roy munday, artist

New Projects on the Go!

2009-05-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

For those of you wondering why I haven't updated this blog last month or so, I'm in the middle of a new project and this is taking a lot of my time.... Also, I went recently on a family holiday to Tunisia to escape our long winter. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and, as you can see, even took a camel ride into the Sahara desert!

No class on Good Friday

2009-04-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

Just a brief reminder to students at Maghull art group. No class on Good Friday, back to normal the following Friday 17th April - Though I'll be away on holiday. However, the groups will still meet.

Moving up the river mersey

2009-03-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

One of the tall-ships moving up the river Mersey, Liverpool, on the morning of the parade of sail. I was on the ferry when they started to move up river, quite early in the day. At this point in time the weather was a bit undecided, with rain bearing clouds scudding across Liverpool. By the afternoon the weather had turned quite pleasant. I've tried to capture the grayness of the moment in this painting, when the sun was obscured by the odd passing dark cloud. To find out more about this painting, please visit www.roymunday.com/liverpool.html

Last ferry of the day

2009-03-15T01:12:00.000-07:00

My latest painting. An iconic scene: the Mersey ferry-boat Royal Daffodil leaving Birkenhead on the final trip of the day and set against a darkening evening sky.
This painting measures 20x24 inches (60x50 cm). To find out more, please visit www.roymunday.com or email me at roymun@cybase.co.uk

My latest painting. Cunard's QE 2

2009-03-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

I've finally finished this painting of the QE 2 steaming towards the river Mersey, entering the port of Liverpool on what was her final visit towards the end of 2008. Soon after that she was sold to Dubi to start a new life as a floating hotel. I had great pleasure in painting this subject, together with a big sky!
Over all dimensions: 36 x32 inches approx. Oil on canvas. To find out more, please visit my website: www.roymunday.com

painting of the queen elizabeth 2

2009-03-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

In the last week I have returned to painting the QE 2 (Queen Elizabeth the second). Have made better progress on it than my first attempt several months ago. Am putting finishing touches to quite a big oil painting and hope to have it on my website within the next couple of days. Am pleased with this effort, as the first effort I had to abandon.

My latest painting

2009-02-19T12:21:00.001-08:00

Weather hasn't really encouraged me to spend much time in my studio past couple of weeks. Grey, cold and damp weather seems to have robbed me of most of my inspiration. However, I did complete this portrait of Michael, a fellow artist. I'm always meaning to do more portraits of friends of mine.... But never seem to quite manage it! If there's anyone out there who can offer me a few days in the warm sun, please let me know. Can always paint a portrait for you in return for some hospitality?

portrait of President Barack Obama

2009-01-31T12:02:00.000-08:00

Given the momentous event of seeing Barack Obama being sworn in as America's next President, I couldn't resist doing this portrait. And it is as simple as that. Any collector interested in purchasing this painting, please email me roymun@cybase.co.uk

New Year classes begin this week!

2009-01-06T02:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, the holiday period is over and it's time to get back to work! Art classes begin this week - Hightown Wednesday 7th, Maghull Friday 9th. We've several things to prepare for, mostly couple of exhibitions. No doubt everyone will be coming back, refreshed, with new ideas and full of enthusiasm.

My latest nude painting

2008-12-21T01:51:00.001-08:00

Despite the run-up to Christmas, have still managed to spend time in my studio, around my teaching committments, and have produced several new nudes, including the one exhibited here. This painting measures 20x24, oils on board, and is for sale at £120 unframed. I will ship to most countries in the world. Anyone interested, please either visit my website at: www.nudepaintingsnude.co.uk or email me at roymun@cybase.co.uk

