Morning my chums!

I trust we are all well and life is good and kind.
I've been merrily merrily painting away like a merry man from old Robin Hood and his very merry men...what was that all about???

Well cover me in a sheet and call me Casper....I'm eating, sleeping and breathing spooks at the moment..........whoooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
The second painting for the "Ghosts and Gods" series is now complete...well I say that, I could very well be tweaking the live long day before it goes to exhibition. Hey hooo such is life and all of that.
I need to thank Tommy and Neale for spending so much time in and out of clothing to model for this one. It's entitled "Ghost of Loss", as per usual I'm leaving it to the viewer to decide what the "loss" is. All I will say is that it is ultimately about love and fear....and....there may well be a second image as...for some reason...I see this painting as part of a diptych.

The whole series seems to be coming together quite nicely and I've lined up a squillion people to sit for me..hurrah! Mind...having the ideas in my bonce and then getting them painted up are two entirely different things. I'm admitting to be on melt down and, like I've said, I'm sort of obsessed with the whole "ghost of this" and "ghost of that" imagery.

I'm also having to stop to get some Christmas commissions done....coooo lummey...I wonder if I'll end up bunging some spooks and spectres in the backgrounds of these by mistake...mmmm...not good if you're doing a portrait and some poor unsuspecting client has to unveil and announce..."Here's a lovely portrait of my hubby...oh and I have no idea who that old floater in the background is"......
Ooooooooooooer.....

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x

Well fiddle my dee and tra my la las....

I only went and published the wrong pic of the painting.
This is "Prestons Ghost" in its finished glory....

I do apologise...t'was having a senior moment ho hum.

Thank you for humouring a sad old artistic git..

Ivor x

Well howdy bloody doody to one and all!

T'is me....I'm back once more to blog my little doings off and let you know what's been occurring.

Well I've done the first painting for the "Ghosts and Gods" series. These are the ones to be exhibited in Olde London Town next year. Well from 29th September until the 5th October to be precise. I shall be displaying my ample wares at the Tabernacle Studio in Notting Hill ooooer....am very very excited and keep pinching myself...but not very hard as I really don't do pain.

The first painting is entiteld "Prestons Ghost". It is very personal to the model and is an emotional journey for me as well as him. I wanted to capture the essence of Prestons tale and his "ghost" but I'm not going to go into the details of it. I think it would be wrong of me to divulge exactly what he experienced as it's not necessary. I want the viewer to decide what they get from looking in at the image....if I've been successful then a story will evolve.
It was an emotional journey for me as I wanted to honour the trust that Preston had in me when he allowed me to use him and his story. Thank you young man...I'm well chuffed that you like it and that your "ghost" is a true representation of all you experienced.
This is the first of the "ghost" paintings...not all will be so dark...mind...I'm a right old misery at times so they very well could be ho hum. The whole concept of this batch is to try and depict a load of blokes and their particular deamons/gods/spirituality and ghosts oooooooer. Who the flop knows if it'll turn out like I envisaged...who the flop really gives a doodah? All I know is it is something that I want to do so ya boo sucks with knobs on.............mmmmm....not sure if that's a very artistic statement...I'm sure Rembrant didn't refer to knobs...mind...I know that Leonardo was rather partial to some oooooooer.

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Morning my chums!

How the devil are you all?
I'm not even going to bother about apologising for the lack of writings on this 'ere blog...I always do and am in danger of everyone not believing a dong dong doodahs of what I'm saying......ho hum.
All I shall say is..."I'm back...hurrah!"

Well shed loads has been going on...I've had quite a few commissions...hurrah and hurrah again.
I've had the pleasure of painting a very nice bloke called Gary as a "Raven/Man" It was a lovely job to do and....thankfully....Gary seems well chuffed with the final result. A big thank you to him for managing to see my vision as his own.
I've also produced a wonderfully over the top camp pice of art work for a wonderful new establishment and night venue in Carlilse called "The Regency" T'is a gay establishment owned and run by two lovely geezers called Glenn and Michael. They asked for bling and camp and got it in abundance ooooer. A big humongous thank you to them for giving me such a fun job. Here's wishing them shed loads of success and an enormous bank balance.....

