میری آنکھوں میں: art

Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Saturday, 13 February 2016

Digital Art Lord: Mister Westrup

There’s a niche of young artists who excel at merging underground music with art, and almost every time they’re overlooked. We’re not talking about the #hiphopart hashtag. Nah. Let’s talk UK now. Let’s talk Mister Westrup.

Mister Westrup is sick at vomiting drawings of women and rappers on my Twitter feed. A single Tweet just doesn’t cut it when it comes to this talented digital artist from Colchester, Essex.

Westrup’s favourite: the hypnotising illustration of Grime god, Big Narstie. Source: misterwestrup.com

Digital art is more technology intensive than it may seem. We’re surrounded by it, Starbucks festive cups to the futuristic spaces created by artists Dalziel and Pow. We are either too used to seeing digital art in our everyday lives or we see it as a complete extreme. What Westrup has done, is introduced his art as an alternative to traditional portrait methods used with paint and other familiar medias. The beauty behind it, is that the textures and brush strokes trick our eyes into thinking that it is a painting, revealing his gift to produce realistic yet expressive portraits.

I guess I was curious about digital art. I’m a bit of a geek so I've enjoyed the fact there is so much depth to digital art. There are so many possibilities, it’s so versatile.

Digital art can be produced on a massive scale. Don’t you think it takes away the true value of an original drawing that you can have with a raw piece of art?

I think there are ways to have an original image in digital art. There is still a great deal of stigma attached to digital art, suspicion to the techniques as people try to understand how you did it more than appreciate the piece in front of them. I find it pretty weird, we quite quickly accepted digitally created music alongside traditional instruments. I’m not sure why people find it so hard to do the same with Art. You wouldn't question a hip hop tracks credibility when no traditional instruments have been used, why do we do it with art? Personally, I think its snobbery within artists. I could rant on this topic for some time but don't want to bore you!

With Twitter’s instantaneous sharing ability, exhibiting artwork online has never been easier, whether that is building a fan base or being recognized by underground artists. The fusion between the underground music scene and Westrup’s illustrations is something which many Instagram/Twitter friendly artists experiment with. Especially when it comes to mixtape/album artwork, or even art work for online releases. It’s a clever relationship and has been favoured by many artists.

There has always been Hip Hop art, there are literally thousands of illustrations of Tupac and Biggy all over the internet, you don't see it so much here in the UK. I'd never really seen that kind of work done here, not on that scale. In terms of the fusion with music and art, I feel like it's one in the same. The arts seem to support each other, you can't really have one without the other. Music is an art, photography, videography, it all supports each other and it kind of intensifies itself.

The cover of artist, Abel Miller’s “Patience” EP designed by Westrup. Source: misterwestrup.com

Notice the CC on the jacket: Westrup’s logo design of US Rapper Chriz Millz label “Check Chaser Music” Source: Mister Westrup

The reality is, the words ‘urban’ and ‘art’ stereotype to graffiti, but never portrait art. It’s original to the British urban scene that we know of and Westrup is one of many artists (like Reuben Dangoor’s Legends of the Scene) who are transforming the conventions of high art into something relatable. That’s what transforms the whole stigma behind the word “art” as being elitist or a rich kid phenomenon. These illustrations demonstrate a hard graft to create a career from his passion.

Certain times when there's not enough interest, if I’m not selling as much as I'd like, or I don't seem to be reaching the amount of people I'd hope to. It's funny though, every time I start to feel like that something happens. Like it could just be something someone says, or like an exciting new client. There’s always something there to remind me why it's worth it.

Iesha Mariee from the Art of Seduction collection. Source: misterwestrup.com

Westrup represents the fluidity of art, both in time and expression. The boundaries for audiences have been broken, with absolute exposure inspiration is everywhere and so is competition. If Doctor Who could bring Monet back to draw on a tablet, would he faint? Who knows? But what’s certain is that Westrup reveals an exciting evolution of still life digital art.

This, what I’m doing now excites me, there’s so much to learn, there’s so many possibilities, it would be insane to give that up in pursuit of short terms gains. Whatever they may be.

Friday, 5 September 2014

Spray it, don't say it

I was supposed to look over the shop floor until I saw a book displayed in a cabinet and 'shawty went in'. I indulged in Banksy's revolutionary riddles and staple stencils. From political persecution to adorable anarchy. His art speaks to me.

SEE WHAT I MEAN?!

I was about to start on a portrait of my own. But Banksy makes me want to switch things up a bit. The quote below took over the majority of my brain and stayed there until I got home and united with my laptop.

