the W3 Gallery on Sept 16th.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><b> </b></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-62574987596553227862021-03-01T07:11:00.006-08:002021-03-05T03:56:34.500-08:00Celebrating 60 - "Painting a Life"<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmGkN5P3CC3ylHLeAaun3dBwthKzv1rSW8H3MFc-94xJueyRU-El5Go36Xc5deoYFEZZB4MeHNy1nXTqaWow1HhC5_f-190QSnzLwu1kdkIdYUahILsDHHIwZ5nWhfS3VOs7WjTbVEFF6/s940/154365998_114317423920925_8143221243880179102_n.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmGkN5P3CC3ylHLeAaun3dBwthKzv1rSW8H3MFc-94xJueyRU-El5Go36Xc5deoYFEZZB4MeHNy1nXTqaWow1HhC5_f-190QSnzLwu1kdkIdYUahILsDHHIwZ5nWhfS3VOs7WjTbVEFF6/w400-h335/154365998_114317423920925_8143221243880179102_n.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1986, I visited an interesting exhibition in the Guinness Hop Store in Dublin. It was called "Painting a Life" and it featured the work of Irish artist, Pauline Bewick. The artist, having reached the age of fifty, decided to bring together as many pieces of artwork from early childhood onward.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Going through my own archives recently, I was confronted with a much larger volume of artworks than I had realised- pen and ink drawings, charcoals, pastels, oil and acrylic canvases, paper cut outs, worked over at least four decades. </span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0KVW62eDGPDsz-_cvxhxpYq9-phquOOkTFNQF9xe8ZbZ37ILOqV0qCzexRXPYuapiuJqtyNlFgVUzLVPwiDgdUVIlXT1exw5KEYGddnO8CZ29t6yec2RV47YVQ11c1lYW8jiyWd1X6fQ/s1487/157319569_352762399228772_7971357534203656826_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1487" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0KVW62eDGPDsz-_cvxhxpYq9-phquOOkTFNQF9xe8ZbZ37ILOqV0qCzexRXPYuapiuJqtyNlFgVUzLVPwiDgdUVIlXT1exw5KEYGddnO8CZ29t6yec2RV47YVQ11c1lYW8jiyWd1X6fQ/s320/157319569_352762399228772_7971357534203656826_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Untitled" paper cut out collage 84 x 60cm 2010</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, can art also provide the function to"paint a life" and form part of a biography? As I went through my storage space and portfolio's, I could see periods of my life unfolding, in the form of buildings, landscapes, figures or colour, performing similar functions to collections of photographs, letters or postcards.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reaching another decade, is a time to look back and reflect. So, as I turn sixty this month, I have taken on the task of selecting a dozen or so key pieces, which in sequence, act as a kind of autobiography - and in a way........painting my life.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><i> 1. Beginnings: No. 14 Upper Dorset St, Dublin</i></span></span></b></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcQoRsZAb21pAeIGKT8xe_mwVus_XI0XMxGt02ZC_vHxZm4DdwyA3gfMZkIMEkBMMGVTGWKPVzjvND79VxWqGgIrCdJJ3BTjbdzxdOB4qhQjCtBYstGWTmrwhLRGK_-G5oF4ziCuiYG9l/s2048/148485417_517376645900160_1128144844790139050_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1503" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcQoRsZAb21pAeIGKT8xe_mwVus_XI0XMxGt02ZC_vHxZm4DdwyA3gfMZkIMEkBMMGVTGWKPVzjvND79VxWqGgIrCdJJ3BTjbdzxdOB4qhQjCtBYstGWTmrwhLRGK_-G5oF4ziCuiYG9l/w147-h200/148485417_517376645900160_1128144844790139050_n.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I grew up in the heart of Dublin city, in the 1960's. My family ran a small grocery shop in Upper Dorset St, which opened seven days a week. Two doors down from where we lived, in N0.12, the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan was born. Around the corner, in Parnell Square, I made regular visits to the Hugh Lane Gallery, which housed everything from Impressionist paintings to the works of Jack B Yeats. Painting and drawing was always my passion as a child. I was fortunate my family gave me the time and encouraged me to explore and experiment freely.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o4zc0srRimDJQF1a8c2PMM9GjZ4eYDJDNpsyW3qE0DFa13QZm4vr07ccdQ5WyXbpSI6PQsAYbT7ewkgpbLG4EwHcbZlFcurwIandX-p1e2W-tYouieyY4xVuNB7KXXblGf-GjIeRc2oM/s1579/148014285_225780055939525_8307974470958631626_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1579" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o4zc0srRimDJQF1a8c2PMM9GjZ4eYDJDNpsyW3qE0DFa13QZm4vr07ccdQ5WyXbpSI6PQsAYbT7ewkgpbLG4EwHcbZlFcurwIandX-p1e2W-tYouieyY4xVuNB7KXXblGf-GjIeRc2oM/w200-h143/148014285_225780055939525_8307974470958631626_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">2. Exploring Surrealism: The Garden</span></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was fortunate to have both a sculptor, - Colm Brennan and a surrealist- Jimmy Burns, as art teachers in secondary school. Both of these, nurtured my talents and at times, departed from the school curriculum, so as I could develop my style and technique further. "The Garden" was completed a few years after leaving school and is a tribute to the artists, writers, philosophers, performers and scientists, I had admired the most. It pursues the theme of mortality and art. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFrcGYZDuQNEpT917BxBPV3NsccKWFiwJTFe3g-MU_wh7ZzQI2sxQcsfZhWl12Bh_L9kVT2kW5CQT3G0FOzMt1dEeFdBOa505VZiBv6XFBkJdN6bgc_G5s_-gqQpGihxjfZc2Ed5dlZ_h/s1617/148269374_719097452303340_1526900008584628314_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1093" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFrcGYZDuQNEpT917BxBPV3NsccKWFiwJTFe3g-MU_wh7ZzQI2sxQcsfZhWl12Bh_L9kVT2kW5CQT3G0FOzMt1dEeFdBOa505VZiBv6XFBkJdN6bgc_G5s_-gqQpGihxjfZc2Ed5dlZ_h/w135-h200/148269374_719097452303340_1526900008584628314_n.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">3. Transcendence</span></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I originally trained in design and was awarded Diploma in Visualising in 1980. Working for advertising agencies, I became influenced by graphic art techniques. I was pleased to have a drawing accepted by the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1985 and thereafter awarded prizes in the CDL National Art Competitions in Ireland.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Transcendence" combined many images I had come across in finished art manuals, books I had read and reproductions from Durer's etchings. The face of the writer Herman Hesse is featured in the central triangles. This large A1 size drawing explores the question of identity, the trauma of life itself, spirituality and our place in the cosmos.<br /><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXIJXow41KcE9Abfg6r3Jw8YNuh7xLw5uRJFuJDubQU0NAqLHj4XDFP_ZITJaGVWOAp58LsI75WA-EsxeGGE_IaHk0ykqXQ21tO94ShDXHgZr2ArZ8ekKPmYinHcsg-GVjx1MYZU2D79K/s1696/148658632_812766479594374_3480953444536725161_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="1184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXIJXow41KcE9Abfg6r3Jw8YNuh7xLw5uRJFuJDubQU0NAqLHj4XDFP_ZITJaGVWOAp58LsI75WA-EsxeGGE_IaHk0ykqXQ21tO94ShDXHgZr2ArZ8ekKPmYinHcsg-GVjx1MYZU2D79K/w139-h200/148658632_812766479594374_3480953444536725161_n.jpg" width="139" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><b>4. The Cheese Shop, Muswell Hill.</b></i></span></div>I moved to London in March 1989, two days after my birthday. I soon reconnected with my roots via a series of Celtic paintings and exhibited them at the Crocodile Gallery in Muswell Hill. Living in this quaint part of North London, I became interested in the Edwardian buildings and shop fronts surrounding the Broadway. "The Cheese Shop" is one of a series of paintings, in which, I also made limited edition prints. <span><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHlTWKqDcYLRolwLHtRc0kN_kYIJxy801Nv0jzrJWYFR0A46KTiBWiIk2nyvmW1J7K9Cuu2xp-NkfD-c1iGhhj0EmHjFVQougJZcmRA-CrfZ2vrqOBc8uNAV0BCBgVF5eyOyYQgSDC8Mb/s2048/148187770_1526833784187691_2375928692051113389_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1409" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHlTWKqDcYLRolwLHtRc0kN_kYIJxy801Nv0jzrJWYFR0A46KTiBWiIk2nyvmW1J7K9Cuu2xp-NkfD-c1iGhhj0EmHjFVQougJZcmRA-CrfZ2vrqOBc8uNAV0BCBgVF5eyOyYQgSDC8Mb/w138-h200/148187770_1526833784187691_2375928692051113389_n.jpg" width="138" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <i><b>5. Life Drawing</b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The traditional way of learning art is that good drawing is also a base to good painting. I was largely a representational artist at the time and my drawing was heavily governed by a graphic art approach, with a strong emphasis on linear accuracy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I attended life drawing classes in a studio in Crouch End, not far from where I lived. The tutor had a vast knowledge of the anatomy, how to represent the figure through observation and I learned the importance of correct timing. After a lot of practise, I began to loosen up and make suggestions rather than direct representations. This would help me later on, when I journeyed through abstraction.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfzGdeiv0HCXymP_Zeqcq6wHdQZDh8ljkQDfsZ5C-D7clhfL8M0dcGp1AY1OcxejHe9B7SPlKpHSnNhvXPb4cUOSsY3X_-YvYE3XjEJEKXmLJwojFskYlYMvuzvlsWjj94M9BA05mpiD9/s2048/148200349_218560393325964_307958083942877233_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="2048" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfzGdeiv0HCXymP_Zeqcq6wHdQZDh8ljkQDfsZ5C-D7clhfL8M0dcGp1AY1OcxejHe9B7SPlKpHSnNhvXPb4cUOSsY3X_-YvYE3XjEJEKXmLJwojFskYlYMvuzvlsWjj94M9BA05mpiD9/w200-h141/148200349_218560393325964_307958083942877233_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">6. Abstraction</span></b></i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was at the Hampstead School of Art in 2007 that my art took on a new dimension. I was fortunate to have a Head of Painting, Wynn Jones as tutor. He encouraged me to push my boundaries and in his own words to explore artistic "radicalism". I had already been introduced to Mark Rothko's work from another artist friend and I began to delve into the works of the American Abstractionists. I very quickly arrived at a new place in my development as an artist and became absorbed by the use of abstract colour.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oRMKJ1c1p4037zOiyC9u8awItf3RSVRBdz6qI7iB8WVgya0FU9797nl9jHb-2OWifZ3F4YnI9KC4eAox_tOn_kIcWgfazythY51F3JaEW46_benXu-CfcPavoziITArHLmubbvra9h9E/s1626/148731503_741333096500365_1642858863595780067_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1626" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oRMKJ1c1p4037zOiyC9u8awItf3RSVRBdz6qI7iB8WVgya0FU9797nl9jHb-2OWifZ3F4YnI9KC4eAox_tOn_kIcWgfazythY51F3JaEW46_benXu-CfcPavoziITArHLmubbvra9h9E/w200-h140/148731503_741333096500365_1642858863595780067_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">7. St. Ives</span></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I first visited St. Ives, Cornwall in 2006. I was aware that this had become a post war artists colony and had been the base for eminent British artists such as Patrick Heron, Peter Lanyon, Terry Frost and Ben Nicholson. I attended classes at the St. Ives School of Art and learnt about the value of print making as another form of expression. The recently opened Tate St. Ives gallery, premiered the first full retrospective of Roger Hilton " Into Seeing New". I have returned to St. Ives several times since, always appreciating the surrounding space and light of the landscape. