The talented Miss Cotton

I have met few people in this world that have the captivating ability to inspire millions and lead by example, that make you feel important but have such a relaxed and honest demeanor that you never feel intimidated in their presence. People, that when you first meet them you understand immediately why they are successful in everything they do. Extraordinary people that make time for everyone and give unconditionally and honestly in all their actions. 

Fearne is one of these people.

When I found out she painted (and was a very talented painter at that) I can't say I was surprised. I knew that she was extremely gifted and intuitive, as well as being very deep and sensitive to everything and everyone around her.

Since my recent return to painting I have been thinking about Fearne's work more and more. So one day I decided to hit her up and see if she would allow me to interview her about her paintings. She agreed. Having never interviewed anyone before, ever, yet having had given hundreds of interviews, I found myself in a unique position.

I figured the best questions to ask would be the ones that I would ask of myself. I genuinely wanted to know what and how other artists deal with the same issues I face when I work, so this interview is a little unconventional and personal, as you will see.

I want to thank Fearne for agreeing to do this and openly answer honestly and eloquently in this way. My respect for her has only grown, she remains an inspiration both creatively and through her compassion and charity work. Mostly I respect her for her friendship.

1. As honestly as possible, why pick up a paintbrush instead of doing anything else? what is your main motivation at that point where you sit down and decide to lay paint onto the canvas?

"I'm a fidget and have to be either ticking things off a list or creating. When I'm creating I feel most happy and with out getting too deep, alive. The whole process of buying the paints, finding a photo to work from, picking some music to play which suits the mood of the painting. This has become some what of a ritual. The finale being the finished product. Knowing the work that went in to it and knowing its yours. I can get lost for hours and not think of a single thing in a meditative way."

2. What are you trying to say by painting that you cannot say in any other way in life? Visual art is a form of expression that is meant to be seen, what is it that you need to communicate with the viewer or even to yourself?

"I never have a set feeling I want to get across. I think its more in the finished product. Maybe it teaches me more than anyone about what is on my mind. Its more about releasing something within that you didnt even know was there. I think everyone sees your work in a different subjective way so its never a clear message with art in this form." 

3. Of all the forms of expression and things to represent why have you chosen to paint people as your main subject?

"I find the face the most interesting thing of all. A story board right in front of you. A single expression saying so much or so little. Its always the biggest challenge as you can paint a face easily but getting the feeling across portrayed in perhaps a crock in the mouth, a glint in the eye or a crease in the forehead is the hardest. I love eyes especially and tend to exaggerate the size each time." 

4. Can you describe the mind and physical process leading up to the actual act of painting. (for example, from the moment you have that initial spark of inspiration up to any rituals you perform to prepare for the that first stroke)

"Sometimes I will procrastinate for hours or days working out what im going to paint and go through an inner monologue of why I shouldnt bother, why I wont be able to do it, why I'm not in the right frame of mind, but as soon as I start that all goes out of the window. Some paintings look horrendous for days but theyll be a magic pivotal moment where that all changes and it starts to look how I imagined and this is the loveliest feeling where I become obsessed with getting it done!"

5. How do you determine you have finished the painting and what emotions and connections do you feel towards the final piece after completion?

"I never feel a painting is finished like a lot of people and could go back to it again and again but there has to become that point where I sign 'F COTTON' and the date and I'm not allowed to touch it after this point. Some paintings were never finished or signed and lay dormant in a cupboard and I guess even in their own way thats how they were meant to be. Finished in their own way. Unfinished business." 

Cheers.

Ramblings of a rambler

Well, not actually a rambler by the dictionary definition of the word, but trail runner doesn't have the same ring. I'd like to share with you a short story of how things have unfolded over the past few years with regard to my person life. 

I love sports! I mean LOVE sports, not watching but trying them out. I'm the epitome of the phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none" and for years I've let this get to me until recently.

At one point I was surfing, skating, running, mountain biking, training Muay Thai, going to the gym, you name it, I've dabbled in it. I needed it like my life depended on it, and in some way it did. Without some form of energy outlet I was like a big dog in a small house, and I was likely to end up chewing your couch.

......Until one day I felt a pain in my neck, was it from fighting? Mountainbiking or surfing? all fairly stressful on the neck, who knows. It may have been 12 years of head banging. I knew it was serious when my arm started to go numb and then burn, like when you hit your funny bone....only ALL the time. I tried to ride it out but after about 6 or 7 months I decided to get it checked out.

Booosch! there it is, can't really miss it, C6/7 herniated disc. The black lump impinging on my nerve and spinal cord. Ouchy. Doctor said it was acute enough to warrant surgery, but that meant a fairly hefty laceration round the front of my throat and a metal plate welding of my discs, which would mean singing, performing and my lively hood down the drain. Surely there was some less invasive option. I almost got talked into an epidural cortisone shot but bailed last minute, decided the pain was my bodies way of reminding me something was wrong. I figured I'd try and find an answer which didn't include needles and knives.

