‘Shes’s Eating My Lunch’. 11.07.2018

11029

Uncategorized

Miche

I finished this painting this afternoon with one eye on the Federer/Anderson tennis match which kept me fired up. The rabbit is based on a street art work by Alex Lucas here in Bristol. With her permission I have incorporated it into my own composition. There are several of her murals scattered around Bristol, and she is, like me, represented by Great White Art gallery (http://greatwhiteart.com) so I am loving collaborating with her. More ideas in the pipeline. The model, Steph Bridet (see Instagram) is wearing an upcycled dress made by Linda Thomas (@linda_eco_design) and the organic carrot came from my local greengrocer Hugo’s here on North Street. I apologise for Steph nicking the rabbit’s carrot….. Next week from the 19th July, I will be showing my street art themed work at a new gallery here on North Street, aptly called North, alongside a group of fellow artists. This exhibition neatly includes the weekend of Upfest at the end of July, which is, I think, the biggest urban street art festival in Europe. I am delighted to be part of this world, so drop by and have a look if you are passing. I will be stewarding for some…

Work in progress detail. 05.07.18

10707

Uncategorized

Miche

My alologies, I’ve been on holiday for 10 days, so no Blog. However, I am now refreshed, recharged and ready with new ideas for my paintings. I am collaborating with Alex Lucas, @lucas_antics on Instagram, who is a well known street artist, particularly here in Bristol. She has painted some wonderful artwork around the Stokes Croft area of Bristol and I am sure will feature heavily when Upfest takes place at the end of this month (Urban Paint Festival when Street Artists from all over Europe descend on my street North Street and its environs to paint awesome street art and graffiti; please Google for more information). There is a new, presently temporary, art gallery opened up on North Street called North and I will be showing my work there from mid July which neatly includes Upfest weekend. I am delighted to have this exposure. If you’re in Bristol, do pop in and have a look. I might be there too. So to this detail of a piece which features one of Alex Lucas’ rabbits. Both she and I are represented by Great White Art Gallery (http://greatwhiteart.com) which gave me the idea of collaboration. In this work, the rabbit will…

‘Good Cop, Bad Cop’ completed. 31.05.18

11622

Uncategorized

Miche

I had the idea for this piece having seen the Banksy ‘Rude Copper’ in various incarnations. I particularly liked the idea of it as a framed artwork, but took out the graffiti lettering as seen in the original, as it didn’t work with the idea I had in mind. I always seek the permission of the street artist to incorporate their work into my painting before I begin and have never yet been refused; until now. I have emailed Banksys ‘agent ‘ at Pest Control and had no reply. However, the Hidden Gallery (chris@hidden) where I first saw this Banksy, commented that Banksy probably wouldn’t be too precious about this, so fingers crossed. I wanted the two girls to be completely different in how they looked, but they needed to look really smartly dressed, as if at a Private View, which maybe would have irritated our Rude Copper, hence the Good Cop Bad Cop title. Just my own sense of humour, the viewer may make of it what he/she wants. I am delighted to be collaborating with Alex Lucas for my next artworks, as she is a wonderful street artist. Have a look at her art on Instagram at @lucas_antics.…

‘Good Cop, Bad Cop’ work in progress. 24.05.18

11173

Uncategorized

Miche

My thought for the day from Winston Churchill: ‘Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm’. My beloved partner died in March from brutal, quick and aggressive cancer. During those last few months I did indeed lose my enthusiasm to paint. Since his death however, my enthusiasm has returned, albeit reluctantly, and I feel I am painting better than ever. I have freedom to surge forward and my brain is fizzing with new ideas for my street art inspired work. I am excited, energised and each day just want to paint more and more. But oh, how I miss my darling Les, would that he were still watching me paint as he used to. This new work will be a take on another Banksy that I saw on The Hidden Gallery’s Instagram page (@chrisathidden). Banksy’s website (Pest Control) doesn’t reply to my request to incorporate his work into my art, and Hidden Gallery reckons he would be fine with this angle, so on I go. This will be the last Banksy for a while as I have new ideas for the next piece which will be more locally inspired. There will be two young women…

‘Modern Babysitting’ completed 09.05.18

11052

Uncategorized

Miche

This title is a take on today’s society. Everywhere I look these days, everywhere I walk, every restaurant or cafe I sit in, I see people, particularly the young, glued to their smartphones. Sitting with friends at the same table, all their heads are down, scrolling away on their phones. How is this going to play out in the future? Where do we go from here ? And what is this doing to our backs ? (I have osteoporosis so am particularly interested in this aspect). So to the painting. I saw this Banksy copy and a germ of an idea started in my mind. I always try and get the street artist’s permission to use their work in my compositions, but have been unable to trace the artist who made this copy. Likewise I received no reply to my request to Banksy (Pest Control) so am having to keep my fingers crossed he/they are happy with this piece. A long time ago, an art dealer told me a touch of red in a painting always lifts it and results in more sales, so here we are! I am grateful to Natalia Green for being the perfect muse here.…