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3y0uG-IbPNX3iLiABU-s9D_Z8I3YOFohrbLKKeJvHlVA-wFlQgBRCKmJXOsKA9AGn31PoGl5oEkQKylN3z6ZbEwN8hZe7McUyypYrr069vCujP4YweB6nmi5Vk3jm0iucyZryfL00tx-6/s1562/147904537_233552258315477_4507355798112956841_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1562" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3y0uG-IbPNX3iLiABU-s9D_Z8I3YOFohrbLKKeJvHlVA-wFlQgBRCKmJXOsKA9AGn31PoGl5oEkQKylN3z6ZbEwN8hZe7McUyypYrr069vCujP4YweB6nmi5Vk3jm0iucyZryfL00tx-6/w200-h144/147904537_233552258315477_4507355798112956841_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b><i>8. Slade School -2011</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Continuing to experiment, I developed a further variety of techniques at the Slade School of Art, London in 2011. I became interested in the relationship of poetry to visual art and used Japanese Haiku, as a basis for some work. I also developed the continuous line technique, drawing on large sheets of paper placed on the studio floor. These drawings have started to form a base for future paintings and more finished pieces.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-PKBii2TP8YaBaxwWmS9fBqJx1HdSIeW6qhMRtkNlGBSWjItQnb_Dc3Dk-Q_ZA21gmX3d6PzsUzdpxRFpXG_ClBGHOzI3yGl48ua1BRBjgm7yo9JHN6SUrPVdq7fYtHY4296blSuTE3y/s2048/147959189_705937163412121_433932361450409730_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="2048" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-PKBii2TP8YaBaxwWmS9fBqJx1HdSIeW6qhMRtkNlGBSWjItQnb_Dc3Dk-Q_ZA21gmX3d6PzsUzdpxRFpXG_ClBGHOzI3yGl48ua1BRBjgm7yo9JHN6SUrPVdq7fYtHY4296blSuTE3y/w200-h148/147959189_705937163412121_433932361450409730_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>9. "Sidney" Understanding Dementia</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I first became exposed to dementia in 2010, after the diagnosis of one of my parents. Seeing how this develops and changes the personality of the individual, is a painful experience. It requires patience and tender, loving care. After my mother passed in 2o15, I became involved with a dementia charity in North London. "Sidney" is dedicated to one of it's earliest members, who has never been forgotten.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49lttgEXa4cZ-zK_Huatrt04KU36pLbdL2r-ILAao5FfyMntPimfy9LzDlpLATpryIm5bL1aGTIQXKm9yjGF_WUlhLWrZ7GedbxqrevdvktuKs7AE4-ZXhsYfIkMHTk9Bsg2mbxHvQjRz/s200/40888498_659360264446631_6370536514106949632_n+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49lttgEXa4cZ-zK_Huatrt04KU36pLbdL2r-ILAao5FfyMntPimfy9LzDlpLATpryIm5bL1aGTIQXKm9yjGF_WUlhLWrZ7GedbxqrevdvktuKs7AE4-ZXhsYfIkMHTk9Bsg2mbxHvQjRz/s0/40888498_659360264446631_6370536514106949632_n+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>10. Climate Change - "Something is Changing"</b></span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">My climate change paintings entitled " Something is Changing" were first exhibited at the W3 Gallery, Acton Town, Eco Arts Exhibition in 2018.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">To date, I have completed six pieces on the theme of Global warming, using bands of colour to suggest temperature, atmosphere and the changing face of our planet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am passionate about our responsibility to take action on climate change. I</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">t's consequences will affect the lives of future generations.</span></div><div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bjSZ3h1VBm8GnSLdRXKmWww1_vFkn8LQ1lucONDh6aMsl6JrHiZnJVpUCe985mEdCX74uOucRkkHgyrJYfDgYFubggMbQdJtJ-C3HLhyTNrbJWj32-83Nv65mNkGVfF6EEiCa2gq-DK7/s1677/148493844_811305913062625_1677069129636990994_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1677" data-original-width="1184" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bjSZ3h1VBm8GnSLdRXKmWww1_vFkn8LQ1lucONDh6aMsl6JrHiZnJVpUCe985mEdCX74uOucRkkHgyrJYfDgYFubggMbQdJtJ-C3HLhyTNrbJWj32-83Nv65mNkGVfF6EEiCa2gq-DK7/w141-h200/148493844_811305913062625_1677069129636990994_n.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>11. Spirituality "Stations of the Cross"</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Faith and spirituality has influenced my work in more recent years. Kandinsky once said " The artist must train not only his eye but also his soul".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I dedicated the oil painting, "Shambo"in 2007 to the slaughtered Hindu bull. "Revelation" reflected on the biblical plight of the Israelites and "Hymn to the Mother of God" was based on a religious piece of music by John Tavener. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As a Christian, I had seen many contemporary versions of the "Stations of the Cross" but I decided to interpret each step in complete abstraction, avoiding any direct figuration. I completed these acrylic sketches in 2017.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4wpQZ8i2wJQVpo5F7FeKuW2wWCRTMzveMG9IoEtb0Nr4u-iOu8z2jCxLAyaUirs6HD52pWNINU-K2ES70pUD9BnylEF2ZexzSz7V7J60zeJ9QGKgTT8s7bORnUUklJY0zWsFjiTg4EAo/s1671/Under+the+influence+of+lockdown.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="1403" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4wpQZ8i2wJQVpo5F7FeKuW2wWCRTMzveMG9IoEtb0Nr4u-iOu8z2jCxLAyaUirs6HD52pWNINU-K2ES70pUD9BnylEF2ZexzSz7V7J60zeJ9QGKgTT8s7bORnUUklJY0zWsFjiTg4EAo/w168-h200/Under+the+influence+of+lockdown.jpg" width="168" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>12. Under the Influence of Lockdown 2020</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">No one,<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>would have expected that 2020, would be the year of the pandemic. We would see significant illness and deaths. We would be asked to confine ourselves to our homes for lengthy periods.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This painting was completed during the first lockdown in London. I was short of materials, so I painted over a previously worked canvas, leaving some of the original marks exposed.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Ironically, there is great energy and vibrant colour in this painting. One can almost hear a voice which says "Be creative....... Carry on!" </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have actually, sometimes given up on art, but it for some reason, has never given up on me. So, sixty years on, I will do my best to "Carry on".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Thanks to my family, many friends, muses, teachers and acquaintances who have supported my artistic endeavors over the years.</i></b></span></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><div style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-73309686509775049402020-12-01T04:02:00.011-08:002020-12-02T09:07:06.363-08:00The Window at St. Monica's.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQhC0Wpd2qyUGCxFHMkF_oOtsalJHedLaDsvEj1f8j8sQ80zNvSZ4_Eu2FJk6_HKp2H5rtdm9xwOZkG3GiOJjEPWu4QQvgHnNwMgEzcNZzHE-IZbFWPw_i6ReieACm76pXboJ4c2ewqcn/s1856/127201778_422009922520269_682352527232515052_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1856" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQhC0Wpd2qyUGCxFHMkF_oOtsalJHedLaDsvEj1f8j8sQ80zNvSZ4_Eu2FJk6_HKp2H5rtdm9xwOZkG3GiOJjEPWu4QQvgHnNwMgEzcNZzHE-IZbFWPw_i6ReieACm76pXboJ4c2ewqcn/w400-h288/127201778_422009922520269_682352527232515052_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Window at St. Monica's Tom Cullen Acrylic on canvas 21x15cm 2020<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stain Glass...Memories...Vivid Colours.. Heavenly feelings.. A sense of timelessness.. These were my earliest recollections of the stain glass windows of my local Dominican church in Dublin. I was about two or three years old. Some years later, as a boy I would visit the nearby Hugh Lane Gallery and be absorbed by the work of Harry Clarke and Evie Hone whose work was shown in a darkened room dedicated to artists who worked in the medium of stain glass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ISHNuxCngFvvxn_MwtnBxuL4X8MhAGpGotbRWbAKqOifdQZ1U93Bh5K6wxyE27zaS57vkL02EQccvpzJP7IWTwkf7H4eDYEv4K5UotFx7_YeCtiY8WxU4-b-bPG1tg44z8D-zJMBRjiO/s1665/127622622_404757370575527_37395345083063514_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="1381" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ISHNuxCngFvvxn_MwtnBxuL4X8MhAGpGotbRWbAKqOifdQZ1U93Bh5K6wxyE27zaS57vkL02EQccvpzJP7IWTwkf7H4eDYEv4K5UotFx7_YeCtiY8WxU4-b-bPG1tg44z8D-zJMBRjiO/w166-h200/127622622_404757370575527_37395345083063514_n.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up Nativity Window, St Monica's<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">St. Monica's Church is located in Palmers Green, North London. It was built in 1914 and the stain glass windows were installed in the late 1920's following an anonymous donation. They are the work of Franz Mayer of Munich and London. There are five windows in the nave and an additional in the Sacred Heart Chapel to the left. These depict the life of Jesus from birth to resurrection.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The window nearest to to the front of the church depicts the traditional nativity scene. We see the Holy Family - Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus surrounded by the Magi and two shepherds. The Magi commonly known as the "Three Wise Men" were noble pilgrims from the East to whom it is said followed the light of a guiding star, leading them to the place where Jesus was born. In the western churches they are given the names of Melchior, Caspar and Balthazer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50DGyXRo4pEF5v2279UPRS6dCk7z7P7-yRuOl0Ohii52KN2WNEuCcd9ngtwouVdjHNqSfMdy3nSPIF6xX6fNlaQb_uZ98Xta4nl8vUWaho0rE0ezZgl-vSWu3CrVxe9yBf6H3CsbxxyC_/s1548/127542363_391966005375735_4816483426989803957_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1330" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50DGyXRo4pEF5v2279UPRS6dCk7z7P7-yRuOl0Ohii52KN2WNEuCcd9ngtwouVdjHNqSfMdy3nSPIF6xX6fNlaQb_uZ98Xta4nl8vUWaho0rE0ezZgl-vSWu3CrVxe9yBf6H3CsbxxyC_/w172-h200/127542363_391966005375735_4816483426989803957_n.jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full view Nativity Window<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>In recent times, I have sat and spent some time with this particular window. As an abstract artist, I am pulled in by the vivid colours which have sustained for a hundred years or so. Ultramarine blues, vermillion and deep reds, peppermint greens which contrast with burnt sienna's, lilacs, yellows and oranges painted in a way we can almost touch real gold. Around this nativity scene, I see shepherds, one holding a stick, the other grasping a sheep swung around his neck. An ox and a donkey show their faces, olive trees enhance the background left. To the right, the star of Bethlehem shines brightly with a beam that touches the Magi's halo. We experience this birth with a sense of harmony between humankind and all earthly things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwQKXpsjUY0JtF9ojyWEV-bHLmUH8sPly2_Q2Pwo9zl2Iyg3CA9pmqNHMGdEsN6J7oUZ4IbWc2q1CEX05TbYd_YAl8pz_dHSzXiTOzbtu-CRO5AeP8Zc8mwOwAYlDEPK9yi8oO_ZCJmhv/s2048/128800237_829687207867080_8578584153836590900_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwQKXpsjUY0JtF9ojyWEV-bHLmUH8sPly2_Q2Pwo9zl2Iyg3CA9pmqNHMGdEsN6J7oUZ4IbWc2q1CEX05TbYd_YAl8pz_dHSzXiTOzbtu-CRO5AeP8Zc8mwOwAYlDEPK9yi8oO_ZCJmhv/s320/128800237_829687207867080_8578584153836590900_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail from The Window At St. Monica's</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year has been far from harmonious for most of us. The contagious and deadly coronavirus has resulted in 61.4 million cases and 1.4 m deaths worldwide to date. We have lived a life of face masks, lockdowns and separation. Families have lost love ones, people have lost jobs. There seemed little hope until last month when three new vaccines were announced.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid15sYOeGBeIsHvcCg8kGNVStP9wWrlI1jIbVVwW9ZQQ9JMkJmuvDCVU4UuHjlgTnpxwmGDvnn07boEGBk7H-EqoSxIkwPi6Dhsrdj8o8uoT5-LTiuB4eAw5FkgtDqkogQ8GK4ffUmA11j/s2580/128781696_132955205062686_7655503367693086108_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2580" data-original-width="1191" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid15sYOeGBeIsHvcCg8kGNVStP9wWrlI1jIbVVwW9ZQQ9JMkJmuvDCVU4UuHjlgTnpxwmGDvnn07boEGBk7H-EqoSxIkwPi6Dhsrdj8o8uoT5-LTiuB4eAw5FkgtDqkogQ8GK4ffUmA11j/w93-h200/128781696_132955205062686_7655503367693086108_n.jpg" width="93" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Above: </i>Detail </td></tr></tbody></table>So, when I look through this window at St. Monica's and I see some light shining through, I sense some hope for the future. I started this small acrylic painting in August. Inspired by the mark the window left inside of me, it remained unfinished up to last month. It has several layers underneath. I had given up totally until I decided to mask off two horizontals and paint the red glaze. As I lifted the masking tape the underlying colours shone through. It had worked and my memory of the window at St. Monica's was complete.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is worth remembering the Magi quietly avoided Herod on their return when they knew he could not be trusted. The light of the star had got them to their destination and on their return they followed the internal "light" of their spirit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I hope this painting inspired by the window at St. Monica's brings light and hope for better things to come this Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-66541981461799260132020-04-06T09:38:00.001-07:002020-04-18T11:33:35.405-07:00A Bright Yellow Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yellow Paintings Series No1 Acrylic on Canvas 46x35cm</td></tr>