My faulty Baumatic cooker hood

2008-12-14T11:41:00.001-08:00

My moan of the week. Here it goes. I'm a great believer in giving first class service - If any of my clients is unhappy about anything, refund their money. The client is always right. However, with big corporations they are often arogant and offer bad service. Here is a typical example. In the summer of 2007 we had our house refurbished, yes, the total house. We were down to one solitary light, microwave and no toilet. And what of the furniture? It was outside, under tarpaulin. But I don't want to go into all that - too painful. As part of the kitchen refurbishment, we had a new cooker hood installed - a Baumatic. No, I'd never heard of them either. And just after the guarantee had run out, yes, it decided to pack up. It began to emit a terrible sound. I rang up the service department, explained the situation, but they were of little use. They would send out an engineer, but at a cost of £88! Could have bought a new one for virtually the same price. Okay, send him out. He duly came, checked it and said not a problem, only the plastic fan had broken. 20 minutes later he was gone, together with my £88. I felt disappointed by this and contacted the service department and told them so. But they didn't want to know and refused to refund my money. I even wrote to the managing director of the company, he didn't even have the courtesy to write back! Personally, given that the guarantee was just out of date, that I was a new customer, they ought to have done the work free of charge. That way I wouldn't hesitate to buy another product from them. But I've learned my lesson from buying from the Baumatic company. So, if you're thinking of buying a similar product, just think twice if you come across the name of Baumatic. And if they're thinking of suing over this post, think again. I'm a poor artist. Which reminds me, the telly licence isn't yet paid for. For that matter, nor is my council tax!

Life-drawing class

2008-12-08T07:35:00.000-08:00

Anyone living local to the Southport area, Merseyside, and wanting to take up life-drawing. I shall be running another course in January, at King George the V college, Southport. It caters for both beginners and the more advanced student. You can ring the college direct on 01704 500065, or contact me, email by visiting my website: www.roymunday.com

Maghull's celebration of Art - This coming weekend!

2008-11-30T10:04:00.001-08:00

We are now heading towards next weekend, December Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th, when several art groups are coming together to put on one of the biggest art exhibitions of the year outside of Liverpool. Maghull's Town Hall and Deyes Lane High School, Maghull are the two venues. Around 150 local artists will be exhibiting their paintings, most for sale. This will also be an opportunity for anyone thinking of taking up art as a leisure pursuit to come along, talk to the artists - and myself - and find out if it's for them. You don't need to have any previous art experience, just a willingness. Also, entrance is free and refreshments will be available - with plenty of mince pies! This will be our fourth exhibition and we've gone from successes to successes with most of the artists now selling work on a regular basis. So come along and have a look! If you want further information, please email me.

Find details at www.roymunday.com

A visit to the John Moore's Biennial exhibition

2008-11-18T01:59:00.000-08:00

Yes... I took a large group of artists to a guided tour of the John Moore's 25th Biennial painting exhibition at Liverpool's Walker art gallery last Friday, 14th November. As with any visit to an exhibition there was certainly some trenchant views expressed that went from the extreme of "...it's fascinating to get an insight into an artist's mind..." To "...my five-year-old could do better." Isn't that what art is supposed to do? Spark off debate and get people engaged in talking about Art?The problem with much one finds in the John Moore's - indeed in all similar exhibitions that purports to show cutting edge art - is that when one walks through the gallery, many of the paintings leave us unmoved. The reasons for this is that often the content is difficult, or impossible, to understand without something or someone telling is what the painting is about and the ideas behind it. Often the ideas behind the painting is more interesting than the visual impact the piece offers. So it was with the half-dozen paintings that the guide, Paul O'keef, showed us. Without his in depth explanation much of what is on the walls would have left us disengaged and bemused. I later looked up the winner and prize winners on the internet and found virtually all of them were from London! So, too, were probably the judges! Aren't Jake and Dinos Chapman based there? And a quick look at several more of the judges (5 in total) gives it all a very London bias. Of over 3.000 submissions (at £15 a submission - or that's what it was two years ago when I submitted) only about forty made it to the final show. How several of the paintings made it that far left me confused, when I consider the finished product, and a feeling that it was "knocked out" in a matter of minutes! Okay, it may have taken the artist a whole year of preliminary thought processes to reach that point of final burst of energy and creative output. But I'd put money on that many better submissions were rejected.

2008-11-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

Weather grey and damp! However, I'm keeping busy. This year the art groups that I run for Sefton council are linking with the Maghull art group and together we are staging the biggest art event outside of Liverpool in this year's Capital of Culture! On December 6th and 7th over 150 local artists will be exhibiting their work, and hopefully selling a few. It never fails to amaze me to see so much talent, and all done in a local area. What a nation of painters we must be! And we are just the painters, not even considering all the other crafts that come under the term "Art". I also run life-drawing classes at Southport's King George V college. This takes place each Wednesday - Now anyone seriously into art - Or even anyone thinking of taking up art - should seriously consider life-drawing. Believe me, it's the best way to learn how to draw - And remember, you cannot produce a painting unless you can draw! Why life-drawing? Because it forces you to observe your subject. Anything not quite right and it's noticeable, even to a non-artist. Anyone interested, please get in touch. Or if watercolours are more your taste, I teach that too. Here is a recent example of my work, an oil painting. If you want to see more of my nude work, then visit: www.nudepaintingsnude.co.uk

Maghull's Celebration of Art '08

2008-10-12T04:46:00.000-07:00

Our exhibition this year - December 6th & 7th - will be a joint venture with the Maghull art group. This should prove to be a bigger and hopefully better event as there will be more on offer for art buyers and it should generate more media interest. To the best of my knowledge this is probably the biggest art event that Maghull has staged, with well over a hundred artists' work on show.