Detail from new work in progress. 02.05.18

11064

Uncategorized

Miche

This will be a street art themed painting eventually, but this week I have been concentrating on getting the young woman in place in the composition. So far so good. I am incorporating a (as I have now found out) a copy of a Banksy painting showing a girl on a swing. The original was painted under a sign saying PARKing and this artist’s copy isn’t as detailed as Banksys. I haven’t been able to find out where and who painted it, so am going ahead regardless and hope I won’t be sued…. My working title, so far, will be either ‘Babysitting’ or ‘Modern Babysitting’ depending on what I feel like when the piece is finished. It’s my take on the fact that the young seem to spend most of their time these days glued to their smart phones, to the detriment of enjoying babysitting, albeit for a stencil on a wall ! This painting is in oils and is on canvas board. If you would like to be kept up to date with what I am up to in the next few weeks please sign up for my Newsletter at the top of the Home page. I am also…

‘It Will All Be Ok’. Completed 18.04.2018

11374

Uncategorized

Miche

I saw the work of @MyDogSighs here in Bristol last year for Upfest the annual urban art festival. Street artists from all over the world descend on North Street, the street where I live, producing the most amazing street art and graffiti on every available wall, hoarding etc. I particularly like his ‘Hug’ street art images and obtained his permission to incorporate this work into my own composition. For this piece I have persuaded lovely Emily White (@ablemabeldesigns) to be my muse. She has a fabulous collection of Forties/Fifties inspired clothes and is wearing one of her vibrant dresses for this painting. She also works at @rhubarbjumble which sells beautiful retro clothes and furniture. Pop in and have a look at 52 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol just up the road from my studio. My idea is that she is deep in thought, possibly worrying about a problem and the Hug is comforting her, hence the title. You, the viewer, will have your own thoughts. I like placing my trademark woman in a situation which changes the dynamic of the 2D street art, bringing art to life and vice versa. If you would like to be kept up to date…

‘Always Looking Down’. 28/04/2018

11630

Uncategorized

Miche

Last year I was wandering down North Street in Bristol, the street on which I live, looking at all the amazing street art and graffiti that makes up Upfest (Urban Paint Festival). This takes place every year and loads of street artists from all over the world descend on my street to paint every available wall space, hoarding etc with beautiful, sometimes humourous street art. I carried on down to Ashton Gate football stadium (home to Bristol City) and then came across this wonderful street art hand painted by @envol.studio. Have a look at the original on Instagram. With his permission I have used part of it in my own composition and will tag him into my Instagram feeds. This work is called ‘Always Looking Down’ because it seems a sad indictment of today’s society that we all spend our time looking down on our smart phones and miss the beauty that surrounds us, in this case that fabulous hand. I try and paint my women doing something that relates to the street art so the dynamic of the 2d painting is changed by the presence of the 3D woman, bringing art to life and vice versa. If you would…

‘Molotov’ completed.

11803

Uncategorized

Miche

This is a small piece, 12 x 10”, 30 x 25 cm, and I painted it alongside a larger work (I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing) but with a different pose. I used the same model, but in this work, she either hasn’t seen or has ignored, the street art waiter serving his Molotov Cocktails. In the larger work (see previous blogs for details) the blonde was toasting the waiter. In both paintings she prefers Coca Cola to Molotov. I was inspired by the street artist @brknwrld for this painting. I always obtain the permission of the street artist before I incorporate their work into the background of my own composition, and then tag him or her into my Instagram page so as to bring them added publicity. I am interested in preserving street art, but place my 3D woman in such a way that it relates to the 2D street art but also changes the dynamic of it and vice versa. If that makes any sense.. If you would like to be kept up to date with what I am up to in the next few weeks please sign up for my Newsletter at the top of…

‘Global Warming’ Black and White study

12006

Uncategorized

Miche

This is a small study based on the original ‘Global Warming’ painting and is in black and white with a slight touch of red on the aerosol. Please see previous blogs to explain my thoughts on this theme. My apologies for short blog this week. My partner has terminal aggressive cancer and I just am not able to write much today. Hopefully next week will be better. This piece will be available through Great White Art gallery as of next week, http://greatwhiteart.com. It is 12 x 10” and is oil on board. It will have a black frame. If you would like to be kept up to date with what I am up to in the next few weeks please sign up for my Newsletter at the top of the Home page. I am also on Twitter and Instagram and have a Facebook page called Miche Artist.

Newsletter