Jot Tittle and Dot

Getting ready for Christmas

2011-12-06T13:45:00.001-08:00

The Singer

The Fox

Trifold design

So I've been ticking away on pictures and designs over the last few weeks, and trying to keep myself from getting too chilly now winter is well and truly here!

I've begun taking commissions for Christmas, so if you'd like something special and unique for that special person, drop me a line at ruth@ruthjoyce.co.uk. Also have a look at the range of prints available on my online shop, free delivery for A3 prints!

I have also officially Christmas-ified my website now, have a look at www.ruthjoyce.co.uk.

New Work and Terminal 1 BMX/Skate Park

2011-10-30T03:21:00.000-07:00

Seeing Stars

Girl in Watercolour

Beautiful Monster

So I've been beavering away here on a few new pieces, and I am definitely still all about the ladies. Sorry boys, you just aint doing it for me arty side right now.

I seem to have gone back to inks and paper at the moment- which may be due to the teeeeeeeny flat we have in London and not having space for the canvas monsters! But also it's nice to go back to rework old ideas you had and make them even better. The painting above called Beautiful Monster was a subject I had tried years before, but only now has it come out exactly how I envisioned. It also accidentally became a sort of self portrait. As soon as my other half saw it he said "Is that you? It has your boobies."

Ahh he knows me so well!

I have also recently made a very interesting contact who has passed on my website to the Terminal 1 BMX and Skate Park in the Midlands- and they liked what they saw! I am going to shimmy up there on the 26th November for their Girls Only event, check out their Facebook page to see more info!

A good week I reckon!

New Artist Fair Feature - Lilamani de Silva

2011-09-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

Lilamani is a New Zealander living in London. From an early age the passion to paint and create were part and parcel of Lilamani's life. Although she trained in the sciences, and has spent the last 10 years running her own business, she likes nothing better than to find a quiet moment to think and paint. Having been away from painting for years and years, a friendly challenge between two friends to get back to the things they enjoyed, inspired this resurgence. "Now it's more difficult not to paint than to paint!". Lilamani works in acrylics and paints the world the way she see's it - vibrant, full of life and colour". Her ideas, influences and inspiration come from the natural world, her travels, curiosity, beliefs, family and friendships as well the work of Masters like Van Gogh and Monet.

Lilamani will be exhibiting her works at the New Artist Fair.

New Artist Fair Feature - Marinela Caldarus

2011-09-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

Marinela is a passionate artist who creates works full of movement and colour. She says "Agood painting should capture your attention for a long time and forme a good painting is that one that express movement, sends youvisual messages and that fills your mind with excitment and that wow."

Thebeauty of spontaneous lines, inspiration from Orthodox culture,symbolism and ornaments represent the philosophy of her work.

She has hadmany commissions to paint Orthodox churches and this has developed herskills for painting quite quickly, expressive figures, decorativism and selfconfidence in painting huge areas of empty walls.

Marinela is exhibiting her art work at the New Artist Fair!

New Artist Fair Feature - Mark Powell

2011-09-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

Since graduating from Huddersfield University, inwhich he accidentally enrolled himself onto the fine art course (but haven't we all done that at least once), Mark has had shows acrossthe UK and the US. His practice centers around his beautiful and detailed drawing, for which he will usea biro pen on paper or envelopes he finds, and the painting of whatever slips into his mind at any particular time. This can often seem abstract and unrelated, thoughthis is never the case.

Mark will be displaying his fantastic art work at the New Artist Fair!

New Artist Fair Feature - Kim Alexander

2011-09-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

Kim's drawings are fabulously detailed and often surreal; drawings filled with images within images withinimages. She loves colours and patterns, and she takes inspiration from all sorts, from interesting textures to molecular biology. This she mixes with images from her own vivid imagination. At the moment she says that her drawingsare reflecting her recent interest in beautiful wood grain and the Mayanweavings that she photographed obsessively while she was in Central America.

Kim's drawings are essentially a beautiful set of intricatediaries. If you look closely into the details that make up her hybrid charactersand landscapes you can find stories of travels, thoughts, dreams, fantasies andmemories.

Kim says "My work as a 2D animator is symbioticwith my drawing and I love the character design of Sylvain Chomet and BrianFroud, and the surreal animations Blu creates of creatures-within- creatures. Gina Intveen's paintings that holdimages-within-images have also provided a lot of inspiration over recentmonths, as have the detailed organic images of Ernst Haekel."

Kim will be exhibiting her fantastic works at the New Artist Fair!

New Artist Fair Feature - Aisling Fegan

2011-09-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

Aisling Fegan was born inIreland in 1985 (just like me! Though I was in '86, so feel like an old granny o' course). She studied Model making and Design for Film and Theatre inThe National Film School of Ireland. For a number of years Aisling has beenworking as a full time as a model maker.