“There are four basic human needs; food, sleep, sex and revenge.” ― Banksy

Food:

Yeah my relationship with food is amazing. I think about the fucker every second. Food keeps you going doesn't it, it's that little devil voice inside you telling you *you are hungry* and in 5 seconds flat you find yourself scoffing calories, saturated fats, sugars and ten years down the line...you are diabetic. *shrugs* My addictions; coffee, cake, nuts, granola bars, pineapple, dried mango, fish and chips, green tea, and a massive war between Kitkat's and Snickers. mmmm yeah they all hit the spot.

Sleep:

Okay, I'm not a big fan of sleep. Maybe that's because I sleep really really really late and even if I am in bed early my eyes don't like to close untill 00:20am. I have no idea how my sleep pattern will fix itself before uni starts again, I'll adjust. I dream every night. And I always dream about twenty things at once!!! If only I remember what I actually dreamt about and whether it had any meaning to my life. If I remember them, I Google the meaning. Go on judge me. It's not about believing what you read, it's just....okay it's exactly that. Once I dreamt that I was on John Legends tour bus (that was no pun shutup) and I was literally talking to him about his music. *sighs*

Sex:

I'm sick and tired. Just sick and tired of seeing people in my year with babies. Babies galore. Scans, left right and center of my Facebook newsfeed, even if I don't have them as a fucking friend someone has gone and liked a scan picture haven't they! Now look, it's good, embrace your genitals with your "loved ones" or the bloke next door but don't moan about not being ready, not having enough benefits and not being able to top-up because you want to have a quick word with Jeremy Kyle. Don't do it. If you can handle all that, by all means, laugh. Laugh some more, enjoy life and love your children! But there's just something inside me that doesn't agree with Facebook baby boom just to tell everyone that your vagina is now open, fragile and abandoned by your baby daddy. Do I think about sex?...get out of here like I'm going to tell you about my erotic fantasies, who are you, Idris Elba?

Revenge:

You could argue, revenge is a calculated plan of action to stab someone in the back if they've stabbed yours. But I mean...is it worth it? It's like you see the whole Gaza conflict, Hamas fighting because Israel started it, Isreal not backing down because Hamas will continue to inflict danger on them. Like, shut up. Sit down and discuss what's the issue here. Obviously, that is now calm due to the ceasefire and political peace talks but it doesn't mean war stops there. There's internal wars. We all have them (okay if you don't, I certainly do). You decide over time, you dislike someone, then you see them in person and you tell yourself that actually...why let someone make you so bitter like that. Forgiveness gets you places that revenge cannot.

Sunday, 17 August 2014

Central London on my ones

13/05/2014

Sat on a bench in Hyde Park with the bipolar weather giving me sweats every two minutes in my Ted Baker coat.
Being careful not to sit in a sneaky puddle.

My boots are resting in the slightly pebbled path and I can feel my toes getting wet. Foreign people, actually German people walking past, the litter picker in his khaki hat walks past me. A group of eleven hench men following the path I front of me, 'ballers' I guess. And a Spanish nuclear family watching their three year old chase a squirrel round the trees. A modern looking scouts group on my left having a piggy back race and I hear a leash behind me.

Suitcases scrape as four girls walk past, their faces screaming 'i'm fucking jet-lagged'.

Oh it's a sausage dog. There's a theme of holding big umbrellas if you're wearing a suit. And if you're not wearing a suit you're looked up and down like a dog.

All I wanted was a piss, I walked into Everbean, a cafe, that's a five minute walk from the Albemarle Gallery. That's were I was today. I was eager to visit Okafor's portrait exhibition. Stunning detail and marble floors only followed by glares and botched noses.

A typical middle class man walked in and the man at reception walked over to him only to ask if he was alright. He informed him about the gallery, the artist's history and handed him an A4 paper that listed all the portraits one by one.

Did I get one? Nah. Two women, both black walked in. Did they get one? Nah.

I think I wasn't dressed appropriately. Perhaps if I bought a blazer and some heels it would have done the trick. Or if I walked in with Gucci shades and a LV scarf. Maybe if I walked in with an Arab dad, or a white friend. Perhaps if my hair was permed straight and I spoke Queen's English. I should have done that really.

Throughout the whole day I had one conversation. One. The lovely lady without judgement asked me if I needed help. This was in the Fine Art building bear New Bond Street I think. I'm talking like I know the place. I walked past LV, Fendi, Chanel, I could go on. Audi, Ferrari and every logo. The Chalet bar, Starbucks, Pret, Eat, men, women, dogs, taxis, cabs, Bentleys, German whips. English, foreign. Italian, Arab, French, German, Iranian, Dutch, Thai Embassy. streets, grunge.

