Life, Art & Blackvector business

Willington Arts Trail

2008-06-10T06:35:00.001-07:00

I had a great time at the Willington Arts Trail. I was housed in the Old School Building and to be honest it was a bit cramped and it still looked like a nursery, a bit more effort could have been made to clear the walls of pinned up notices and various every day items. It has to be said that the allocated space for each artist was somewhat random, myself and the artist next to me only had a tiny space in which to display, some artists had over twice the space. I didn't get chance to visit the venue before the show, it seems space was allocated on a first come first served basis which in my opinion is a bit unprofessional, still i can make this point to the committee, i'm sure they will be happy to listen to feedback.
On the whole the show was a little bit 'arts & crafts' for my work but i did get a lot of good feedback and met some other artists with really interesting work. The first of these was Nicky Ward. Her pieces are created using paint, material and all sorts of household waste and bits and bobs. She uses these to create stunning landscapes. One piece was created using the contents of her hand luggage from a trip she made to San Francisco. www.nickywardart.co.uk

Another artist with interesting work was Niall Young. He uses a technique known as 'hyperpointillism' which basically means he creates images using thousands of tiny pixel like dots. As well as doing mainstream local landscape work he creates some amazing surreal imagery, have a look at his website. www.nialleyoung.com

My work on the Big Screen

2008-05-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Louise Angell, the Big Screen manager at BBC Radio Derby for letting me display my work on the Big Screen in Derby marketplace. It's a good opportunity for any creative people in Derbyshire to get their work seen by a wider audience and yes it's free! I'm hoping to do an updated version soon perhaps with some video content, when i have some video content to use that is! Louise is always interested in seeing suitable quality material that can be displayed so it's worth getting in touch with her if you have any ideas.
I won't post her contact details here but if you email me i will gladly pass on your details.

Sleeping Gods Lie

2008-05-14T03:10:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting piece insomuch as it has been drawn using very basic materials. I started with the roughest of pencil outlines which i then started to layer with coloured pencils, marker pens and felt tips. I like the idea of using materials that are cheap, close at hand, everyday items. I'm sure that i'm by no means the first artist to employ such techniques to produce a finished piece in fact i feel it harks back to those old school techniques that we all used when we were children. It embraces spontaneity and simplicity, it's something that anyone with an interest in art can have a go at without laying out on expensive materials.
The piece itself is reminiscent of early Mexican art although that wasn't a direct influence, as with much of my art it's just the way it turned out although i did want to evoke a feeling of days long gone when powerful, colourful images adorning the temple wall would inspire and overawe the viewer. I think a lot of my work embraces styles used in tribal imagery from around the world.
This and other recent pieces are also practice runs for larger scale painted pieces - watch this space.

Textile Pattern Designs

2008-05-14T02:49:00.000-07:00

These are my first attempts at textile design. Initially the idea is to print these three designs onto fabric at 800x800, they will then be mounted on a box canvas frame for display but ultimately i want to have a go at creating patterns and other designs for use on a range of items, anything from cushions and curtains for interior design ideas to clothing and accessories.
The printing will be done at the University of Derby who have a great print studio at the Markeaton Lane site, reasonable rates.

My Flickr

2008-05-01T02:15:00.000-07:00

www.flickr.com

Go to miles tebbutt's photostream

Banks' Mill Open Studios

2008-04-30T02:49:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to my first open studio at the Mill. A real opportunity to get noticed by the good people of Derby. I will post more info on the event as it gets a bit nearer.

www.wooloo.org

2008-04-30T01:02:00.000-07:00

Artists, you should register with this website, it seems to be based in Berlin and it has a huge European following. A personal web page is available for free, although it can be upgraded for a small fee. Work can be posted into online exhibitions, either stills or video. There is also a cheap advertising service for real events that will be seen by people all over the universe.

Posting Again

2008-04-30T00:59:00.000-07:00

I've been a lazy little blogger, nothing since February but that will change with a few entries in the near future. You know how it is, need to update website as well.

Studio 4.1

2008-02-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

At last i have a studio. I have moved into Banks' Mill, yes, i am a resident. This is great news, it's a real opportunity for me to move forward within the creative community. Everyone that i've met so far at the Mill are top people and i've only met a fraction of them. I would say the only downside is the location of my studio - the 4th floor - no lift!!! Much exercise. It was most interesting carrying my antique solid wood office desk up 4 flights of stairs. I've just hung my work on the walls, it makes it look like a mini gallery. Now i just have to get the tools in place, my Dad, who helped me carry said desk upstairs, is making me a drawing board, i have to purchase an easel and finally purchase my Macbook Pro which should be next week when i get the funds from the Uni. These items will turn it into a working studio rather than just a gallery. All i have to do then is start selling lots of work.

