Hot News – Jubilee Jazz Festival; New Roses Highland Views

Happy Jubilee M’am

HRH Diamond Jubilee oil on canvas Lee Campbell

Haven’t done any portraits in ages but couldn’t resist this one. What a heroine she is – in this age of self self publicity and power seeking, a woman who had power thrust upon her at a early age, she accepted the role with grace and carried out her considerable duties with dignity and charm worldwide for all these years. A national treasure and a real diamond!

Jubilee Jazz Festival at Strawberry Hill House 3 -4 June

Jubilee Jazz at Strawberry Hill – oil on canvas Lee Campbell

Delighted to be invited to show paintings at the Strawberry Hill Arts Village and have produced some new paintings especially for the event.

Jazz 1 – oil on canvas- Lee Campbell

Jazz II- oil on canvas Lee Campbell

See link to site:  www.jubileejazzfestival.com

Art Workshop at Warren House - 14th July 2012

In collaboration with Warren House I will be holding a one day Drawing and Water Colour Workshop. This an ideal place to explore drawing and painting skills in a fabulous location with a highly experienced professional artist – it is ideal for both complete beginners and those with some experience. Participants will be given a set of materials to keep and all techniques will be demonstrated. Buffet lunch, tea and coffee provided.

The Rose Room Warren House

Spaces are limited – to  book please contact Warren House; 
http://www.warrenhouse.com/event.php?id=163

Other exciting news this month was collaborating with Mike of Asana Health in Kingston to provide artwork for the purpose built yoga and therapy centre on London Road, Kingston. There are now two of my larger pieces in the centre – see below:

Revelation oil on canvas Lee Campbell

Petersham Dusk – oil on canvas Lee Campbell

News from Asana Health

A new series of monthly “Optimum Health Evenings” commencing on Monday 21st May 2012 @ 7.30pm which Mike and his team of therapists and yoga teachers think would be of benefit to you.

For more info please  visit the web site: www.asanahealth.co.uk

New Roses (or neurosis?)

Heart of Gold – Lee Campbell

Heart of Rose oil on linen Lee Campbell

Peonies oil on canvas Lee Campbell

Deep Red oil on canvas Lee Campbell

At least once every year I feel the need to paint roses and these are the latest ones. This began with a commission to paint a single red rose and reached it’s peak with the design of Union Jack comprised of roses on a baby grand piano during a public art project in Soho 3 years ago. May have been generated by growing up surrounded by rose patterned wall paper perhaps..they would ‘swirl’ in a disturbing way if I stared at them too long.

Since then I have produced several paintings of this design and it also available as a giclee print.

Union Jack/Roses – Lee Campbell

Highland Views

Loch Morar Sunset oil on linen Lee Campbell

Highland Cow – oil on canvas -Lee Campbell

Loch Morar – The Red Boat -Lee Campbell

 Loch Morar – Oil on linen – Lee Campbell

Delighted to be commissioned by Edinburgh Arts who produce quality Giclee prints of my work to do some painting of the  Scottish Highlands. This area is so similar to the South Island of New Zealand – an area I know very well having hiked both the Routeburn and Milford Tracks in Fjordland – that I feel a real resonance with these places.

For some superb scenery watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kzFIXzFGk&feature=related

Romantic Paintings:

Coer de Luminiere – Lee Campbell Oil on canvas 24″ x 36″

This piece (Heart of Light) has a trompe l’oeil painted frame and is something of a departure from recent work which has been mostly landscapes.

Borne on the Mist – Lee Campbell oil on canvas

Tall Roses – Lee Campbell oil on canvas 40″ x 12″

Red & Gold – Lee Campbell oil on panel 8″ x 10″

Pansies – Lee Campbell oil on panel 4″ x 6″

Richmond Gold II – Lee Campbell oil on canvas 16″ x 22″

Royal Ballet School/White Lodge Project

'White Lodge' oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

‘Light Fantastic’ at The Portland Gallery

e mail: gallery@portland-gas.com                      Tel: 0208 3321200

'Frozen Light' oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

Since August I have been working with The Royal Ballet School at their White Lodge site in Richmond Park.  Feeling at a bit of a loss since the Byrne Bros project was completed, I approached the Ballet School and was delighted when they agreed to allow me access to White Lodge over the summer. The exhibition at The Portland Gallery will contain over 20 paintings produced as I immersed myself in this fabulous environment.

