tosh
2009-01-24 15:28:17 UTC
Dear fabulous furry freak brothers and sisters.
A bit long this - apologies...I've been thinking - and this always takes
time:)
This year I am taking part in a group exhibition on the theme of
'Danté's Divine Comedy' with 40 participating fantasy artists from
around the world which will open in June at Galerie Brusen in Denmark
and subsequently move on to Germany, France...and possibly London. The
gallery owner, Claus Brusen, is a big fan of Fish, Marillion and my
artwork so he invited me to take part.
As he represents painters of the calibre of English artist Patrick
Woodruffe...I readily agreed as I felt I'd be in fantastic company.
Patrick Woodruffe has been an inspiration for me since I began art
school - some of you may know his work for the first Pallas album (who
were signed up at around the same time as Marillion) also his
groundbreaking art book and album with Dave Greenslade 'The Pentateuch
Of The Cosmogony'. It was re-released last December with the original
version highly collectible. His album art for Judas Priest's early album
'Sad Wings Of Destiny' is still a big favourite amongst their fans and
set the template for what I have tried to achieve for them over the years.
After meeting Claus at The Design Museum recently for an exhibition of
Alan Aldridge's art (perhaps my greatest influence in the beginning with
airbrush art - and someone Claus is also talking to about a book
project) - he asked me if I would be interested in having a book
published of my work. He started a publishing company 'Edition Brusen'
a few years back to compliment his gallery - concentrating on fantasy
artists he represents and with his contacts and tireless enthusiasm for
fantasy art in general, has fast become a leading light in this
specialised field. The book we have in mind is a complete retrospective
of my work to include all the best album cover art and other projects as
diverse as Red Dwarf, Judge Dredd, postage stamps, The Monsters Of Rock
posters etc. bringing it right up to date with the logo and poster
design for Nearfest this year, as well as the Danté work and of course
the designs for 13th Star...bringing my work for Fish right up to date.
Obviously my greatest patron over the years was uppermost in my mind
when trying to choose a title for the book. After much deliberation I
decided on 'Shadowplay' - it remains one of my favourite songs by Fish
and the final verse in particular suited the visual nature of this
proposed book. I am doing a new painting for the cover - a dark
angel...skulking in the shadows - and together with the paintings I have
to do for Danté - this will be an interesting year. The idea is to get
the paintings and book design finished in time for it to be published
this summer - but it will be an uphill task as I have to do other work
to finance all this activity...ah well the best laid plans - if I miss
Summer - it will definitely be published in time for Christmas.
It will be an oversize A4 22.5 x 30.5 cm hardback book, 192 pages in 4
colours plus satin-varnish. There might also be a special (very)
limited edition version which could be boxed with a folio of A4 signed
prints or possibly a leather-bound book!..it's all being costed at the
moment. Of course in this tough period with the financial system
seemingly in freefall...it could not be worse timing in many respects,
for a book, selling paintings or doing anything at all, but
opportunities don't come around like this very often...nor do people
that infect you with their enthusiasm and energy...so I am going to see
what happens...nothing comes from nothing as they say!
I thought it would be great to involve fans of the artwork on this list
and elsewhere...I know there are some of you I have met and
corresponded with that have created something unique inspired by my work
- be it tattoo designs, painted jackets, custom designs on everything
from cars to scooters, from spare wheel holders to embroidery, amateur
paintings and drawings (these could already exist or be created
specially for the Leamington convention) to 3D models of the jester. I
have been enormously impressed by the work I have seen over the years
and very touched that it has meant so much to you. I would like to
feature some of these in my book - the best examples I can find. I also
thought - inspired by Em's love of a competition:) - that the best
examples of this 'associated' art could win a prize - with 'first' being
the limited edition of the book, then hardback books for the runners up.
Fish will choose the prizewinners...with some of the finest examples on
display (either original work - courtesy of the artists - or
photographic prints depending on what wins) together with some of my
work at an 'art expo - and Q&A' at the Fish convention in Leamington.
Please send any contributions to ***@masque-studio.com - from digital
cameras is fine - but don't reduce the pixel size too much as I'd like
them as hi-rez as I can to print as best as possible. The max print size
need only be around 5" x 7".