First things first though - NO MORE SPORTS, doctor said. WHAAAA??? me? I was screwed. I became a bit depressed and I was hell to live with. All I could do was basic weight training to try and keep my fitness, but still couldn't lift anything over my head. Performing live was tricky. Eventually after about a year of traction therapy (my band mates had a good old chuckle living with me always wearing this!) and performing Mckenzie exercises (which are amazing!) I started to get feeling back in my hand.

I felt a little more confident and slowly started running again. Loved it. Lived for it. Tour was amazing, each morning I would doth my running gear while the rest slept and explore the world. I was in the best shape and frame of mind ever.

Still, re-occurring injuries plagued me. I often suffered from Iliotibial band syndrome every time I ran distances.

So, as usual, I tried to fix something that wasn't all that broke. I adopted a barefoot running technique to prevent the knee and hip issues and at first it was amazing. But brainiac here didn't heed the warnings and ran too far too soon in barefoot shoes. The crunch day was in Italy, when I went out for a run and got lost, and ended up running much further that I had planned. 

A few days later we were to start Warped tour in the US and I started to get some severe pains in my foot.  Three weeks later it was only getting worse so in some back country town in the US I went to get it X-rayed. It is fair to say the doc didn't have a clue what he was doing and sent me on my way telling me nothing was wrong. Of course I believed him and acted accordingly but the pain worsened and my ankle started to seize. I spent the rest of Warped tour hobbling on a cane (which kinda looked pretty cool in its own right).

When I got home, a real doctor re-X-rayed and discovered I had a stress fracture which was made a hell of a lot worse by ignoring it. I was in a robocop boot for a while and eventually the fracture healed, though my ankle didn't. I went back at the beginning of this year to consult only to have the doctor inform me "I'm afraid you are old, you'll probably never run again, your ankle is just burnt out from over use. Sorry". I asked him, if I continue to do physical activities will I do irreparable damage, and he didn't think so.

That was all I needed to hear. I got hold of a decent pair of minimal Nike Free 3.0 shoes which were truly the best shoe I've ever ran in and they gave me the confidence to go out and build it back.

A few weeks later, my stamina was back, my milage was getting up. I live in the mountains and the Free's were not suitable for trail running so I got a pair of Nike Pegasus 29's, oh boy, that was it. In the short space of a month of being told I may never run again, I had clocked over 100 miles in and around the mountains in Los Angeles (now over 200 miles). 

Running is beautiful. Running is meditation. When your heart is beating out of your chest and your breathing is just happening to you and out of your control, when your vision is blurred with your own sweat, there is no room for thought. You are forced into the present. Reality is in you, all around you, your senses are on overdrive, your rhythm is in tune with nature and the universe. It is what we were built to do. And this is only my attempt to describe it's beauty. The rest can't be put into words. It is on a par with the paddling into a big clean wave, with flying down a single track on a bike at 30+mph, with the elegance and sheer violence of a Muay Thai fight, but in it's own way. Each step is a personal challenge and brings with it a sense of achievement, which is what is proven to bring us personal happiness. And when all is said and done, when your body is sore and energy spent and your mind is quiet and calm, you can reflect clearly on the gratitude you feel for having the opportunity, the ability to climb, see and experience the wonder of life in it's purest raw and naked glory.

That is really being alive. 

'The now is all there is. 

I have everything I need'.

oh yeah, and I'm one of the toe sock wearing guys too!!! yuck.

LUCIEN SHAPIRO

 Lucien Shapiro

This brilliant Artist is also showing at the Known Gallery

"Dancing between life and death, Lucien Shapiro’s art is rife with found objects, textures, casted forms, manipulations, raw substances, oddities and multiple personalities. Treating forgotten objects and memories as treasure, he creates a kingdom under which new life is born through sculpture. Urban Obsessions explores both artist’s and viewer’s perception of identity, addiction, and time." 

He's work is on exhibit until Feb 16th, go check it out if you happen to be in Hollywood!

Amandalynn

This weekends show at the Known Gallery will also be showing the wonderfully talented 'Amandelynn'

Here's a few of her pieces she'll be showning with Lady Mags.

If your in LA it can't be missed.....

                      

'Elegance' by Alynn-Mags                                       'Demure Flower' by Amandalynn  


     

'Rosie' by Alynn-Mags                                            'Stillness' by Alynn-Mags

We can't wait to see, beautiful! 

Yep you may have heard, it's the first LA show for Richard (Jamie), and his RJO team couldn't be happy for him. Its all hands on deck this week getting everything ready and if you don't already follow on instagram then you've been missing some sneaky prevues of the Art that will be shown over the next few weeks. So heres what you've been missing......

It was an eight hour long design process, choosing the  right frames for the right paintings, it's amazing how some frames just fit the piece of work no question, and others are tricky.  

All hands on deck, Richard gets his hands dirty doing a bit of framing himself. 

Richard created these two limited edition prints on watercolour, pencil and chalk on paper, exclusively for the Known Gallery show. There are a limited amount of 25 which will be signed and sold exclusively at the Gallery on Sat 9th. 

Some calligraphy to add the finishing touches to the exclusive prints for the Known Gallery, nice!