This is a very brief post mostly to plug the most beautiful little place I have ever had the pleasure to experience in the UK. Granted, I know as much about plants as I do about chemistry…it’s all voodoo to me. However, you don’t need to understand horticultural happenings to appreciate real natural splendor or applaud serious hard work and commitment.

Set back in (almost) the middle of Norwich ‘ye olde fine’ city, is a house and a garden. But you would be forgiven for missing the house as it lies nestled amongst and half buried by a tropical jungle of the kind one would have to travel thousands of miles to see. Giant parasol-esque leaves, heaven-reaching bamboos, fluorescent flowers, defensive looking cacti and geometric shapes to make you boss-eyed. There is even a remarkable tree house you can clamber up to in order to survey the jungle from an altogether different angle.

The gentleman responsible for such gloriousness is ex-botanical illustrator and horticulturalist Will Giles. Not content with being an extremely talented chap, he also happens to be one of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

And guess what?! Will invites members of the public to enjoy the fruits of his labour of love over the summer by opening his doors to Joe public. So I must implore all those in Norfolk or indeed planning a visit this fine way, to make a trip to ‘The Exotic Garden’ and climb your way through thick foliage. The place has the same affect on one as the labyrinth was famed for, you shall forget where you are or whence you came. All that will matter are the moments you spend in the calmness of Will’s garden. And if you’re really lucky you’ll encounter some of the exotic feline wildlife.

Go forth and forage!

www.exoticgarden.com

It has been far too gorgeous with my little world being awash with the soft pinks and whites of blossom trees. I t is fair to say that I have been considerably slack with my website of late and for this I do apologise but I have somewhat preoccupied with other changes in my life. No excuse, I know.

So, what have I been up to exactly? Well, most importantly, I have started doing a bit of teaching and I am thoroughly enjoying it.  I can imagine myself in 15 years time having a lovely little studio from which I run fab art workshops for kiddie-winkles where they can be as creative and crazy and wacky as they like.  There was infact a very interesting article on the BBC News website recently which discussed the need for art education in primary schools to be more creative to appeal to more to boys.  I was delighted to see that Children’s minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry said: “Learning to think creatively and express your ideas and imagination are, in fact, amongst the most important skills to learn and are indeed needed throughout adult life.” Here here!

Ooo, and lastly, I recently had my book cover design for Trentham Books re-printed for anther of their publications in the series:

None the less, I had a wonderful time taking part in the school’s ‘Tudor Day’. The teachers and children were all dressed in marvelous period costumes and a parent was acting as Queen Elizabeth I for the day. My job was to play the Royal court artist. I sat with the children and drew the Queen’s portrait with them. It was all very proper and authentic, I have to say, and the staff did a wonderful job of bringing history alive. There were even real life minstrels, the Mayor of Norwich and a re-enactment of a knighting ceremony!

I thought I’d post the portrait I did. It’s not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination but it was a fun quicky. Plus, I did it in pastels which I have not used for over 10 years…I think I shall be amending that! I forgot what a fabulous medium it is.

First was the ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008′ at the Natural History Museum, London. I visit this every year and it really is one of my favorite yearly events. Not only is it a celebration of the phenomenons of nature and photographic skills, but it is deeply evocative. I feel the same pang of wonderment and awe looking at the photographs as I do when I watch documentaries such as Planet Earth. We are so extra-ordinarily lucky to have these stunning images of events which many of us shall never witness, at our fingertips. Many of the photographers spend weeks and even months staking out an animal just to capture one momentous shot. I truly am in awe of nature and in awe of the dedication of these artists. If you don’t have the opportunity to visit the exhibition then I urge you to purchase the catalogue online.

The second exhibition was ‘Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990–2005′ at the National Portrait Gallery, London. It included over 150 photographs by the celebrated photographer, interweaving her professional work and autobiographical images. From her more well known images of celebrity figures such as the famous photo of a nude pregnant Demi Moore to the deeply touching documentorial shots of her dear friend’s battle with cancer. It was a well executed exhibition yet I have mixed feelings about her work. Whilst there are a few elements of her style that are not to my personal taste, there is no doubt that she is a very talented photographer. The way in which she can at times, in a simple portrait, portray the person behind the eyes leaves the viewer breathless. In spite of this I did feel that she is somewhat over-rated. Yet perhaps that is my ignorance as I really know very little about the history of the art of photography.

The exhibition did get me all fired up about portraits though and it’s certainly something I would like to gain more practice in. It is such a fine art and is so very difficult to do well that I am intimidated by it…I shall add it to the list of techniques to explore.