Now here's a biggie and I'm not talking the contents of a porn stars undercrackers.....I'm going to be exhibiting in Londons Nottinghill for a whole week next year......hurrah and hurrah and another hurrah! I shall be doing a solo exhibition entitled "Ghosts and Gods" I'm wanting to do a series of paintings exploring mans emotional, spiritual and physical "ghosts" so Ooooooooooo and Woooooooooo and all things ethereal. The gallery is called the "Tabernacle" and I'll be buggering off to olde London Town soon to check out it's size and capacity.....a bit like the contents of a porn stars undercrackers again ho hum. So...my amazed chums....the next blog I do will give you some idea of what I'm trying to achieve and probably be the start of many hissy fits and creative meltdowns ho hum.

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Well howdy doooooody dooo.

Blimey it's hot! I'm melting in this 'ere studio and have resorted to painting in the buff...which is not a pretty sight as I have to keep bending over my board. I keep expecting a bike to be parked at any moment.....t'is not good to paint in constant fear of being violated by a two wheeled vehicle ho hum.
Anyrode...I digress...
I have finished "jessie distracted" all that's needed is for her to be varnished and framed. A big thank you to Jessie for allowing me to paint her. The fur coat was an eye boggling challenge but it has turned out rather well...even if I say so myself. She will..hopefully...be

on show very soon hurrah!
I've also started a painting of "Col"....title to be decided. It's part of this mens series I'm doing...it has bleedin' ages of painting to go but, with any luck, will be worth it. I've discovered my way of painting is changing of late and I'm geting far more loose with my washes ooooer missis...nowt like a loose wash to get the blood pumping. Anywho...I shall have to see where this creative journey leads me and try to just enjoy the bloody bloody ride. So ya boo sucks with knobs on.....
I've also got a few commissions coming up..hurrah and hurrah! All of them really interesting ventures. I shall speak more about the buggers as and when I get them sorted.

Off to French France soon for my jollies......well ooooo la la and squeeze my baguette.

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Oh helloooooo again...and so soon too ooooer.

I forgot to mention that I had a rather splendid commission from a man who breeds shetland ponies. I was asked to create this 'ere painting. I know...I know...

it's far removed from what I normally paint but it was a rather fun job and...as I love painting body hair...horse hair isn't that far removed when you think about it. Anyrode up thank you Douggie...the painting has galloped its way off to it's stable...hurrah!

Bonjour bonjour bonjour!

Thought I'd go all Francais as I'm buggering off there soon...hurrah!

Now I know it's been a wee while but do you all remember me witteringon about the new series of paintings I'm embarking on? The series relating to blokes and how they persue lifestyle and the like? The series where I chase down men and tease out their dark secrets, worries and "issues"?
Well I've completed one and it's called "Bruised"....a big thank you to Ronnie for making this painting possible....you're a star and a brave one at that. It ended up being an entirely different painting to the one I had planned. I was going to attempt an image of a man as a sexual being but...following a deep, intimate and a rather emotional discussion...I ended up with a very personal dipiction of a man in deep contemplation and some pain. It was a journey that neither of us had planned and neither of us had envisaged but it must be one of the most intimate paintings i have ever done. It also sold before the varnish had time to dry...which...to me...proves it's worth. Hurrah and hurrah! The scary thing about it all is...how do I top that? Mmmmm....we shall have to see. I have shed loads of ideas and I have shed loads of models lined up so...hey hoooooooooo...onwards and upwards.

Thankyou for taking the times,

Ivor x

Morning my special chums!

