 Went to the theatre to capture Frank Vickery's hilarious new comedy Granny Annie. Frank and the cast were very warm and welcoming allowing me backstage as they prepared to go on. As I got to work during their performance I was giggling all the way through the play. If you want to laugh out loud catch Frank and the rest of the cast on tour at the following link. http://www.frankvickery.co.uk/ Add Comment 
Its been an exciting week with two great productions coming to the Grand Greta Scacchi and Anita Dobson starred in Bette and Joan, an hilarious backstage story of the making of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? With Greta Scacchi playing Bette Davis and Anita Dobson playing Joan Crawford. I am a huge fan of both actresses and Greta Scacchi very kindly allowed my to capture her before going on stage. Greta has got Bette Davis's voice and mannerisms to a tee and it was amazing to see her transformation. I have to admit I am not usually nervous before meeting people but I was before meeting Greta having seen her in such iconic films like White Mischief but she is not only very beautiful (as expected!) but also extremely charming and friendly and totally put me at me ease. It was however a little disconcerting to see Greta later in full Baby Jane costume in her dressing room as I have always found the film very scary!! A BIG thrill for me and I can't wait to paint her final portrait. Further tour dates are on the link below http://www.bettejoantheshow.co.uk/ Next in was The National Theatre touring show of An Inspector Calls. First I have to comment on the amazing set with cobblestones leading up to an elevated house that opens up half way through and at the end....... well I won't spoil it for you but if you haven't seen it yet cover your ears... Again the cast were very friendly and helpful and it was fantastic to sit in the wings and draw. A very atmospheric play that really keeps you on the edge of your seat with a cracking cast. For all other tour dates click the link below. http://www.aninspectorcalls.com/ Also should say Summer Term has started and we are looking at portraiture so watch this space!! 
Oh dear nearly a month since my last blog entry!! My computer had a bit of a wobbly combined with work and play did not a leave a lot of time this month!! however had to write as such exciting news in the ballet world as principal dancer of Royal Ballet Tamara Rojo is leaving to become Artistic Director of the English National Ballet taking over from Wayne Eagling. She will also continue to dance with the ENB so all her fans can breath a sigh of relief!! A youtube clip of her dancing above and a Great interview today in the Guardian on link below. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2012/apr/15/observer-profile-tamara-rojo-english-national-ballet?newsfeed=true On a less successful note i attempted for the first time Macaroons. I absolutely love Laduree and thought how hard can it be???? Well the first mix was a disaster and second attempt was a little better. 8 eggs later and i just about had the consistency needed to pipe into the bags but in the oven they still spread to look like a giant biscuit...... however I persevered and cut them up and filled with Nutella. Results below. They may not be as pretty but they were still very yummy!!!! 
This week my classes have been focusing on the artist Modigliani. A superb artist with his own unique style, I wanted the art class to stretch themselves, Literally, and by copying from his work and then applying the techniques to their own pictures they could experiment with a totally different style. I feel it is always good to look at other artists styles even if it is totally alien to your own. You can see through the artists eyes, a little bit by copying his or her style and then take the bits you like and make it your own. This can help you build on your own style of work. Even if you don't like the artist it is always good to push yourself and try new things!! A Quick Biography Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (Italian pronunciation: [ameˈdɛo modiʎˈʎani]; July 12, 1884 – January 24, 1920) was an Italianpainter and sculptor who worked mainly in France. Primarily a figurative artist, he became known for paintings and sculptures in a modern style characterized by mask-like faces and elongation of form. He died in Paris of tubercular meningitis, exacerbated by poverty, overwork and addiction to alcohol and narcotics. For images of his work follow link below http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amedeo_Modigliani Below you will see work from students which are copies of Modigliani paintings and work that he inspired.                   