She is now based right here in Londonwhere she continues to paint daily. Aisling is incredibly passionate about art, and her recent work is described as illustrative pop art with nod to the style of graffiti art. Aislings current project is building toward her first soloexhibition in 2012.Her current Project entitled URBAN CULTURE is a studyof People, Expressions, and Street Culture.

Aisling will be exhibiting her fantastic art work at the New Artist Fair, under a week away now!

New Artist Fair Feature - Lisa Andrews

2011-09-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

Lisa is a British artist with an established workingstudio in the gardens of her home. There she has covered a diverse range ofsubject matter and developed her expertise working in oil on canvas. However, it Lisa's my love of travel and the inspiration in the diversity of humankind that hasled her to cover a range of fascinating studies from the media fuelledobsession with celebrity culture, to the calm reflective nature of the DalaiLama.

Lisa only returned to painting 18 months agoafter a 13 year gap. Her work has been reviewed by the Daily Mirror Art critic, Martin Newman, and she has exhibited with a number of respected international artists, including MarkDemsteader and Paul Lemmon.

See more of Lisa's work at www.lisajandrews.com

Lisa is another artist showing her work at the New Artist Fair!

New Artist Fair Feature - Nick Peart

2011-08-31T13:06:00.000-07:00

Nick Peart, a young English chap, is an artist living and working inLondon. His work explores the subconscious and the conveying of his emotions. He was once asked to describe his work, and he replied, ''I paint my feelings''. Forhim this is an integral part to understanding his work and its perpetualdevelopment.

When not painting, Nicholas writes poetry which he writes in the sameway as he paints; subconsciously and spontaneously, and expressing what hecurrently feels. Nick has also travelled widely. He spent two yearstravelling across Latin America
Some of his influences include Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Edvard Munch,Willem De Kooning, Pierre Bonnard, the Boyle Family, Richard Long and the worksof the Huichol people in Mexico.
To see more of Nick's work visit www.saatchionline.com/nicholaspeart.
He is also exhibiting as part of the New Artist Fair!

New Artist Fair Feature - Mark Allin

2011-08-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Originally trained in graphic design, Mark has spent over 16 years working in the advertising & animation industry. Being the founding director of HYPA.tv, an animation company, Mark has worked with some of the worlds most famous brands including Virgin Atlantic, MTV and Saatchi & Saatchi. With a love of strong graphic styles added with a desire to twist traditional techniques, his artwork uses high-end 3D & post production software blended with traditional printmaking methods.

Mark is really keen and push his skillset and techniques into areas he's not entirely familiar with. His latest work uses 3d technology to create a piece of art that jumps out of the frame when worn with some retro 3d glasses. Mark never gets tired of seeing the reaction of people who see this for the first time.

Check out more of Marks fab and unique work at www.markallin.co.uk

Mark will be exhibiting at the New Artist Fair, which is nearly upon us. Mark is also working on a new piece in his distinctive style for the show, can't wait to see it!

New Artist Fair Feature - Sandra Jordan

2011-08-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

These fan-blooming-tastic photographs are by Sandra Jordan, whose two greatest passions in life are travel and photography. She bought her first camera in her late teens from the local paper, £50 with three lenses, and from then on she was officially hooked.

Sandra's day job for the past 15 years has been working in production in the film industry (ah the dreaded yet necessary day job!) but her passion for photography has never died. She's been lucky enough to work with some of the film industry’s best cinematographers who have helped her with tips along the way and also kept her enthusiasm for the medium alive, translating their advice and techniques into stills photography.

From a very early age Sandra traveled around the world with her family, sparking a huge interest for her in foreign countries and foreign cultures, and in 2007 a three-month train trip from London To Turkey re-awakened her love of travel photography.

Sandra likes simple photographs, line, texture, and form and, although she enjoys shooting colour, she is often more drawn to black and white. Photography enables her to, for short periods of time, immerse herself in different cultures. It has made her more aware of my surroundings and allows her to view the world and the people in it in a different way.

www.sandrajordanphotography.co.uk - see more of Sandra's great work here!

Sandra is also exhibiting at the New Artist Fair in September :)

New Artist Fair Feature - Jerry Hancock

2011-08-16T12:19:00.001-07:00

Jerry Hancock became a professional artist in September 2009 after a lifetime of painting. That's a lot of hard work there!
He held his maiden art exhibition at Cornerstone gallery near Oxford in May 2011. In 1984 he moved from using oils and inks to acrylic aerosols. The messy process of painting with aerosols belies the end product, as what he produces are delicately executed pieces, with incredible detail that speaks rather more of watercolour than of spray can. Combined with Hancock’s scientific background — a degree in chemistry and 30 years as a science teacher — this leads to a body of work with a strong fascination with wind power and other natural sources of energy, and with puny and self-absorbed man’s interface with the wider world. Later work encompasses both the natural and the built environments: stark leafless trees, huge wind turbines, and the towering office blocks of Canary Wharf and New York City, the latter two from which Hancock admits to drawing much inspiration. Like Banksy, Hancock admits to occasionally liking to introduce humour and quirkiness into his art and like Dali he loves to paint with vivid colours and to leave the audience to interpret his art.