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Somewhere, between last Christmas and the New Year, I came across a programme on BBC Radio 4 called "A Bright Yellow Light". I assumed at this time of year, it was a usual Christmas religious broadcast. But, no, this was something very different. It was an extraordinary interview with Nadim Ednan Laperouse, father of the girl Natasha who had tragically died from an allergic reaction, after eating a sandwich containing sesame seeds at an airport cafe in 2018.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yellow Paintings Series No2 </td></tr>
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I was familiar with the incident. It had gained widespread media coverage and has culminated in "Natasha's Law" being prepared for legislation next year- which insists that all active ingredients are listed on all pre-packaged food.<br />
However, this was the first time that Natasha's father spoke about a very unusual religious experience which occurred as she passed away. He describes, "A strong soft yellow light appeared, like candle light- really intense but not that your eyes would squint. In great detail these five figures like thin people with features like you or I appeared with wings on their backs. I never saw anything like that in my life, I never expected to. I whooshed them all away. It dawned on me she might die. I shouted "It's not her time!" As I did that, they were gone and Natasha died. There was nothing more that could be done."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yellow Paintings Series No3</td></tr>
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Nadim Ednan Laperouse goes on to say "Afterwards I know I was meant to see them. I was not a believer at all - someone too full of himself, too arrogant a man really, coming from a business world where people say "I will make myself what I want to be in my own strength". The whole situation showed I was very weak and unable to do anything for my own family. In my lowest moment, that is where God sent the angels for me to see, to tell me that is okay."<br />
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He accounts seeing the yellow light a second time - the day Prime Minister, Theresa May mentioned in public his daughters name, Natasha. " I was crying and giving thanks to God. Suddenly the whole room lit up as if someone put the light on, but not normal light. It was this soft yellow light again. It was God saying "I hear you my child". It made me feel , I have a father, someone stronger than me, with no ego like me".</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yellow Paintings Series No4</td></tr>
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It is hard for anyone, even of faith to believe in apparitions like this. But there was something deeply <br />
moving and spiritual in this story which would not leave me after I listened to the interview. From this place, I began the "Yellow Paintings Series" last month. The colour yellow in art often signifies joy, hope and possibility. It symbolises freshness, happiness, positivity and enlightenment. I am reminded of the intense yellows Van Gogh used in his paintings, the transparency of Rothko's colour field paintings and the warmthness of the Eliasson Weather Project - the large sun installation of the Tate Modern in 2003.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yellow Paintings Series No5</td></tr>
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As I progressed with the series, I became aware the worldwide coronavirus epidemic was no longer "out there" but now on my doorstep here in the UK. Fortunately, during lock down, I had enough paint and canvas in storage to complete these five small pieces. I write this in self isolation now with mild symptoms. There has never been a time where we need hope for the future and to feel there is a "Bright Yellow Light", shining for each one of us. I hope, therefore, the paintings emanate some positive energy for all of us.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In memory of Natasha Ednan Laperouse 2003- 2018</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: orange; text-align: justify;"><i><b>The interview of Nadim Ednan Laperouse by Emily Buchanan is available at:</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="color: orange;">www.bbc.co.uk>programmes </span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; text-align: justify;"><b> A Bright Yellow Light - BBC radio 4</b></span><br />
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-5639716129983446592019-09-10T09:53:00.002-07:002021-09-14T07:37:18.446-07:00"Something Is Changing"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Something is Changing 4"<br />
61x46cm. Acrylic on canvas 2019</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Something is Changing 2"<br />
35x29cm. Acrylic on canvas 2018</td></tr>
</tbody></table> In 2018, I started a small series of paintings on the theme of Climate Change entitled "Something Is Changing". I am pleased that three of these pieces have been selected for this years Harvest Exhibition entitled "GATHER" at the W3 Gallery, Acton Town, London.<div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Something is Changing 6"<br />
25x20cm. Acrylic on canvas 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Since these works were first completed before the pandemic, we have seen even </div><div>more extremities in the Global weather structures. Flash floods in New York City, wildfires across West America and Europe, not to mention the melting ice caps on both the North and South Poles have caused catastrophic destruction and loss of human life.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Something is Changing 1"<br />
21x45cm. Acrylic on canvas 2018</td></tr>
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In these abstract works, I use bands of colour to suggest temperature, atmosphere and the changing shape of the landscape. I am influenced by the Colour Field artists such as Mark Rothko, Sean Scully and the St Ives Artists - Patrick Heron and Ben Nicholson. "Something is Changing 4" reflects on Global Warming and was conceived after the highest temperature was recorded on July 25th, 2019 in the UK. The fifth painting in the series embraces the tragedy of the melting ice caps in the Artic and Antartic. "Something is Changing 6" invites us to look at our relationship with the earth and landscape.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQr3BsaHxfuHFU4O-1ZasJLZWpuvjcRWhrj8hAI2nMZtFTBwDA-x862nnAYkvOqM27QkgHk0azuBMjsrqB4MEEM4J5di6cO5HPkb13eBxIl1a4FvUMIBeKkonU1QpbYY4XNniel6jSJqys/s1600/70332197_674505656401518_46706966185115648_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="1600" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQr3BsaHxfuHFU4O-1ZasJLZWpuvjcRWhrj8hAI2nMZtFTBwDA-x862nnAYkvOqM27QkgHk0azuBMjsrqB4MEEM4J5di6cO5HPkb13eBxIl1a4FvUMIBeKkonU1QpbYY4XNniel6jSJqys/s200/70332197_674505656401518_46706966185115648_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Something is Changing 5"<br />
35x29cm. Acrylic on canvas 2019<br />
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We are all aware and have experienced in one way or another the effect of Global Warming and Climate Change in the past few years. I hope the paintings are a reminder and inspire us in our own individual ways of our responsibilities around it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Something Is Changing.<br /><br />
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</div>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-88322208562251145862015-06-07T05:09:00.000-07:002015-07-04T12:41:16.471-07:00San Jose 33 <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>San Jose 33 Oil on Canvas 122x76cm Tom Cullen 2010</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I painted "San Jose 33" towards the end of 2010,after making a small acrylic sketch in which I experimented with contrasting colour tones and tonal values. This colour combination seemed to work and I changed the profile from horizontal to vertical from the original sketch to improve the composition. The intention was to be very simple,direct and explore some freedom during the painting sessions.<br /> Whilst I was completing this painting, news updates were coming through with regard to the miners trapped in Copiapo,Chile.On the 5th August the mine had collapsed leaving thirty three workers 600 metres underground.Once it was known that they were still alive, the rescuers implemented a comprehensive plan to </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Study for San Jose 33 Acrylic on paper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">both nurture and release them. The whole world was now focused on this mission, whilst the miners beneath endured severe food rationing and isolation. However, the moment of global joy came some sixty nine long days later, when one by one, the miners were brought to the surface over a period of almost twenty four hours. For once,the media had something positive to focus on and the world celebrated this success of this mission.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> It seemed appropriate therefore to call this painting"San Jose 33". After all it appears from the beginning, it may have been an inner exploration of personal entrapment and the desire for freedom. Given the pain and sacrifice these miners endured during this intensive time of confinement, it is more than important to pay homage to them and also to those who secured them safely.</span><br />
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"<b>Song for San Jose Miners" by Jack Warsaw</b><br />
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<b><i>Above: Opening Night at the W3 Gallery, "Global Dimensions" Exhibition June 4th.</i></b></h4>
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-51064492096777861822015-05-31T14:23:00.002-07:002015-06-13T06:33:42.579-07:00Revelation<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Revelation" Oil on Canvas Tom Cullen 2007<br />
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I painted "Revelation" at the same time and as part of the same painting sessions as"Through the Edge of Darkness" at the Hampstead School of Art, London in 2007. Both paintings emerged as part of the same process whereby I used a camcorder and took some close up stills of some other works I had done previously. Once I was happy with the images I selected, I worked them up on a much greater scale. And so the two paintings came about.<br />
