A slight change in direction

I mentioned in the last post, that I felt a change was needed with the ever shrinking commissioning of print media illustration. So I have taken the giant step of applying to study an MA in 3D computer animation, I have applied to Bournemouth university (after some thorough research, they seemed to be the best), I have been through the application process and was offered an interview. So last week I went down to Bournemouth and had an extremely gruelling interview and had a good look at the course and the facilities there, wow it was amazing! and I'm very pleased to announce that I have been offered a place on the course to start in September 2012, and I can't wait!

No down time for me!

Since I finished the  year long and extremely demanding Welcome to the Neighbourhood project back in august, I've been hoping for some down time, it hasn't happened, I've had painting commissions coming out of my ears since then (which I'm not complaining about) and I was asked in September to teach an afternoon a week on the HND and Degree course up at college, I have avoided teaching since I started out simply because I know how easy it is to just do that and not work creatively. to my surprise though i actually rather enjoy it, and I'm now teaching 3 days a week, though I have no intentions of making this my career I will continue with it for this academic year. 

I was also asked by he good folks at Tynwald Mills if I would organise an exhibition of artist's work to show over the Christmas period, we were given the old courtyard gallery (where I did my residency all those years ago) that is now an impressive 2 storey exhibition space, it was all very short notice but with a bit of hard work, and with only a week and a half's notice we got a an amazing professional looking show together showcasing the work of around 30 artists and students, well done to all involved.

On another note, I've noticed over the last couple of years a decline not only in the illustration commissions I get but in commissioned illustration in general and though both illustration and fine art have both been good to me in the past, I think a slight change in direction may be on the cards (and I do not mean teaching) I'll post more soon.

Happy Halloween

The other day I was going through a few old files and I found some of the original drawings I did for a limited edition book I made, it brought back a lot of feelings, I remember how I came up with the idea for the book, I wasn't long out of university I think this was around the start of october 2006 and I was an artist in residence at a gallery, part of my job was to be present during tuesday evening's life drawing class, really just to make sure nothing got damaged, I wasn't allowed to participate either, but I had to stay there until 9ish at night ( I started at 9 in the morning) so tuesdays were long day for me. anyway I remember being very tired (I'd been painting all day) and I was bored of the internet, so I started doodling, doodled this little zombie in a Kurt Cobain like jumper and I was pleased with it, so i carried on drawing until I had a narrative. the next day I scanned all the drawings in, added a few, refined some, added some text and made it into a book. I would go on to do 3 other books in the same vain about a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. in total I made 200 of each book and had sold them all by christmas of 2006. throughout 2007 I would go on to plan out 8 more of these narratives but I never released them as life seemed to get in the way. This year I have done virtually no drawing but I had done a massive amount of painting so I decided to redraw the zombie book, I hope you like.

If you are free this half term, come and have a look at this:

Recently I did this.

2011 has proved a unique year for me in that I have had the opportunity to work with many talented musicians and song writers, its mostly been a positive experience. So when the hugly talented Clara Barker asked if I would do her an artwork for upcoming live EP (available very soon on digital download) I was thrilled :) Aside form the EP being utterly amazing, Clara is great to go out and have a few beers with too. so you should all go and purchase Clara's wonderful music as soon as you can.

Prints and iphones

I've been umming and arring whether or not to do this for awhile but, I've finally decided to give it a go, so far it seems okay, so if you fancy an art print of even if you want an iphone skin have a skeet at this, if there is any artwork I've done in the past that you would like to see a print of, then just let me know. its all here: http://society6.com/JuanMoore

I'm on Twitter now.

I've put it off for long enough, so if your on twitter please come and join me here.

Current artwork samples 2011

And Finally

here is the youtube link to Emily Cook's (big thanks Emily) wonderful video about the project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ4IVKxmlCU

I've been that busy wrapping up this project lately (literally in terms of taking the paintings down from the museum) I haven't really sat back to take stock of whether or not the Welcome to the Neighbourhood project was a success. It did everything I wanted it to do, I put on shows in places that would normally not even have exhibitions and as a result attracted hundreds of new people to art, I met every deadline and the shows were all presented in a professional manner and nothing fell down and hurt anyone which was great. So in that respect it was a success, there were also some things I learnt through the project too, I learnt a lot about the way in which I work and I'm very pleased about how my work has progressed throughout the project, also the GIGhibition blew everyone's minds and proved a big success, the collaboration between visual art and music was amazing and its something I would like to try again in the future.

but would I do something like this again. hmmm it did nearly kill me but yes I would like to take welcome to the Neighbourhood to a new place maybe a big city, even though this body of work is over, I doubt that its the last I'll have to do with Welcome to the neighbourhood.
I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the shows, attended the lectures and workshops, everyone who helped me with the shows and all the wonderful bands, I'd also like to thank everyone who has followed the project on facebook.