T'is Sunday and the birds are singing....mind...they're singing in the damp...blimey...Spring has definitely rusted and buggered off back from whence it attempted to leave from....

I just wanted to announce that "Banquos Ghost" has been sold...hurrah and hurrah! A big thank you to Admirable Antiques for all their sterling work at flogging my wares at their establishment. Oh and a big thank you to the lovely lady who bought it despite protests from a reluctant hubby ooooer.
Here's hoping it's the start of a deluge of sales...well a starving artist can dream.....
Work continues on "Bruised"....it's being rather slow to be honest. Mind...me thinks that might have something to do with the fact that I'm painting in a different manner. Have no idea how this developed...I can only guess that the subject matter has a far deeper meaning for me than the other subjects I paint. Oooooer...how deep and fraudian....oooooer.
I'm going to be giving/attending an art workshop in Glasgow this coming week. It's all very scary and I'm just hoping I don't bugger it all up. I would hate to dissappoint all those wee souls who have taken the time to attend. Anyrode up...I'll post up proper details when I have them to hand...but...thank you Garry for thinking of me and wanting me to do it....cheers fella!

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Bonjour bonjour bonjour!

I'm speaking French due to the fact that I'm going to be a grand dad and my future daughter in law is french ooooo la la. Just wanted to post this because it's splendid news and everyone is jolly jolly jolly about it so hurrah and hurrah!
I've been quite a busy geezer really. The Bespoke Art Gallery Pop Up exhibition at House For An Art Lover was a humongous success. Well done Julie, Mark and David for all the bleedin' blood sweat and tears they put into it. I flogged a painting so am doubly grateful to them. "No Access" sold to a very nice couple from Kilmarnock. A big thank you to them for liking it enough to buy it....cheers boys! The only sad thing about it was the model Chris never got to see the finished piece before it was whisked away...apologies Chris...but the boys say you can go and have a gander at it whenever you want.
I've been painting a self portrait....ooooer....it was a very very odd thing to paint. I'm still 25 years old in my bonce but having studied my own face for a painting has well buggered up that fantasy....hey hooo....it looks like there's to be more vaseline in use in my house oooer. The bloody mirrors are already smeared to within an inch of their lives. I finally got it finished and was convinced I'd painted my father....mmm....ho hum....suppose it has managed to confirm to me that age comes to all of us. I've titled it "Vanishing" as I'm fading into the surroundings. I have this theory that the older you get the more invisible you become. It's been a very therapeutic project if I'm honest and has inspired a new series of paintings about facing demons and other life changing events. I'm quite interested in how this series pans out as I'm working the paintings in a different way. They're sort of evolving after long discussions with the models. It'll probably been the least commercial work I've done since the "Self Harming" series.....oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo er.

I've now got a body of work at JAG Gallery in Brighton...courtesy of Chris Campen of "Campen Creatives. Thanks Chris for all your support and promotion. I'm so happy to have some paintings in the very south of the Country as I originate from Pompey....it's a bit like going home ho hum. If any of yous are in the vacinity...pop along and have a wee gander. Chris is a lovely bloke so you can have a wee blether to him whilst you're there.
I'm also displaying my wares....ooooooer....at Admirable Antiques in New Abbey Dumfrieshire. It's a beautiful place and has a bloody fantastic tea room next to the ruins of Sweat Heart Abbey...which is gaaaaaaaawjussssssssss and sells cake and cake more cake....yum yum. Now that's worthy of vist peeps.

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Well Happy happy happy Easter my chums...

Coooooo lummey, it's ben a piggin' cold old do to be sure....snow snow and more snow brrrrrrrr.
Right let's crack on as they say.....I've been well and truely busy..hurrah!

I've finished the book cover to the clients satisfaction....mmmmm....not sure about it as it's so different to what I usually do. However, he liked it which is all that counts really and it does sum up the story and all of that. A pat on the back all round is deserved I feel...here's hoping it leads to other illustration work.