The Pavlova Gala at The London Coliseum on Sunday was superb. To see so many top ballet dancers in one place was a great in itself. It had a bit of everything from classical to modern and a world premiere thrown in for good measure!! All the dancers were amazing but to name a few, Giuseppe Picone performing "Compassione", a intricate dance celebrating the beauty of the male form. Alina Somova and David Makhatelli performed Giselle , Somova was as light as a feather and hardly touched the ground. Marian Walter and Iana Salenko where sublime in Romeo and Juliet. As always Ulyana Lopatkina showed why her reputation proceeded her in the very pretty Russaya and Pavlova and Cecchetti. Tamara Rojo performed the world premiere , Life is a Dream, by choreographer Fei Bo. The fact her partner was a goldfish in a glass bowl must be a ballet first!!!!! Both her dance and another modern piece called Cor Perdut , danced by Svetlana Zakharova and Andrei Merkuriev were superb . I am always dubious when faced with "modern dance" but quite clearly need to be a lot more open minded as I loved both. Both showed the full lenght of how much the body has it's own silent language in which the above dancers were in full command. Mesmerising. Alina Cojocaru and Alexandre Riabko just carried the audience away with wild abandon in La Dame aux Camelias and Daria Klimentova and Vadim Muntagirov showed why their partnership has been so acclaimed. Of course a lot of people were waiting for Raymonda with Tamara Rojo and Sergei Polunin , the young star who has just left the Royal Ballet under a wave of publicity. We were not disappointed , as the air crackled and Rojo 's eyes flashed both gave a bravura performance which left the crowd breathless. As I said I can't mention all , I've already written an essay!! All were thrilling and included lucia Lancarra, Marlon Dino and Evgenia Obraztsova. Definately a night to remember!!!   Two more pictures from Wed Art class, Both lovely and interesting to note the different colour schemes which are used to great effect in both.  An interesting couple of weeks for art programmes including a documentary on Freud. (Can't find the link at the moment!! Sorry) Also Andrew Marr interviewed Hockney for his up and coming exhibition in the Royal Academy. Fascinating to hear from a usually very private artist. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01c7wmr/The_Culture_Show_2011_2012_David_Hockney_The_Art_of_Seeing_A_Culture_Show_Special/ . Another interesting programme which I am enjoying is on BBC2 My Life in Books. Very charming and informative. A nice angle on which to base an interview. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01czfb7/My_Life_in_Books_Series_2_Episode_2/ Here are some more finished watercolours from my art classes in Ostreme, Mumbles and The Grand Theatre, Swansea. As I said before it is always fascinating to me how many different ways the same picture can be painted. Some students went for warmer tones on the cottage with ochres, some opted for purples. Both worked very well, it just comes down to what you prefer. All have captured the beautiful snowy scene using the pathway to lead your eye up to the cottage framed by the trees. Also I think everyone added the red berries in the foreground and the red tractor near the cottages which act as visual signposts leading your eye around the picture. Constable used to do this to great effect as do many other artists. Red and green being complimentary colours can add sparkle to a picture and although there is not a great deal of green here the red can still help the composition if placed carefully. A great excercise and I can't wait to see what everyone will be bringing in this week to work on as the next project is a subject of their own choice.           A very busy week and I am not half way through!!! Beatrice and Benedict with the Welsh National Opera on Monday. A sumptuous production set in a beautiful Tuscan Villa. An opera based on As You Like It by Shakespeare. Sung in English, there is quite a bit of dialogue as well, which is interesting. It is witty, current and very entertaining. A Feast for the eyes!! The WNO will be touring with this , La Traviata and Marriage of Figaro so something for everyone and I can't wait! http://www.wno.org.uk On Tuesday Burlesque came to Swansea and it was a wildly entertaining night which the packed house thoroughly enjoyed. Not only were there the very glamorous Burlesque performers but a wonderful array of talented singers , hilarious comedians and exciting magicians. There was something for everyone that to me harked back to the golden age of vauderville as well. www.hightease.co.uk/ www.ministryof burlesque.com Next gearing up for my Birthday cocktails!!!!  I have never been one to write eulogies on the web,especially about someone famous and that I didn't personally know but I grew up listening to Whitney Houston and always loved her voice. Not only did she have the power and range but something more rare- soulfulness. The way she sang always touched me, I absorbed her voice rather than let it drift over. It lingered and you remembered it long after, rather than being instantly forgotton. That will be her legacy. RIP Whitney Houston. Art Class on Feb 1st we are following the theme of looking at colour through a watercolour paining of a snow scene by Andy Le Poidevin. Using warmer colours to the front and cooler colours for the trees to push them back. Also splashes of red to catch the eye .re Constable!! Many of the class also so enjoyed the drawing of the Pieta they wanted to show the finished ones I had not put on the week before so here they are!!! Everyone did an excellent drawing and I am thrilled with the results.!!! | AuthorZoe James-Williams is currently Artist in Residence in Swansea Grand Theatre in Wales UK ArchivesApril 2012 CategoriesAll |
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