Death of Cleopatra

Old news, I know!

Actually this is the theme of my latest drawing, which I was inspired to do after my visit to the Petrie Museum in London- or at any rate I had a mind to do something on an Egyptian theme.


The Death of Cleopatra by ~dashinvaine on deviantART

I was also inspired by the Egyptian-themed paintings of Sir Lawrence-Alma Thadema, the Victorian artist who was so unjustly maligned in the decades following his death. John Collier, Alma-Thadema's pupil who also did a nice line in Egyptian subjects, was so dismayed by the modernist-leaning critics who slated Alma-Thadema exclaimed: 'his fame will survive their attacks. And when I recall the pictures that they admire I am glad that they have not praised my dead friend! This I gleaned from a book on Alma-Thadema that I picked up on my last trip to London (I have been up since, meeting my father and sister).

BP Portrait Awards 2011 and Petrie Museum.

Went to the BP Portrait Awards, yesterday, at the National Portrait Gallery. A bit crowded as just opened. Very high standard of work, and some striking images. The enormous painting of a chained nude called 'Holly', by Louis Smith, was the most unusual thing on view. I also liked Daniel Fooks' series of paintings of Peter Capaldi, and David J. Eichenberg's 'Jade'.

Afterwards we went to Petrie Museum and looked at some dead Egyptians.




PS

That dog was still in Camden, in exactly the same place!

Speaking of Lagomorphs...

I've finished my 'Three Hares' painting, which was on the go:


Three Hares painting by ~dashinvaine on deviantART

RIP Lofty

Yesterday saw the passing from this world of a little black bunny called Lofty, no more to turbo across the lawn or hide in the shadows behind the hutch, nor to bite sticks nor to have his ears nibbled by Charlotte, who is now his widow...

On Stranger Tides

I went to London today. Got this photo of the ship in a bottle in Trafalgar Square, which was a fitting precursor; for afterwards we went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides. I hadn't been too impressed by the last two films in this franchise, and hadn't expected much. I was pleasantly surprised, it was very enjoyable, and it had mermaids! One was played by Astrid Berges Frisbey, who looks very lovely, and makes up for the absence of Keira Knightley in some measure- as does Penelope Crus who looks like she's already found the fountain of youth. All the cast were on good form, including Ian McShane as Blackbeard, who finally shakes off the shadow of Lovejoy! And of course Depp charmingly roguish as Captain Jack Sparrow...


Good film, although not one for historical accuracy sticklers. Amusing to see well known London locations jumping around, the Greenwich Naval Hospital and the Old Bailey combining and finding a new home in front of St Paul's, for instance, or the interior of Hampton Court turning into that of Greenwich. (I also noticed that the navy/privateer ship had a post-1801 union jack at the rear rather than an ensign- the Union Jack actually belongs on the jack staff at the front!) Anyway, it was all good escapist fantasy, and very much up my street. Shouldn't hurt interest in the pirates-related illustration project I've been involved in until recently, which should shortly come online as a facebook-based game. It may also inspire me to paint some more mermaid paintings, or at least off the one I started a while back. Maybe some more sailing ships, too...

After the film we had a potter around Camden Lock, where I patronized the bookshop and bought a book on Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema. I also saw this awesome dog:


Then went to Worlds End.

A nice interlude.

Terse dream descriptions.

I definitely agree with the cartoonist in the latest ImagineFX that peoples descriptions of their dreams should be restricted to five words or less, so: 'Rainy street. Horse. Saturn looming'.

Original Oil Paintings for sale

I have added a section to my website listing oil paintins presently available for sale, along with prices (with or without frames when there is the option). I also include the frames in the photos of the works, to help customers decide. They can be seen here: http://dashinvaine.co.uk/paintings_for_sale.html