I hope you all had a magical Christmas and New Year. Mine was lovely and busy as ever. I did far too little artwork, ate far too much food and got thoroughly spoilt by my nearest and dearest!

I did managed to do this piece as a wedding present for a very lovely couple who tied the knot over the festive season. Congratulation wishes to them! The wedding photographer was 11th Studio and the stunning images should be appearing on his website very soon.

Anywho, I wish you all the best for this new and exciting year. May it be full of adventures and you realise your dreams.

x

I am terribly sorry for being so disgracefully neglectful of late, but I have been busy, honest! I have been spending much time wading through the quagmire that is computer land, learning and perfecting my skills in Illustrator….and it makes me feel funny! Seriously, my eyes go fuzzy, my brain feels like one of those knotted balls of elastic bands and time and space alter in speed, reality and dimension.

On the upside, I have found it very rewarding….eventually. The rare moments when I get to throw my arms in the air and squeal to the still unpacked boxes in my study, ‘I…oh yes, I, Siobhán Bromley…am a freaken’ genious!!!’, are truly priceless.

So here’s something I’ve been doing recently. The colours need tweeking.

I would like to share with you my crushes….shhh, don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret.

I am quite in love with the works of two formidable yet very different illustrators and thought I would share them with you just in case you haven’t come across their work.

The first is Echo Chernik who’s modern art nouveau illustrations are not only sexy and glamorous but also beautiful and inspiring. I could start to explain why I like her work so much but I fear I shall end up sounding gushy. Do take a look at her website though and you’ll see for yourself why the colourful, vibrant and perfectly poised images get me all excited.

The second is contemporary illustrator, Vicky Newman. Using a combination of hand drawn and digital colour techniques, she creates evocative images both fresh and atmospheric. I particularly love the pieces in her ‘Unexpected Illustration’ series…lots of yummy contrast and colour to feast your eyes on.

Go forth and explore the delectable works of these talented women. They make me green with envy, they do.

I hope you are all well!

So, I’m currently working on a few pieces of art at the moment so am holding off doing any artistic posts for the moment. Sorry, I hope you don’t mind, but hopefully the final pieces will be worth the wait.

I have, however, also been on a recon mission to some woods in the Norfolk countryside. Actually, to be honest, I was tagging along on a photography session and ended up feasting my eyes on the beautiful organic shapes around me and being quite inspired. It was a stunning afternoon, the crisp sun darting through the leaves and creating dancing shadows and glowing auric ‘fuzz’. As you may be able to tell, I am trying not to get too sick-makingly romantic as it is all too easy.  But, I do recommend autumnal walks in the woods for inspiration and visual material, or even just to switch-off from daily stresses and contemplate your creativity. I did take some pictures but they were, quite frankly, horrifically poop. For some delicious photos of the woods taken that day check out, 11th Studio.

So, adieu to you. I am off to France for a week and will hopefully have some doodles for your delectation when I return…and if I don’t, you will know that much too much cheese and wine has been consumed!

Siobhán

P.S. If anyone can find a faerie/fairy/fairie (whatever) please do let me know, because seriously I looked everywhere for those pesky things in the trees and found diddily-squat. Very disappointing indeed.

Born in Lille, Charles has always been a creative expressionist. His c.v. is eclectic, from working for Walt Disney as a portrait painter to collaborating artistically with Louis Vuitton for five years. In 1997 he chose to redirect his focus from ‘art for food’ to creating art for the love of being freely creatively expressive.

I have known Charles for many years through my parents and he has been of inspiration to me. His work displays a vast range of skills and subjects, from his fluid and powerful matadors to his comedic yet moody cows. On occasion, I find myself worrying that my work does not seem to be too coherent…that I display too much variety in my styles. Yet, Charles’s work reminds me that as long as I am true to the image that I am trying to create and that I am being truly free in my expression, that being of one (potentially restrictive) style is not necessary. For the creative subconsciousness to control the paint brush and to be only minutely self-aware, is a beautiful way to create art.

I would like to quote Charles, ‘The creed in my painting boils down to: “Freedom of thinking and Freedom of painting the fruit of my imagination”‘.

Anyway, sorry the photo isn’t as clear as it could be, the drawing was photographed in situ which meant lighting and reflection issues.