I was given access to the archive where I was allowed to photograph the old ballet shoes worn by Dame Margot Fonteyn. It was a real privilege and I could only imagine how her feet would have felt at the end of a performance.

'Dame Margot's Shoes' - oil on canvas Lee Campbell

The forest surrounding the lodge contains many ancient oak trees and these have become part of the body of work along with the resident deer that inhabit Richmond Park. It was gloriously hot August day in Richmond Park as I navigated my way slowly past a heard of fallow bucks who were camped on the roadside and munching happily in the morning sun and flicking away flies with their antlered heads. There are over 300 fallow deer in the park and approximately the same number of red deer.

'Majesty' oil on canvas Lee Campbell

The view of the Lodge from the bottom of the hill was magnificent and I paused to admire the ancient oaks rising in a stately fashion form the bracken but I wanted to imagine how it would look dressed in autumn colours and late afternoon shadows.

'Autumnal' oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

The interior was equally fabulous and the first image I concentrated on was the main ballroom’s chandeliers and I attempted to capture this spectacle using mirrors and an unusual format:

'Paradox' oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

Continuing on a the theme of paradoxes I used ornate railings as a device to separate the dimensions within Le Reflet de la Lune which was given it’s title by my clever  student Sandra who speaks French fluently.

'Le Reflet de la Lune' oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

I have also used tiny shoes as a means to return to still life painting, I find this to be a necessary balance to working from my imagination. With several weeks to go now to the opening I have still to complete a painting of floating feathers and hopefully one of oak leaves.

'Satin & Velvet' oil on panel - Lee Campbell

‘Tiny Dancer’ oil on panel – Lee Campbell

The show has also given me a chance to explore  the mixed media collages that I enjoy in between paintings:

'Connections' mixed media - Lee Campbell

and to revisit the theme of bubbles:

'The Entrance' Oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

and works that simply suggested the ethereal atmosphere:

'Borne on the Mist' oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

However it was the Costume Room that provided the most colourful and rich cacophony of textures and vibrancy. I found rows of tutus stacked kebab fashion and hanging joyfully, hats, props and shoes patiently awaiting the next performance so I have returned to a technique of oil on paper to capture the delicacy and transparency of the fabrics:

'Costumes II' oil on paper-Lee Campbell

'Costumes III' oil on paper-Lee Campbell

'Costumes IV' oil on paper-Lee Campbell

White Lodge is a neo-Classical Palladian building and a rich history dating back to 1727 and built for George II. Since 1955 it has been home to the Royal Ballet Lower School which was founded by Dame Ninette de Valois and has just had a £22 million refurbishment.
The students are comprised of 120 11-16 year olds and among the allumni is Darcy Bussell and there are approximately the same number of staff attached to the complex.

There is a Museum in the crescent wing which has been imaginatively and instructionally designed to trace the history of ballet parallel with the history of White Lodge – museum@royalballetschool.co.uk Tel. 0208 3928440

Richmond Park has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The royal connections to this park probably go back further than any of the others, beginning with Edward (1272-1307), when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII’s reign.

'Park Light II' - oil on paper Lee Campbell

'Park Light III' - oil on paper Lee Campbell

'Park Light IV' oil on paper -Lee Campbell

Exploring the building I enter through the rear of the building to discover it almost deserted except for some workmen and the security guard -
What a delight to have the freedom to explore this extraordinary interior alone. Beginning in the lower brick tunnels which link the classrooms and dance studios I crept respectfully through taking photos of all before me.

