TAMARA DE LEMPICKA.

Queen of Art Deco painting, I love Tamara De Lempicka. Apparently she was not taken too seriously in her day.

I think that she was years ahead of her time and her art still has an ultramodern feel even today.

The self portrait in the Bugatti is a wonderful artwork. With a nod to cubists, she has made this a style all of her own and for me, the look in the eyes is just priceless.

Apparently, De Lempicka lived a full life and was prone to partying...art and parties: ok by me! 

JEAN PAUL GOUDE

Ok, so he’s normally classed as a graphic designer but to me he’s an artist too.

Jean Paul Goude, I would say has been a major influence on me. In my teens I was exposed to his work in The Face magazine and of course, all those striking visuals produced for Grace Jones.

A true original and I would go so far as to say a genius.

JACK VETTRIANO

I get SO annoyed at people criticising Vettriano. I hate art snobbery and my belief is that it’s that British thing of attacking those who are most successful.

Vettriano even gets a hard time in Scotland rather than being celebrated and I for one, just don’t understand.

For the first McTears Contemporary art auction I painted my own canvas of Jack Vettriano

Modern, exciting, emotive and hanging on walls worldwide.....love it!

ABOUT SCOTTISH ARTISTS

I couldn’t begin to scratch the surface of Scottish art here as it would need a bebsite all of it’s own. Suffice to say that there are several “local” Scottish painters who’se work I greatly admire.

As a painter, it’s lovely to see another artist’s paintings and feel energised and enthused by them. I have recently come across Muriel Barclay, Gerard Burns and I also regularly see Peter Howson’s artwork as I pass the framer that he uses on the way to my studio.

Howson is probably best known for his big, attention grabbing oil paintings but have you ever seen his small, intimate sketches? They are truly exquisite and have a gentleness to them which is not in the larger artworks.

Muriel Barclay is carving out a name for herself and I can see a similarity with the way she paints in oil and what I am trying to do in acrylic. She is going from strenghth to strength and it is fantastic to see someone gaining recognition during a rcession.

Gerard Burns paints with patience it would seem - really interesting drem like scenarios, some of which are on a very grand scale and with a realism and feeling of modernity which is truly appealling.