The Guardian the other week

I also did this for the Guardian the other week;

update three: the Museum show

So this was it! the culmination of the project and a year's worth of work and also my first museum show, I have to say working with Manx national heritage on this was an absolute pleasure, they really pulled out all of the stops for this one, amazing graphic boards, a video about the project, what more could I ask for, all the extra stuff we did along side the show, lectures, workshops and live painting events, they also made a very posh exhibition book for the project too (still available in the MNH gift shop). The preview went extremely well, with speeches and I even suited up for the occasion (try not to faint) well its not everyday you do a solo show at a museum.

update two: live painting

So to coincide with the big final show at the manx museum I did some quite complicated lectures at the Manx Museum, the lectures take the form of a power point presentation which details the many influences I've had to my work, what makes the lecture complicated is that while discussing this I produce a painting in front of an audience, which is projected on the screen behind me via a mounted video camera, I do all of this in about an hour and a half (no pressure)

update one

Ok, I know its been awhile, so I'm going to do this update in sections, so first off here is some pictures from the life and other nonsense preview back at the end of May..

Many people commented on how this was what they thought was the best of the work produced for the project, it certainly was easier to produce as apposed to the other exhibition which all had quite strict contexts to adhere to. It really is quite amazing what you can do with a dis-used office.

I know its been awhile :s

a big update will be here very very soon, I've just been so Busy arrrrrgh!

What A Blurr

Okay just to update, show four was finished, hung and opened all on time to great success, we had plenty of visitors and it was all good fun, so thats the last of the shows I've had to produce for welcome to the neighbourhood. thats 100 paintings in about 8 months (what is it with me and the number 100?) so I'm taking a bit of a break right now. WTTN isn't quite over yet, we still have the museum show to do yet, but no new artworks have to be produced for that which is good but we are doing all manner of other crazy things while thats on, more on that soon..

here are some paintings from show 4:

and here is a nice right up from the BBC: here

SHOW 4!!!!

I only have about 7 more images to paint for this show, it would be great if you could get down to see this show also if you would like an invite to the preview on Monday 30th May, just pop me an email.

yesterday's Guardian.

Fantastic time lapse video by Glenn Whorrall

I meant to post this awhile back, but never got round to it, the highly talented film maker and animator Glenn Whorrall made this great time lapse movie of one painting during the preview of the GIGhibition. I love it I think it's great.

Juan Moore Exhibition - Time-Lapse from Your Movie Crew on Vimeo.

still alive.

Sorry it's been awhile, I've had the inevitable after exhibition illness, but alls well and I'm now working hard on the next show. the GIGhibition however did phenomenally well, we had well over 500 people attend the preview and all of the musicians where fantastic, sales were very high as well, all in all a great night, nowI'm off to work on show 4.

Thank you Isle of Man Arts Council

It has occurred to me that I have not said thank you to the Isle of man Arts Council for funding my year long project, so this post is for you guys, thank you for funding Welcome to The Neighbourhood.

Wow what a busy month and sneak peek

I can safely say that March 2011 has been a very busy month, I think the deadlines for this project are just getting shorter and shorter, anyway all of the artwork is now finished and been approved by all of the musicians involved in the project. It was weird promoting the show before I'd finished creating it, but hey it was a fun experience.

I've also really enjoyed working with musicians and songwriters for this show, it is something I would love to do again.

anyway here is a sneaky peek at some of the work...see you on Monday :)

Nice write up on the BBC about the upcoming show

you can see it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-12892510

Exhibition 3

I know it's been a bit of awhile since my last update, but rest assured I have been hard at work on exhibition 3. So here it is, just under a month away and despite being ill, my sister and my nieces invading I'm about halfway through the artwork for the project, the image used for the poster is entitle "Hospital Patio" and is based on the song by Planes over Paris. I have been very fortunate to work with all of the very talented bands and musicians in this project. More details to follow..

Work Work!

So after having literally a day off after the last show finished, I have begun work on exhibition number 3, this show is a little different, as it is also a GIG as well, essentially what is happening is that I'm working with 5 singers / bands, the idea being that I create images based off of their songs, so it will be an interesting night, I have the venue confirmed and all five of the acts I'm working with.

I have to say I feel very privileged to be working with such amazing musicians, the songs everyone has submitted are amazing. I will announce who these extremely talented people are soon.

The show is Due to open on April 4th at the villa Marina arcade.

One night stand opening night photos

Finally got round to uploading some photos to the WTTN face book page, you can join here.

here are some from the one night the show was on:

all photos are copyright Rosie Irvine 2011.