See lots more of Jerrys work at www.jerryhancock.webs.com

Jerry is another artist exhibiting at the New Artist Fair in September!

New Artist Fair Feature - Brooke Persich

2011-08-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's best the hear what the artist has to say. So here's Brooke from the Brooke view...

"I am not a loyal lover

After dedicating my youth and promising all my ages to my pen I found myself having an affair with a paintset.

What a mess I have made

Although I will not say sorry for my boundless passion

I do not excuse my desire which is the catalyst for my creations.

I have no artistic etiquette and why should I.

I paint with my mouth full and I draw with pencils that are blunt with truth

I drink art until I am drunk with thought and I am a cheap drunk at best,

I spill colour on your white suede shoes and in my paintings I apologise for nothing.

There are two things I am loyal to.

Art and Contradiction."

What a corker!!

Brooke is the second artist I've featured who I will be exhibiting with in the New Artist Fair in September. Visit www.newartistfair.com for full details! Exciting times :)

Operation Cup of Tea - Supporting London against rioters!

2011-08-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

Wuss 'n Boots (and me, of course!) are well in to this Operation Cup of Tea! So let's gather together, have a cuppa, and clean up our wee bonny London. Yehhh!

New Artist Fair Feature - Umit Koseoglu

2011-08-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

Umit Koseoglu is a conceptual fine art photographer and multimedia artist from our very own bonny London. After recently graduating with a BA in Contemporary Media Practice from the University of Westminster, Umit has focused his work on ideas of identity, the body and the environment, creating large-scale photographic installations designed to raise awareness about contemporary issues. Umit is currently working on projects documenting the nature and society of Iceland.

‘Human/Nature’ explores the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural landscape. Inspired by current environmental issues occurring in Iceland regarding the sale of natural resources to foreign industries, and the destruction this has caused, these images merge the Icelandic landscape with the human body to promote nature as an important part of mankind, rather than a commodity to be exploited for financial gain. While this project is based on issues specific to Iceland, the underlying meaning is universal, and serves as a strong reminder to the rest of the world that even in modern society, nature is still an important force that should be preserved and respected.

To see more of his work visit www.umitk.com.

Umit is the first artist I've featured who I will be exhibiting with in the New Artist Fair in September. Visit www.newartistfair.com for full details! Exciting times :)

Cafe Gallery Open Exhibition in Southwark

2011-07-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

So I have 'Pain in the Ass' and 'The Surfer' up in the Cafe Gallery Open Exhibition in Southwark. There's loads of fab works up in there at the minute, and it's a lovely space for art! So if you're in the Canada Water area do pop along, it's a few minutes walk from the tube stop in the park.

Cafe Gallery

Southwark Park

London SE16 2UA

See Map

Click here to visit the website!

Artist Feature - Aiste Gureviciute

2011-07-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

Aiste Gureviciute

Aiste is a 27 year old artist from Lithuania. She studied art for 7 years in Lithuania, and then spent 5 years studying Product and Furniture Design here in London. She has been drawing since she could grasp a pencil and she hasn't stopped since. She says "My work varies in styles and materials. I am focusing mostly on the energy my work is radiating. My goal is to produce dreamy and captivating drawings and paintings, to inject magic into everyday life. I always aim for new ideas: unseen, unrecognized abstractness by experimenting with materials I am drawing/painting with, and a great help of limitless imagination."

Utopian Arts Fest 10th - 22nd July

2011-07-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Surfer - £120.00

Pain in the Ass £90.00

Utopian Arts Fest

So I have two paintings up as part of the Utopian Arts Fest, a great mixed show exploring ideas of personal and worldy utopian themes. As you can probably guess, my ones look at personal utopias- the image of the Surfer comes straight from my travelling in Australia, from a time when I was so very happy. Pain in the Ass is a slightly more fun way of looking at things; you may find someone who you adore, who is utopian in your eyes. Chances are though, they still drive you totally nuts!

The Parlour Gallery

Mapalim

181-187 Queen's Crescent

London NW5 4DS

See Map

www.utopianartsfest.org.uk

First artist feature - Otto Vincze

2011-07-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

Otto Vincze is a Hungarian artist from Slovakia, and he has been drawing all of his life. He went to study at Nyíregyháza in Hungary when he was 15, and while he was there he studied sculpture and anatomy. He also honed his ever developing drawing skills. These days he focuses on airbrushing, and uses charcoal and biro in much of his drawing work. His recent artwork studies dynamics, movement, the female form and trees. He says "My main theme at the moment is the female body in movement, which is turning to a kind of human tree."

