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Sunday 22 November 2015

Fantasy and Imagination - December 17-24 at The Shop Gallery

As you can see, I will be part of this show, Fantasy and Imagination. If you're in Sydney in the week leading up to Christmas, you should come along. I'm really excited about the exhibition: I'm really happy with the pieces I've made for it, and the other artists in the show will all also have something interesting to show.

Have a look at the information and flyer below, and hopefully I'll see you there in December.

Indulge in a spectacle of fantastic vision and explore the limits of imagination in this upcoming group exhibition, The Art of Fantasy and Imagination. The artists display a wide range of media and style, so come peer into their minds and see these creatures and concepts spring to life.

December 17-24
Gallery Opening: December 17 at 6:00 PM

The Shop Gallery
112 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
theshopgalleryglebe.com


©2015 James Mathurin

Monday 16 November 2015

Artwork of Fantasy and Imagination - The Croydon Wanderers Linework

This is my last entry for Artwork of Fantasy and Imagination, the next exhibition that I'll be doing with the group I did the Sydney Comic Art & Drawing Exhibition with. The show will run from 17th - 24th December, at The Shop Gallery, Glebe, here in Sydney. 

Keeping with my idea of otherworldly refugees settling into everyday life, this is the pencil and ink work for an amateur team from Croydon (either Croydon near London, or Croydon in Sydney - my Anglo-Australian neutrality remains intact). The original art and the finished digital art will be exhibited with The Builders, and The Office.

Like I wrote before, I even came up with a story that links these pictures:
It's been just 18 months since the first of the refugees arrived through the portals. In cities all over the world, people have started to grow accustomed to having neighbours and, increasingly, workmates who would have been the stuff of myths 2 years ago.
While most refugees are reluctant to talk about their experiences, there are rumours circling of harsh and brutal feudal societies, with appalling living conditions. No wonder, many say, that they have been so quick to train and enter the modern workforce, and, where possible, assimilate into 21st century culture.
Of course, even extra-dimensional refugees need time off, and a Sunday league football team is  the perfect way to socialise with their neighbours.




 ©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 8 November 2015

Artwork of Fantasy and Imagination - The Office

This is my next entry for Artwork of Fantasy and Imagination, the next exhibition that I'll be doing with the group I did the Sydney Comic Art & Drawing Exhibition with. The show will run from 17th - 24th December, at The Shop Gallery, Glebe, here in Sydney. 

Keeping with my idea of otherworldly refugees settling into everyday life, here are a couple of office colleagues having a chat. This will be exhibited with The Builders, and at least one other piece in the series.

Like I wrote 2 weeks ago, I even came up with a story that links these pictures:
It's been just 18 months since the first of the refugees arrived through the portals. In cities all over the world, people have started to grow accustomed to having neighbours and, increasingly, workmates who would have been the stuff of myths 2 years ago.
While most refugees are reluctant to talk about their experiences, there are rumours circling of harsh and brutal feudal societies, with appalling living conditions. No wonder, many say, that they have been so quick to train and enter the modern workforce, and, where possible, assimilate into 21st century culture.

 I did a couple of versions of the colours, but in the end, I decided to match it up with a third version of The Builders.




 ©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 1 November 2015

Artwork of Fantasy and Imagination - Builders and sketches

I went back to The Builders from last week, and did some work on the colouring, based on some feedback I got.
 Also, here are some research sketches I've been making for the next couple of pictures. I've been using African masks and statues for ideas, and some of these are from the Bena Luluwa in Zaire, a Kasangu mask, from the Sola Mpasis of Zaire, a Ndimo mask, from the Makonde of South Tanzania, and a grimacing mask from Tunisia.

 ©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 25 October 2015

Artwork of Fantasy and Imagination - Builders

This is my first entry for Artwork of Fantasy and Imagination, the next exhibition that I'll be doing with the group I did the Sydney Comic Art & Drawing Exhibition with. The show will run from 17th - 24th December, at The Shop Gallery, Glebe, here in Sydney. A lot of my stuff has been comic and sci-fi based, so fantasy is a chance to try something different.

Most of the fantasy stuff I've enjoyed has been in a contemporary setting (China Mieville, Geoffrey Thorne, Neil Gaimen, and Garth Ennis' Preacher are the ones that come to mind), so I wanted to do some pieces that put fantasy figures into everyday settings.

This is why my research sketches from the last few weeks have bounced from builders on a tea break to flaming skulls and people with fish heads. So what's the backstory?


