http://www.bobharperart.com Bob Harper Art Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:59:32 +0000 http://www.bobharperart.com en http://www.bobharperart.com/Young-Bob-Dylan http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Young-Bob-Dylan Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:59:32 +0000 Bob Harper Art 2304307 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2304307/BHA_Young_Bob_Dylan_WEB.jpg" width="670" height="899" width_o="2048" height_o="2749" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2304307/BHA_Young_Bob_Dylan_WEB_o.jpg" data-mid="11569121" border="0" align="left"/> "Young Bob Dylan" "Keep a cool head and always carry a light bulb." Well, he always has had a uniquely outsider way of expressing himself, and his words are not pre-meditated. George Harrison & the other Wilburys were constantly amazed at recording sessions when Bob would re-run a verse in countless versions, without thought or rehearsal. He seemed to be channelling the words from an outer source, and he was merely acting as the vehicle of delivery. I think that's how it really works, but we have to forget all the stuff, all that propaganda we've been fed. We need to be very open to possibilities and prepared to really open ourselves up. This image is from the "Highway 61" sessions... sessions that enriched my secondary school years, and found me badgering English teachers to get Dylan installed in our syllabus. "They're selling postcards of the hanging...." Original Size: 560mm x 790mm Float mounted in a solid dark wood frame Limited Image Size: 58cm x 43cm Limited Framed Size: 81cm x 66cm Edition Size: 195 The Original and Limited Editions of Young Bob Dylan are available exclusively through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/The-Boss http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/The-Boss Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:54:57 +0000 Bob Harper Art 2304277 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2304277/BHA_The_Boss_Springsteen_WEB.jpg" width="670" height="899" width_o="2048" height_o="2749" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2304277/BHA_The_Boss_Springsteen_WEB_o.jpg" data-mid="11568958" border="0" align="left"/> "The Boss" Bruce at 61, three months younger than me. Our lives have run in tandem with 3,000 miles between us. When I was playing in the woods as a kid, chances are he'd have been doing the same. We stared out of different school windows on the same days, dreaming about our futures. We both left home that Wednesday in 1962 wondering if we'd see our parents again... Jack & Mr. K. saw to it that we did, but it was very scary! I have felt an affinity because of our birth year. He's staring down the world with immense power in his eyes. He's from a blue collar family in New Jersey, knows (and remembers) all about the difficulties all of us have to endure. On interview he is the most eloquent of his generation, and surpassed himself at Clarence's eulogy when he spoke so truthfully about the Big Man. Original Size: 560mm x 790mm Float mounted in a solid dark wood frame Limited Image Size: 58cm x 43cm Limited Framed Size: 81cm x 66cm Edition Size: 195 The Original and Limited Editions of The Boss are available exclusively through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/Jimi-Sold http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Jimi-Sold Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:48:04 +0000 Bob Harper Art 2304229 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2304229/BHA_Jimi_Hendrix_WEB.jpg" width="670" height="899" width_o="2048" height_o="2749" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2304229/BHA_Jimi_Hendrix_WEB_o.jpg" data-mid="11568664" border="0" align="left"/> "Jimi" Gered Mankowitz took a brilliant series of photographs in February of 1967. Three "smoking" shots against a thunder grey background have become so iconic during our lives, that I have painted several images from them. Soon after he arrived in England, the Rolling Stones dandy (Brian Jones) took Jimi to "Granny Takes A Trip" (a trendy boutique on the King's Road. Jimi loved the idea of dipping into girl's clothes as a crossover (scarves & brooches) and carried off military jackets with some panache, so he took the icon's image into a new level. Here he is, blowing a wispy cloud at the Establishment. Limited Image Size: 58cm x 43cm Limited Framed Size: 81cm x 66cm Edition Size: 195 This Original has now sold but Limited Editions of Jimi are available exclusively through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/Amy-Sold http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Amy-Sold Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:25:46 +0000 Bob Harper Art 2304080 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2304080/BHA_Amy_Winehouse_WEB.jpg" width="670" height="899" width_o="2048" height_o="2749" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2304080/BHA_Amy_Winehouse_WEB_o.jpg" data-mid="11567838" border="0" align="left"/> "Amy" Seems sad to do a painting just after she passed away. Truth to tell, I'd been on the verge for months because of her outrageous talent and fantastic looks. In hind sight I should have anticipated she would leave us at the "rock star age" of 27, but who could believe that! I've painted her with that famous look, dark, brooding, confused and disillusioned with this world. How ironic that she appeared to be on the way to some kind of recovery according to her splendid Dad, but perhaps it is an unwritten law that genius goes hand in hand with chaotic lifestyle... who knows? Some fabulous quotes and markers from her brief life are ghosted over her dramatic features.."I'm not a lesbian, until I've had a sambuca anyway" Limited Image Size: 58cm x 43cm Limited Framed Size: 81cm x 66cm Edition Size: 195 This Original has now sold but Limited Editions of Amy are available exclusively through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/Lennon-In-Shades-Sold http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Lennon-In-Shades-Sold Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:30:51 +0000 Bob Harper Art 2223154 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2223154/Lennon In Shades fb_1.jpg" width="670" height="895" width_o="2048" height_o="2736" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2223154/Lennon In Shades fb_1_o.jpg" data-mid="11574554" border="0" align="left"/>"Lennon In Shades" Cezanne painted Mont Saint-Victoire over 60 times and Monet did haystacks till they all got pissed off and went to the loft, so I see no reason for not re-working old faves like this. It's impossible to write your name twice identically, never mind construct a painting exactly. This one is a soft take with a breeze coming in