Soooo why does Graham Norton get everywhere?

There was a time when Graham Norton was only seen after the watershed.

And many of us would say “quite rightly so”!

But now he’s everywhere. Radio, Reality TV shows, shows to find leading cast members for Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, taking over from Jonathan Ross… No, that’s post watershed!…

…Eurovision. Is there nothing the man won’t do? I mean Eurovision, a byword for trashy, cheesy pop songs! Has the man no shame? No taste?

Oh Hang on, if you’ve seen his night time show, you know that is a statement if fact! He delights in cheese, he delights in sleaze. Not so much as innuendo and in your face –o!

Gradually - and none too subtly - he has invaded our airspace. Even making it onto the BBC, the home of conventional morality. How did he do it? How does someone who’s presentation style is so near the knuckle manage such a conquest?

Sure, there is a difference between the toned down daytime persona and the post watershed character…but it’s not much!

I think it must be the mass of contradiction! He comes across as “nice” and caring but then makes a bitchy comment about a celebrity, does something awful to a member of the audience or shows a web link which is shocking.

Morally, I know I should disapprove of what he does. Yes, he makes you laugh, but cruelly at other people’s expense! The ultimate “Car crash TV”. You know you’ll regret what you see, but you can’t help but look!

So will I watch him now, will he be my guilty little secret?

What do you think?

The Big Draw

The Big Draw 2010 is in full progress. It started as a national campaign to encourage everyone to draw. Now it’s expanded to an international event throughout October.

I’ve always felt it was a worthy endeavour. The benefits of regular drawing go beyond the acquisition of skill and have a recognisable psychological benefit! It’s more than a co-incidence that Art is used as a therapy.

Which is why last week saw me at an event in the Old Gaol in Buckingham. Sitting around drawing views in the gaol itself and helping visitors with drawing issues.

The options were mostly building interiors, but I was keen to draw some people! Trouble is those available were all moving! For a while I drew the mannequins, before heading for the coffee shop. Several failed sketches later I gave up and went to talk to the artist painting out front. She was painting the gaol using a heavy impasto technique in oils.

She was just finishing and offered to pose. This was the result of the 10-15 minute pose. It’s in charcoal so has the inherent properties of medium i.e. tends to smudge!!!!! Aaaargh! Looking back at it, it has a charm but needed more time.  I still feel self conscious drawing with the subject present. It’s an issue I must overcome, as I tend to rush and “finish” not because I’m worried about drawing, just self conscious about the subject. She has a gypsy look about her, what with the hair band and loop earrings!

Painting has been a bit limited this week. I’ve been completing submission forms. Rowan’s gallery, Beaconsfield art fair, Mooch Gallery in Manchester and Bafa “Inspired by a poem” exhibition. Just delivered my first consignment to Rowan’s gallery, I’ll let you know how it goes!

Next week I’m going to finish a Graham Norton Pose, might be a caricature, or I might do both! You’ll have to wait and see…

Olivia Newton John’s Glee – I’m being topical, honest!

After posting last week I learnt an important lesson!

I mean, a REALLY IMPORTANT LESSON!

“And what might that be?” I hear you ask. 

I really must check my previous week’s post to see what I promised to do this week!!!!!

I confess, Organisation is not my strong point. So here’s Olivia Neutron Bomb sorry Olivia Newton John.

My humble apologies for the delay. It won’t happen again, Miss! Which reminds me! Why do old nicknames have a habit of sticking?

The most memorable seem to play on original names e.g. I was a Concannon and one of mine was “Cannonball”.

Or they’re simply humiliating! ‘S funny, I don’t feel like giving a personal example here…

Olivia’s stratospheric popularity following Grease might be why she was awarded this one.

I think I might have gone a bit OTT with the hair! Tiger stripes!!!! And yet she can carry it off, don’t some people make you green?

I was getting concerned that this caricature was “out of mode” for want of a better word. But,as you can see below, Olivia’s been in Glee recently.

I had trouble finding a good youtube video. Apparently Sony have blocked some! But I found it! Hmm, I always liked the original…

But I think this one might be better!

Makes a refreshing change to see the objectification of men! Am I bad? And she’s wearing well! Hope I look that good at her age. Think I might need to step up the exercise/diet program first though. Time to walk the dog!

Next week the Big Draw!

Finding time to draw - Portrait of a sleeping baby

Ever wonder where the time goes?
Me Too! I’ve had a week dominated by art promotion and IT development, and even then I’m not happy with the results. So creating art time has been at a premium. Fortunately evening classes mean I usually get something painted each week. I also get to try out new ideas and techniques I might not automatically choose!
Last week it was, my shiny baby in charcoal and chalk.

Sometimes you need to go back to basics and studies help.
With caricatures that means you go back to faces. You need to be able to recreate a face accurately, before you can really play around and make a caricature. Sometimes you need to eliminate colour and focus on shapes and tone. So a return to monochromatic images, seemed in order. Or, in this case, a small bust of a sleeping baby! Or a very shiny baby in this case.
Children and young people are notoriously difficult to get right. Lines age the image, smooth blending and accurate placement are the key!
I love my art classes. I know that whatever happens. At least I’ll be creating something new in the evening!
My other motivator is my sketchbook, and I’ve just signed up for the Sketchbook Project 2011, more details next week.
So, what do you do to motivate you to create art?