Flaxon Ptooch

Last month Paper Jukebox had another exhibition in the Flaxon Ptooch gallery in Kentish Town. Showcasing our 'Time' exhibition to a brand new audience in a brand new location.
The opening night drew quite the crowd, and with the buffet of free cocktails, the appearance of 'Flash Choir', and (what i can only describe as) a performance artist/musician, the night went down a success!

Worst invigilator ever...

So, as much fun as the Fringe Arts Bath was to curate, there's only so much invigilating one man can endure (and thats the excuse I'm sticking with). And as I was conveniently armed with 'supplies',  I decided to paint a horse...

In the brief moments before creation took place, i decided that a horse would be a good representation of time, due to its many key roles in our evolution, society came to be...
But, to be honest, by the end i was just enjoying the paint, and I take no shame in that.

Fringe Arts Festival (continued)

These are the pieces i submitted for the exhibition. Originals as always, B2 size, pencil on screenprint.

‘Time is about what we choose to remember, 

and the things that remind us’

1.Spitfire

2. Shot

Fringe Arts Festival

This month Paper Jukebox exhibited once again together as a collective! At the Bath Fringe Arts Festival.

Running over two weeks, it took place on Stall street, right opposite the famous Roman Baths; an incredible location, in what has to be one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen. Seriously, if you haven't been, go!

Our exhibition was entitled “Time”, and through each piece gave a small glimpse into how we as a collective understand it…

Throughout the exhibition we thought we’d add a little flavour, so during our invigilating shifts we decided to put on a variety of live art exhibitions for people to watch. Anything from drawing, to a wide variety of live print making techniques; I myself did a large painting on the wall.

We also exhibited some of our limited edition iPhone covers,  kindly printed by Mooskins solely for this exhibition. This is my one, using a crop of one of piece 'Spitfire'. 

‘Time is about what we choose to remember, 

and the things that remind us’

(much more detail of my work to follow)

Popshot + Art In The Underbelly exhibition

Last month i was commissioned by Popshot magazine again. They had teamed up with 'Art In The Underbelly', and were collaborating to put on an exhibition to hang the walls of 'The Rumsey Wells' gallery in Norwich. There were 14 poems accompanied with 14 illustrations, and as it was the first time Popshot had ever been commissioned to fill a physical gallery space, everyone was very excited about it!
The gallery was open May 10th-30th, and although i was unable to visit the show myself, (due to another ongoing exhibition), i've had a confirmed great response and even better reviews from those that did make it.

The poem allocated to me was entitled "Berlin Polaroids" by Laura Elliott.



Berlin Polaroids

On the balcony, beneath fanned yellow leaves, 
you fade into the drapery of the covered chair. This evening 
I decide to chase colour; a red apple bulbed 
in a white sugar bowl, tokens tucked into teacups, 
serviette flourishes in champagne flutes, a twisted yolk 

of marbles on a green tie-dyed tablecloth, like folded water.
I am drawn further away from you; ornaments 
in front of windows, flowers like paintings 
brushed on glass, fingertips tapping the sky.
But then, better still, this empty wine bottle 

tucked into the shade of a frame, distinguishable only 
by a flash of light down the flank, reminds me of you, 
flinching in the silver evening as the sun ducks 
below the rooftops and night collapses 
into the courtyard, flaring open the windows 

like eyelids one by one, your skin steeped in smoke 
as a last cigarette unfurls into the dusk. 
So I return to you, the way you can become a colour
through its slow shadows, the way you are composed, 
now tiger striped and rippling fire.

Mindless Egg Chasing

This is a piece i did for my cousin's 21st birthday. He used to be my little cousin, but now he's more like a bear, a big rugby loving bear; so it doesn't quite feel right calling him that. A2, pencil on screenprint.

For the legend

This is a personal piece, an image i've been constructing in my head for a awhile. A homage to the legend that is Michael Jordan. Being exhibited in Surbiton within the next month. Size B2, pencil on screenprint.

Give Them What They're Scared Of

Recently i've been looking into elements of sport psychology, and the mental preparation athletes go through when preparing for their moment.

I love the idea of someone training religiously, day in day out, mind and body synchronized, with only the obsession for success driving them forward...

(As you can tell, I'm more than a bit excited about the Olympics!)

The original is A2, Pencil on Screenprint.

Character sketch's

I was asked to do some character sketches for a local novelist, he basically wanted to see a few visual interpretations of the characters is his (semi written) book, so from the following descriptions, this is what i produced...

Faolan: "Standing on all fours, the hairy beast was visible within the cave. The oversized wolf vanished. A deep growl resonated from the mouth of the cave. The head of the beast became visible once again as the werewolf padded forward. The beast’s long hair draped around its head in a mangled mess. The creature continued to creep forward until his entire body was exposed to the night air. The rain began to pelt its fur. The hairy creature rose up onto its hind legs. Even though it was hunched at the shoulders, it still appeared to be over six feet tall. It lacked the normal proportions of a human man. The beast’s hands were much too large, with something sharp, and claw-like protruding off the ends. The shadows of the forest and the torrential rain made the details obscure. Yet Adventure no longer had any doubt in his mind. This was no creature that had ever been classified by a scientific textbook. This was a real flesh and blood werewolf. This was Faolan."

Koush: "Roy Koush was ten years younger and a few inches shorter than his partner Chester. His dark hair was slicked back smartly over his narrow forehead. He gently stroked his clean shaven chin with the back of his index finger. From his side profile, two pink scars were visible on either side of his jawline. Wounds from combat. Koush stood in a slim-fit three piece suit, his eyes glaring at Malcolm with contempt."

Troy: "He was pretty scrawny for his height, weighing in at about 135 pounds and just a smidgen over five-foot-eight. Rather than muscles protruding out of his clothes, it was merely skin and bones. He had a wide nose and large lips. His dark eyes were sunken in deep and lay beneath a pair of thin eyebrows. Instead of neat and suave, his hair was messy and untamed, falling just at his ears. always looked as if he had just rolled out of bed."

Unfortunately the book was never published, so i was never able to fully illustrate it, but it was fun none the least.