on a balmy day. On his face I have used some biographical info and some quotes which give clues to the man's ideas and qualities. Behind one nearly opaque lens a dark eye weighs up the immature planet he's landed on and would depart within a decade. Limited Image Size: 58cm x 43cm Limited Framed Size: 81cm x 66cm Edition Size: 195 This Original has now sold but Limited Editions of Lennon In Shades are available exclusively through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/Apple-Daze http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Apple-Daze Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:21:26 +0000 Bob Harper Art 2004201 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2004201/BHA_apple_daze_hr.jpg" width="670" height="1556" width_o="1484" height_o="3448" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/2004201/BHA_apple_daze_hr_o.jpg" data-mid="9957624" border="0" align="left"/> "Apple Daze" Yet another playing with time image. Of course they didn't own iPods, but perhaps in a parallel universe....thankfully David Bailley produced wonderful photographs for lunatics like me to play with nearly half a century farther on. Not quite time for Apple, but I'm sure something would have been ticking in their minds. At this point they were coming towards their creative peak.."Revolver, Pepper, Abbey Road...WOW!!! I remember where I was when each was released. 600 x 1500 mm For more information on this piece please enquire through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/Some-Are-Dead-Some http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Some-Are-Dead-Some Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:28:11 +0000 Bob Harper Art 1991439 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/1991439/BHA_Some_Are_Dead_-_Some_Are_Living_HR for web.jpg" width="670" height="431" width_o="2048" height_o="1319" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/1991439/BHA_Some_Are_Dead_-_Some_Are_Living_HR for web_o.jpg" data-mid="9893823" border="0" align="left"/> "Some Are Dead & Some Are Living" A composition using Venetian Blinds to add interest. It's a tribute to Brian Epstein really. So many entities collided to let the Beatles realise their full potential... was this accidental...are there such things? Brian was probably pivotal, for without his vision, stubbornness and endeavour we would never have witnessed their magnitude. From the moment he saw them one lunchtime in Matthew Street he could visualise their destiny. The trick would be controlling John, then getting him into a suit. The birds and butterflies are a tip of the hat to the Beatles' awareness that we are all one, and that every creature casts a shadow. Who are we to dominate? 560mm x 790mm (x 2) For more information on this piece please enquire through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/Autumn-Beatles http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Autumn-Beatles Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:26:13 +0000 Bob Harper Art 1991427 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/1991427/BHA_October_Beatles_HR web.jpg" width="670" height="449" width_o="2048" height_o="1375" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/1991427/BHA_October_Beatles_HR web_o.jpg" data-mid="9893741" border="0" align="left"/> "Autumn Beatles" One photograph from their Mad Day Out, Sunday 28th July 1968, in London has served me so well. A series of beautiful shots were taken at Thomson House (demolished in 1989) by various photographers. The studio up in the penthouse was built for Lord Snowdon, but on this occasion some of the world's best (Don McCullin, Tom Murray, Mal Evans and Stephen Goldblatt to name a few) shot the lads in front of various backdrops, using a fan to create the illusion of a gale blowing. I have rearranged the composition several times, and on this occasion added loosely painted autumn leaves to add to the illusion. I love those days when the rich colour of the leaves spark against the brilliant blue skies we sometimes get at that time of year. 560mm x 790mm (x 2) For more information on this piece please enquire through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/Sgt-Pepper-s-Lonely-Mobile-Band http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Sgt-Pepper-s-Lonely-Mobile-Band Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:22:45 +0000 Bob Harper Art 1991420 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/1991420/BHA_Beatles_Lonely_Mobile_Band_for web.jpg" width="670" height="462" width_o="2048" height_o="1413" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/1991420/BHA_Beatles_Lonely_Mobile_Band_for web_o.jpg" data-mid="9893695" border="0" align="left"/> "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Mobile Band" I love the idea of shifting time. One obvious method to depict this thought is to put a recent invention into sixties imagery. And so, I like to pair the Beatles up with all new gadgets, and here are the Fabs being snapped on mobiles. A subtle extra is to have John & George in monochrome. This painting was always going to be experimental as I was painting on very durable Bread & Butter paper. The experimentation almost got out of hand, in fact the original piece of paper had kind of "lost it." After sleeping on it I went for a last ditch remedy, a process involving carefully considered tears. Not only did it save the composition, but it implies the final break-up of this unique quartet from Liverpool. 760mm x 1120mm Available exclusively through Breeze Gallery. http://www.bobharperart.com/Doors-Of-Perception http://www.bobharperart.com/following/bobharperart.com/Doors-Of-Perception Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:17:33 +0000 Bob Harper Art 1991401 <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/1991401/BHA_The_Doors_HR web.jpg" width="670" height="1017" width_o="1140" height_o="1731" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/1/46045/1991401/BHA_The_Doors_HR web_o.jpg" data-mid="9893620" border="0" align="left"/> "Doors Of Perception" The Doors found their name in a verse by William Blake, quoted in full on this painting. The lines illustrate beautifully all I feel about their wonderful music... the mysticism, the space between life and death we all tread. "Riders on the Storm" is a metaphor for our walk on this tightrope we call life, and the half light world this painting occupies attempts to demonstrate our shadowy, unreal journey. By all accounts Jim Morrison was a thoroughly unpleasant man, but he looked so alluringly handsome. This whole event is a wonderful mystery, and I suppose I'm guilty of giving it far too much thought. Aaaaanyway, I thank the Universe for soundtracks like this! 690mm x 1020mm Available exclusively through Breeze Gallery.