Born in Doncaster in the fifties David Lee flew the nest at a young age to set up residence in London, which heralded a new phase in his life, as he discovered London’s burgeoning hippy scene. However, during his early thirties, his love affair with France began with the marriage of his French wife.
Inspired by modern French painters, particularly Cézanne, his exploration of the forthright nude and his radical brush strokes were the first step toward Impressionism.
Lee’s paintings are inspired not only from the South of France and Paris but from the era between the 1920’s and 50’s, which is a common theme in all of his work.
Lee readily adopted the cafe culture of our continental cousins where Paris seized him. Spending so much time in the City of Lights, enjoying such impassioned vibrancy, the cafes were the creative enclaves where his artistry was honed.
His work embodies a delightful image of French café culture. The distinction from Lee’s work is how he captures this hustle and bustle of Parisian cafés giving us canvases splashed with vivid colour, radiating gaiety and the joy of life.
A second love interest later developed and this new ménage-a-trois between London, Paris and the South of France was a source of nouveau inspiration. With a palette full of colour from the warm South, Lee has brought back from the azure shore paintings that palpitate with hot sunlight and dazzle with their audacious colour.
Exclusively for Graffik Gallery David Lee has also painted a series of French inspired pop-art portraits.
To celebrate Lee’s Anglo-French love affair the preview will feature a themed party, which includes feasting on French delicacies, a wine tasting and a mime artist.
‘Vive La France’ 26 April – 9 May 2012 – Daily 11am to 6pm
To RSVP to the Private View (26/4) please email art@graffikgallery.co.uk
Lava Gallery has been cranking out quality shows on a week by week basis, this time, Co-founder and art director of the Lava Gallery Ashes57 presented her new body of work entitled “On the wild side”.
This show is simply good fun, the centre piece being a huge 3d installation featuring her trade mark line drawn city scape’s and characters like the sitting dog. Ashes’ line drawing style has a great flow and creates allot of depth, You will discover something different in her work every time you look at it.
The show features a collection of hand drawn city scape’s, hand painted canvases and limited run prints, a good mix of work and plenty to keep your attention.
There was a great vibe and good turn out on the night, plenty of drinks were had and a few tunes grooved to courtesy of live DJ’s.
See the rest of the pics from the opening night here:
Jester Jacques – First of all, how did your interest in art making come about? Were there any specific events or influences in your childhood which swayed you to be more creative?
Novemto Komo – I have always been doodling since I was kid, on the wall of my parent’s room and my room; also sticking stickers I got on the doors all around the house.
Simon Sarin Photography Copyright
I remember when I was in kindergarten and elementary schools, almost every weekend my parents took me to “Ancol art market” to see paintings, sculptures and crafts by local artists. We got our family portrait from one of the artist there using paper cut, and when my sister and brother were born, we also get their portrait done by the same artist. I also participated a lot in kids drawing competition and some of them came out top 3.
I also remember saw a painting by Ford Madox Brown, titled “Take Your Son, Sir!” in a book and I was finally able to see it in real a year ago in Tate Britain.
JJ – You were born in Indonesia. Does any of the culture seep into your work, even though you live in the UK?
NK – It does influence me a lot. There is so many social issues going on in Indonesia that kind of influence my way of thinking when developing the idea.
Also, the diversity of animals in Indonesia can be seen on most of my artwork lately. A lot of animals in Indonesia are very rare now and a lot are in risk of extinct.
JJ – Where did you study Fine Art and do you think it helped in your career as a visual artist? In what ways?
NK – I never studied Fine Art, I was trained as multimedia designer which lead to my first job as a junior flash developer. Then as time went on, I got more jobs doing illustration which carried me into doing more hand drawing/illustration. I got more into painting when I took my master in graphic design in 2010 at Newcastle where I had a lot of spare time to practice and develop my skills.
JJ – What is your fascination with animals? And anthropomorphising them?
NK- I started using animal a lot in my artworks as they are part of our life. They are also very attractive subjects because they are beautiful. I believe every human has their wild side which I interpret through animals.
I also want to bring awareness to people about animal extinction, especially caused by poachers and hunter. I’ve followed and joined a hunter online forum and feel sad every time I see them posted photos of animal they killed proudly.
