Monday, October 25, 2010

Meeting the INSPIRATIONAL PETER BROWN



Adebanji and Peter Brown at Messum's


There's never an end to learning and sometimes artists keep looking for inspiration everywhere. I find myself pouring through art books, artist monographs, art history books and books in libraries, walking through galleries for endless hours, researching on the internet and walking everywhere with my eyes WIDE open to everything and anything around me. This has always been my practice and it's fun, although it can be exhausting too. But of all the sources of inspiration for artists, there's nothing like meeting other artists, especially those you admire. It's even better when you meet them at their exhibitions and also meet them at work!



Peter Brown standing with a fresh finished piece of Alexander Place on the small easel-There were also pictures that showed his progress from start to finish


Well, for the first time I was opportuned to meet Peter Brown, He has always been one of my favourites. He has a tireless work rate and his paintings and drawings of life in the city and the suburbs are simply amazing! Just check his site to see the number of cities he has painted in and the works produced!


The show front


I got an invite from Messums to meet up with him on a Saturday morning, when all galleries on Cork Street where having an open day. Immediately I got into the exhibition I met him and we couldn't stop talking, about art and everything about painting outside and all that. I got to ask him one question I love to ask any artist I admire, and it was "Which artist has influenced you the most?" He said Ken Howard, Alfred Sisley and Walter Sickert and many of the impressionists.


He changes his hats as the sun comes in with blinding light

I also met him at work in Bath and got some pictures of him while painting on Gay Street. The great encouragement and buzz artists can have on each other can be amazing and after I met him I was inspired to do 10 pieces of 6" x 8" in ONE DAY, for my current Bath Marathon which I'll be sharing later this week. Stay tuned!



Little message of encouragement on his Exhibition Catalogue-who can read exactly what was written, there's a prize for the first winner!

13 comments:

Unknown said...

How exciting to get this opportunity to meet and talk to someone you admire.

The Stationery Concierge said...

Adebanji
Great to meet the famous man at last - we need more of you!
A great painter once said to me "It'll get better and better" - for you it will.
You are the man!
all the best
Pete

Jose Romero said...

I read this:
Adebanji
Great to meet the famous man at last - we need more of you! A great painter once said to me -> "It´ll get better and better" - For you it will.
You are the man!
All the best,
Pete

I also like his work very much, I´ve got his book "Brown´s Bath" and some of his catalogues. He was so kind to send them himself, so I already knew what his handwriting looks like!

adebanji said...

You are right travelingsuep!

adebanji said...

Laurie wins the prize! She just beat Jose to it by 17 minutes. AND THE PRIZE IS, LAURIE Gets to choose a scene which she loves and I'll paint it for her OR she wins a Portrait in either pencil or Coloured pencil. The size of each would be my revolutionary 6" x 8".

The Stationery Concierge said...

Thanks Adebanji, I'm so excited but as you are so busy I won't be in a rush just yet!
Sorry Jose, i was just lucky

adebanji said...

Great Laurie, start preparing your mind on what you want. It's always better to give a job to a busy man! So don't tarry yet!

The Stationery Concierge said...

Well, I'm still reeling from your generosity Adebanji, But having given it some thought, I love the BACK of Pulteney Bridge in Bath, its modelled on The Ponte Vecchio in Florence which I have walked across. But the nicest thing is that its like a really quiet part of the city right in the centre. You wouldn't know that on the other side it is teeming with tourists!
Thank you once again
Laurie

adebanji said...

Cool. Your wish is my command. The Back of Pulteney Bridge would be nice!

CassandraBeth said...

Thanks, I really enjoyed looking at Pete's work and viewing that lovely video of him painting in the snow! It's always good to meet people who are humble and generous in proportion to their talent and fame. Keep right at it, Adebanji!

adebanji said...

Thanks Beth! You are spot on!

dominique eichi said...

fabulous post Adebanji and as usual you give of yourself in deed and information which I am very thankful. Congratulation on having your work on the cover of the magazine. Great piece.

adebanji said...

Thanks Dominique!