It's been just 18 months since the first of the refugees arrived through the portals. In cities all over the world, people have started to grow accustomed to having neighbours and, increasingly, workmates who would have been the stuff of myths 2 years ago.
While most refugees are reluctant to talk about their experiences, there are rumours circling of harsh and brutal feudal societies, with appalling living conditions. No wonder, many say, that they have been so quick to train and enter the modern workforce, and, where possible, assimilate into 21st century culture.






©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 18 October 2015

More sketches for my next project

These are more preparatory sketches to go with the builders and faces I was drawing a while back. I'm quite fond of my fishhead guys, but I'm looking forward to using all of these, including the office scene.



©2015 James Mathurin

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Democracy in action! - Vote for 'Nina' and 'The Couple' for ArtSHINE's Draw Me A Calendar event

This Saturday The Winners of ArtSHINE's Draw ME A Calendar competition will be announced. With your help, Nina and / or The Couple will be among them! This is democracy in action, people!
Here are ArtSHINE's presentations of my pieces:
 

Remember, as well as winners chosen to go into ArtSHINE’s 2016 calendar, there are 2 People’s Choice awards. 

You can vote for me online by going to ArtSHINE’s facebook page and sending them a message saying your People’s Choice is either: 
or
 
If you’re in Sydney, you can actually visit the gallery (always a good idea, plus you can get coffee and lunch) and vote for me in person.
The gallery is at:
3 Blackfriars Street
Chippendale
Sydney
2008

The Draw Me A Calendar opening night is next Saturday, the 17th October, between 6 and 8pm.

©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 11 October 2015

The Couple - Steampunk piece

This is my second piece for the ArtSHINE 'Draw Me A Calendar' competition, and the final version based on the sketches of the Victorian couple I posted last week.

I just want to say, I drew this before the new series of Doctor Who premiered, so any resemblance between the chair in the picture and certain pepper-pot shaped aliens is... well, it's not coicidental, is it? I've been a massive Whovian since I was a kid, so, yes I quite happily admit to being inspired by Terry Nation's designs.

Also, as well as winners chosen to go into ArtSHINE’s 2016 calendar, there are 2 People’s Choice awards. 

You can vote for me online by going to ArtSHINE’s facebook page and sending them a message saying your People’s Choice is either:

James Mathurin - Entry 03 -  The Couple (this one)
or

If you’re in Sydney, you can actually visit the gallery (always a good idea, plus you can get coffee and lunch) and vote for me in person.

The gallery is at:
3 Blackfriars Street
Chippendale
Sydney
2008

The Draw Me A Calendar opening night is next Saturday, the 17th October, between 6 and 8pm.

©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 4 October 2015

The Couple - Victorian sketches

I like the sheer stiffness and awkwardness of Victorian photos. It actually sums up the inhumanity that seemed to characterise that period. They're actually quite a contrast to the expressive, flowing Art Nouveau images, but I've enjoyed using them to make my Steampunk / robot / Art Nouveau pieces.

This is the preparatory sketch for my other Draw Me A Calendar submission, to go with the Nina Simone one I already shared. Down the bottom is the original photograph. Such a  happy couple.




©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 20 September 2015

Nina Simone sketches

These are some sketches I did for a piece I've been working on. I really like how some of them came out, and frankly, I just love Nina Simone. I find it hard to imagine how you couldn't.



Here's the original images, and hell, a Nina Simone video for you (better than the original, IMO)!



©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 6 September 2015

Beginning some new stuff

These are sketches for something new I'll be working on, that should be in my next exhibition. There is a connection, or at least, I am intending to make one.
 

©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 30 August 2015

The Lady

I took a while away from The Lady to work on some other stuff, like Art On Board, but now I've had the chance to go back and work on it and add some colour.

I'm glad I got her finished because I've got a few things coming up to work on, and it's always nice to have a finished piece under your belt, rather than hanging over your head (I win at mixed metaphors).
©2015 James Mathurin

Monday 17 August 2015

Tkay Maidza and Australian Hip-Hop

This is something new I'm trying after a suggestion a friend made. I want to keep this an art blog, but sometimes there's stuff I want to talk about, so here's some art I did specifically so that I could talk about something I wanted to.

Tkay Maidza's someone I've learned about recently, who seems like a musician tailor-made for me. A singer / songwriter / rapper from here in Oz, with a distinctive style and flow, plus a penchant for cool anime-inspired music videos? Result.

So here's my response to her whole hip-hop afrofuturist thing she's got going on. I was especially inspired by her latest video, M.O.B., which I've stuck below. It's a great song even without the video, but with all this anime sci-fi space stuff going on, It's something else.


I'm going to be really interested if this is something that sparks a subgenre of Aussie hip hop. I love that Maidza's sound incorporates plenty of Electronic Dance Music, as that is something that represents a big part of Australia's music scene. I know Flume has done pretty well, and big EDM festivals like DEFQON show that it's a big deal here.

