In our latest blog featuring North East artists we talk to the multi-talented Alfie Joey. Alfie, 50, is a writer, stand-up comic, impressionist, singer and breakfast time presenter on Radio Newcastle. Here Alfie talks about his artwork and how he is inspired to paint and draw.
Jam Sandwiches by Alfie Joey
How would you describe your work?
Caricature and local heritage pictures.
Tell us how you first started out as an artist:
I drew a picture of Winston Churchill at infant school and I was told by Mrs. Derby I had to show it to the headteacher Mr. Smith who was more than encouraging!
What work are you most proud of?
The first chalk and charcoal sketch I sold was called Jam Sandwiches- it is 3 coal miners eating bait down the pit.
North East artist Alfie Joey
What inspires you?
My art hero is the legendary Broadway cartoonist Al Hirschfeld.
What influence if any does North East England have in inspiring your work?
The North East is littered with gorgeous landmarks that lend themselves to art work!
What has been your most challenging piece?
I had 2 days to draw a very busy cartoon cover of NE1 Magazine.
Do you have any tips for up and coming artist?
There are endless tips and teachers for free on YouTube and Instagram.
Trimdon Colliery by Alfie Joey
What other artists inspire you!?
Locally, Alexander Millar, Ben Holland and of course, Norman Cornish!
What are your ambitions for the future?
To have my children’s picture books published.
My work is on display and for sale at the North East Art Collective in Eldon Garden, Newcastle and from August, Spennymoor Town Hall, County Durham.
See more of Alfie’s work on Instagram and Facebook:
In our latest blog featuring North East artists and photographers DAVID SIMPSON talks to 44-year-old Gateshead-based photographer Adam Lang of Lang Shot Photography.
Boat By The Bridge by Lang Shot Photography
How would you describe your work?
Somewhere between city scapes and street photography, its constantly changing as I explore different types of photography.
Tell us how you first started out as an artist?
I bought a decent camera (Sony A5000) to take on a trip to Prague a few years ago. I took typical holiday snap shots with it and that’s as far as it went. Around 6 months later I started shooting pictures of the bridges around the Quayside.
When I figured out how to take long exposures I was hooked and spent many a morning wandering the streets of Newcastle when anybody with any sense was still in bed. I posted the results on my Facebook profile and got lots of praise from friends and family so I started a Facebook page to show my work, the reception was great and it just seemed to grow in no time at all.
Grey Street @ Dawn by Lang Shot Photography
What work are you most proud of?
That’s a difficult one. I’m normally proud of work that produces a style or mood that I’ve never done before. I’m very proud of my High Bridge shot, it gave me confidence to be different and was instrumental in developing my style.
High Bridge, Newcastle by Lang Shot Photography
What inspires you?
Comic book art and the look of film noir. My surroundings and the people around me are always inspiration, there is always beauty or a mood to be captured if you look.
Adam Lang photographed by Darren William Hall
What influence if any does North East England have in inspiring your work?
Newcastle is such a photogenic city and is small enough to walk around. Living so close to Newcastle means there is always something for me to shoot. The people of the North East have been great in responding to my work, I’m not sure if it’s true of everywhere but the people from here love the area and seeing pictures of it in all its glory.
Autumn Quay by Lang Shot Photography
What has been your most challenging creation?
I’d say a shot of the Corn Exchange in Leeds. The place is huge and trying to capture the scale wasn’t easy. The end result is one of my favourite shots and went down great with the people of Leeds. I’ve used the same methods to create shots in Newcastle which captures the area in a way I haven’t seen too often.
Leeds Corn Exchange by Lang Shot Photography
Do you have any tips for up and coming photographers?
Take risks and don’t be afraid to fail. I was very close to not publishing a shot as I thought I’d maybe over processed it and would attract lots of criticism. I showed it to my father who said I should post it as it was interesting so post it I did.
The amount of likes it received was like nothing I’d seen before. A typical shot would attract a few hundred likes on Facebook, this one got two and a half thousand and was seen by around a hundred and fifty thousand people.
Which other artists or photographers inspire you?