Future Pets

2008-02-12T13:40:00.001-08:00

What will the pets of the future be like? What will they be? Who will own them? Here we see a happy scene, people going about their daily business,a few large animals are hanging about minding their own business, but where are their owners? Or could it be that they are the ones doing the owning?

Trapped

2008-01-24T10:57:00.000-08:00

First of all i don't personally feel trapped, not anymore. I used to, trapped by my own mistakes and failings, but that was a long time ago when my life was going nowhere, or perhaps just going down the pan. But i sorted myself out. Of course along the way i was trapped in another all too familiar way, yes, by an unfullfilling job. But i like my current job and my artistic career is taking off so no trappage at the moment.
I'm sure many people have been or are in similar situations, a crappy job or perhaps a bad relationship. Maybe you feel trapped by a physical or mental disability or i suppose you could be actually trapped in a lift and you're looking at this to pass the time until the maintenance crew get you out!
The point is, you can probably relate to this image in some way. The case represents a small confined space, a claustrophobic atmosphere which would only make the situation worse. But of course the person within has screamed so hard that the case is shattered, the ink from some unknown contract runs over her face and out of the case. Is there escape? Perhaps. But a hand reaches down to grab the handle and it's a red hand, is it her tormentor, or a saviour? Is there a saviour from her situation? Who knows, but there hopefully is for you if you are locked in a case.

The Garden

2008-01-22T11:24:00.000-08:00

A new piece that i need to get onto the website. The angel is meant to be in his own garden, the tree next to him has been grown from an apple seed from that infamous apple in the Garden of Eden. It should be a beautiful tree but it has been infected by that Devilish old snake. Its leaves and branches throb and pulse with demon sap and the apples are a bit strange to say the least. The angel isn't sure about the next door neighbour, he doesn't really have much to do with her in fact he doesn't have much to do with any of his neighbours, well apart from that nice Mr. Crowley at number 45. She could be one of old Eve's lot or possibly she's from Down under, no not that one i mean the Real Down Under. Anyway, the angel is in the middle of having his picture sketched and there she is nosing over the wall but i get the feeling that standing in the shadow of that tree is probably a bad idea!

Allotments Review link

2008-01-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

For anyone interested here is a review of Allotments, no mention for me but a nice photo of some people looking at my work. One of my pieces did however feature in a-n magazine in the preview section, and a caption with my name, the name of the piece and a mention that it was done in acrylic, which obviously it wasn't! I can't link you to the preview as it in the members section of a-n magazines website, but here is a link to their homepage anyway!

My First Proper Sale

2008-01-17T08:42:00.000-08:00

Hurray, i've sold one of my pieces from the Allotments Exhibition. Actually i did sell one of my pieces in the Postcard Show at the Surface Gallery for 20 quid but this is really my first proper sale. It's certainly a great feeling and gives hope for a happy and successful future. I now have some more pieces in production at 'Classic Fine Arts' on Sadlergate in Derby, done on a larger scale so i hope these will also sell. Two are mounted and framed and the other is a box canvas. I will post photos of these soon and i will do a post promoting 'Classic Fine Arts' as they provide a top notch service.

A Selection of Allotment Pieces by Other Artists

2007-12-16T04:46:00.000-08:00

Here are some pieces at the exhibition that i liked, there were more but i didn't get good photos of them. When i do i will upload them.
And when i find out the names of the artists involved i will post them as well.

Allotments Exhibition Preview

2007-12-16T04:06:00.000-08:00

I went to the Allotments Exhibition Preview on Friday night to finally see my first pieces of work hanging in place. It is an interesting little exhibition, showing off a diverse range of pieces, some of which were real quality and a few that i felt didn't really come up to the standard of a professional show. Kat, the organizer and curator of the exhibition seems very passionate about the event and has arranged for the works to go on display in Long Eaton Town Hall which will obviously get them seen by a much wider audience.
It would have been nice to have commented on the the work of some of the individual artists involved but unfortunately none of the pieces were labeled which would be my one criticism of the event. I think i will actually contact Kat and see if we can get the work labeled up, from my point of view it is essential that my name is mentioned next to my work. As an emerging artist i need to get my name noticed!

