Bonmorrow bonmorrow bonmorrow!

This is just a wee festive message...yes I know it's very late but I've been entertaining family members and they've only just buggered off back home ho hum. Mind...it was lovely to see them and we all had a fandabbydozy time.

I will be writing in full in the New Year to tell all about what's in my pipeline for 2012...oooer.

Until then....................................................

Happy happy happy New Year to all...I'd like to take the opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has followed me through the year and for all the support you have given me. I am internally grateful and it is very much appreciated. Thankyou!

I hope everyones 2012 will be frolic filled, full of jolly japes and larks a plenty...enjoy.

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Bon morrow bon morrow bon morrow....

I know it's been ages and ages but I've been poorly sick with a shawl...I had the quincy!

For those that don't know...this is a big "F" off abscess of the tonsils. It was not pleasant and it was not fun and it was not anything that I would inflict on my worstest enemy.........

Anyrode up....that is the reason for my delay in writing owt on this 'ere blog.

Well my chums it has been a wonderful past few weeks....quincy aside....I've sold two paintings so am well chuffed.

"The Emperors New Clothes" is now residing in Edinburgh and was purchased by a very nice man called Garry...thank you Garry. Garry is a very interesting bloke with some very interesting ideas so I'm hoping it is the start of an interesting phase in my working life....oooooer.

It has also opened a wee door of opportunity and may well lead to a very good working realationship. I could well be moving into some work in the hospitality business...I shall remain tight lipped until I know more as I would hate to jinx owt. Cooo and lummey...it's so unlike me to remain tight lipped about anything, infact "tight" is not usually in my vocabulary at all ho hum.

A really interesting and challenging commission is winging its way to me as I type so that should be fun. All I know is it's a portrait and it'll take a shed load of my ingenuity to create something that looks as half interesting as it sounds.....mmmm...not sure if that makes any sense but what the flop. It's a strange and insular world in my head at time to be sure.

I have also just returned from Glasgow and another "Pop Up" exhibition. Cooooo I love things that pop up...the turn around is so quick ooooer.

This one was at 1 Devonshire Gardens....bleedin' 'ell t'was posh. I advise everyone to go and have a gander. If, like myself, you are overdosing on Downton Abbey and all that is stately homesque...mmmm..not sure if that word actually exists...then you'll love it.

The exhibition looked splendid. It was all arranged by Julie from http://www.bespokegallery.com/. she's a star and I'm in love with her.

I sold "Lady with Hound" to a very lovely young lady whose name I failed to get. If the lovely young lady reads this I apologise for being so remiss in not getting her name. I blame the excitement and being swept up in the moment and if she would like to get in touch I will grovel for forgiveness........Any who...lovely lady, I thank you for your purchase and hope that "Lady with Hound" sits beautifully in your abode.

Can I also add here that the evening was spent chatting to some very nice people and I thank one and all for taking time out to have a blether with me. You were all beautiful.....yes indeedy...you know who you are....

I'm still working on "The Murmurring" which is coming along slow but sure. Mmmm...all those starlings and so little time. It's proving to be a rather strange experience painting this piece...I seem to be becoming quite emotional about it. It's all very odd...it's like I've not got the control that I have with my other work. I know it all sounds very "twilight zone" and completely bonkers but I'm dead interested in how this one turns out. Maybe I was a starling in a past life? Cooooo what would Yvette Fielding make of it all........"can you hear that?"..."did you feel that?"

Well that's me done with my updates.....I appear to be getting shed loads of interest in my work of late. I'm fending off queries the live long day......ho hum. Hurrah!

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x

Bonjourno my chums!







I trust everyone is well this dull and chilly day?







I've been a well busy bloke...I've just finished a commission painting for a really nice geezer called Simon. A big thank you to him for his patronage and support. It's a painting of Edith Bouvier Beale of the infamous "Grey Gardens" It was a brilliant commission to work on cos she was such a bonkers old bint...all faded socialite glamour and crazy cat lovin' antics. She lived with her mad old mother who sang alot. I love them! I'm hoping that I managed to portray "Lil' Edies" character....she was the kind of "all fur coat and no knickers" that everyone was scandalised by...ooooer.