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"Revelation" is a reference to The Book of Exodus. In this we are told of how Yaweh (God) appears to Moses at Mount Horeb in the form of a burning bush. This powerful image represents many things to Jews, Christians and Muslims: God's miraculous energy,sacred light, illumination and the loving heart of purity, love and clarity. From a human standpoint it also represents Moses reverence and fear before the divine presence. It was from this point that he became appointed to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and in to the promised land Canann.</div>
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Throughout history to the present day tribes and collective groups have had to flee their place of birth in order to escape conflict or natural disaster. More than 35,000 migrants are thought to have crossed from Africa to Europe this year alone and some 1,750 are thought to have died while attempting their journey. More than 750 migrants are thought to have died off the coast of Libya in a boat disaster on the 18th April this year, At least 200 of these were Senegalese and 350 Etrians according to the United Nations but there were also migrants from Syria, Somalia, Sierre Leone, Mali, Gambia, Ivory Coast and Ethiopa.<br />
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I am proud to be showing "Revelation" along with some other paintings at the W3 Gallery, Acton Town as part of "Celebrating Sanctuary and Refugee Week" from June 4th.</div>
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For the Israelites, it took many generations to arrive at the promised land, but key I suppose is that they never lost faith and had a set of values from which to live. I expect this is what helped them to get to where they wanted, by being open to possibility and putting their trust in something greater than themselves.<br />
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"Revelation" is on show at the"Global Dimensions"- a Celebrating Sanctuary Exhibition at W3 Gallery, 185 High St, Acton, London W3 9DJ.</h3>
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June 4th- 18th.</h3>
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<span style="color: red;">OPENING RECEPTION JUNE 4TH</span></h3>
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-15276788978183201902014-12-07T13:10:00.000-08:002015-01-13T12:45:15.644-08:00Affordable Art - W3 Gallery, Acton Town, London.<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2Ingd8XDQKBlhzZoVfZeBLzNNtthAJ6uG-CjZau1PrmmPwf_097o9EBeYQOINdtdh2bLIc2pC8pbr8hskdamsjxZFzSY0CF8H6-ju8PbqO6JiNkxkz4IzuJZP67Z798W8AkANIa7Lhmo/s1600/Untitled+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2Ingd8XDQKBlhzZoVfZeBLzNNtthAJ6uG-CjZau1PrmmPwf_097o9EBeYQOINdtdh2bLIc2pC8pbr8hskdamsjxZFzSY0CF8H6-ju8PbqO6JiNkxkz4IzuJZP67Z798W8AkANIa7Lhmo/s1600/Untitled+(2).JPG" height="294" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Untitled 1 Oil on paper Tom Cullen 2007</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">The W</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 gallery is a West London based contemporary art space which curates and produces projects by artists and arts organisations working across visual arts, sound, moving image and performance.W3 gallery's core aim is to foster creative opportunities and experiences</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">that challenge and stimulate, providing a platform for debate and engagement that explores soc</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">ial, political and cultural issues.The selection criteria emphasises innovation, enquiry and awareness of current debates and issues in visual arts practice.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSljowOT5HqrO7Vn-TBf9BhFtZK-w-dBIYIoN9g1TuQyHQ1zmpPLaGm_XEfoS7E_vXi1EMs3IlnFA28zF4YLc1CtEM4ecCSSK59CkEeo9spZqsDywlHjH02u783JtwB_uRzOwTPF_a28eM/s1600/Untitled.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSljowOT5HqrO7Vn-TBf9BhFtZK-w-dBIYIoN9g1TuQyHQ1zmpPLaGm_XEfoS7E_vXi1EMs3IlnFA28zF4YLc1CtEM4ecCSSK59CkEeo9spZqsDywlHjH02u783JtwB_uRzOwTPF_a28eM/s1600/Untitled.JPG" height="147" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Untitled 2 Acrylic on paper</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">I exhibited at "Celebrating Sanctuary" and "Carnival" shows this year at the W3, I am delighted to have had four pieces selected for the December "Affordable Art" Exhibition. It features the work of over 50 local artists with the criteria of "small size, small price".The original art ranges from prints, paintings, jewelry, craft, t-shirts and cards.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two pieces are untitled, (1) which I painted in 2007 at the Hampstead School of Art and (2) which came out of a painting session in my studio more recently.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg220XwlvEeKNWLR_kE-FgAkPJs6iFwBjudfQqqnz0NtDJWVQZfTQfxuYXaZ2qIPxAfBvfF-rygN4p2AChf8YGifuSa16oSLT1QY4A2SXEjgKRXe-BVmn5qCxxG-JjA_EjtOfS_g9Ng_pUr/s1600/Study+for+San+Jose+33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg220XwlvEeKNWLR_kE-FgAkPJs6iFwBjudfQqqnz0NtDJWVQZfTQfxuYXaZ2qIPxAfBvfF-rygN4p2AChf8YGifuSa16oSLT1QY4A2SXEjgKRXe-BVmn5qCxxG-JjA_EjtOfS_g9Ng_pUr/s1600/Study+for+San+Jose+33.JPG" height="84" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Study for San Jose 33 Acrylic on paper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">"Study for San Jose 33" is the original sketch from which the finished painting evolved - dedicated to the survivors of the Chilean mine disaster in 2010. "Going Home Part 2" is the second painting in the series exploring the symptoms of dementia and old age.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIfnRUie3-xN2mHe1vVJXmS28pv4P5x6xTvxO_9DWTqGbaLHAKV3ynb4_v81fKhH-SG6b4Q3yL8RfDrvcqETuqVokMEHxUUqyykZ81c49eqlhcOUqpMjMnvVwzj8VLOfxC9Sok6V06bWw/s1600/Going+Home+Part+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIfnRUie3-xN2mHe1vVJXmS28pv4P5x6xTvxO_9DWTqGbaLHAKV3ynb4_v81fKhH-SG6b4Q3yL8RfDrvcqETuqVokMEHxUUqyykZ81c49eqlhcOUqpMjMnvVwzj8VLOfxC9Sok6V06bWw/s1600/Going+Home+Part+2.JPG" height="95" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Going Home Part 2 Acrylic on paper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Affordable Art" is at the W3 Gallery, 185 High St, Acton Town,London W3 9DJ.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>NOW EXTENDED TO MON JAN 25TH</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>All works are for sale less than £100.</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>"UNTITLED 1" NOW SOLD</i></b></span><br />
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<i><b>The gallery is open between 11am- 7pm on Tuesdays-Saturdays and from 12pm-6pm on Sundays.</b></i></div>
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<b style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening Night at the Affordable Art Show Dec 4th.</b></div>
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<i style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">L<b>ocated in the heart of Acton the W3 Gallery celebrates the artistic diversity of our community. Managed by the Acton Arts Forum and supported by Acton Community Forum, the opening of the gallery in September 2012 brought to light an arena of talented artists coupled with support from the gallery volunteers.</b></span></i><br />
<i style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></i>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-42665376493716543642014-06-24T12:33:00.001-07:002014-07-17T13:07:49.757-07:00Carnival<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> "Carnival" Oil on Canvas 77x122cm Tom Cullen 2010</b></td></tr>
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"Carnival" is part of a pair of paintings in which I further explored my boundaries in abstract representation. The Sean Scully "Walls of Light" works which I saw in the Dublin City, Hugh Lane Gallery in 2010 left a lasting mark in my creative unconscious. I was in awe at the scale of his works and the way he could convey</div>
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many different themes and subjects by simply reducing his paintings to blocks and stripes of colour. In the first of my two works "Mona Lisa", I chose to re-interpret the Da Vinci painting in a contemporary way, abstracting the colour and transferring to my own building blocks. The second piece, later to be called "Carnival" explored the boundaries of contrasting and subdued colours. I also focused more strongly on how the colours meet and merge with each other.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Carnival" detail</b></td></tr>
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I used chalk to divide the canvas into sections and when I was satisfied with the scale, I painted over an ultramarine base. The red and blacks are overlayed several times, so as we can see the contrasting colour shining through underneath. Although there is plenty of colour variation from one row to the next, I also chose to use toned down colour in the rest of the painting. In addition to warm and cool greys that appear, the yellow block in the lower centre has a glaze of black to intentionally reduce the vibrancy of the painting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Mona Lisa"</b></td></tr>
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Understanding how each segment of colour touches the next was really important to me when working on this piece. The painter Mark Rothko, was the master of this colour field technique and an artist that I often turn to for inspiration and ideas. A sense of spirit is always important to me both when I am painting or engaging with another artist's work. Breaking the rules of linear convention, such as in the bottom two rows when the blocks break at the same point was also significant in my ambition to push my own artistic boundaries. </div>
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According to Wikipedia, "Traditionally, Carnival is a festive season which occurs before Lent and involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of circus, mask and street party". Colour is integral to the vibrancy and ambiance of "Carnival". It seemed an appropriate title to this piece, having been through such a journey of colour, contrast and spirit. I hope the viewer, therefore may sense some of the energy and jollity associated with Carnival when engaging particularly in the light and colour of this painting.</div>
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<b><i>"Carnival" is on show at the W3 gallery, 185 High St, London W3 9DJ</i></b><b><i> "Art of Carnival" Exhibition, now extended to July 25th.</i></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Santana performing "Carnaval" at "The Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA.</b></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Above: Opening Night of "The Art of Carnival" at W3 gallery, London.</b></span></i><br />
