Me at the Indo Bar

What is the point of having your own website if you can't shamelessly  promote your own work and your own show.  As the above flier makes clear I have a show at the Indo Bar in Whitechapel, showing my paintings of the River Lea.

I spent the days in the run up to the show, handing out fliers at various establishments and galleries around the area, including to the staff at the Whitechapel. 

The show is on until the end of April but kicked off with a launch party/ private view (which was not at all private but was quite viewy) on 4th April.   First though there was the set up.  I have of course been to the bar before but I went again on the Friday prior to the show to scope it out.  It nestles opposite the awesome East London Mosque and has a small faded white frontage.  The ceiling of the bar is a stained golden colour and the bar is lit with the shine of many unique beers.  While I was there I was greeted by the bar dog, Zola. ​

14 paintings were taken down to the bar, but with the assistance of Hugh Mendes, (seen below) 9 were selected,  strategically placed around the bar and then hung up and I have to say they looked very good.  By dint of his eye for measuring and ad hoc mathematics the centre of all the paintings were at the same level.  It is amazing how much better this makes the whole think look.  

Seeing all these paintings, hung up together is quite a moment.  I am very pleased that this show has come about.  The one in the flier  is the nearer of the two larger paintings.   What is interesting was quite how nervous I was in the run up to the opening night.  I was buzzing around in anticipation and with lots of energy.  I didn't really relax until I was there and people had arrive.

It was a good attendance.  Some 20 people came specifically to see my paintings and the bar was packed with its usual crowd. Some of whom I saw looking at the pictures in an interested fashion.  I have to say it is enormous ego boost when people whose opinion matter to you come to such a show and tell you they like such things.  Specific mention goes to Ben Moon, who called in on his way home from Myanmar, and Alex Alexander who hobbled in on crutches. 

Things got off to a good start when the owner of the Indo expressed a liking for the above picture (The Lock Keepers Lodge) and promptly purchased it.  Causing me to update my price list that I had more out of hope than expectation stuck up near the door.  This buoyed me up considerably.  

This success was doubled when another person, who for complicated reasons will remain nameless purchased Graffited Wall on the River Lea.  An excellent night. 

One of the interesting thing is the works people preferred.  My favourite remains the first one I ever did (above) which is called River Lea Navigation.  Most other people though prefer the two paintings that I sold. I think this is because the buildings provide a contrast both in colour and subject that most people like. 

I went back again today and this opinion was seconded by my two In-laws.  I shall be popping in again at various stages, with various different people until the end of April.  Interesting to see what people say.  If you are in the area, please do pop in and tell me what you think.

I shan't show you all the paintings that are up in the show. I might do at a future blog, hopefully this leave the wanting more approach will tempt you to go and have a look (also the beer and pizza at Indo are excellent). 

Many thanks to the Indo and all the excellent and friendly staff there.