£30k Public Art Prize, Saatchi smooching, ING and London Artist, David Speed Punched Me in The Face!

Author’s Note: Every Saturday, I share my art practice over the past 7 days. I'm fascinated by artistic practice – it's not just about creating art but the entire process. From influences and ideas to materials and skills, each artist's unique approach shapes their work, making it more than a finished piece. Just imagine having a weekly update from your favourite living artist. How cool would that be?

If this piece is too long for email, you can read it here in Substack. Or download the app.

This week…

£30k CIRCA Art Prize

Thank you to dear

artplace

for placing this in my awareness! It was quite last minute submitting my entry but I got it in on the 15th of July! (The website was pretty cool for this, it reminds me of Nathan Barley’s website)

I put together some footage of when I was having dialysis and overlaid a poem I wrote in one of my previous posts one in an AI voice and one in my own voice. My idea around it was that as an artist, there’s nothing to fear around AI, as AI can never feel the pain of having dialysis (or any pain or suffering) so it can’t write or create art from a place of pain or life experience.

Here’s the video:

M&M Saatchi - Art for Change Prize

Another one that was on

artplace

and a good friend said I should apply, so here goes!

I entered these pieces:

Memento Mori 1 by SLART.

Memento Mori 2 by SLART.

Limitless by SLART.

Memento Vivere by SLART.

Time: The Great Equaliser by SLART.

The brief:

Tomorrow’ing: Visions of a better future

As we enter 2024, the world is confronted by a waning sense of optimism, with urgent social, political, and economic issues front of mind for people around the globe. So, what can we do to build a more optimistic vision of tomorrow’s world?

This year’s prize invites emerging artists to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues and act as a beacon of hope in the pursuit of a better tomorrow.

My answer to the brief:

“I am a self-taught figurative expressionist who rediscovered my passion for drawing and painting at the age of 37, two decades after my last formal art class. Through my art, I reveal and disarm human issues. I intertwine Memento Mori, spiritual themes and influences from the 1980s and 1990s pop culture I grew up in.

My collection of works submitted responds to the theme "Tomorrow’ing: Visions of a Better Future" by emphasising the importance of self-awareness, unity, and proactive generosity. By understanding and accepting our mortality, we are empowered through gratitude to live our best lives and help others do the same. This shift in perspective is crucial in tackling the world's most pressing issues, fostering a sense of hope and a collective drive towards a better tomorrow.

Halfway through 2024, it's clear that our world is grappling with significant social, political, and economic challenges. However, my artwork aims to remind us that these issues have always been present in one form or another throughout history. The hyper-connected age we live in today amplifies our awareness of these issues, to feel the pain of others so acutely, driving an urgent need to act and make a difference. Thank you.”

ING Discerning Eye Exhibition

This is the third time thanks to

artplace

… I’m only submitting one piece as it costs £15. I don’t have £70 for up to six works.

This is the piece I have entered, it’s one of my faves.

Fighting with Picasso by SLART.

I added this accompanying video:

Western City Campus - Plaza Public Art Project

Do you remember I applied for this about 6 weeks ago? Well, it’s gone to a jury now! Fingers crossed.

Portraits - 2024 (2nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Publication, Sales)

Applied via callforentry.org I saw a note that said “We have a thorough jury process as our art opportunities are popular and have a low acceptance rate.” I wonder how many people didn’t apply because of it? I certainly would as a younger person.

I sometimes wonder why I apply to these types of open calls, as, no offence, but their website is shit! (Don’t tell them! LOL). They seem to put effort into promoting, but they charge £40 for accepted entries. Maybe I need to set up a cool version of this? Hmmm…. (Not another idea to get SLART distracted… ahhhh).

Public Art Archive Submission

This one is a public art archive, that’s archiving public art. It sounded funnier in my head… I’m submitting the murals I’ve worked on, you never know who’ll see them on their website!

publicartarchive.org has a little bit of clout! Google PageRank: 4/10. This means that it has a 4/10 trust score from Google. Sites like BBC have 8/10 so 4 isn’t bad! slart.me has 2/10 and substack.com has 7/10. Good job

Chris Best

. It's the same as Tesla.com with a 7/10 too.

I submitted our community mural first of all, it takes a while to put a submission together, so I’ll be doing more asap.

Making use of The Handbook

Many times, I have made the dumb mistake of signing up for a software trial AND FORGETTING TO CANCEL, SO I GET CHARGED! This time I got charged £70 for The Handbook, which is a platform to find celeb and influencer contact info.

I did plead to them to refund me, but they said blah blah it’s in our blah policy to blah give no blah refunds.

So I will make the most of a dumb situation that I caused, and gather some contact info for celebs and influencers for future use.

I’ll definately get Arnold Schwarzenegger’s contact details :-D

Fighting with Schwarzenegger by SLART.

At peace around no painting

It’s such a waste of energy for me to keep saying “I should have painted this week”. I realise that I have done my best work in spurts, where I’ve had a couple of days in the studio at once, or even an afternoon. Once I have an exhibition planned, this draws me towards painting more. As an artist, it’s ok to paint in seasons or blocks, there are no rules remember, it’s art!

Here’s a few studio pics for now :-)

SLART studio pics.

David Speed

slapped me in the face

Metaphorically, don’t worry.

His recent post really really really resonated, it was very much needed.

What resonated specifically?

I will summarise how each of the 3 points struck me.

1. A good product - Do I think I have a good product, a unique style? Yes and Yes, but I can improve and do more. Accepting feedback from people who’ve made it.

2. Sales and Marketing - This is something I have been focusing on lately, getting my ducks in a row, getting my website e-commerce ready, and then getting it out there.

3. Time - I have a wife, an 18-month-old daughter and a full-time job. I need to make that time now, to have the freedom later!
   
   I know I have limited time but it’s up to me and me only to find the time. I’ll repeat that: “It’s up to you and you only, to find the time for your art”.

You can read the full article here: I highly recommend it. Thank you,

David Speed

!

Build a Creative Career in 3-5 years Using Three ingredients

Let us cordially converse in the comments

1. How are you doing? Don’t give me a reflexive answer. If you’re English, don’t say “Not too bad”.

2. What have you been up to this week in getting your work out there, or being creative?