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-15914507015312110742014-06-05T07:58:00.001-07:002014-06-10T16:52:21.756-07:00World like a dewdrop......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">World like a dewdrop Acrylic on canvas 122x76cm Tom Cullen 2011</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"World like a dewdrop</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Though it's only a dewdrop</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Even so, even so."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I painted "World like a dewdrop" in 2011, having read and been influenced by Japanese haiku poetry. I wanted to explore and interpret some of the principles of haiku in a visual way and through my own language of abstract expressionism. The question of scale interested me. I wanted to develop a relationship between a small entity in the painting and the larger expanse of the canvas itself, using vibrant colour to dictate both harmony and contrast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Haiku poetry emerged in Japan in the 16th century and has it's roots in the tradition of Tanga and the developments of Renga. In original format, it consists of three lines of five, seven and five syllables respectively.There are nine haiku rules, which include stating that the poem should be simple and immediate. It should also have connections with real events, sights, sounds or emotions. Another technique used is the contrast between the large and the small, the cosmic and the individual or the profound and the everyday. By comparing the world to a dewdrop for instance, we are forced to change perspective.This may alter our pre-conceived ideas and meanings about our relationship with the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> There are also links with the Zen Buddhist concepts of Change and Impermanence, Suffering and Compassion, Simplicity and Momentariness, Non-self. Everything is in constant state of change and suffering is key to human existence. Compassion for ourselves and others is essential to combat pain. By learning to live with a little, keeping life simple and by trying to live in the moment we can also come to terms with the human condition. Ultimately ,the idea of a permanent self and ownership is an illusion.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> After a few variations of visual interpretations in the form of sketches, I settled on the above concept for the completed painting. So,"World like a dewdrop" emerged - a work about the basics of space, scale and possibility. When the opportunity arose to submit a painting for the "Celebrating Sanctuary" exhibition at the W3 gallery in Acton, London it became an appropriate choice. After all these are important elements which any refugee might face. The world can be a big daunting place, but also can be a small inviting place also. I hope in the context of "Celebrating Sanctuary" that this work might encourage us to look afresh at the refugee's dilemma. I also hope it might inspire new hope for those who seek safety and protection.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> "World like a dewdrop" is on show at the W3 Gallery, 185 High St, Acton Town, London from June 5th - 22nd as part of the "Celebrating Sanctuary" Exhibition which is linked to Refugee Week (16th-22nd June).</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Through the Fire"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>A film which tells the story of three remarkable Somali women who risk their lives to run essential humanitarian projects. When the world abandoned them and their communities, the refused to give up or walk away.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Above: Opening Night at the "Celebrating Sanctuary" Exhibition at W3 gallery, Acton, London.</i></b></span></div>
tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-76586267503097794732012-10-28T08:18:00.001-07:002014-06-02T13:06:23.005-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlDLJCb4RW1J5ag1NVHMcgUuREr0-tTkJrV-pTCJBK6d5q94JS2CTVDb5d_CiLK0SWdXOwSVE9hRZAMj6-F9X4I8w7-iqqN6h4FAT7u-Ua8EsDibRmJpqtQ_kJ8TnqYlDsZeMr1J8iSLt/s1600/Photos+1+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> Autumn 1964</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"> </span> <em><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(for Karen)</span></span></strong></em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlDLJCb4RW1J5ag1NVHMcgUuREr0-tTkJrV-pTCJBK6d5q94JS2CTVDb5d_CiLK0SWdXOwSVE9hRZAMj6-F9X4I8w7-iqqN6h4FAT7u-Ua8EsDibRmJpqtQ_kJ8TnqYlDsZeMr1J8iSLt/s1600/Photos+1+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlDLJCb4RW1J5ag1NVHMcgUuREr0-tTkJrV-pTCJBK6d5q94JS2CTVDb5d_CiLK0SWdXOwSVE9hRZAMj6-F9X4I8w7-iqqN6h4FAT7u-Ua8EsDibRmJpqtQ_kJ8TnqYlDsZeMr1J8iSLt/s320/Photos+1+102.JPG" height="320" width="108" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Autumn 1964</strong> <br />
Tom Cullen</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Red apples hang like globes of light</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Against this pale November haze,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And now, although this mist is white,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In half-an-hour a day of days</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Will climb into its golden height</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And Sunday bells will ring its praise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The sparkling flint, the darkling yew,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The red brick, less intensely red</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Than hawthorn berries bright with dew</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Or leaves of creeper still unshed,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The watery sky washed clean and new,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Are all rejoicing with the dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The yellowing elm shows yet some green,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The mellowing bells exhultant sound:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Never have light and colour been</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So prodigally thrown around</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And in the bells the promise </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Of greater light where Love is found.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <em><strong> John Betjeman</strong></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> The word "Autumn" comes from the old French word "autompne" or "automne" in the modern language and was later modified to the original Latin word "Autumuns". There are rare examples of referring to Autumn in the 12th century, but more common by the 16th. Before this "harvest" was usually the term used for this season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter in the northern hemisphere in September and for the southern hemisphere in March. It is a season that has inspired artists, musicians and poets for centuries. Autumn is often associated, for instance in poetry with melancholy. The summer has gone and the chill of winter is on the horizon. Skies turn to grey and many people can turn inward physically and mentally.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9ojkny8ojtrV-upgz9buNnhq_YUECaoqq2tWda9_zhi118OrGSKMf0XAfEANlyd6kIwoECHQP-Vv9daCmfNJz2ncCRXsFbV80gvecui5GKG7lOoMTIv7onLt5oIl5BAwD8LxShyphenhyphen6DC5Q/s1600/Photos+1+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9ojkny8ojtrV-upgz9buNnhq_YUECaoqq2tWda9_zhi118OrGSKMf0XAfEANlyd6kIwoECHQP-Vv9daCmfNJz2ncCRXsFbV80gvecui5GKG7lOoMTIv7onLt5oIl5BAwD8LxShyphenhyphen6DC5Q/s320/Photos+1+105.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Detail from Autumn 1964 Oil on Wood 27x80cm Tom Cullen</strong></td></tr>
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<strong></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Keats "To Autumn" written in Sept 1819 echoes this sense of melancholic reflection, but also emphasises the lush abundance of the season. It is also a time of "mellow fruitfulness" and "bounteous fecundity". In the "Wild Swans of Coole", the poet W.B.Yeats referred symbolically to the maturing season as representing his own ageing self.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> However, for myself, it was the experience of both the intensity and the fantastic variation of colour at this time of year, that eventually allowed</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> the John Betjeman poem "Autumn 1964" to emerge into my art. I didn't intentionally set out to do a painting about the season or even the poem itself. However, I had become interested in poetry as a medium and as part of a group project, began to experiment with transforming the rhytmn and sounds in to marks of colour</span>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJewEGZ_Pjo9LbiOFjAkXjzDRoxnPhj0CWYKy0-OQ9_ghLSzQfBftbEzWUkPkj5sLduSTrNV-eeLGHuW73f3SQbW4OLNUc2KCUtGua6nV7MEJjWE87zDtMIVM21cb5n3jx2KCVO_xvBPI/s1600/Photos+1+107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJewEGZ_Pjo9LbiOFjAkXjzDRoxnPhj0CWYKy0-OQ9_ghLSzQfBftbEzWUkPkj5sLduSTrNV-eeLGHuW73f3SQbW4OLNUc2KCUtGua6nV7MEJjWE87zDtMIVM21cb5n3jx2KCVO_xvBPI/s320/Photos+1+107.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Detail from Autumn 1964 Oil on Wood 27x80cm Tom Cullen</strong></td></tr>
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<strong></strong> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I used found material - four</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> vertical wood panels, which symbolically began to represent lines of verse, held together by two horizontal pieces at the top and bottom. The layers of browns and ochres which dominate the main part of the piece were completed after a wider pallete range of various colours were formed in the underlay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I positioned the two rectangles and the square in a way that they break up the panels. This was to convey a sense of linearity and to provide contrast with the looser brushstrokes. To complete this piece, I positioned orange coloured card on the back allowing this hint of colour to shine through the gaps in the panels.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Towards the end of this painting and in the weeks that followed, I began to reflect on Betjeman's vivid description of a bright November day and particularly the lines "Never have light and colour been so prodigally turned around". So this painting emerged as a kind of dialogue to the Betjeman poem and an abstract, symbolic interpretation of this colourful season we call Autumn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Autumn 1964" read by Betjeman and set to music by Jim Parker</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>"Never have light and colour</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>Been so prodigally thrown around"</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Autumn" from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>The Four Seasons (</em></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_language" title="Italian language"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Italian</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>: <span lang="it" xml:lang="it">Le quattro stagioni</span>) is a set of four </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_concerto" title="Violin concerto"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>violin concertos</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> by </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Vivaldi" title="Antonio Vivaldi"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Antonio Vivaldi</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces of </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_music" title="Baroque music"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Baroque music</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>. The </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_(music)" title="Texture (music)"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>texture</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> of each concerto is varied, each resembling its respective season. </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>The concertos were first published in 1725 as part of a set of twelve concerti, Vivaldi's </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_number" title="Opus number"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Op.