He has also done some lovely and quirky drawings looking at his impression of London buildings.

Otto's work is fluid and unique, a beautiful combination of nature and man.

See more of Otto's work (and say hello to him too!) by visiting http://vinczeotto.deviantart.com/

Photos from Oh! Oxford House Open Evening

2011-07-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

There's my boy! :)

Lots of people were there, which is always a good thing (except maybe for whoever bought the crips and wine...)

Browsing through the booklet.

It's a really cool place to have art up, quirky yet simple.

Yes, I was a bit frazzled that day!

I heard these guys saying some nice things about my painting, I know it's silly but always nice to hear when someone likes your work :)

Loads of different sorts of studies into people and portraiture, it was really interesting.

So there we are then! A great little show, and it's up till 30th August so wiggle on down to see all the great stuff!

Oh! Open Exhibition at Oxford House begins tomorrow!

2011-07-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

So the Oh! Oxford House open exhibition is having it's preview night tomorrow. I will have to scurry along straight from work at 7, but hopefully I'll make it in time to meet lots of other artists and have a cheeky drink. There'll be loads of great pieces up on the theme of people and portraiture, including my 'Parisian'.

6pm-9pm, Free Entry

Oxford House

Derbyshire Street

Bethnal Green

London, E2 6HG
See Map

If you can't make it tomorrow evening the show is up till 30th August; Oxford House is open Monday to Friday 9am-9pm, and on Saturdays 10am-2pm. I'll make sure I take lots of pictures and will put them up sooooon!

Exhibition Fee Pain- worse than a trip to the dentist

2011-07-04T06:09:00.000-07:00

So you're an artist, right? So you're absolutely loaded and can pay to submit your work to endless open shows or hire out gallery space regularly, right? Oh no, wait, silly me, most of us can't!

It is a difficult situation; you have to get your stuff out there, non? But I am genuinely annoyed by all of these 'open exhibitions' which charge you simply to submit your work- not get in, oh no, no guarantee of that, but just to try. What a nightmare.

Don't get me wrong, I am more than happy to pay fees if I am accepted into a show. I recently got in to the New Artist Fair (click here to visit their website!); they seem to have the set up right. Artists can submit work for free, then the chosen people who get to be part of the exhibition pay a fee. This way makes sense! I am sure most artists are happy to pay towards gallery hire, PR costs, man-power etc, but why should you pay when you have no clue if you'll even get a chance to exhibit? You could fork out a lot of money over a few months and find you've gotten into no shows.

I recently found a 'call for artists' to submit work. There was a £20.00 sign up charge, and £20.00 per picture you wanted to submit. They must be making a killing! Meanwhile I'm squinting at my bank account, (always dangerous) unable to see the spare £40 to enter. Bum.

I see a similar situation with my music friends (my father being one of them); however, as I point out to him, they certainly have a lot of costs but they rarely have to PAY to do a gig! Sure, they have to do free-bees to get known, but artists struggle to even do that!

I wish galleries and show organisers would give us a break.

*BIG DRAMATIC SIGH*

Oh! Open Exhibition, Bethnal Green

2011-07-03T04:32:00.000-07:00

So the Oh! Open Exhibition will begin on 7th July at Oxford House in Bethnal Green. I actually trotted along there yesterday to drop off The Parisian as part of the show. Going on the tube with a rather large canvas painting is certainly an interesting experience, especially on a Saturday. It does make you wonder sometimes as to why perfectly normal people can become so very awful as soon as it comes to getting a seat, getting on first, getting past everyone else. Sods.

But I digress, I did make it in one piece, and I got two cookies for my trouble! The lady who was collecting the art was very nice, and I think the show will look great. There will be loads of interesting artists, and I'm looking forward to the opening night on Thursday.

The Parisian

Welcome to Jot, Tittle and Dot

2011-07-03T04:13:00.000-07:00

So, as some of you may know (actually I'm guessing most of you wont know, but indulge me) I recently relocated my rather large buttocks back down to London. As an artist, and a skint one at that, London can be rather daunting. It is seen as the place to be with all the opportunities; but unfortunately you can find your costs spiralling well above any money you may be making. Due to this frustration I decided to set up this blog, as a platform for my own art, but also one for others in the same position as me. Gallerys charge you an arm and a leg to have a show just a few days long, and most are not manned - so you would have to do it yourself. I lack a wealthy family member or trust fund to help me do this- like so many, I have to work full time to pay the bills (and the art fees!) so taking weeks off at a time to man exhibitions is tricky. Anyone else know what I mean?! I believe there are those who do. So this blog will feature artists, photographers, crafters of any sort, exhibitions and shows and galleries who are genuinely trying to help struggling artists.

This is not for established artists, it's to help those who are trying to find a little piece of the art world to stand in, so if that's you then contact me!