art – Page 5 – The Consulting Artist

ELTEL

An artistic collaboration

The first time Carole and I saw ELTEL perform, it was early 2017 and we were at an open mic night in The Brook. In all honesty, we weren’t sure what to make of them, two guys playing and singing a mix of their own kooky material, and reconstructed covers. After they’d finished performing we agreed that yes, this is our kind of music. We’ve seen them play several times since, becoming friends along the way.

ELTEL are now a trio, playing regularly in and around South London, Surrey and beyond. They’ve developed a really strong repertoire of material, they work hard and they’re great fun to go and see.

Here are some excellent photos of the band in full swing, taken by the very talented photographer, Shaun Duke.

Several months ago, the band approached me and asked if I would be interested in making the art work for the album cover. I agreed – and this is the work I handed to ELTEL towards the end of 2018. The album will be released in April 2019 and I can’t wait to hear it.

As the album launch nears, we’ve been thinking about ways to commemorate it, and after much discussion we’ve figured something out. Pressing vinyl copies of the album wasn’t possible this time around, but what if, instead of that, we made a limited edition vinyl junkie stencil and spray paint wall art instead?

After a few practice attempts, the design is finished.

We have decided to produce a limited edition run of this special vinyl, available to order until the end of April 2019. Each vinyl will be numbered and signed on the reverse by the band and the artist. Once the deadline has been reached and all the vinyl produced, the stencils will be destroyed, to protect the integrity of the limited edition. The cost of the vinyl is £25 plus £5 P&P in the UK, free delivery to SM5 and SM6 post codes, and free delivery to any of the three ELTEL launch party gigs. £5 from each sale will go to All in Wallington, who help organise a fantastic free local music festival every year.

To place your order, please send your money via PayPal to doug.shaw@wgalimited.com – and if you prefer to pay by bank transfer, email me at the same address and I’ll message you the details. You have until midnight on April 30th 2019 to place your order. Thanks in advance for your support.

Art Drop : Heartbreak Beat

A memorial free art drop

I made this piece of art over two years ago. I really like it and I’ve been pondering what to do with it since it came into being. Keep it? Sell it? Art drop it…?

I’ve decided to make it the third in a series of commemorative art drops in memory of Cate. To me it represents an acknowledgement of sadness, and of carrying on. I’ll hide it somewhere in the local area over the weekend.

Is This It?

Lead with what you love now, as there may not be a tomorrow.

It’s November 2018. A big company wants to experiment with communities of practice and other community aspects of learning and development. A good friend and I have just been asked to help out on the project. Initial signs are positive. Lots of enthusiasm, some clear, seemingly manageable deadlines, and an openness to new ideas. We agree to initial requests for us to respond quickly, and develop and propose a cocreated consultative approach to the work. The quick turnaround is noted by the client, who, upon receiving the proposal on 27 November 2018, promises to ‘revert this morning with any questions.’ Since then – despite several gentle reminders from us, we’ve heard nothing. It also took 70 days to get paid for the initial work we did.

It’s November 2018. An associate and I have just been booked to cocreate some art work and visual minutes at a conference in March 2019. We subsequently exchange regular correspondence with the client about the event. On 30 January 2019, the client changes their mind, apologises for messing us around, and says they no longer want us to do the work. There is currently a reluctance to pay our cancellation fee.

Time and effort has been spent securing this work, planning, helping to deliver, and managing our part in it. The unceremonious way in which work sometimes unravels, is depressing. I wasted time at the start of February 2019 worrying about the effects of such evaporation, and wondering if there are ways to get these things back on track.

It’s 11 February 2019. I run an art class for a group of older people. It’s a satisfying challenge, we have fun together, talking and trying out new things.

It’s 12 February 2019. I sell some art, and I facilitate an evening art workshop in a local pub. The work is full of enthusiasm, experimentation, and joy.

It’s 13 February 2019. I’m at Martin Couzins’s Bar Camp, and I’m live painting. I’m meeting good people, stretching my creative muscles, making art, and more.

It’s 14 February 2019. I’m volunteering at a careers fair, talking to school kids about why art matters, about doing things differently, and what it feels like to run your own business. Unbeknownst to me at the time, news is reaching people of the death of our good friend Cate. I meet a friend for lunch, we share an excellent conversation and he buys some art from me.

It’s 15 February 2019. Fridays start with counselling, a fabulous unhurried opportunity to talk. I prepare this week’s free art drop, a tribute to Cate.

It’s 18 February 2019. I sell some art, and prepare some art for shipping to an exhibition in Germany. I have a commission enquiry to deal with.

It’s 19 February 2019. I meet with someone who runs an interesting community space. We talk about art, and how it makes us think and feel, and reach an in principle agreement to pilot some community art sessions.

I am reflecting on recent events, and it is dawning on me that in recent days I invested time and effort in work that brings joy to me and others. I also learned of Cate’s death, sudden and unexpected. These things ground us. Too often I chase the seductive enthusiasm for new ideas in corporate land, only to find that enthusiasm is rarely followed by action. Perhaps Cate is teaching me that I need to lead with the art now, as there may not be a tomorrow.

Is this it?