</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> 8, entitled </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_cimento_dell%27armonia_e_dell%27inventione" title="Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione"><em>Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione</em></a><em> (The Contest Between Harmony and Invention). The first four concertos were designated Le quattro stagioni, each being named after a </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season" title="Season"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>season</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>. Each one is in three movements, with a slow movement between two faster ones. </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>At the time of writing The Four Seasons, the modern solo form of the </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerto" title="Concerto"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>concerto</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> had not yet been defined (typically a solo instrument and accompanying orchestra). Vivaldi's original arrangement for solo violin with </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_quartet" title="String quartet"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>string quartet</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> and </em></span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basso_continuo" title="Basso continuo"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>basso continuo</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> helped to define the form.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Forever Autumn" Justin Hayward</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>"Forever Autumn" is a song by </em></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Wayne" title="Jeff Wayne"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Jeff Wayne</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>, </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Osborne" title="Gary Osborne"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Gary Osborne</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> and </em></span><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Vigrass&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Paul Vigrass (page does not exist)"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Paul Vigrass</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>. The original melody was written by Wayne in 1969 as a jingle for a </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego" title="Lego"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Lego</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> commercial. Vigrass and Osborne, the performers of the original jingle, added lyrics to the song and recorded it for inclusion on their 1972 album Queues. Their interpretation was also released as a single and gained moderate commercial success in Japan, selling more than 100,000 copies and becoming a top-20 hit on the country's </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oricon" title="Oricon"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>record chart</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>The best-known version is the recording by </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Hayward" title="Justin Hayward"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Justin Hayward</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> from the album </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Wayne%27s_Musical_Version_of_The_War_of_the_Worlds" title="Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds"><em>Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds</em></a><em>. Wayne wanted to include a love song on the album that sounded like "Forever Autumn", and he decided that the best course of action was to simply use the original song. Hayward, of </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moody_Blues" title="The Moody Blues"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>The Moody Blues</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>, was hand-picked by Wayne to sing it (because, Wayne said, he "wanted that voice from '</em></span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nights_In_White_Satin" title="Nights In White Satin"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Nights In White Satin</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>'"), and it was recorded at London's </em></span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UK_recording_studios" title="List of UK recording studios"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Advision Studios</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> in 1976. The song reached #5 on the </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Singles_Chart" title="UK Singles Chart"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>UK Singles Chart</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> in August 1978.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> The song begins with music that sounds almost like a medieval pipe tune, and the song is noteworthy for the lines of its chorus:</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em><strong>"My life will be forever autumn Now you are not here"</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></strong></em></span><br />
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-86665409761952614022012-03-25T10:24:00.011-07:002012-04-08T15:36:21.091-07:00"Going Home" series<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYdBjdGbxMPGpsNrp__JlN9Fgpxun8xIwQRA7eEjdsk8FQzeYdmdhKoSZhIw6eVEOEbNBrPbjIEBGPKgjNRzFxRHrC8eLaQ8xI0VktQgD-xZKIq-V42S7MglVGUHX5NNhvDtuKnmA8Wem/s1600/Going+Home+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYdBjdGbxMPGpsNrp__JlN9Fgpxun8xIwQRA7eEjdsk8FQzeYdmdhKoSZhIw6eVEOEbNBrPbjIEBGPKgjNRzFxRHrC8eLaQ8xI0VktQgD-xZKIq-V42S7MglVGUHX5NNhvDtuKnmA8Wem/s400/Going+Home+070.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Detail from Going Home 1. Acrylic on paper 2012 42x30cm</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The "Going Home" series of sketches was painted in one session in February of this year. From a family photograph, I extracted three basic colours - black, violet, white and chose to experiment with these. I used acrylic paint for fast drying qualities. Also, I chose paper to enable me to make quick marks when required and this also allowed me to vary the overall proportions from one piece to the next. I worked in a spontaneous way, varying the compositions as I painted and returning to the same theme if it felt appropriate.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZW-Sd_aUhQ5FgCOcQaoEjQIDOI4kYxfVgjFPOJ4INNGpVh1sVTFHgC3wKfJ-l9sFC0WVtuDGE3lBCPDIIh5jvZvA477sBOFhmKpXzm-dMeYcvEM4F4HIbjcKp46JlC5rDqhE-nwQjtX9/s1600/Going+Home+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZW-Sd_aUhQ5FgCOcQaoEjQIDOI4kYxfVgjFPOJ4INNGpVh1sVTFHgC3wKfJ-l9sFC0WVtuDGE3lBCPDIIh5jvZvA477sBOFhmKpXzm-dMeYcvEM4F4HIbjcKp46JlC5rDqhE-nwQjtX9/s320/Going+Home+064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Going Home 2.Acrylic on paper 2012 21x11cm</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The overall effect in these pieces may be considered dark or mysterious. It is always important for me to push boundaries in any painting session and to change according to the moment. The same limited colour palette in each painting has helped retain continuity in these abstract works.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQipJw1pVZbRLU95AMvnfw87Tgo3GQN1FtQ-2tZ4ONJLm4cDx71HTYgsDSDYB34MkYlNGWHErv4X56KSVCR0JNhxJe9s7-doUbQvy8X4CKDO2sSpZpflBk_15rVu0rJ61J09bRmq2Ydo2m/s1600/Going+Home+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQipJw1pVZbRLU95AMvnfw87Tgo3GQN1FtQ-2tZ4ONJLm4cDx71HTYgsDSDYB34MkYlNGWHErv4X56KSVCR0JNhxJe9s7-doUbQvy8X4CKDO2sSpZpflBk_15rVu0rJ61J09bRmq2Ydo2m/s200/Going+Home+075.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Going Home 3. 42x30cm</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Last year, I spent several months caring for my mother who was sadly diagnosed with dementia. Despite the trauma of seeing a parent losing their cognitive ability, I saw this situation as an opportunity to develop my life experience. Common effects of dementia include attention, language and problem solving. Especially in later stages, those afflicted may become disoriented in time, in place and in person. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The patients short term memory is likely to be affected whilst the long term remains functioning. Because of this, it is quite common for dementia sufferers to request or even demand to "go home" because the memories of their origins are more potent and more comfortable to their present surroundings.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Going Home 4.Acrylic on paper 2012 42x20cm</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> During the process of making these paintings and after, I began to reflect on these valuable days spent with my mother and the whole nature of "home" and it's significance in our path of life. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Home" by definition is "a place of residence" - the place in which a person grew up or feels they belong. But "home" more importantly, may also relate to a mental or emotional state of refuge and comfort. The state of a persons home has been known to physiologically influence their behaviour, emotions and overall mental health. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"> So, although this sense of wanting to "go home" is exacerbated in old age and dementia, the desire to go back to our origins, to a place where we have a sense of belonging and where there is love, is also part our human condition. This is proven, I believe by the vast amount of literature, poetry and music which has devoted itself over the years to the subject of "Going Home".</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Going Home 5. 28x21cm</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Going Home 6. 39x21cm</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The photograph which inspired the origination of the "Going Home" series.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>This series is dedicated to my mother Bertha,</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>someone who continues to inspire me creatively and someone certainly worth "Going Home" to.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
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</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">You may leave any comments on the above or share what "home" means to you in the box below.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-86955410078709349782012-01-24T13:58:00.000-08:002017-08-19T07:24:47.605-07:00Through The Edge Of Darkness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Through The Edge Of Darkness Oil on Canvas 122 x 77cm<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> "Through The Edge Of Darkness" was painted at "The Hampstead School of Art", London somewhere between 2007 and 2008. I had become influenced by the emotional, spiritual works of abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. He had experimented, making paintings into experiences of tragedy and ecstasy - the basic conditions of existence.It is said the aim of his life's work was to express the essence of the universal human drama.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I began this piece by using a camcorder, taking blurred still pictures of parts of previous paintings that I was interested in. After taking fifty or so miniature photographs, I selected a couple which I worked up into large scale oil paintings. I used a layering process to give a sense of depth - there are reds, ochre's for instance beneath the white and pinks underlining the grey and black. I used a large brush to soften the edges between the three main areas to help them merge and create a sombre effect.