I've also finally finished the "Water Ghosts" painting. Oooooo...bloody...er! T'was an epic to be sure. I'm just letting it sit for a spell to see if owt else needs doing to it...I realise that it's an organic piece of work but there are limits to how much more I want it to grow. The sonic artist Jamie Sturrock who collaborated with me is now tweeking the composition and then it should be set to exhibit. Mmmmm....we are now looking for suitable venues so that we can include the full spectrum of senses that this "piece" needs. I want a damp place but think that's just my age ha ha he he.... We would dearly love a dark almost cave type venue to really do it justice but realise that this may prove a tad difficult. Ho hum...we shall see.................onwards and upwards.







I'm also having dialogue with a thoroughly nice chap called David Oddy who is "La Hausse" an arts magazine that is both creative and informative. Please check it out on this 'ere link...







http://bit.ly/qvAoAJ







David is putting together a special edition of the magazine called the "Dark Edition" It will be featuring erotic art and literature. It is in this edition that I am hoping to contribute. Please watch this space......also, please support the magazine as it is so worth it.







Other big news is I have met up with a very very lovely young lady called Julie Waddington. She has set up an online gallery oooooer. Please check out http://www.bespokeartgallery.com/ I am part of this fabulous kabutz of artists and am sooooo excited about it all I leave moist patches everywhere.......



There are to be "pop up" exhibitions and I may well be popping up all over Scotland...hurrah! It's all very new to me and I thank Julie for including me. I want to also say a big big fat humongous thank you to Mark Getty for linking us up. Mark...not only are you a brilliant artist but a bloody nice geezer to boot....cheers fella!







Finally....just to let you know I will be featuring in Fiona Wilsons show at Virginia Gallery, Virginia Street, Glasgow in September. Please pop along and have a gander. Fiona is a stunning artist and you'll be blown away by it all. The exhibition is called "Tease" ooooer. I'll have a large one on view and my painting is quite big too..........sorry I apologise am having a "Carry On" kind of Sunday......it kicks off 16th September for a month. The painting I am displaying is a diptych and is inspired by street theatre meets lovers meets shamans meets communication.....yes I know it's a gobfull but I know what I mean............

I've also finished the first of the "Urban Deciples"....one down 12 to go...it's a gonna be a long one......

Thank you for taking the time,







Ivor x

Hellooooooooooo!

Oh damn and blast...I've been so useless. It's been eons since I last wrote owt on here I'll be amazed if anyone reads this....ho hum.

Now then my chums I have no excuses and I have no no one to blame for my lack of scribing so please forgive and we'll start over....

I have had a fab exhibition at "Save the Children" in Stockbridge, Edinburgh...a big fat thank you to Barbara for letting me display my wares in her space...ooooer. You are a star! It all went swimmingly well and I actually sold a painting. It was "Romulus and Remus" and it went to a very lovely couple called Robbie and Freddy....thank you boys for all your support. Apart from this fantastic sale in these horrible cash strapped times...I had so much positive feedback that my cockles were well and truely warmed...so much so infact that I needed asbestos undercrackers...ho hum.

I was approched following the exhibition by a wonderful and very talented lady called Michelle Walker...please check out her work in "National Geographic" as it is stunning! She is considering opening a new gallery in Edinburgh early next year and has asked if I would like to be involved. I am dead chuffed and also very excited as I have so many ideas bubbling up in my bonce at the moment. I can also say that, after hearing this, my cockles got so warm they spontaneously combusted.......

I also met a lovely lady called Ruth who has connections with the art world...she's about to return to America...Miami Beach to be precise and reckons my work would go down rather well out there. Cooooo and lawks a lummey...I could go "Stateside"...now where did I put my thong, fake tan and Charles Atlas work out book?