I've got a wee pop up exhibition coming up on 14th April at House For An Art Lover....ooooer posh. The details of which will be on this 'ere invite flyer....please please do feel free to come along and have a wee gander. It'll be full to the brim with art in bloody gorgeous surroundings and you get to munch on cake and have tea....well hurrah and hurrah! I will be exhibiting four paintings..."March Hares" "Trailer Park Crucificion" "Out Damn'd Spot" and my newest..."No Access"
I'm dead excited about it all as this venue is Rene Mackintosh and I just love the place. I also get to meet shed loads of other artists and lots of wonderful peeps....
I'm continuing on my theme of auto biographical work....don't ask me why...reckon it's an age thing. I have this theory that the older you get the more invisible you become....I have no intention of ever being invisible...even if this means looking like a dogs dinner and disgracing myself. Who said old meand boring?....mmmmmmm.......
I'm also checking out other venues to exhibit in....will keep everyone posted as to how that develops.
In the meantime I shall away and busy my person with business and purpose....or eating easter eggs and hot cross buns ho hum...

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x

Howdy dooooooody my chums!

Has been a busy old week for me. I've finally finished the book cover which is now undergoing treatment in France ooooer. It's having it's type put on and being client approved. I shall post something up when it is signed off so to speak. Mind...what with all this cloak and dagger stuff...I really hope you think it was worth it lol.

I've finished "Out Damn'd Spot" so old Lady MacB is done, dusted and completely bonkers...hurrah. here's hoping she goes down a strom when being displayed. The whole paintingis stuffed with sybolism and old wives oooer. I have to say to the purists....this is totally my interpretation....mmmm.

Well hurrah and hurrah...coo lummey...strike a light and whip my caramels...I have been really busy.

I've finally got Lady MacBeth well underway...mind...the mad bints been causing a few problems, mainly that I'm not quite sure if she's mad enough. Ho hum...I'll continue the way I've been going and will probably tweak her to within an inch of her life towards the end. I do like a crazy woman with an attitude.....She is to be exhibited at the next Bespoke Art Gallery "pop up"...it's to be at Old Rene Mackintosh's gaff.."House For An Art Lover. It's a beautiful venue and I well recommend having a go see. Plus...the piggin' restaurant is bloody bloody splendid! I shall firm up with you all later ooooer missis...I'm talking times and dates here peeps........
I'm off tomorrow to photograph my newest model Chris...he's very kindly agreed to pose for the new autobiographical work that I'm about to embark on. Coooo...will be interesting how it will develop. It's a bit like someone saying..."If they made a movie of you, who would play you?" I just hope he can cope with some mad old artist reliving his past through an unsuspecting model. I shall have to compose myself and act accordingly...yeah right. Anyrode up....if you read this Chris....a big fat thankyou from me fella and brace yourself.....ho hum.

I've been also working on a book cover illustration. It's been dead cool to be illustrating again. It's been eons and I've had quite a blast doing it. Mind...the client hasn't actually seen the finished art work yet so may well be counting my chickens and all that. Hey hoooo...t'is done and dusted and I shall just have to sit back and take the critisism...if there is any ooooer. It's for a book called "God and the Geek"...I've read bits of it...bloody marvelous if you ask me and well worth a read. Sadly...alas and alack...t'is all I can tell you at the moment until all is finalised. If you hear me sobbing over the ether you'll know he hated it and I've been rejected. Us artists don't do rejection very well...we're prone to melt downs and hissy fits.......

Oh and I have had a big big interest in the "March Hares" so watch this space.....hurrah!

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Well howdy doody doooooo!