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With brother Joe c1965</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> "Through The Edge Of Darkness" is about facing our worst times - tragedy and despair, pain and suffering, disappointment and loss. We have all been there at some point. Last year, for instance, was not too bad for me until in August, I got the tragic news that my brother Joe was terminally ill. He was just four years older than me and we were very close "blood brothers". One of my earliest recollections of Joe as a young child was him giving up half of his own pocket-money to buy me a set of crayons. Such was his nature. I remember that sense of wonder looking at these fantastic colours and I began to use them. I expect these early creative experiences influenced my direction in art later on. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later we went to the same school together and he showed me the ropes around the school and yard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Joe was warm, generous, compassionate and good humoured. He was extremely intelligent but yet also had the ability to be simple and engaging. I now realise how much music and literature he introduced me to. Despite being in different countries, we linked up and made contact online several times a week.It is true that life will never be the same without him and since he left us, yes, I have felt the pain.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Through The Edge Of Darkness" Detail</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> So, looking at "Through The Edge Of Darkness" now, I am reminded of this sad loss. Rothko stated "The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when I painted them. And if you, as you say, are moved only by their colour relationship, then you miss the point". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I hope, therefore the viewer may not just engage in the colour and techniques of this work, but may also be moved by their own personal and individual experiences, whatever that may be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And I expect if Joe was here today, I sense he would say "The key point of this painting is the not the darkness at all but in fact the Light that is shining through."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>IN MEMORY OF FR. JOE CULLEN O.P.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b> </b></span>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-35922326899982908642011-06-10T07:00:00.000-07:002011-06-15T05:39:33.743-07:00Stanza<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSfBIWeaExvrNhq4SmB6ZgM7ZBX7DA7De8v0fmsM_qEJwAd7wso9eYVjdffLMaTaMZOXwDK111M41IWhdEVz2UVLgylJf-Oacl42VVekp0u-jXFBMPTdLVtR1EqshHV9I6-DS6IlOnzhy/s1600/Untitled+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSfBIWeaExvrNhq4SmB6ZgM7ZBX7DA7De8v0fmsM_qEJwAd7wso9eYVjdffLMaTaMZOXwDK111M41IWhdEVz2UVLgylJf-Oacl42VVekp0u-jXFBMPTdLVtR1EqshHV9I6-DS6IlOnzhy/s400/Untitled+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Stanza Acrylic on Canvas Tom Cullen 2011 </b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I completed the above canvas "Stanza" after producing some sketches at the Slade School of Art, London earlier this year. These early sketches experimented with linking painting to poetry and selecting colour on a more random basis without a mathematical sequence or any pre-conceived ideas.</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When working on the completed canvas,after placing the black acrylic underlay, I painted the first red square in the top left and I continued painting left to right. During this process, I selected colour which simply seemed to work, ignoring any other rules such as whether the colour was warm or cool, primary or secondary, contrasting etc. As the lines developed, it became more complex because the colour selected had to work in relation to the others and it became important to maintain the overall balance in the painting. There is a pattern to the placing of these squares in 8-9-9-8 line format which links to the suggested concept of poetry. In addition, each colour is painted freely which hopefully conveys a sense of primitivism or even a child-like quality.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using a wide palette range of vivid colour on top of the black base provides vibrancy. In addition, I avoided linear convention by breaking symmetry between the top and bottom /left and right of the canvas.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> work is fundamentally, an exercise in the nature and life of colour itself to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">convey a sense of rhythm, harmony and freedom often expressed in poetry.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoffmann once said "It is not the form that dictates colour but colour that brings out the form".Colour can set a mood,attract attention or make a statement. It can be used to energise or cool things down. By selecting the right colour scheme, you can create a feeling of elegance,warmth or tranquility or even convey a sense of youthfulness. Given this, I hope the viewer might feel a sense of some poetry whilst engaging in this colourful piece and maybe even the excitement of the child within.</span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Colour is crucial in painting, but it is very hard to talk about.There is almost nothing you can say that holds up as a generalization, because it depends on too many factors: size, modulation, the rest of the field, a certain consistency that colour has with forms and the statement you are trying to make"</span></i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Roy Lichenstein</span></i></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5NGEtUFcp564mk5OcR-eOI1Cy5_z59pAbV1AXg9HyGbbPhd5F4A7uEy_w07MzycsqrakNoplDYUngcKXozcrH7JJUV9Fl8ps3GdbbYa481c2fP3Z5Me6Fs4c74T30G18KuPz8e8yvVcm/s1600/Acrylic+on+canvas+002+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5NGEtUFcp564mk5OcR-eOI1Cy5_z59pAbV1AXg9HyGbbPhd5F4A7uEy_w07MzycsqrakNoplDYUngcKXozcrH7JJUV9Fl8ps3GdbbYa481c2fP3Z5Me6Fs4c74T30G18KuPz8e8yvVcm/s320/Acrylic+on+canvas+002+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBcCRtfBchjPLWSHhFfZII1o0nZoOpy7pOc9AaPrCV-Py-YesuaqYUalVcrMiTOr8BNFp1CXu3aVvZPVEBWdocjiLleWVB-YcKzlOzA2aGdOjlvw5Lt0VXx3YnjWFgJhweGHlSl3JRzLb/s1600/Acrylic+on+canvas+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBcCRtfBchjPLWSHhFfZII1o0nZoOpy7pOc9AaPrCV-Py-YesuaqYUalVcrMiTOr8BNFp1CXu3aVvZPVEBWdocjiLleWVB-YcKzlOzA2aGdOjlvw5Lt0VXx3YnjWFgJhweGHlSl3JRzLb/s1600/Acrylic+on+canvas+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBcCRtfBchjPLWSHhFfZII1o0nZoOpy7pOc9AaPrCV-Py-YesuaqYUalVcrMiTOr8BNFp1CXu3aVvZPVEBWdocjiLleWVB-YcKzlOzA2aGdOjlvw5Lt0VXx3YnjWFgJhweGHlSl3JRzLb/s320/Acrylic+on+canvas+001.JPG" width="115" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></span></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Acrylic sketches on paper exploring colour and poetry</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I see before me, I make more arbitrary use of colour to express myself more forcefully....to express the love of two lovers by the marriage of two complementary colours....to express the thought of a brow by the radiance of a light tone against a dark background....to express hope by some star........someones passion by the radiance of the setting sun"</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i> Vincent Van Gogh</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>" Colour helps to express light, not the physical phenomenon, but the only light that really exists, that in the artist's brain"</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i> Henri Matisse</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://platform-for-art.blogspot.com/">platform-for-art.blogspot.com</a></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div></div>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-48693409450862207832011-05-01T07:42:00.000-07:002011-05-02T14:22:17.698-07:00Hymn to the Mother of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYedZYOrX3NnDchEYdJv70OT1iQ6qGGM5byhBxqlPDqgx2XtUJz_KY7aMP11E88p7asWwwNEPL4g9peanfjCU_SDMJr64CODBOCvgF4PcdxZ5GR5cCRSpg2djsdxKe9M4iTxaYjfUiUe_/s1600/paintings+log+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYedZYOrX3NnDchEYdJv70OT1iQ6qGGM5byhBxqlPDqgx2XtUJz_KY7aMP11E88p7asWwwNEPL4g9peanfjCU_SDMJr64CODBOCvgF4PcdxZ5GR5cCRSpg2djsdxKe9M4iTxaYjfUiUe_/s400/paintings+log+106.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Hymn to the Mother of God 2008 oil on wood 99x68cm</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Coming home, one May evening I found these panels of wood - part of an old defunct garden door lying carelessly by the kerb.It is always exciting using found material for painting and I could almost sense this door was waiting for me to inject a new life. After giving it the usual preparation and treatment,I primed it in a black matt paint,waiting anxiously for it to dry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I painted the blue and white stripes thinly in oils, allowing visibility of the black underneath and allowing the colour to float, hover and vibrate.Next,I worked on the purple horizontal bands, using a darker tone allowing the viewer to be drawn towards the centre panels.Finally,I painted the very top and bottom panels in a subtle grey to push these areas back and to give prominence to the blue, white and purple panels.I intentionally did not alter the holes in the left side panels leaving it raw and incomplete.I regard the work therefore,as being unfinished, but maybe this conveys a sense of honesty. In addition, doors themselves can be symbolic and are commonly used as metaphors in many cultures and art forms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> So does the abstract painting "Hymn to the Mother of God" metaphorically represent a Madonna for the twenty first century? Does it echo the music of John Tavener? Is there a suggestion perhaps, of a value in connecting with ones spiritual roots, wherever they may lie? Maybe it is not a religious painting at all but questions our own psychological state and values. However, that is for you the viewer to decide. All I know is that if I had changed my route home that summer evening, I may not have found this material and painted "Hymn to the Mother of God" at all. And you may find both these films deeply moving. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/Gk7J8T-IB_A/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gk7J8T-IB_A&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gk7J8T-IB_A&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Hymn to the Mother of God" is a piece of music by John Tavener released in 1995. Drawn to it's mysticism, Tavener joined the Orthodox Church in 1977, studying and setting music to the writings of the church fathers.His "Song for Athene" was memorably performed at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. Subsequently,he composed a piece based on William Blake's poetry "Eternity's Sunrise" dedicated to her memory. Although remaining Orthodox, Tavener has more recently explored Hinduism and Islam.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><b>Mary, a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee is identified in the New Testament and in Islam as the mother of Jesus through divine intervention. Christians believe that she conceived her son miraculously through the Holy Spirit, whilst Muslims believe she conceived by the command of God. The bible records Mary's role in the events of the life of Jesus from beginnings to crucifixion. Apocryphal writings tell of her subsequent death and bodily assumption into heaven. Many Christians believe Mary as mother of Jesus is the Mother of God. Muslims regard her as Virgin Mother of Jesus, who is considered a prophet of Islam. Throughout the ages, the image of Mary became a significant subject in art,music and literature. Although not recorded in the Gospels,the image of her cradling the dead body of her Son is a common symbolic motif in art called a "pieta" or "pity".</b></i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source for material in italics: Wikipedia 2011.