There is a comic book artist/painter named Bill Sienkiewicz who I just love. The first time I saw his work was when I was around 13, it was a painted cover and the perspective and proportions didn’t seem to make sense but the mix of red and white in the painting was beautiful. I still love that cover and follow his work on Instagram religiously.
Swinging Bridge Sky by Lang Shot Photography
What are your ambitions for the future?
I’d love to make a living through my photography but not at the expense of my passion for it. I get so much enjoyment from shooting and processing my shots and I’d hate to lose that. I’ve had a few people asking me to teach them. This is something I’ll be looking at shortly. I’d eventually love a gallery or shop somewhere when the time is right.
The Theatre Royal by Lang Shot Photography
Anything else you’d like to addd?
I’m always open to collaborations so get in touch if you have any ideas.
In our latest interview featuring creative people in the region we talk to 40-year-old Ouseburn-based artist Joanne Wishart.
Newcastle-based artist. Joanne Wishart
Where in the North East are you based?
My studio is based at the Mushroom Works in Ouseburn, Newcastle, but I live a little nearer the coast in North Shields.
How would you describe your work?
My work is colourful and quirky capturing nostalgic seaside memories of days out at the coast, in particular the North East coast. I have an extensive back catalogue of works depicting Northumberland’s favourite coastal landmarks. I like to paint summer days and sunny skies to create images that will give you a lift and make you smile.
Seaside Donkeys by Joanne Wishart
I work mainly with acrylic paint but I like to add a bit of collage material including fabrics and old maps into my work to give added layers and a textured surface. My ideas have developed over the years and have introduced new work including driftwood boat sculptures, and deckchair artworks.
Tell us how you first started out as an artist?
I’ve always been creative ever since I was a child. Then after school I went on to study Printed Textile design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. As part of my degree I spent a term in Nova Scotia studying at their art college, which was a fabulous experience.
I would say the progression form graduation to where I am today was a slow process, I initially got work freelancing for agents in the U.K. and New York designing Hawaiian shirt prints and children’s furnishing fabrics. I also worked part time in a small gallery and picture framers. In 2006 I met my now husband and moved from Berwick upon Tweed to North Tyneside and together we set up our current business where we self publish my paintings into limited edition prints and greetings cards and we haven’t looked back.
Towards Dunstanburgh by Joanne Wishart
What work are you most proud of?
I do love the old 1940’s deckchair frames with my paintings on the canvas. They are something just a little bit different and really capture the essence of seaside nostalgia.
I am also proud to have won North East England’s “Best Creative Business” in 2009. I am proud to be able to make my way in the world doing what I love for a living.
What influence if any does North East England have in inspiring your work?
Growing up near Berwick upon Tweed and now living in North Tyneside, North East England has so much to offer in terms of inspiration.
What inspires you?
I love the great outdoors, the beauty of the North East coastline, the coastal landscape, the sun, the sea, the flowers and animals. Most of my inspiration comes from walking the coastal paths or spending a sunny day on the beach with my kids. I like to get out and about with my sketchbook and camera, taking it all back to my studio with a head full of ideas.
Puffins by Joanne Wishart
What has been your most challenging creation?
My most challenging creation has to be my exhibition in the Bridge Gallery at Tynemouth station. It is such an unusual space to hang work in and that can be view from both sides of the walkway. I am used to hanging a painting on a flat wall so I had to think differently to make this exhibition work as a whole.
Do you have any tips for up and coming artists?
My tips would be to work hard, create your own style, evolve and develop. Go into galleries and ask for feedback (make an appointment first, you will get a better response!), learn from this and don’t let the knock backs get you down. An artist’s life is a rollercoaster and you never know what is around the next corner.
Joanne Wishart, artist
Which other artists or photographers inspire you.
I try not to get too inspired by other artists work so that my own signature style develops.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I would love to run my own studio gallery one day, this might be when my kids get a bit older, but for the moment I am happy juggling being a mum and artist.
If you would like to visit my studio at the Mushroom Works and see where the magic happens please pop along to Ouseburn Open Studios on the 30th June & 1st July. The Mushroom Works will be open to the public and welcomes visitors behind the scenes. I will have a selection of new North East paintings on show in the Mushroom Works gallery and will be on hand to talk to anyone in my studio.