I'm still plodding along with the "Water Ghosts" painting....blimey, I know I said it was "organic" and "growing" but I never reckoned on it being quite so bleedin' organic....it's a very slow process this one. It doesn't help that I have never worked on something as big and it's painful. Being a dwarf I find it quite a challenge to stretch that far over a painting without needing a truss at the end of the day....I don't think the stretching exercises have help much but I can now get my legs behind my head and open a can of coke at the same time. Not sure if this will enhance the painting any but I'm very popular in a crisis....ooooer.

Joshing aside...this painting is proving to be totally different from anything that I've done in eons...thankfully the model that I used for it is suitably impressed so that's ok. Thank you Chris...my flame haired temptress for being so supportive and patient.

I have finally finished the triptych..."The Lover, The Wife and The Husband"...it's just got to be framed up now. I am considering putting in to the forthcoming "Tease" exhibition that is taking place at the Virginia Gallery. The very talented Fiona Wilson is showing and has kindly asked me to contribute a painting....must say I'm so honoured...the woman is mega talented.

I've also began work on a series of paintings that will end up creating a huge painting...mmm...not sure if that makes any sense but, in my world, it does. It's going to be based on "The Last Supper". I know in my head how I want it...but...how it ends up is anyones guess...ho hum. I've got shed loads of peeps to agree to be used so there's a start. I'm wanting to go back to my "spiritual" roots....oooooer how very pretentious I hear you screech...not so...so ya boo sucks to it. I will reveal all at a later date and then you'll know what I'm banging on about...well here's hoping you do or I'm going to look very silly.........

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x

Good afternoon peeps!

Cor blimey t'is windy...and I do refer to the weather here and not my bodily functions. I must admit the weather does seem to affect my mood and ability to paint. Well...that's my excuse as to why I've not got off my arse and entered the studio today...so...yah boo sucks!

It's also because I've had a very busy week end...well...Sunday at any rate. Had to go to Glasgow to collect paintings and then charge over to Edinburgh to meet up with Barbara from "Save the Children"...it was this very day that the Sat Nav decided to have a major hissy fit and die, she kept screaming "recalculating" and then just went into a coma. It was then my turn to have a hissy fit....it appears that we live in an age where we rely on technology. I then turned into a hybrid of Coporal Jones and Private Frazer...."Don't panic" and "we're doomed, doomed" I should of been slapped but Graham was still driving...ho hum. Luckily Ian and Drew from the Virginia Gallery sorted us out a google map so all was not lost.....

Where to start?..........

I'm about have my wares on display for all the world to see in Edinburgh. Stockbridge to precise.

It's for "Save the Children" so I'm feeling positively saintly. The exhibition will run for the whole of June...full details will be blogged as and when I get them....oooooer.

It looks like the "Love Spirit" exhibition is not to be....have no idea what's going on there and...to be quite honest...I don't think they have either. They appear to send out emails on an "adhock kind of wing and a prayer" type way. It's all very Miss Marple...one day it all becomes clear and then the next...tits up, major hissys and plot turns. Hey ho and fiddledee dee, I'm just letting it all slide and watching what occurs...mmmmmmmmmmm. Sad thing is I was donating a painting for their funds but no ones seems to care or know or both.................

I'm sure I will find a home for the painting that was on offer so all is not lost. I do hope they manage to get their act together because their ethos and philosophy was an all singing... all dancing... all embracing spiritual fest with a "gung ho homos will save the world" approach....mmmm...........sending this with love......

I'm still plodding along with the "Water Ghosts" project. Jamie has sent me the nearly finished cut of the composition...ooooooooer...I was dead impressed. It's all so evocotive. I'm just hoping my visual will match his audio. Mmmmm...it's supposed to be a very fluid painting but I keep getting bogged down with the boundaries that I'm desperately trying not to impose on myself. Bugger and blast!...it's a conundrum to be sure. I keep taking time out to do other paintings in the hope it'll loosen me up. Mmmmmm....reckon at this rate I'll have to break out the laxative and bran flakes...ho hum. Hope the washing machine and my under crackers can cope with the back lash. I'm back on with it tomorrow for a serious piece of knuckling down....wish me luck.

