The Life of Brian

So, while I was in Turkey gazing at this...

Brian was shut away in his Hackney attic toiling over this...

"Brian... think you need a holiday, maybe get some sunshine, change of scene..."
"I rather fancied a couple of days in Warsaw actually" 
"Why don't you cut that ear off and have done with it"

Still Waters

'Hidden' by Brian Ayling

Just as we're getting all excited about blossom on the trees and the prospect of a barbecue Brian's latest painting hauls us back through the mists of time (well, a couple of weeks) to the chill of winter and early morning dog walks when you could see your breath in front of the vanishing trees.

Man With A Van Ruisdael

This is Brian's latest creepy painting. He tells me he's continuing the Northern European, Caspar David Friedrich/Jacob Van Ruisdael of Haarlem tradition of Romantic, gothic landscapes, typically featuring contemplative figures silhouetted against dark skies and barren trees. 

Have a nice day!

Van by Brian Ayling (oil on canvas 77cm x 102cm)

Spruce Up Your Home

Hi-Vis by Brian Ayling 70cmx90cm

As all those poor, worthless, unloved Christmas trees are tossed out onto the pavement, why not enhance your home with some longer lasting greenery? Brian's just finished painting this dramatic landscape of Clissold Park: it'll last a life-time and promises not to drop (in price).

B Movie

Enzo and I went to have a look at how Brian is getting on with his new pastels (bought from a quant little art shop the size of an aircraft hanger in Islington - not the Marais).

Mick Jagger Nicked our Candles

*$@%^&! Mick Jagger's only gone and catted our Dark Weekend idea. 
"Brian! you're gunna have to take that suit back."

Watch the whole video here....

Dark Weekend at Hackney Chateau

Typical that this weekend, after days of atmospheric gloom, the sun shone brightly both days and we were standing around waiting for nightfall so that we could film this taster for our upcoming Dark Weekend. Brian and our mate Kate are putting on an exhibition of their moody paintings in the house over a weekend in November (yet to be decided). We want it to be an all round sensual experience ;) so lots of dripping candelabras, spooky music, flickering chandeliers, real fires, evocative smells and a shed load of booze. Let me know if you want an invite.
  

Self-righteous Self-portrait

To prove a point, that he was not hung-over and was very restrained on Friday evening, Brian got up, walked the dogs, did the recycling and painted a self portrait while I stayed in bed with  some paracetamol. Jesus!

Smash and Grab

So, we are nearing the end of a traumatic week during which we have witnessed ugly behaviour  from a bunch of ill-mannered and lawless yobs. I have watched events unfold with horror and disgust. Things have been simmering for sometime and a general lack of respect has manifested itself in the kind of actions that any right-minded person would condemn. Things came to a head on Monday with the inclusion of Fabregas in the Champions' League qualifying round squad to face Udinese. It seems that this has forced Barcelona's hand and they have upped their offer for our captain - still daylight robbery in my opinion. So, the Arsenal Board seem to have finally given in to the brazen flouting of regulations and tapping-up of Cesc. Personally, I feel we should have taken a hard-line stance against the Catalans' underhand and disrespectful goings-on all summer and now we are counting the cost of our indecisiveness. The eyes of the world are upon us now and reinvestment must be a priority for the rebuilding of The Arsenal.

El Capitan

Robespierre's Shoes

Oh Lordy!
Back in May...
                                                                                ED

                                   asked for a pair of these lovely, summery, cornflower blue Vans. 

                                                                                I

                                                     said. 'You'll have to wait 'till your birthday.'


It's his birthday on Friday and yep, you've guessed it, they've sold out EVERYWHERE. Please help me. He thinks he's getting a pair and keeps saying things like 'can't wait 'till I get my baby blue Vans.'
There is a conspiracy between the Vans shop in Carnaby Street and the one in Covent Garden to pretend that they never existed. Vans have removed all evidence of them from their website and all unsold pairs appear to have been destroyed. Brian, an artist :), says this reminds him of the huge painting by David of the leading figures of the French Revolution. A sizeable number of the heroes of 1789 had become the villains of 1792 and had to have their faces painted over. Whatever... Hang on, he's muttering something about 'The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth.' 
' FFS - get on eBay and track some down.'
'They've got these brown ones, or these greyish-brown ones, or these browny-grey ones or these taupe ones.'
'He wants CORNFLOWER BLUE ones.'
There aren't any. All the pretty summer colours are gone, to be replaced by a dreary selection of puddle brown and snail grey shades. I don't have anything against those colours; they're fine for.... I don't know, a painting of grey and taupe whippets on a brown background. 

But not for a pair of summer shoes for padding around in Lanzarote.

                                                                     He likes blue.

The Art of Shameless Self-Promotion

Seeing all those dreamy negligees floating in the window of Fat Faced Cat last week got me thinking about Brian's lingerie paintings...... 

I think you'll agree they're lovely :)

They're all larger than life and this one's painted in oils on canvas....

                                              ...... and this one is airbrushed on chiffon.

                                                  
                                                 It was used in a Red Magazine shoot.

He has also created some exquisite shoe paintings. This one is airbrushed on organza....

and this one featured in Elle Decoration.