If you’re Tom Clifford, the modern oil painter from London, you also produce pop videos.
His work has seen him work on unofficial projects for Black Submarine, the band which features Nick McCabe and Simon Jones, perhaps better known for their time in The Verve.
“One of their videos has received more than 17,000 views on Youtube,” reveals Tom, who received a Facebook email from the violinist in the band saying that they really liked it.
German musician Christian Erfurt, known for his ambient music, heard about Tom’s video skills and contacted him through an online forum and Facebook. “He liked the Black Submarine videos that I had done and asked if I'd like to do a collaboration. The imagery used in the videos of the water and sea relates strongly to my paintings.”
Surrey artist Susie Lidstone has become one of just 19 women to be elected to The Society of Architectural Illustrators (SAI).
With a total of 120 members membership of this prestigious society is recognised as a professional qualification throughout the world.
“I had to send five examples of my architectural work for selection by the 15 council fellows as well details about myself and my website,” explains Susie from Farnham.
“I wasn't sure if my work would be suitable because a lot of my commissions are for detailed representations of clients’ homes rather than working with architects. But I felt that if I achieved membership it might help secure work and give clients confidence that I had this professional SAI qualification.
“As an organisation the SAI seems very friendly and I spoke to Don Coe, one of the fellows who elected me (his wife Heather is the administrator for the society). Don gave me the comments that the council fellows made about my work which was fascinating, positive and constructive. They discussed me at length at the AGM because of my work mainly being for clients rather than architects. Don said that much of his work is too; he works in illustration and models for the industry but also for clients.”
Past SAI patrons include Sir Hugh Casson, who in his time was Head of The Royal Academy, and whose work Susie admires.
Art is business
“There is no difference between art and entrepreneurialism.”
So says Charles Summers, the world renowned fan painter, who was commissioned by The Master of The Worshipful Company of Fan Makers to paint a fan for the Queen.
“Art has to be sold like any other commodity,” says Mr Summers, who also produces collages. “I like business and I am not sentimental about my work. It’s all about selling the damn thing; the gas bill needs paying.”
He adds: “Viewing art as a business is not a new thing either because the pre-Raphaelites would charge £10,000 for a painting in their day, the equivalent today of around £2m. They realised that their work had a certain value. Nothing’s changed. Millais was disappointed with the quality of his work when he painted for money. He made the comment on seeing his early work painted only from his soul.”
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