I decided to do another "frame within a frame" painting. This ones entitled "Angel presenting a Sunflower"...I wanted to give "The Adoration of the tattooed Christ" a friend. I also like to do a new piece specifically for an exhibition so this one will sit well in Edinburgh. I can honestly say the frame was a complete s**t to do.....hey ho...the only carpenter I know is the one that died from anorexia so I was totally on my own with it....mind..I don't think singing "Sha la la la la" and "Dooby doo ah" at it helped in any way shape or form.....Ho hum...rainy days and mondays always get me down....

I sold another painting t'other day so am full of perkiness. I was so perky infact that I had to skip for a whole minute...it's all I can manage these days with out the aid of a saftey net and reinforced gussets........

Would just like to take the time to say a big thank you to Drew, Ian, Stan, Barbara and...ofcourse...Graham.

Sending waves of love..............

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x

Bonjourno bonjourno bonjourno this fine and sunny Springtime doodah...

I'm so perky I could outdo Pinky...I LOVE the sunshine...it makes me skip and hop and do such things that only Isadora Duncan could imagine. Mind...I have no intention of going off at 100miles per hour wearing a nowt but a long silk scarf...not only is it unhygienic on a dralon seat but not a good look for a bloke of my years..........ho hum.

I've been quite a busy bloke despite the lack of a blog for eons and eons. I've finally started the "Water Ghosts" painting. I must say it's all been a bit scary as it's so out of my remit to work with a sonic artist...even if he is a very talented sonic artist. I keep holding back...it's like I'm afraid of bunging anything down incase I want to alter it completely. This, I now relalise, it a complete load of dogs doings....... After a mass debate with Jamie the sonic artist I realised the whole point of the painting was it had to be fluid and everchanging. Coooo lummey...how thick am I? Upshot is...I've now got over the block and it's all systems go. Reckon it'll take a spell to complete as it will have so many washes and layers.....hey ho. Will keep you posted.

I've also been working on two paintings for the "Love Spirit" group who are planning to hold an exhibition at City Hall, London in August. It is still in its planning stages and, everything has yet to be finalised, but I'm hoping it all happens. I'm also crossing everything that I'm included as it would be fandabbydozy to exhibit on the South Bank...oooooer. When I hear definites I will tell all..........I must admit that "communications" are not Love Spirits strongest asset but their intentions are beautiful.

I'm submitting two nudes which represent the idea that mankind is now so dependant on cyber communications that they are in danger of loosing the ability to speak to each other on a personal level. They're also paintings about hope and how man can communicate on a more spiritual wavelength despite all of this going on in the background.

A big thankyou to Matt for modelling...you're a star fella!

"Lady with Hound" and "Lady with Hawk" are now residing at Christos art gallery in Glasgow. Thank you Louise for keeping the faith. I'm wanting to embark on two more when I get the bleedin' time as I enjoyed doing them. Painting all that sumptuous fabric can be dead satisfying after long spells of just painting flesh....oooooer. I'm also about to embark on an image of a "painted lady" for another exhibition in June...........lawks and lummey and lashings of ginger beer "How will you fit it all in?" I hear you cry....I shall just have to strap re entry shields to my eyes, drink bucket loads of coffee and be catharterised......fiddledee fiddledee fiddledee deeeeeee mammy!

Thankyou for taking the time,

Ivor x

Gooooooood Moooooooorning my chums!

I have a feeling that Spring is springing and all around me is budding...it's either that or I have trapped wind and need some mint tea........

Mmmmm and oooooooer...I seem to have been dead busy for the past month and feel overloaded with fabric and jewels. T'is a fine doodah indeed when ones eyesight implodes on one just by painting a lorry load of jewelry. I have a definite look of "Clarence the squinty eyed lion" about me these days. If I wasn't a starving artist I would take a trip to the opticians but, instead, I'll just tie on another re-entry shield to my specs and soldier on.

Despite all this hard-ship I am rather chuffed with my "Courtly Bints" I was endeavouring to get the effect of "haughty aristo" meets "vunerable wench"...these are the first of the "Kings Mistress" series and are of "Mary Boleyn" and "Nell Gwin"...who the flop I do next is a mystery to me as yet. I think it'll be "Lilly Langtry"...but that could change depending on my whims...ooooer. I'm hoping upon hope that Louise at "Christos Gallery" likes them...so fingers crossed.