Next Friday at the Town Hall

2008-10-12T04:44:00.000-07:00

Just to remind members that we are meeting as usual at Maghull town hall on Friday, but we'll be upstairs.

My part in this year's Liverpool Biennial

2008-09-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

Though I was given short notice, only four weeks, I was given space at this year's Independant Biennial in Liverpool. The location, the warehouse on Sparling st. It's located near the Albert Dock on Wapping. Behind the Baltic Fleet pub. Not everyone was happy to have my paintings, nor the art of others, at this local venue. It's also hosting part of the official Biennial - and these artists believe that they are better than the rest of us and feel that no other work should appear with there's! Sharing space with me is an artist who has constructed a carousel, which is divided up into the rooms of a house. Great idea and I've no objection to the work being housed near mine. But why kick up a fuss when fellow artists, who work differently yet with the same integrity, want to express their ideas? The next objection was that I had prices on my work. This was also frowned upon, and I was asked to cover up my prices! No doubt someone from the official Biennial found the fact that even though I' m a practising artists, with a family to support and bills to pay, to sully the ambiance of the exhibition space with paintings for sale is to throw away artistic integrity. No doubt if they read this I will be asked to remove my paintings from the exhibition for having dared to make a negative comment!

watercolour class

2008-09-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

....I also run a watercolour class at King George college, Southport. We meet on Thursday evenings, commencing last week of September, for ten weeks. Times: 7 till 9.30 pm. Again, we cater for both beginners and the more advanced. To find out more, contact me or contact the college directly on 01704 500065.

life drawing class

2008-09-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

Anyone wishing to take up life-drawing, then consider joining my class at King George V college, Southport. We meet every Wednesday evening, starting end of September, 7pm to 9.30. We are a very friendly group and cater for all levels, from absolute beginners to the more advanced. To find out more, either contact me or ring the college direct on 01704 500065.

Start of the new term at the town hall

2008-08-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that we start back at Maghull town hall on Friday, September 5th - Only a matter of days away. Hopefully you'll return refreshed and full of new creative ideas! And our winter exhibition won't be that far away, so we need to start planning soon. Any new ideas on the exhibition, please bring them along.

Liverpool waterfront at night

2008-08-11T23:52:00.000-07:00

Have been working on a large commission last two weeks - The Liverpool waterfront at night. An exciting work as it allowed me to use my creativity to construct all the lighting. Also, it must be a first painting that incorporates two new buildings that aren't yet completed: the new ferry terminal (in front of the Cunard building) and the New Museum of Liverpool, virtually next to it.

hay loft this Friday!

2008-08-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Weather forecast is good this Friday - 8th August. I will be going up to the Hay Loft at Lydiat from around 10am till 2pm. Anyone wanting to come along, please do - At least we can enjoy a coffee and cake in the cafe! I will be painting, so bring along your usual equipment. Forecast is very good and will be reasonably warm.

latest news from the bandstand

2008-07-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Despite the reasonable weather, sales weren't good last weekend. This was probably due to two unique reasons. Firstly, the tall ships were in Liverpool and this attracted huge crowds. Secondly, Southport hosted the British Open golf! No doubt visitors were put off by the prospect of busy roads leading to the town. Everyone commented on just how quiet the town was. Several of the ladies on the bandstand were keeping an eye out for George Clooney, reportedly staying in the Vincent's hotel next to us on his way to the golf. But I rather think the Man' united footballer was back in training for the next football season.

bandstand exhibitions to continue

2008-07-06T02:04:00.000-07:00

Good news... Southport Tourism department has given us the go-ahead to continue with the Sunday exhibitions through to September. All we need now is good weather! All those waiting to be included, please be patient and I will contact you as spaces become available. In the meantime, please come along and meet us - Also any other artists who might be interested in exhibiting and selling with us. It's good to chat and exchange ideas and experiences.