The Artist’s Trial (sic). A Rough Guide to the Don’ts and Don’ts of Working from Home. . .

A decade ago you could count the number of people who’d seen one of my drawings on the fingers of one hand.

Now I’m putting my drawing on the High Street & inviting strangers into my house to look at them – how weird is that?

One particularly useful function of participating in the Trail is it helps put what I’m doing artistically into perspective and order – believe it or not, even art needs admin!

It’s all too easy and fun to make work but what’s the point if no one knows where to find it. It’s also easy to focus on one avenue of work and forget skills like making a video or running a website.

So the Artists Trail encourages me to make an introductory video, to put my art on the walls and on my website + shop, and to invite you to look at and comment on it.

So, what do you think?

The Dolphin: Sometimes.

Anna Lovely Gallery: Nobody’s ever seen anything like it.

Sugahill Cafe & Records:

I’d not met Chris the proprietor before but it’s a great spot and his vibe might fit reasonably well with my portfolio, He generously selected 12 drawings to show.

8 Ball (Give me a ring), Conference Season, Empty rhetoric, Hey (Genocide) Joe, Local election, Lewisham in Space, More pens, Panda to the masses, Sidewalk surfer, Stylish couple, The London Explorer, House and studio.

Meet the artists.

An important part of gearing up for the trail is delivering flyers. It’s good to get out of the studio and take a closer look around the neighbourhood & talk to people.

As the Artist’s trail is over 2 weekends you’re house bound. Meet the artists provides a good opportunity to meet other participants and the organisers.

I got talking to Simon Bets who was Head of Wimbledon College of Art when I did my MA Drawing 2013-14.

Open House & Studio

Arranging the artwork, I try to find something eye catching to be seen from the road.

This is portrait of uncle Alwyn. His life was blighted by polio, a viral infection largely eradicated but in focus again due to its re emergence in Gaza. Much of my work is figurative and I get some interesting comments on his portrait.

10 years ago I’d not drawn artistically in front of anybody – I used to sketch out laboratory experimental procedure to people on hand towels or Whatman gel blotting paper (which curiously is like a quality watercolour paper). Now was being asked sign my drawing – in front of an audience, weird.

It’s difficult to figure out how to present some of the drawing and to figure out why to present them at all. Looking back at my previous Open House experience I decided that less was definitely more however time is the enemy & there are lots of thing to do, so I opted for small pile of drawings – this not such a bad approach, experience shows people are quite happy to browse through such piles, searching for their own personal gem.

This method of presentation has had a degree of success, intentionally and unintentionally.

In the studio I had more piles of drawing that had not made the presentational cut. Returning to the studio I found people were having fun rifling through these and some some went to new homes.

This reflects one thing I’ve learnt over the years, quite early on in my artistic career actually, is that I am not the best arbiter of my work – this why I put some work on Social Media to get a consensus from the Madness of the Crowds. In summary it’s a fine line putting what YOU think people might like forward over what people prefer. Curation in its own small way, decisions, decisions. . .

On show was book of poems written by Derek in response to drawings I’ve posted on Twitter which provided a talking point for most visitors – the madness of crowds. .

The year started slowly with my recover from shoulder surgery it was difficult to draw, paint and even tap on a keyboard. Trying to hang a piece of art was asking for trouble. The year has been tumultuous politically, open house visitors note I seem to be obsessed with news. Visit the Political Satire & Cartoons of Conflict Page. Part of the function of drawing for me has as always been catharsis, getting the toxins trapped inside out and there has been a lot of toxin to leach, not all of the toxins are of my own making.

One visitor couldn’t understand who would want my Trump drawings on their wall. “No accounting for taste I didn’t argue” knowing who does want them, some go to Democratic States. Perfect for toilet walls thinks Derek – Goya, Daumier, Grosz, Stedman, Scarfe, Wallanger & Banksy et al might well agree. Obviously I need to try harder to get the ‘I make satirical drawings‘ message across.

Communication is obviously a big part of marketing yourself as an artist. On the MA I was told effective use of Social Media is useful to getting yourself and your art “out there”. Facebook was used to organise our Final Show. I started to use Twitter which got some recognition and work. I sell some pieces via my website. Sydenham Artists trail have an on-line artist listing and cover a number of social media platforms. It was noticeable how many visitors were clutching the Artists Trail leaflets & carry cold hard cash – not using their smart phones. I like retro things so quickly made a type of Watercolour Business Card on on Fabriano acid free paper 300GSM

In the studio, somebody wanted to buy the work on the easel, a scene from the Film Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels that I’m making for somebody else – this painting is proving rather popular, though some vistors prefer my looser more humorous work.

The nature of satirical drawing means it is of its time and it’s curious to see if it ages well. Much to my surprise people were still interested in seeing & buying drawing made during the depth of COVID-19 lockdowns.

As part of the Open House I included some of my life drawing work in attempt give a holistic view of my practice.

Now to update the website shop & mark originals as sold – prints of course will still be available…

Sydenham Artist Trail is about being part of a community, widening your community, understanding more about your community, demystifying art being made in your community, being part of colour and conversation.

It’s not just about raising your profile and selling things.

With thanks visitors, buyers, The Dolphin, Anna Lovely, Chris at Sugahill & above all to to all at Sydenham Arts.

More details on this year’s trail can be found here.

Work can be bought through the shop or drop me a line.