The new "old materish" batch are shaping up rather well and, despite my failing eyesight, I'm having great fun painting them. I know the detailing is time consuming but it's so bleedin' therapeutic dabbing away at fabric. I sort of get lost in it all and usually forget where I am...mind, that could be dementia kicking in...ho hum. I've finally finished tweaking "The Lover" and I don't mean that in the biblical sense ya sauce pots...t'is a painting. I also very nearly completed a painting for the latest "Virginia Gallery" exhibition of "Dark Fairytales" I was inspired by the story of the "Emperors New Clothes" It's kicks off on Friday 11th March and runs for a month. If you get the chance do pop along and have a butchers...it'll be a very enriching experience and well worth the time. Plus...Ian and Drew would be so chuffed to see you.

I had another get together with Jamie the "sonic artist" this week which was very beneficial. I now have the second part of the composition. I'm dead excited about this project as I have such a definite image in my mind of how I want it to look. I was in Glasgow yestermorrow taking pics of a very nice bloke to use in the painting. Thank you Chris for being such a bendy model and not putting yourself in traction in the name of art. The photos are part of this definite image...this, ofcourse, means that it'll turn out totally different and will give me shed loads of hissy fits and hysteria...nowt new there then. It'll also mean that, in the end, I will have produced a collaborative piece of work that I will be proud of. Mmmmm...who reckons we need to be challenged to grow? I seem to be growing these days in all the wrong places so it's the "slim-fast" and bran diet for me and maybe that help clear my head as well as other areas...oooooer.

On top of all of this I have been talking to some very nice people from "Love Spirit"...I'm not saying much as it's all in the early stages. All I will say is I soooo want to be involved in this so if you're reading this "Love Spirit"....I love you.

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x

Well plough my furrow and loosen my tongue...t'is February already.

Hello my chums,

What can I say and where do I begin?....I've been steadily plodding along with a new painting that seems never to be finished. It's supposed to be Casanova but is developing into a far more "English" lover. I don't mean he has a union flag tattooed on his unmentionables...just the whole image has a distinctly "english" feel. I'm not sure if that makes any sense but it does to me so ya boo sucks. I'm battling to create a very atmosperic and "Old masterish" painting and I seem to be loosing the battle...it's still early days so all may come right in the end. Heydy hooooo...who said that painting was "relaxing"? I shall continue on like the intrepid artist that I am and, if all else fails I can use it as a very pretentious place mat. Mmmmm.....wish me luck.

I had a very enjoyable time at the launch of "nude". A big thank you to Drew and Ian of "Luke and Jack" for inviting me to exhibit. It was not only the opening of "nude" but also the launch of the "Virginia Gallery" and I must say a good time was had by all. The new gallery is very impressive and a beautiful venue to display ones wares. My wares will be on display until March alongside many other talented and creative artists and photographers. Please pop along if you get the opportunity and cop a gander at the work...it's well worth a look and all in the best possible taste...oooooer. Ian and Drew will be happy to see you and will make you most welcome. If you get an uncontrollable urge you could also have a saunter round their shop upstairs.

I am soon to start a very creative project with a supremely talented young sonic artist called Jamie Sturrock. He's composing a piece of "audio art" that I will create a visual for...I'm dead excited about this as it's so out of my normal remit. In Jamies words "we're well stoked" about the project and working together. He's so bleedin' young that I feel positively geriatric when he's about which should keep me on my toes. It'll be good to just roll with in and not have to worry about the conscripts of the "norm"....ooooer...hark at me sounding all "Turner prize"...all I'm saying is that it'll do me good to challenge myself to think out of the box a tad more. Here' hoping I can and that young Jamie is happy with what I do........ooooooooo...eeeeeeeerrrrr!

Just want to say thank you to Ike in London for his patronage...it was a joy to know that "After the Ride" went to such a worthy home...Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x