World-Renowned Artist, SLART’s Weekly art practice: Week 41.
Note: This week, the audio/video isn’t me reading the post as I didn’t have the time. It’s of me walking round the gallery with my daughter shouting. So make sure you watch it!
Author’s Note: Every Saturday, I share my art practice over the past 7 days. I’m fascinated by artistic practice – it’s not just about creating art but the entire process. From influences and ideas to materials and skills, each artist’s unique approach shapes their work, making it more than a finished piece. Just imagine having a weekly update from your favourite living artist. How cool would that be?
If this piece is too long for email, you can read it here in Substack. Or download the app.
Memento vivere at the Crypt Gallery progress
Funding applications scare the crap out of me. It’s a bit dramatic I know, obviously, I’m not literally scared of them, it’s just the idea that it feels like it’s too involved, too many questions, too many criteria to fulfil. Like I’ve said many times before, and I need to remind myself constantly, this: When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
This week I’ve been looking into the reality of what the DYCP Arts Council Funding literally involves, and it’s not as much as I originally imagined. I imagined a 50-page application form with very specific questions on what the funding will be spent on. But in reality, it’s a handful of questions backed up with my art, and a professional reference.
I’ll share with you, the bulk of the questions below:
Your work
Tell us about yourself and your creative practice
Up to 1,800 characters (approximately 300 words)
–
Your development
Tell us about the developmental opportunity you want to undertake, what you hope to get out of it, and how you will go about it
Up to 1,500 characters (approximately 250 words)
–
Why is this important for your practice at this point, and how will this help create future opportunities?
Up to 1,500 characters (approximately 250 words)
–
It’s not a lot, is it? I know the competition is quite high, but you have access to all of the winning applications of the past to look at, my project is just as worthy as any of those.
The genius of Ralph Steadman
I visited Chatham in Kent today, specifically the Historic Dockyard—a place steeped in rich maritime history. The Dockyard, which dates back over 400 years, was once a cornerstone of British naval power, serving as a main shipbuilding and repair yard. Now, it has transformed into a fascinating heritage site, offering a glimpse into the past with its historic warships, museum collections, and industrial buildings. The Dockyard has also been featured in many TV shows and films.
The main reason for my visit, however, was a trip to see Ralph Steadman’s exhibition, which is running until 17th November. At first, it seemed like an unusual location for an exhibition of his work, but in fact, the curation and design were top-notch. The combination of Steadman’s anarchic art with the Dockyard’s historic atmosphere created a truly unique and engaging experience.
For those who aren’t familiar with Ralph Steadman, he is a British artist best known for his distinctive ink-splattered illustrations and political satire. Steadman rose to fame through his collaborations with American writer Hunter S. Thompson, most notably as the illustrator for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. His work is wild, chaotic, and often irreverent, tackling subjects like politics, war, and human nature with dark humor and sharp wit. His style has left a lasting impact on the art world, inspiring countless artists to embrace a more raw and unfiltered approach.
I first learned about Ralph Steadman from my friend this summer. Intrigued by his art and story, I went on a quest to watch his documentary For No Good Reason. After searching high and low for a place to stream it, I eventually bought a Blu-ray player just to watch it, as I found a DVD copy on eBay. For No Good Reason is a fascinating documentary that delves into Steadman’s life and creative process. It offers a rare glimpse into the mind of an artist who has always marched to the beat of his own drum, revealing both his inspirations and the madness behind his art. It’s an incredibly insightful and entertaining film, featuring commentary from the likes of Johnny Depp, and is well worth the effort to track down.
Seeing his work up close today has inspired me to push my own creative boundaries—to get a little more wild and free with my art. I’m not quite sure how that will manifest yet, but a studio session is definitely in order.
Watch this space for what comes next!
Here’s a few pics from the exhibition.
Best wishes and deep blessings,
SLART.
Q: Ask me anything and I will make a Substack Live about it…
If you missed my last post, it’s here, read it now, if you wish:
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.
When you start focusing on something the path becomes clearer.