PAINT CHIPS (2009)

TO QUOTE THE INFAMOUS JOHN CONSTABLE

“I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may – light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful”

Despite my lack of any tangible form of memory function, especially when it comes to what people have said, this quote has always stuck in my mind from when I first happened across it.

I was doing a short photographic project on overlooked things of beauty in everyday life (to build up my portfolio to get into University as it happens).  The finished piece consisted of some mediocre photographs each with an accompanying quote.  Not much of it stays with me, but 6 or so years on from completing the project – this quote often jumps back into my mind.

John Constable 'Stonehenge' 1836 (watercolour)

I DON’T LIKE CONSTABLE

I know I am deviating from the main image relating to this post and what I was going to write about – so please forgive me of a short interlude.

I don’t really like Constable.  There, I have said it!  I like his quote, that’s good and I agree wholeheartedly with its sentiments, however, I do not see it applied to Constable’s images in practice.

To me – his paintings symbolise many things that are bad about the sublime and picturesque portrayal of British countryside and rural life.  Overly sentimental, inaccurately portrayed and at times dismissive of the true nature of our landscape.

For me, he does not show the beauty in all things, he shows a stereotypical portrayal of a landcsape.  No doubt, his imagery has been a large factor in creating this stereotype – but for me, the fact remains.  I find his subject matter a bit obvious and over stated and his colour choice too drab and romantic.

Compare his paintings to that of Turner and to me there is no question that Turner’s images where far more imaginative, evocative and representative of British landscapes.

I could go on, I wrote my dissertation about such things…but thats a whole other post!

PAINT CHIPS (2009)

THE LOVE OF SMALL THINGS

Going back to this image and the quote – I guess much of the photographic work I like and indeed make is based around finding almost all things beautiful in their own right.  When you really try and apply Constable’s quote, it is quite accurate – beauty really can be found in all things and representing it in any creative way, for me, is very rewarding.

These paint chippings caught my eye because of the immense range of colours in them.  There I was at the college I work at, picking bits of dried paint of bottles (more because I cannot stop fidgiting and fiddling than an OCD way) and as they came off, I noticed what amazing patterns they made.

This chance, random creation of something aesthetically pleasing really interests me.  The lack of intention, thought or method in their creation and the randomness of their beauty being found is something I find fascinating.

I have still never managed to represent this side of random aesthetic chance in any meaningful way, or in any body of work I am satisfied with.  Perhaps its not possible because the very act of taking a photograph of such things takes away the joy of finding them, in situe, for oneself.  But the search continues…

Hell Is Other People (2009)

THE LOTTERY IS A CON

So the first part of the Hair-brained money raising campaign has been and gone and I have failed miserably in my initial quest to raise the dream amount of £220 to get my colouring pencils and new camera lens.  Let alone winning the £3000 dream target that would buy me all my dream possessions in the world.

So, in conclusion, the Lotto is a fix, a sham, a con and a farse.  My system was fool proof.  So fool proof that I reckon a fool must have won.  I managed to get 1 number in Saturday’s draw and that was it AND I had to endure watching 30 minutes of lottery coverage, hosted by the world’s most annoying presented Scott Mills, just to know I hadn’t won!

What are you going to do?

Move onwards and upwards that’s what – I reckon with a bit of thought my next money raising plan can be implemented pronto – watch this space.

THE TOTALOMETER

I thought it might help everyone to have a graph to chart the progress of the money raising campaign.

Therefore, to your left, you will find a graphical illustration of where we are at so far.  On the left axis, we are looking at money raised.  On the bottom access, attempts to raise money.

As we can extrapolate from this – at first, I had nothing or “£0″ as I like to call it.  Then, after attempt 1 at raising cash, I had a deficit of 2 pounds or “-£2″ as I like to call it.

Therefore, we can clearly see that spending £2 on Lotto tickets was a mistake and now I have to raise £222 instead of £220.  Live and learn.

JEAN-PAUL SARTRE

This quote by Jean-Paul Sartre struck a cord with me for two reasons:

1. Other people won the lottery and stole my £2 from me.  Say no more
2. I was listening to the news and they were interviewing an artist who has introduced a book of quotes to the London Underground.  The idea is that the tube drivers occasionally throw in an interesting or inspiring quote into their announcements to jolly up all the commuters in London town.  When the news presenter asked him for an appropriate quote for a busy, crowded tube journey – he  stated this one by Jean-Paul Satre. 
   At that exact moment, the lovely Hannah Copcutt stated that it was probably my perfect quote!

I thought on and realised that the fact I could ascertain from this statement is that I am a grumpy man who hates the general public, perhaps feeling absolute solitude would provide a more pleasant living environment.

Its true – unless they have big redbeards and strange angled eyes.