Simon Sarin Photography Copyright
JJ – How do you get inspired?
NK – I get inspired from many things; news, people around me and their relationship towards each other. A lot of time I got inspiration by talking with strangers or random people. I visit Stolen Space Gallery a lot and Signal Gallery. I guess I get a lot of inspiration from street art around the world and there are so much of it in London created by international artists. To name a few, Faith47, Remi Rough, and Anthony Lister.
JJ – In your painting ‘Worst thing of Screaming,’ there is a feeling of pop art in there; the Lichtenstein type of shapes. Tell us more about that particular painting, as it stands out to me in your most recent body of paintings.
NK – The starting point of that painting was based on an idea of relationships. There are many situations where no one listens to you even when you scream out loud and sometimes it make you scream even louder, which end up make you feel like a freak show.
JJ – You do commercial work as an illustrator. What do you enjoy doing more – that, or your personal work? Is there an overlap in ideas and style, or do you try and keep them separated?
NK – I always try to separate the idea and style between them, but I have to admit sometimes there’s a mix in some of them.
JJ – Your work has a collage feel to it. How do you begin a new piece? Do you actually cut and paste, or just play with objects and figures as you go along?
NK – I never thought my work has a collage feel but I heard some people said that they thought my work was a collage, especially “escape the game.” I guess I just play with objects, figures and imaginations to visualise my idea into a painting. Many times when I’m in the middle of painting, I come out with some graphic elements that I can incorporate with and I just play around with it.
JJ – Do you have any exhibitions or projects/events coming up which we should look out for?
NK – The exhibition that I confirm at the moment is in December but I am doing another live art on the Tuesday the 24th this month during Jam Sandwich at The Russet Cafe. It is a monthly music event which I paint live depending on that night performers.
JJ – Finally, what piece of advice would you give young artists who want to pursue visual/fine arts?
NK – If you’re happy doing it, keep doing it as you never know what might happen.
DALeast is back painting another stunning cheetah inspired wall mural in Brick Lane, and his wife Faith47 whose also a professional street art recently arrived in London is painting a tiger artwork at Old Truman Brewery.
We always look with interest artists that use mediums one might not even think it can be used in any art process. This is exactly what Olga Ziemska is. Sculptor and public artist who lives & works in Cleveland, Ohio, she would use willow branches, wires, Conch shell, locally reclaimed birch logs or plaster hand casts
GIFs are everywhere these days and we are not sure why they have suddenly become so trendy but we seem to have stepped on the wave and are giving you 5 mesmerizing industrial GIFs
SCOPE, an international art fair, is under way now until this Sunday 6/12 and along with scores of people, it brings out fresh new talent such as Sam Cannon.
Sam Cannon, 23, is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology and a digital media artist living in New York City. Cannon’s work exploring the innovative space between video and still photography has been bolstered by her significant presence on Tumblr. Through this influence, Cannon has been asked to lend her vision to brands like Gap, Veuve Cliquot, and Nike, as well as an anti-bullying campaign, musician Vic Mensa, and New York Fashion Week.
Update – 22/06/2011
Latest dates – 25th June 2011 | 30th July 2011 | 27th August 2011 | 24th September 2011 | 29th October 2011 | 26th November 2011
On the last Saturday of every month Stour Space opens its doors for local produce, craft, design and creative entrepreneurship. Packed full of innovative designs the Designers Market is the perfect place to find fancy treats, snazzy gifts, eclectic music and belly warming delights.
What better way to celebrate the start of spring time than to take a trip along the canal, stroll through the beautiful Victoria park and take a visit to Stour Space Designers market for a unique shopping experience in the heart of the Olympic Borough”
2 years running, Stour Space Designers Market is a platform for creative independent makers / artists / enterprises to sell and promote their work
‘Made in Britain’ – a Themed group exhibition featuring all new 24 x 24 inch artworks from a selection of talented artists living and working in the UK.
Born in Doncaster in the fifties David Lee flew the nest at a young age to set up residence in London, which heralded a new phase in his life, as he discovered London’s burgeoning hippy scene. However, during his early thirties, his love affair with France began with the marriage of his French wife.
