Beto - Haircuts & Art

Last week I had my hair cut. Nothing out of the ordinary about that one might think. But has "one" been to Beto's Hair Gallery?Beto is a Brazilian purveyor of hair styling services who is also an artist as his salon Tooting Bec testifies. He has lined the walls of the small space with his artistic works and has plenty more back home if willing buyers purchase those on show. Beto is a true artist who paints from the heart. Here he is with is favourite and below his friend Nilton's choice from the oeuvre.

If you'd like your haircut with some artistic banter and innovative style check out Beto's place at 36 Trinity Rd. or contact him: betoshairgallery@hotmail.com or 020 8672 1223

Following the Thames

Some inspiration on an eight mile walk along the Thames from Putney to Richmond.

1) stone figure, Putney
2) glass found on the beach opposite Fulham FC
3) stars on Hammersmith Bridge
4) flightpath over Mortlake
5) cherry blossom in Kew
6) spaceman in Barnes
7) Grace Jones canal-boat prow, Kew
8) man in tree, Richmond

Austin Emery

Last week my artistically minded and renowned food-writing friend Oona van den Berg invited me to the private view of sculptor Austin Emery's new exhibition called, wait of it, EXPRESSTANEOUSMOMENTERIALISM!
It was a fun evening and I had an interesting conversation with Austin about his development as a sculptor. He started and still works as a very talented architectural stone carver. But for him that's just the day job; yes, that's far too easy! What really excites him right now is the spontaneous use of the creative impulse to fashion sculpture without preconception, and this exhibition includes stone carving, painting and mixed media.

<--- STONE FIGURE

I particularly liked his figures made from bones found in the Thames river bed at low tide and can picture him down in the mud scavenging, beneath the classically carved gargoyle-peppered London riverside frontages, that he can knock up himself of course in an afternoon!

I will be interested to see how Austin continues to develop his work, blending both his fine stone carving skills with his recently unleashed passion for the spontaneous and avant garde.
Exhibition runs till Thursday this week, don't miss it!

BONE FIGURE ----->

Icy Something

Possibly inspired by my icy undertakings, my Dad now seems to be becoming highly adept at spotting nature's artistry. He just sent me this beautiful creation. Prizes if you can guess what it is or how it was formed!

Quick Freeze

Spending a week in the Swiss Alps at Wengen, I experimented with water and ice sculpture. The environment was very helpful as the outside temperature on my balcony was below zero all the time. This meant I was able to freeze and fuse water in various shapes very quickly. In the small pictures on the right you can see ice shapes formed in bottles, plastic bags and other sundry containers. The way the ice crystals start forming is amazing to watch. On the left are two slightly more beautiful efforts constructed by fusing ice pieces that I had set in various pots, lids and caps.

Monolith

Spent several hours making this monolith with the help of my brother Chris, niece Rebecca and nephew James over the snowy weekend. Finishing height achieved is about 12-13ft.