Info on the proposed book and examples of some of Claus's other
publications and exhibitions can be found here: http://www.fantasmus-art.com
Thanks guys - Mark
A bit long this - apologies...I've been thinking - and this always takes
time:)
This year I am taking part in a group exhibition on the theme of
'Danté's Divine Comedy' with 40 participating fantasy artists from
around the world which will open in June at Galerie Brusen in Denmark
and subsequently move on to Germany, France...and possibly London. The
gallery owner, Claus Brusen, is a big fan of Fish, Marillion and my
artwork so he invited me to take part.
As he represents painters of the calibre of English artist Patrick
Woodruffe...I readily agreed as I felt I'd be in fantastic company.
Patrick Woodruffe has been an inspiration for me since I began art
school - some of you may know his work for the first Pallas album (who
were signed up at around the same time as Marillion) also his
groundbreaking art book and album with Dave Greenslade 'The Pentateuch
Of The Cosmogony'. It was re-released last December with the original
version highly collectible. His album art for Judas Priest's early album
'Sad Wings Of Destiny' is still a big favourite amongst their fans and
set the template for what I have tried to achieve for them over the years.
After meeting Claus at The Design Museum recently for an exhibition of
Alan Aldridge's art (perhaps my greatest influence in the beginning with
airbrush art - and someone Claus is also talking to about a book
project) - he asked me if I would be interested in having a book
published of my work. He started a publishing company 'Edition Brusen'
a few years back to compliment his gallery - concentrating on fantasy
artists he represents and with his contacts and tireless enthusiasm for
fantasy art in general, has fast become a leading light in this
specialised field. The book we have in mind is a complete retrospective
of my work to include all the best album cover art and other projects as
diverse as Red Dwarf, Judge Dredd, postage stamps, The Monsters Of Rock
posters etc. bringing it right up to date with the logo and poster
design for Nearfest this year, as well as the Danté work and of course
the designs for 13th Star...bringing my work for Fish right up to date.
Obviously my greatest patron over the years was uppermost in my mind
when trying to choose a title for the book. After much deliberation I
decided on 'Shadowplay' - it remains one of my favourite songs by Fish
and the final verse in particular suited the visual nature of this
proposed book. I am doing a new painting for the cover - a dark
angel...skulking in the shadows - and together with the paintings I have
to do for Danté - this will be an interesting year. The idea is to get
the paintings and book design finished in time for it to be published
this summer - but it will be an uphill task as I have to do other work
to finance all this activity...ah well the best laid plans - if I miss
Summer - it will definitely be published in time for Christmas.
It will be an oversize A4 22.5 x 30.5 cm hardback book, 192 pages in 4
colours plus satin-varnish. There might also be a special (very)
limited edition version which could be boxed with a folio of A4 signed
prints or possibly a leather-bound book!..it's all being costed at the
moment. Of course in this tough period with the financial system
seemingly in freefall...it could not be worse timing in many respects,
for a book, selling paintings or doing anything at all, but
opportunities don't come around like this very often...nor do people
that infect you with their enthusiasm and energy...so I am going to see
what happens...nothing comes from nothing as they say!
I thought it would be great to involve fans of the artwork on this list
and elsewhere...I know there are some of you I have met and
corresponded with that have created something unique inspired by my work
- be it tattoo designs, painted jackets, custom designs on everything
from cars to scooters, from spare wheel holders to embroidery, amateur
paintings and drawings (these could already exist or be created
specially for the Leamington convention) to 3D models of the jester. I
have been enormously impressed by the work I have seen over the years
and very touched that it has meant so much to you. I would like to
feature some of these in my book - the best examples I can find. I also
thought - inspired by Em's love of a competition:) - that the best
examples of this 'associated' art could win a prize - with 'first' being
the limited edition of the book, then hardback books for the runners up.
Fish will choose the prizewinners...with some of the finest examples on
display (either original work - courtesy of the artists - or
photographic prints depending on what wins) together with some of my
work at an 'art expo - and Q&A' at the Fish convention in Leamington.
Please send any contributions to ***@masque-studio.com - from digital
cameras is fine - but don't reduce the pixel size too much as I'd like
them as hi-rez as I can to print as best as possible. The max print size
need only be around 5" x 7".
Info on the proposed book and examples of some of Claus's other
publications and exhibitions can be found here: http://www.fantasmus-art.com
Thanks guys - Mark