I love hip-hop first and foremost, but I think a country or region needs to find its distinctive voice for hip-hop to thrive. The UK had great rappers the whole time I was growing up, people like Roots Manuva, Ty, Estelle (nowadays maybe better know as Garnet on Steven Universe) and Blak Twang, but it was only when the UK hip-hop scene incorporated home-grown styles, like Grime and Dubstep, that it really took hold and started to break through like it has in the last decade with people like Tinie Tempah and of course Dizzee Rascal.

It was the same when hip-hop started to leave it's New York birthing ground: The West Coast took a while to really break out with NWA and Ice Cube, and really defined itself with G-Funk; The South needed acts like Outkast and Lil' Jon and the Crunk scene.

I loved watching these voices be found, and I'm excited to see if what Maidza's found is her voice, or the voice of something bigger. Either way, there's great music being created, so I'm happy to wait and see.
 
The original photo I based my picture off, from Sodwee.

 
©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 2 August 2015

The Assault on Alton Lane makes the Local Press - Street Art Superheroes

This is a bit of an experiment. Tammy suggested that it'd be cool to add a sense of narrative to my street-art superheroes, so I've been giving it some thought. After coming up with the background for Assault on Alton Lane, I thought it should be reported on by the media.

©2015 James Mathurin

Monday 27 July 2015

I'm one of ArtSHINE's new artists!

ArtSHINE continue to support my work really well, and also just generally be an excellent gallery. They have made me one of their new artists, which means that any time you want, you can go in and see samples of my work and some of the products I've put them on.

Oh, and you can also get a great cup of coffee, lunch, and enjoy whatever exhibition they've got running, I mean, obviously, you're already really excited to hear about my stuff, but maybe you have to drag along someone who's not interested in, well, me, so there's all that as well. They will thank you.
INTRODUCING OUR NEW ARTIST Artist James Mathurin will be showing his artworks, prints and tote bags at ArtSHINE Market this Saturday 25 July from 10-4pm. Come in a say hello to James and have a chat with him about his current artworks. About James: James Mathurin is a Londoner, living and working in Sydney, who primarily works in a mixture of traditional pencil and ink linework and digital, and also photography and graphic design. James holds a BA in Illustration from Middlesex University, and has worked in advertising and stand-alone pieces. Comics, animation and science (both real and fictional) have always been influences that turn up in his art. His art and tutorials can be found at his 'James Mathurin Art' blog, his photography can be seen on his tumblr 'Stuff Wot I Done', and his humorous infographics (yes, that is a thing) can be seen on his 'Things You Didn't Know You Didn't Need To Know' blog. #market #artgallery #artisans #artists #artshinemarket #artgallery
A photo posted by ArtSHINE Gallery (@artshinegallery) on

©2015 James Mathurin

Monday 13 July 2015

Vote for Profile Pic of Sarah Bernhardt at Art On Board

ArtSHINE's Art on Board exhibition has it's official opening night this Saturday, at
CO Sydney
3 Blackfriars Street
Chippendale
NSW 2008

It's open to the public, and this is me officially inviting anyone who reads this to come. See you there!

Even if you can't make it, you can vote for your favourite piece for the People's Choice award. Now, my piece is number 7, so it's great if you vote for that, but there are also a bunch of other good pieces that you might like more, and you can see those on ArtSHINE's Facebook page, and pick a piece and vote for its corresponding number. You can win a $50 voucher too!

To vote, email them on gallery@artshine.com.au , copy and paste the text below into the message, and fill in the details. As I said, my piece is 'Art on Board #7'.

Fist Name
Last Name
Email address
Contact:

Art on Board #


©2015 James Mathurin

Sunday 5 July 2015

Finished ArtSHINE Art On Board piece - Profile Pic of Sarah Bernhardt

I've finished off the piece I've been doing for ArtSHINE's Art On Board show. I had to come up with a title for it, which led to researching the original painting I based it off.

Like I mentioned previously, based on Sarah Bernhardt by Paul Emile Berthon. It turns out Sarah Bernhardt was an incredibly famous actress of the time, both in theatre and early movies. She was also an artist and writer, and generally lived a pretty interesting life. I'd like to be able to pretend I knew all this, and that it was another Berthon piece before I started work on it, but, nah, it was just a piece of serendipity. Still, after the research, I ended up with 'Profile Pic of Sarah Bernhardt' as a title. I wonder if Berthon or Bernhardt would have liked it...

This piece and pieces by 99 other Sydney artists will be on exhibition and on sale at ArtSHINE from Wednesday 8th July 2015 to Friday 31st July 2015.


©2015 James Mathurin