Computer Art

We had the opportunity, recently, to see some pictures produced with the assistance of a computer. This brought up the debate about whether computers are a valid way of creating art. Here are some of the points we discussed.

A computer can produce better results because bad bits can be fixed or re-done. Yes, but artists have always painted over bits of their pictures that they didn't like, or torn them up and started again.

An artist's individual skill is still needed to decide on the subject, compostion, style, etc. Computers can't come up with the ideas unless somebody has already built that feature in to the system. That's right but who knows what computers may be capable of in ten or twenty years time.

A computer to paint pictures is like a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. If you want a painting, use paint and a brush. But a computer is simply a tool that can be used to create a picture, it is just a more complex tool. New technologies have regularly been adopted by artists. Oil paint was a new technology at one time.

Using a computer is cheating, you avoid the skilled and time-consuming work that the artist does to create a work of art. It may simplify some of the work but the computer only does what the operator tells it to do.

It comes down to the point that if you want a painting, pick up a brush and paint. OK, for traditional art that may be the best option. Computers may be better suited to new styles of art rather than mimicking current styles of drawing or painting.

A computer can't make an artist, there has to be some artistic ability and skill to use the computer as a tool for creating art. Yes, art is, perhaps, the creation in the mind of the artist, not the resulting physical representation of it.

Whether or not you like art produced using a computer it still needs the creativity and skill of an artist to come up with a subject and control the computer. But the advantages and flexibility of using this method mean it is likely to become more and more prevelant in the near future. Of course, there is always the potential that computers will be programmed with some of the artists skills, it is happening now in a limited way. Will creativity be the only role left for the artists of the future?


Vicky and Vince,
Love Your Art

Give Them An Inch...

...And they'll take a yard, so they say.

But who would begrudge these students a yard of space to brighten up the walls in Darlington town centre.

Art In The Yards is a project to bring student art to the attention of the public and brighten up parts of the town. This year, six students from the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College have added their work to those from the past two years. The images are based on the theme of heritage to complement the historic location of the yards. The students used their own individual ideas and a variety of techniques to create images that are all attractive but at the same time very different to each other.

Vicky was intrigued by a typographical arrangement by Joe Cocking, reminding people of a historical fact about the town. She said, "That's clever, it's a piece of art and a historical record and an unusual way of decorating the plain brick walls. We'll have to pop into the library and read up on that."

Vince liked the low-relief sculpture of Barclays Bank by Justin Ramsden, made entirely of Lego bricks. "The detail is amazing," said Vince. "There's even handrails on the steps and posters in the windows."

We went round the corner to look at the real building. It was a surprisingly close match, even the people looked the same! We understand that there is no truth in the rumour that Barclays will be renovating the building to match the Lego® version.

The other artists and their works were Charlotte Clewlow: You are Here, Jessica Everitt: State of Mind, James McKeown: Census, and James Snook: Tees Valley Gateway. Well done and good luck to all six of this year's artists.

Darlington Town Centre Management, which is the project co-ordinator and financial sponsor, has published a PDF brochure describing the Art in the Yards from all three years.


Love Your Art,
Vicky and Vince

A Spot Of Art

We've just got back from the Station in Richmond, North Yorkshire. This wasn't a train journey (the railway in this part of the Dales closed in 1969) but a visit to an exhibition of pictures from over two hundred artists and photographers on display in the restored railway station.

Since opening in 2007 Richmond Station has become one of the region's most popular venues for exhibiting art. Their latest initiative, A Spot on the Wall, is a fantastic opportunity for local artists to put their work in front of thousands of people, who may not otherwise visit an art exhibition or commercial gallery.

As well as local residents, the Station attracts many tourists visiting the region from all around the world. We watched people coming and going all the time, not only to see the art but to visit the shops, the cinema and have coffee or lunch in the open-plan restaurant. This is a thriving centre of the community.

Although we didn't go intending to buy anything (our walls are pretty full at the moment), we were very tempted by many of the pictures and the fact that all the artists are locally based. In fact, we spotted the names of several artists that we recognised from previous events we've visited in the region.

While we were there we chatted to the Curator, Donald Cline, who told us that one lady had bought her first ever picture. This was largely down to the informal surroundings, the easily accessible displays and the wide variety of pictures on show.

Of course, you don't have to buy, the show can be treated simply as a large exhibition of original paintings, stunning photographs and limited editions. It seemed that wherever we went in the building there were pictures; they clung to display panels, paraded along the mezzanine gallery and meandered down the corridor to the shops.

Curator, Donald, is delighted with the response to the show.

"Art lovers have already bought up sixty-five of the pictures on display, raising over £13,000. This is great news for the artists and also helps to support the running of the Station," Donald told us.

We like the idea of this event, giving people the opportunity to see lots of local artists in one place and being able to buy a picture and take it home straight away; you don't have to leave it until the show is over.

The exhibition and sale ends on 3rd September 2010. You can read more information at www.richmondstation.com.

Update: At the end of the show, 110 pictures had been sold, raising £22,000. An estimated 40,000 people had visited the Station while the show was running.

Love Your Art,
Vicky and Vince

Taking It Easy

Not much to report this week as we've had a few days holiday. But here are the major headlines from the past week or so...

Kieron Williamson sells paintings worth £150000 in less than an hour. And he's only 8 years old!

Help the world economic crisis by bidding on art from Lehman Brothers Bank being auctioned at Christies in late September.

Vince buys 73 empty picture frames in a framing shop's stock clearance!

Vicky and Vince,
Love Your Art

Flower Power

Not all pictures are created equal. Work by local artists is often better quality and better value than the mass produced stuff.

A year or so ago, we picked up some square framed floral pictures (left hand picture) in a local department store. They were neutral and inoffensive, like much mass produced wall art but we hoped that three of them on a tall, narrow wall above the stairs would create an interesting display. At the time, we didn't consider whether £15 each was either good or bad value.

After a couple of weeks in place, we grew tired of them. They looked dull and boring and did nothing to lift our spirits as we passed them each morning on the way downstairs. They are now buried deep in our "pile of shame" along with most of our other mistakes. Now we are a little older and wiser, we are more careful and look for reasonably priced, better quality art, often from local artists.

For example, we recently discovered some exquisite floral pictures while attending an exhibition and demonstration at the Castle Gallery in Witham Hall, Barnard Castle. Janet Orme, from Darlington, is a Botanical Artist, producing precise, highly detailed paintings of orchids and other plants in watercolour. We chatted with Janet for some time about her work. She had a wide range of originals, prints and note cards for sale and Vicky chose a wonderful cyclamen print (right hand picture) as a gift for a friend.

Looking round the shops in Barnard Castle we were amazed to find an unusual cream and gold frame that went perfectly with the picture and it was a simple task to assemble them once we got home. Together the print and frame cost less than £20. An excellent purchase compared to the other, dull pictures described above.

You can visit Janet's own site at www.janetorme.co.uk.

Love Your Art,
Vicky and Vince