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "</div> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OROb9tVxLVg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Medugorje in western Bosnia & Hertzegovina has become a popular pilgrimage site since 1981 due to reports of apparitions of the Virgin Mary to six local Catholics. Mirjana Soldo reports receiving messages on the 2nd of each month as demonstrated in this film from October 2010.</b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<b>PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON "HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD" BELOW:</b>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-77527277251995369242011-04-15T10:10:00.000-07:002015-06-07T05:05:31.142-07:00San Jose 33<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqxuG-eDNMWqMurdL-zwPCpgizCe4HxltwtJP33nhT6H12S2bAD25fIWEWaPccidZe7p_yNK8iudbHOVZ_NXO_aBNWn3DJuVB-Tocmz4tfOfI0bIq1vYEbkh6G3jfFJvZCOEg78zmeAjC/s1600/015+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqxuG-eDNMWqMurdL-zwPCpgizCe4HxltwtJP33nhT6H12S2bAD25fIWEWaPccidZe7p_yNK8iudbHOVZ_NXO_aBNWn3DJuVB-Tocmz4tfOfI0bIq1vYEbkh6G3jfFJvZCOEg78zmeAjC/s400/015+-+Copy.JPG" width="251" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>San Jose 33 Oil on Canvas 122x76cm Tom Cullen 2010</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I painted "San Jose 33" towards the end of 2010,after making a small acrylic sketch in which I experimented with contrasting colour tones and tonal values. This colour combination seemed to work and I changed the profile from horizontal to vertical from the original sketch to improve the composition. The intention was to be very simple,direct and explore some freedom during the painting sessions.<br /> Whilst I was completing this painting, news updates were coming through with regard to the miners trapped in Copiapo,Chile.On the 5th August the mine had collapsed leaving thirty three workers 600 metres underground.Once it was known that they were still alive, the rescuers implemented a comprehensive plan to </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">both nurture and release them. The whole world was now focused on this mission, whilst the miners beneath endured severe food rationing and isolation. However, the moment of global joy came some sixty nine long days later, when one by one, the miners were brought to the surface over a period of almost twenty four hours. For once,the media had something positive to focus on and the world celebrated this success of this mission.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> It seemed appropriate therefore to call this painting"San Jose 33". After all it appears from the beginning, it may have been an inner exploration of personal entrapment and the desire for freedom. Given the pain and sacrifice these miners endured during this intensive time of confinement, it is more than important to pay homage to them and also to those who secured them safely.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Both the study and original painting "San Jose 33"are showing at the "Global Dimensions" Exhibition at the W3 Gallery, 185 High St, Acton Town, London W3 9DJ until June 18th.</span></span></b><br />
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"<b>Song for San Jose Miners" by Jack Warsaw</b><br />
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<b><i>Above: Opening Night at the W3 Gallery, "Global Dimensions" Exhibition June 4th.</i></b></h4>
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-50421026566517978632011-03-16T14:58:00.000-07:002014-06-02T13:16:31.658-07:00World like a dewdrop............<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">World like a dewdrop Acrylic on canvas 122x76cm Tom Cullen 2011</span> </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"World like a dewdrop</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Though it's only a dewdrop</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Even so,even so."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> Issa</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span> I painted "World like a dewdrop" recently in 2011, having read and been influenced by Japanese haiku poetry. I wanted to explore and interpret some of the principles of haiku in a visual way and through my own language of abstract expressionism.The question of scale interested me. I wanted to develop a relationship between a small entity in the painting and the larger expanse of the canvas itself,using vibrant colour to dictate both harmony and contrast.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Haiku poetry emerged in Japan in the 16th century and has it's roots in the tradition of Tanga and the developments of Renga.In original format,it consists of three lines of five,seven and five syllables respectively.There are nine haiku rules, which include stating that the poem should be simple and immediate. It should also have connections with real </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eve</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nts, sights, sounds or emotions.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another technique used is the contrast between the large and the small, the cosmic and the individual or the profound and the everyday.By comparing the world to a dewdrop for instance, we are forced to change perspective.This may alter our pre-conceived ideas and meanings about our relationship with the world.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> There are also links with the Zen Buddhist concepts of Change and Impermanence,Suffering and Compassion,Simplicity and Momentariness,Non-self. Everything is in constant state of change and suffering is key to human existence. Compassion for ourselves and others is essential to combat pain.By learning to live with a little ,keeping life simple and by trying to live in the moment we can also come to terms with the human condition.Ultimately,the idea of a permanent self and ownership is an illusion.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> "World like a dewdrop" is on show at the W3 Gallery, Acton Town,London from June 5th as part of the "Celebrating Sanctuary" Exhibition.</i></b></span></div>
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-25827793304762339562011-02-13T14:28:00.000-08:002011-02-14T12:24:16.593-08:00Essaouira<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSbeY_wMjkqbTWWD04BMxNs9KWw4piyT_sr1Y5fVtzs81rQvbrzfNSCCkRVRnbtF3cmMPS51uxeSpU10E86gBZxtgqaEY1zyt3QwegWZbLAPVmwImwlPVsNewlL_WKVASVjlmN8kzPKJa/s1600/paintings+log+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSbeY_wMjkqbTWWD04BMxNs9KWw4piyT_sr1Y5fVtzs81rQvbrzfNSCCkRVRnbtF3cmMPS51uxeSpU10E86gBZxtgqaEY1zyt3QwegWZbLAPVmwImwlPVsNewlL_WKVASVjlmN8kzPKJa/s400/paintings+log+084.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Essaouira Acrylic & Oil On Canvas 43x153cm Tom Cullen</i></span><br />
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</b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Essaouira,the north Moroccan fishing village is renowned for it's narrow streets, multi-colour doors and tall stucco-coloured houses.Situated on the Atlantic coast,the water is cold,the waves vibrant and yes,it can be quite windy.The light however, is fantastic and it is not surprising that it is a popular place among artists.Many of them now live and have galleries there. From the mid 60's it became a haunt for musicians like Jimi Hendrix and later Bob Marley to chill out and find inspiration. Nowadays,the annual Gnaoua (African Sufi) music festival is just part of the special magic of Essaouira.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I visited Morocco in 2007 and painted "Essaouira" shortly afterwards.I wanted to avoid any linear convention or symmetry in this painting,allowing the colour to take charge of the balance. I used acrylic to create the flat pale grey-blue background and I took advantage of the vibrancy of the oil paint to convey a sense of light and dazzle.Pushing everything back to basics,hopefully we are left with something that evokes some of the spirit of Essaouira - this bright, beautiful,colourful,and creative place in Morocco, North Africa.</span></div></div></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-53478242969324793172011-01-29T00:48:00.000-08:002015-04-27T15:57:18.437-07:00The Dead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Detail from "The Dead" Tom Cullen Oil on Canvas 2007</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> "The Dead" is a short story written by James Joyce as part of the "Dubliners" collection published in 1914. It is the last story in the book and unites the previous themes covered in the collection. The intention in writing Dubliners, Joyce said was that the city of Dublin seemed to him the centre of paralysis. By this, Joyce meant the inability to act, move or grow beyond where one is spiritually and emotionally alive - the inability to live fully.Considered one of the most beautifully executed stories in the English language, "The Dead" was the culmination of Joyce's critical and ironic portraits of everyday life in the turn of the century Dublin.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> I wanted to interpret this short story in a way in which the American abstract artist Mark Rothko might have done, but also using my own expression and particularly giving attention to the last emotional lines.In this,the central character Gabriel reflecting on his wife Gretta's tragic love, suggests that the living might in fact be able to free themselves to live unfettered by deadening routines and the past. In every corner of Ireland, snow touches both the dead and the living uniting them. The painter Rothko, tragically commited suicide in 1970 whilst nine of the famous Seagram murals were being transported to the Tate gallery in London. The film "The Dead" was the also the last film which John Huston directed, released posthumously in 1987.</span></div>
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122004131752493537.post-81541657317809654722011-01-19T09:11:00.000-08:002011-01-24T04:49:29.541-08:00Bacchus and Ariadne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqadjo4YEysBczaMrlsF2kXepv04gbwBxeRV51kpMMGacZfwj2YflZTcdYzxxGccVzJ-7Mv4Eppf7-5Dt5N5ImwFKmKrRz0bLOWzEfa1kxv5jYUE-BJfOMRiN5S6TUnGxGlojyTvGyO5n/s1600/Facebook+art+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqadjo4YEysBczaMrlsF2kXepv04gbwBxeRV51kpMMGacZfwj2YflZTcdYzxxGccVzJ-7Mv4Eppf7-5Dt5N5ImwFKmKrRz0bLOWzEfa1kxv5jYUE-BJfOMRiN5S6TUnGxGlojyTvGyO5n/s400/Facebook+art+054.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Bacchus and Ariadne Tom Cullen Oil on paper. 2008. </span><br />
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"Bacchus and Ariadne" is a contemporary interpretation of the painting by Titian which hangs in the National Gallery,London. According to the classical writers Ovid and Catulius, Bacchus,the god of wine emerged with his followers and falling in love with Ariadne on sight, leaped from his chariot towards her.She had been abandoned on the Greek island of Naxo by Thebes.Titian's painting shows her initial fear of Bacchus,but he raises her to heaven and turns her into a constellation, represented by the stars above her head.<br />
I intentionally used lively and vivid colour to metaphorically represent and evoke the spirit of this classical painting by Titian.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0BdbGyyD5ZsgMGLwR9jSxgBD8CC7WLKqEma0XB2Ow1ObgkGnv-XELMV9dd6KxP8v6ghElxV0cZzTAS6btFyu9kB-9kHtbQKynhQJAdGdiqA_NuGhrD0B6N4af5AGZM6_Nbwog-DTpPVy/s1600/bacchus_ariadne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0BdbGyyD5ZsgMGLwR9jSxgBD8CC7WLKqEma0XB2Ow1ObgkGnv-XELMV9dd6KxP8v6ghElxV0cZzTAS6btFyu9kB-9kHtbQKynhQJAdGdiqA_NuGhrD0B6N4af5AGZM6_Nbwog-DTpPVy/s200/bacchus_ariadne.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Bacchus and Ariande by Titian 1520-1523 </span><br />
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tom cullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03277220616278290457noreply@blogger.com0