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…

Chubby Checker's Dancin' Party

I have multiple locations where I hoard the vast quantity of crap I find in the street.

I am a compulsive looker at any piece of paper or such like that I see on the floor – always worth a look in case its a forgotten gem.

Anyway, I figure the blog is an ideal way to share these finds with the general populous and so started the immense task of going through said found objects to put them in one place and see what I have actually got!

Whilst going through one drawer of stuff – this caught my eye.

Can’t remember exactly when or where I found it…and sadly there was no 7″ inside.  However, I strongly suspect that the cover art is better than any music that could have been contained inside!

However, I did take the liberty of checking out the tune itself, found a clip on YouTube of the Mr Checker performing this little number.  Click here to see Chubby Checker perform Dancin’ Party on YouTube

After listening, I still think the artwork is better than the track!  In three simple images they manage to portray the true genius of his dancin’ style and I can only imagine that any Dancin’ Party was improved by the his moves.

I particularly like his facial expressions…starting from the left:

1. Extreme concentration – Chubby is obviously aware that by putting his left leg and left arm forward at the same time, he is opening himself up for potential disaster.  He must use all his Dancin’ Party knowledge to pull off the move.
2. Smug and proud – His face and body language say it all.  Having pulled off the tricky dance move as described above – he knows he can do no wrong.  We see a more relaxed Chubby.
3. Pure ecstasy – It looks like he is doing a Cossack dance, which would bring joy to anyone’s face.  Either that or he has just ripped the seam of his trousers.

Thanks Chubby!

By the way, is it just me or was Chubby Checker not-so-chubby?

Kinswood Egg Man - protects you from salmonella

Bought some eggs the other day at a car boot sale – local and free range.  Nice.

They came from someone who had a small holding, so obviously collected and kept egg boxes so they could sell them at boot sales and alike.

After finished with said eggs, I was about to put the box in the compost heap when,  the incredible egg man that was featured on the front of the box caught my attention.

Check him out – he’s amazing!

However, what really struck me was what the point of the egg man was – what are Kinswood trying to reveal?

A muscle-man, athletic egg man is not the way I would choose to sell eggs!  I can’t work out whether his purpose is to show he is strong and fit and therefore salmonella free…or if by eating the eggs, you will become a athletic, salmonella free egg man!

If the thinking was the latter, then this raises a new problem – I am not sure I want to eat an egg that has bigger muscles than me and wears snazzy red trainers!

God bless designers!

Also reminded me of a comic book Hannah gave me at Christmas called ‘Egg Story’.  The simple tale of a simple egg that becomes a ninja.

Perhaps Eggs are an unexploited form of creativity.