'Light Pools' - photo - Lee Campbell

Light effects ….on the shiny floors seemed to echo with the steps of dancers past and the kids artwork.
Moving through to the spectacular front of the house I noticed the ornate details and the statue of a dancer:

Looking out across the park to the lake I could see tiny figures moving slowly in the distant heat. The Shard which I had painted during my last project was visible trusting upwards through the heat-haze on my way up the hill.

'Allegory' oil on canvas -Lee Campbell

The garden  had a display of gorgeous old roses which smelled heavenly and sculptured trees statues and a summer house.

'Misty Forest' oil on panel -Lee Campbell

Holly the 'muse hound' dreams of being a dancer

Winter Exhibition 2010- Hampton Hill Playhouse

'Embankment' oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

Been frantic getting work ready for my new Hampton Hill Playhouse  Exhibition and what a delight to finally hang it today! I finished the last piece yesterday. This painting re-visits my old haunts in Pimlico. I lived in Dolphin Square and worked as Resident Artist on Grosvenor Dock during the week then Tate Britain in the weekends so I used to spend a lot of time cycling  along this stretch of the Embankment.
I managed to get 12 fairly large pieces hung in the space without it looking crowded.

The Exhibition is at 90 High St. Hampton Hill and will run till 24th January. For opening times please contact the Hampton Hill Playhouse  – 0208 4104541 or myself  – 07900 242997

'From Above' - oil on canvas Lee Campbell

'Battersea Glow- - Lee Campbell

'Revelation' oil on canvas - Lee Campbell

Time now to concentrate on the on-going Shard/Savoy commissions for the Byrne Group and private commissions with Xmas deadlines.

Oil on paper study of the extraction tube at the Savoy - Sept '10

It’s been so good having Holly (Dog) and Huey (DJ) Morgan (Fun Lovin’ Criminal) to keep me company. I always try and get to the studio by 10 in time to catch the beginning of his show on Radio 6. He brings a gritty rock n’ roll reality to the station and has a genuine camaraderie with the musicians he interviews.

Twickenham Riverside

The Autumn colours have been fabulous and having a dog allows for much more time to appreciate them on the way to work and lurk in cemeteries (Holly’s favourite squirrel hunting ground) on the way home at dusk.

It’s also the time of the ‘draw off’ when the Thames is effectively shut down between Richmond and Teddington Locks so the river edges can be cleaned of debris – shopping trollies and the like. The boat dwellers complain of sloping floors as their home ‘bottoms out’ and things slide off tables.

Other news since the last blog was an e mail from my artist friend in Sweden, known simply as ‘Denis’ he sent me this amazing image of the painting that documents his battle with cancer.
He explains:
“I didn’t paint a face consciously. But rather worked on the whole painting in ‘one movement’ over a period of about six months. So the size (over 3mtrs) prevented me from making a deliberate choice of any specific image as such.(too close.. to physically see it.. I mean).

The work changed as I changed my acceptance and understanding of my illness and its psychological effect on my being as a male.(Penile Cancer does that to a man). I have worked on a version of ‘mind’ projection (sic: physiogenomic projection) method for over twenty years- now and over the last decade or so I have made efforts in integrating both emotional and spiritual content into an image relevant to my feelings and experiences of the world and life.”

What a journey and what a fine way of dealing with the battle.

Networking and enjoying my new role as Secretary /Treasurer of BNI Hammersmith, we have an all girl leadership team and with over 40 members are the most successful group in central London.

Breakfast networking people

One of the new members is the charming Dereck Celis who visited my studio with his girlfriend Georgina and entertained me with travellers tales and this great picture of himself with Johnny Depp  channelling Keith Richards.

I took some great photos of Keith off the telle of him during an interview and although I haven’t done a portrait for many moons his face is such an inspiration that I’m really tempted.

Florence and the Art Scene

Getting ready to join my paintings in Florence for the Biennale -

but first a big ‘Thank You’ to all the people who braved the cold and wet to visit my studio in the weekend. Old friends and new it’s always good to get direct responses to the work – and meeting the people who buy my work and hearing their enthusiastic comments is just the best thing.