Creative Launchpad blog

2007-11-29T08:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a useful link to the Creative Launchpad blog for anyone who is interested.
Currently it has lots of useful links to lots of useful information about RSS Feeds and other web related shenanigans - http://creativelaunchpad.blogspot.com/

The Postcard Show 2007

2007-11-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

I've decided to enter 8 pieces into the now legendary Postcard Show at the Surface Gallery in Nottingham. It's a bit of a strange one this! As the Surface website says, "Work can be of any medium, content, purpose and all works entered will be exhibited. The one specification is that work must fit within the dimensions of a standard 6” x 4” postcard". Having to fill something the size of a postcard would be easy you might think, but it was actually quite tricky coming up with something original and eye catching.
As i've said before one of the great things about working in a mainly digital medium is that it allows me to scale work up to a huge size or in this case shrink it to postcard size. All the images apart from one have been created specifically for the exhibition but it's helpful to be able to create them on a larger scale and then reduce them after. Of course some of these pieces may well see the light of day again in a bigger format. To be honest a couple of them are still early drafts of more intricate unfinished works.
Anyway, the Surface Gallery seem like a great outfit, i can't wait to visit their place, it looks like a great space to display and i'm hoping that next year i can do a proper show there as they seem keen on seeking out new proposals for their exhibition calendar. The Gallery is located in the Nottingham Voluntary Action Centre which is on Mansfield Road opposite House of Fraser and the Peacock Pub hotel. www.surfacegallery.org

Allotments Exhibition

2007-11-20T14:10:00.001-08:00

The Allotments Exhibition is taking place at Harrington Mill Studios, Long Eaton during December 2007 and touring in January 2008. I've submitted 4 pieces for display, all of which had to measure 37.5cm x 37.5cm or less. This was the idea of the Allotment, a restricted space which could be filled with any kind of medium. Harrington Mill Studios can be found at the following address...1st Floor, Turret H, Harrington Mill, Leopold St, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 4QE. Why not get down and give a little support to local artists.

WHO?

2007-11-16T13:27:00.000-08:00

My tribute to a classic WHO song! If i have time i'd like to do about twenty pieces for twenty different songs and show them as a concept exhibition, a bit like Tommy or Quadrophenia but in digital art format instead of album format!!!

Karen Taylor

2007-11-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

This is a piece that i've developed for Karen Taylor.
Karen is a new friend of mine that i met on the ILM course. She works with fabric, artwork printed onto cloth and then box framed. She also customizes her pieces with sewing techniques. Karen also runs workshops from her new shop in Nottingham, which to be honest i'm not very sure what actually happens on the course but i will find out and when she has her new website running i will post the details here.
Anyway, Karen is interested in selling some of my designs in her shop. They would be done on a theme which is in keeping with the style of Karens merchandise and printed to cloth, hopefully we will also be able to collaborate on pieces which will result in some fairly unique imagery!

2007-11-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

It's sometimes necessary to start a piece all over again, even though i had it displayed on my website as finished. Obviously it hadn't sold in any way, but seeing it sat there on my site i realised that it wasn't right. Before, this piece had two characters in it, the girl with the headphones and a vector drawn rockin robot godess girl in the background. The robot was meant to represent the music in the headphones but it just didn't gel with all the flowers and the relaxed lady in the chair.

So, the beauty of digital art, i got to do it again with more of a chilled feel. Thus the title - 'Chillout Track'. But the robot rocker won't go to waste, she needs her own picture, one less chilly, a little hotter!

Creative Launchpad

2007-11-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

I would like to give big thanks to the mighty Creative Launchpad team, they have been a massive help in getting started on the road to possible success with a creative enterprise. I've just completed the best training course in the history of training courses with them - the ILM Exploring Enterprise course, which gives anyone wishing to start a creative enterprise all the info they need to know about getting started. It covers marketing, finance, networking, funding, income tax, pitching, intellectual property and many other subjects too varied to mention. The Launchpadders that i have had the pleasure to meet are Carla (Gypsy Queen), John (Financial Gunslinger), Bianca (Techno Matrix Control) and Kelly ( The Lost Daughters of Branson - see photo, sorry Kelly. Photo Credit: this photo is borrowed from the LTW website, ta!). If you are a creative starting out on your career in Derby or Nottingham go see them.

The next ILM course is on in Derby in January or possibly February.
You can find them at www.creativelaunchpad.co.uk or ask me and i will provide other contact details.

2007-11-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a new piece that i've just created. It's not really my usual style but i like to try and diversify whenever the need arises. I don't think the piece needs much explanation. Two lost children, lost forever or is it a reflection of lost childhood/lost innocence? You decide.

First Posting

2007-11-07T04:35:00.000-08:00

I've got a blog at last, been meaning to do it for ages. Somewhere else to post pictures, photos and perhaps some silly poetry, i don't do serious. And somewhere to talk about my recent experiences of trying to start my own business which is still in its early stages.

I suppose i can also inform the world about exhibitions that i'm in and point people in the direction of other creative people that are doing good things in the world.