As you can see I now have a lovely new refreshed website extravaganza....hurrah and hurrah! A big humongous thank you to my chum Mr. Chris Butler for taking such a long time and bunging in a lorry load of effort to create it...I'm well chuffed.
Mind....it now gives me no excuse not to blog on a regular basis...I admit to being a tad remiss in that department...my only reason being I'm a lazy git! Enough said...onwards and upwards.
I'm now planning some projects...the big one being a sort of autobiographical body of work that exorcises ghosts, sums me up and allows me to go places I'd not normally go...ooooer..."how mysterious!" I hear you cry. Well...not really actually. I've just decided that I need a few more challenges in my painting life and this one will be a big fat hairy doofah of a challenge. One of the main reasons being...I'm really not certain how it'll unfold. Plus...I want some technical challenges as well as emotional ones. Oooooer...hark at me going all "arty" and ethereal.
I have got a rather brilliant model lined up for the first in this series...strangely enough we sort of bumped into each other on line after a few years. His life mirrors mine at his age so I reckon it's fated he should be the first image. A big thankyou to Chris for agreeing to it all and being so open about what I'm banging on about. Mmmmm...this one could be odd to do..............................

I've finally finished "March Hares"...hurrah! Must admit it was a bugger to keep painting layer upon layer of hairs upon my hares but I think it was worth it. Thankfully my models Matt and Kevin like what I had done to them so that's a piggin' relief....how the hell would I get them to agree to pose again if not I ask myself. Cheers lads....you were bloody splendid!
I've started another of the Shakespeare series....it's called "Out Damn Spot" and is based upon old Lady Macbeth. I must admit I do like painting bonkers old bints, they such fun to do. Hopefully by the time she's finished she'll look less "bonkers" and more disturbed............................

Well that's it for now my chums...
Thankyou for taking the time,

Ivor x

Well happy happy happy new year my chums!

First of all I need to apologise for the distinct lack of blogs....mmmm....the thing is...I was going to have the whole website re-jigged and freshened up but never got round to getting it sorted. I just let it drift along willy nilly until it had my willy nilly had turned into a major gap...not good for an artist with a profile who wants to climb the dizzy pole of google and have every bod in the world gazing at his wares...ooooooooer! Mmmm..think I overdosed on "Carry On" films over the festive period...ho hum.
Anyrode up....I'm back to wish you well and say sorry. I've been dead busy of late and have been attempting to create a kind of morphing/animal/man set of images. It a current idea I have going on...think it is an off shoot of the shape shifters series I did a while back. It's never properly left me so the up shot is a huge painting of "March Hares" is in the process of being created. It's a strange one this as it's quite minimalist for me...it's just two blokes boxing in a clearing morphing into hares...mmmm...we shall have to see how it turns out. A major thanks goes to my models Matt and Kevin as I had them posing for eons in a rather cold room ooooer.
I've also been featured in a fabulous new publication called Sachet Mixte...it's a journal featuring many world renowned artists. I was well honoured when I was approached to be part of it. Hurrah and thankyou Simon. This brings me onto my other news...I was also approached by a really nice geezer called Eric Gibbons who has asked me to feature in his publication "Art Of Man" so I'm to appear in an American journal....cooooo lummey...I'm global.

I now going to say big thank yous to David from Highstreet Gallery, Julie from Bespokeart Gallery, Drew and Ian from Virginia Gallery, David from Studio18 Gallery and Chris Campen from Campen Creative........
Thank you for displaying my wares and all your support this past year I am internally grateful to you all.
Also a big thanks to Chris Butler for sorting all my art work out so it can be seen by many....he's also the geezer who's to re-jug this site ooooer.
And....thank you Simon for all the support and encouragement and here's to the new projects we're going to be embarking on...hurrah and hurrah!

Oh and thanks graham for putting up with me...x

Blimey...praise the piggin' lordy lord that's done...it's a tad Gwynith Paltrow but, hey hoooooo...it's my blog and I'll say what I want to.
This is, ofcourse, a big lead up to telling you that i intend to be doing more stuff this year and shall be attempting to promote myself to within an inch of my dooings....brace yourselves peeps...this could prove a big challenge for all of us oooooooooooer.

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x