A quick word of advice to art-makers everywhere: NEVER THROW ANY ARTWORK AWAY! Seriously! Even if you think they are crappy sketches that mean nothing. I was told this time and time again when I was younger and did I listen? God no! Then (like now) I enjoyed the process of creating my art but the minute I was finished I hated it and wanted it out of my sight. And so, countless tangible evidence of my artistic history are gone, given away to people who may or may not appreciate them or chucked out with Mondays rubbish. It’s one of the few regrets that I have in my life. I never even took photos of the pieces. Damn shame!

So please, be sure to keep everything you do, every doodle, sketchpad, painting etc. That way, no regrets!

Ta ta for now,

Siobhán

Last night I nestled down on my sofa to enjoy the delights of veteran art critique Robert Hughes on Channel 4. ‘The Mona Lisa Curse’ is the first of a new season, ‘Art and Money’ which essentially intends to comment on art as a commodity in the modern age. Whilst I often feel that 2 hours is too long to sit through a documentary (my mind starts too drift relatively easily),  Hughes maintained my attention with his sharp, droll wit, melancholic tone and reams of art historical knowledge. I was sad when it was over. Primarily focusing on the changes he has seen throughout his career as an art critic both in Europe and New York, Hughes puts forth the familiar argument with gentle ease, that art has is being celebrated and idolised. The decadent circus which surrounds its aggrandizement solely of the purpose to stroke and fondle the egos of the wealthy, ignorant and tasteless. Hughes goes so far as to suggest that as our society devours all depth of meaning from historical or popular art, we shall eventually be left with the question ‘why do we even make art?’ resounding through the corridors of ever vulgar auction houses such as Sotheby’s. And when this happens we can be rest assured that art has died.

It is a shame that Hughes’ arguments are not considered with more gravity by those involved in the art or picture-making world. It is so increasingly poignant in industries such as illustration where the easy procurement of fast food images often times ignores the talent and skill behind art. Where money, fast deadlines, money, ego, money are king and pure artistic appreciation is sucked out of the process.

But it is not only the future of image-making industries, artists and art itself that suffer from, what Hughes termed, the ‘feeding frenzy’ around the commoditization of art. Museums are out of the game. Hughes touches on the role of the museum in the art world as it stands and its inability to play in the high stakes bidding battles for works of art. To that end, art is no longer property of mankind as it hangs on the walls of some rich bod’s million pound mansion, it is private, for a certain type of wealthy only. Not for the eyes of those willing to be educated. Hughes calls this ’social harm’.

Perhaps, for me, the saddest part of it all is the rising demand for antiquities to feed the insatiable hunger of those shopping for art kudos. Museums and private collectors alike, acquiring pieces of history freshly chipped from an ancient temple in Cambodia nestled deep in the jungle, pots newly lifted from sunken vessels in the middle of an ocean somewhere or jewellery recently ripped from the skeletal remains of once respected ancestors. It is a sorry state of affairs when human greed for greed’s sake has reached such a point that we plunder ourselves, denying our children and their children the opportunity to learn about our past so that we can momentarily gloat. Glory and honour in the theft our history. What a peculiar phenomenon.

As the feeding frenzy for ego-inflating tools intensifies, both art and archaeology loose their meaning. I believe that Hughes is right on the button in ‘The Mona Lisa Curse’ and his words should be heeded and applied to the wider picture.

All rather depressing on contemplation, but it is our responsibility to do something about it and we still can. To be aware and to save, as artists, our industry and truth in artistic expression and as people and parents, our heritage and that of our children.

Catch the rest of the Art and Money season on Channel 4 from 18:30 every sunday.

Over and out,

Siobhán

I’d like to thank you for stopping by and apologise for the lack of content and the slightly lacklustre image of my blog at the moment. I’m finding this whole ‘blogging’ thing very new, different and slightly out of my comfort zone. I’m not used to talking publicly about what I do in such an exposed manner but I am learning and am quite sure that I will soon enjoy it and find it somewhat cathartic.

I don’t quite feel settled with my site, it feels as though I’m trying to do interior decorating for a completely alien house. I can’t wait to finally get this place looking lovely though, so that I can start properly nesting and making it feel more like a virtual home. After all, that’s what a blog is, isn’t it? A kind of online abode where you demonstrate to passers-by the nuances of your personality and the atmosphere of your character through digital body language.

Well, I hope you will bear with me whilst I settle in. I look forward to sharing a little piece of myself with you.

Toodle-pip and take care,

x

Feel free to get involved and give me any feedback or contact me to make use of my work.

I now declare this blog spot officially open! Hazar!

Thank you!