Well I pictured most of it. I am now in Hyde Park. Where there's a diversity. You need diversity. Well I need it cos I've had enough of people looking at me head to toe.

Chavs, now walk past, I quietly type cos lord knows if my phone gets taken I may just turn Solange on their asses and there is no CCTV to back me up. I'm empty inside. My belly is full of coffee and thoughts. I'm feeling really weird, like I've just fell in a pit.

It's called a thought hurricane and a storm of reflection. Damn I'm hungry.

Saturday, 29 March 2014

If they are all rich, does that mean I am poor?

March

You know what, whether your name is Victoria Rose Smith or Shaniqua Glory we are all women at the end of the day.

I say this because I am just reflecting on my day you know. I attended an Asia House Fair which was held on New Cavendish Street in London. Okay, so this was actually to assist my friend Lauren who was documenting the event as part of her project. But see, that wasn't the issue because when I heard about it I was more than happy to go along.

The observing started as soon as we stepped foot into the place.

Okay first, yes the doors were thick Matt glass with golden embossed handles. As soon as you walk in you see a stall with prestige jewelry, then you just can't help but freeze as you notice the price tags screaming "£200". Anyhow, that wasn't the case either, because to be honest the place was beautiful. On your right there was a room converted into a café serving wine, wine and wine. So, as you would, we carried on walking to the next room, the door way inviting us to warm colours of browns and golds: this room represented textiles from Turkey.

Now..I am dressed in a jumper, black jeans and black trainers, Lauren was dressed in all black with a denim jacket. Our lipstick was fine, so what was the issue you ask? well...

You had Patricia on your right talking to Evangeline about her pin tucks, in front of you there was Geraldine talking to Rose about her wine and her collectibles of ceramic buttons at home. Johnathan and Henry were stood observing the paintwork of the golden staircase, Isabel was asked what she wanted from the stall of hand made Kazakhstan scarves to which she replied "I like this one mummy" smiling and twirling without creasing her boots.

Yes, this was just entering a madhouse of elites because they had money to spend, I get it.

What I don't get is when I am told things about myself through the eyes and words of others. This is what I mean. So...I am conversing with a Japanese woman who is showcasing some hand made jewelry, very delicate and sophisticated. I decide to look at the most striking bracelet, a giant green stone was surrounded by chunky white stones and I was simply like 'dayumm' but she added "perhaps not your style".

Okay number one, you are judging by what I am wearing at that particular moment in time to suddenly know what my 'style' is. Two, was there any need? Three, why am I undermined like that?

Okay big deal, I honestly don't care, but I just wanted to add that.

Then, as I left the room a woman half my height, spectacles balancing on the tip of her nose with a full fringe bumped in to me. She looked up into my face like she was about to spit on me.

An Indian woman in a black striped suit, probably in her late 50's stood in crimson lipstick and her hair in a tight bun. We asked whether it was possible to interview her she simply tuned her back on us and said "no."

A lady behind a stall showcasing crafts from Kashmir, Sindh and India tried to tell me what India is. Do I look like I can't spell Geography? I just don't get why there was this attitude to automatically undermine us.

I will not lie, yes we stood out, not because we were walking around with a Cannon in our hands, but purely because we looked young, broke-"er" and clearly had "no idea" what these people were talking about.

Just because you can talk well, elaborate your vowels and wear cashmere doesn't mean you're more educated than me in any way. Yes, your daughter may be in private school right now, so what? Yes, your hair was cut at the salon and mine was simply brushed, so what? Yeah, I am not representing Cartier on my wrist but you are, so what? Money is a staple, the way it fuels power into people is crazy.

Elites turning their nose up at me is no bother, I don't give a crap that they have money to make it rain. I know that once I have money like that I will earn it, through means where I know I have worked hard. When I attended this even today, I looked around like..yeah but what do you do for yourself? Apart from inheritance where has the money come from? And more importantly is everything about you is money, do you still stand for anything without it?

Just this competing battle between the rich and poor is an ongoing issue. Rich people and poor people will forever shape society in one way or another. To think richer people hold more power is what sickens me, and to think poor people are powerless is just insane.

The experience was moving and empowering. You know what, it only made me want to prove people wrong even more. At the end of the day they don't know where you will be in 5 years time, your success is in your hands, not their words.