Studio interior -Lee Campbell

 

 

 

It’s always great to see all my work displayed in one place too, albeit a rather small one – I have a better sense of where it’s going. It’s also is the only time the studio gets a really good clean and becomes a ‘gallery’ space rather than a working/teaching studio. Most importantly it provides time and space to stop completely and contemplate the work before moving onto new things. Otherwise one thing tends to merge into another and I am beginning a new series of paintings and also some 2D relief sculptures so it all feels refreshed and echoing with the energy of positive visitors.

Twickenham at Dusk

I’ve recently returned to working on small (6.5 x 4.5 inch) wooden panels which are displayed in a block of wood cut with a groove. This gives the work a 3D presence, more an accessible ‘object’ than a painting.

'English Roses' oil on panel - Lee Campbell

Union 1

Patriotic Piano Played with Panache

This beautiful baby grand piano will soon be auctioned for charity .

Watch this blog space for further details.

Piano painted by Lee Campbell

The original artwork is done in oil paint and sealed with varnish and the design is comprised of hundreds of roses.

Detail of artwork

Singer/songwriter Tim Arnold playing his latest composition supported by the children’s choir. An absolute delight to meet them all and the highlight of my residency in Soho. To find our how this piano can be yours watch for updates on this blog.

View the video

Union Rose Piano - Lee Campbell

Twickenham – jazz, aliens and troubled plants

Eel Pie Island Hotel

There was a launch of the book about the musical history of Eel Pie Island this week in Michele Whitby’s shop Par Ici. It had taken much patient research by Michele and Dan Van der Vat to collate all the images and anecdotes of the wild and rich history of the old hotel and now it is all together in one lovely book. It was a joyous gathering of locals and friends with fond memories of the 60′s and 70′s concerts and live gigs – spilling out onto the cobbles of Church St. which glistened under the damp evening lights.

On display were many of the photos and old ephemera included in the book. The shop is also an outlet for my prints and I had just had a large one done from the painting ‘Union’ the union jack and roses, so it was lovely to see that and other artwork included in the festivities.

'Union' - Lee Campbell (Available as giclee print)

After a morning of painting on Saturday I joined Steve for a ramble along the riverside – it must be one the most beautiful urban riverside walks anywhere – starting at the Twickenham Embankment we head for Richmond past the Balmy Arms, the White Swan, Marble Hill House (Ham House on the opposite bank) – past the floating home and gardens of our resident hermit and soon reach Richmond Bridge.

'Richmond Bridge'

Into the town centre for a spot of shopping then over the bridge across the A316 and down into the Old Deer Park. We head for Richmond Lock passing a chap using a kite to pull himself along on a skateboard – looked great fun!

The Lock is a glorious old piece of functional Victorian ornamentation which provided an excellent view of the sky and river in both directions. An odd cloud appeared near Isleworth. Love clouds – we’ve taken up cloud-spotting and have a book on it and they often feature in my strongly paintings.

Check out this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/hi/gallery

Weird alien cloud

Visitors and Persons of Note

Earlier in the week the intrepid Timi Phillips made her way to the island – braving torrential rain and the noisy working boatyard for a meeting in my studio. She is a Personal Concierge who helps international travellers to organise their lives. A fascinating business which involves a great deal of organisation, diplomacy and sourcing of unusual requirements. She will be entertaining some US visitors and is looking for unusual places to take them.

It can be quite daunting to walk through the boatyard as they are often welding and hammering the huge rusty hulls of the river boats that come up the slipway for repairs. The other visitor to brave the boatyard this week was the photographer Tony Harris who has been a photographer all his life and has an amazing catalogue of images www.TonyHphoto.com

Another very intrepid visitor and dear friend is Valerie aka Aunty Plantie – the garden coach – www.auntieplanty.com – who joined us at our breakfast meeting having spent the last week walking around the Isle of Wight. Valerie wears many hats, Kew Guide, Horticulturist and she is also a broadcaster with an agony aunt programme – for troubled plants no less.