Uploads from Paul Bommer, tagged paulbommer, with geodata

Happy New Year 2013

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 07:44:02 -0800

Happy New Year 2013

A Sketch-book Page to welcome in the New Year! Wishing Health, Happiness and Prosperity to all!

Great Fire tiles: Pie Corner I

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 06:27:56 -0700

Artists of Spitalfields Life: a taster

Next wednesday 7th November sees the launch of the Artists of Spitalfields Life exhibition at Ben Pentreath's, 17 Rugby Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 3QT. The exhibtion will run until Saturday 24th November.

I will be selling, along side the likes of Joanna Moore, Adam Dant, Laura Knight, Sebastian Harding, Anthony Eyton, Alice Pattulo, Robson Cezar, Marianna Kennedy, Lucinda Rogers, Rob Ryan and Lillie O’Brien, a series of limited edition ceramic tiles, based loosely upon the Great Fire of London 1666. I've created 48 designs, in a strictly limited edition of two tiles per design, on food, fire, plague, gluttony and Restoration London.

Attached is a brief taster of 3 designs; the Fat Boy monument, at Pie Corner, on Cock Lane, where the Great Fire is reputed to have stopped.

Great Fire tiles: Fat Boy

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 06:27:49 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Great Fire tiles: Cock Lane II

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 06:27:53 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Whisky Galore cover

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 03:47:01 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Whisky Galore

A lovely commission I put to bed a month or two back for a new hardback edition of Sir Compton Mackenzie's classic tale, set during World War II, whereby a cargo vessel (the S.S. Cabinet Minister) is wrecked off a remote fictional Hebridean island group — Great Todday and Little Todday — with fifty thousand cases of whisky aboard! Celtic cunning is pitted against Sassanach censorshi...
p.
Published by Birlinn.

My idea for the cover was a deathly quiet, almost dour, view of the islands in the background and a vignette, in the form of a bottle of single malt Uisce Bea'tha, containing all the 'spirit' of the islanders at a ceilidh within it. I'd seen the film as a kid but I'd not read the book at that point. But I have now and its a cracking good read at that

Barnacle Bill

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:13:31 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Barnacle Bill

A quick sketch I did tother morning whilst sipping my coffee of my friend and close neighbour Will Brown of Old Town clothing (www.old-town.co.uk/) who enjoys a scoop or four in the lowly taverns of old Cromer town. He stands ale in hand at the bar of the Snug Bar, Dolly the cat at his heels.

I've given him a bit of a pumpkin head, which was not my intent and which, in life, he does not possess, but in other ways I think I have caught something of him...

Cromer - Gem of the Norfolk Coast

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 03:22:05 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Cromer - Gem of the Norfolk Coast

An idea I had to get out of my system to commemorate the move to our new home town on the edge of the wild and windy German Ocean. Cromer is famed for its crabs and lobsters, and I've shown one of each representing Nick and me.

Its a bit of a joke about the weather too. Despite what I've drawn its actually been sunny all week when the rest of the country was up to its ears in rain!

I have shown the magnificent Hotel de Paris and the famous Pier in the background.

Cockney Rhyming Slang (Ted Baker)

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 07:43:04 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Cockney Rhyming Slang (Ted Baker)

A month or so back I was asked by the Association of Illustrators (www.theaoi.com) to be involved with a project entitled Great British Pastimes, a collaboration between them and clothing company Ted Baker (www.tedbaker.com).

Ted Baker had selected a Baker's Dozen of thirteen illustrators he wanted to design a range of A2 limited edition litho-printed posters on...
varios allotted subjects celebrating British hobbies and culture. The posters are given away free with purchases over a certain amount from any of TB's outlet across the world.

Fellow artists included Andy Smith, Katherina Manolessou, Jane Smith and Sara Fanelli.

I was given Cockney Rhyming Slang to illustrate. I thought a Costermonger and his Stall (full of 20 odd slang 'vignettes') was the best way to show it - both the cockney traditions of the pearly kings and queens, and the use of rhyming slang, originated in the East End costermongers' world of the 19th Century - the former as a way of attracting more attention and the latter as a secret language to avoid interference from the Law!

Although not as prevalent as it once was, rhyming slang is still very much alive and kicking.

Addressed Crab

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 08:22:32 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Addressed Crab

A quick change-of-address card (amended) to inform our friends and colleagues that Nick and I have left London (at last!) and settled in creamy Cromer on the wild and windy north Norfolk coast, famous for its sideways crustacea!

The Cockney Alphabet - (detail) K for Restaurant

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:25:00 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

The Cockney Alphabet - (detail) K for Restaurant

A little taster of my new limited edition screen print, The Cockney Alphabet.
A for 'Orses, B for Mutton, &c., &c.. (you get the picture)

Limited Edition screen print, 50 cm by 70 cm (B2), signed and numbered by the artist.

This caff (or restaurant) is the wonderful (listed) E.PELLICCI on the Bethnal Green Road. Standing at the table is the late Nevio Pellicci, in his younger days, carrying a plate of the delicious Meat Balls & Spagetti that his wife Maria is famous for. Sadly Nevio senior passed away last year (and is greatly missed) but he is succeeded by his son cheeky chappy Nevio Jnr, who continues to serve up his Mamma's great food with a generous dollop of banter and charm.

Umbra Sumus (We Are But Shadows)

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:02:13 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Umbra Sumus (We Are But Shadows)
An Exhibition of Work by Mr. Paul Bommer, including Works as yet Un-seen by the World.

A Solo Show of Work old & new, including many brand new 'Delftware' tiles inspired by Spitalfields, its history and people.

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th April 2012
11 am 'til 6 pm
... Private View Friday 27th April 2012
6 pm 'til 9 pm

15 Wilkes-street,
Spitalfields,
London, E1 6QF

Nearest tube: Liverpool-street

spitalfieldslife.com/

Guardian - Frenchman stereotype

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:48:11 -0800

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Guardian - Frenchman stereotype

A pleasant surprise at the end of last week when the Guardian got in touch with me for the first time in ages. They said that the project they had in mind was for a colloboration between the Guardian and four other European newspapers - Germany's Der Spiegel, France's Le Monde, Spain's El Pais and Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, whereby they would explore each other's stereotypes and preconceptions.

I was given France and the key-words the other four editors used to describe the french stereotype.

I attach two versions here. This is an amended version without the descriptions used, as the image was considered too busy by the Editor in the end.

What do you think?

Whisky Galore cover

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 03:47:08 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Whisky Galore cover

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 03:47:18 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker - Poster

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:58:44 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker - Poster

Butcher, Baker, Candletsick Maker
850 Years of London Livery Company Treasures
Guildhall Art Gallery
22 June to 23 September 2012

The Poster design I was commissioned to create for an exhibition of 850 years of London Livery Company treasures at the Guildhall, opening this Summer.

The gentleman shown is a Guildsman and wears traditional ceremonial robes and cap. Embroidered onto the robe are a selection of over 200 of the treasures.

The strip at the bottom is for Price and Website information and for the coat-of-arms of the City of London.

The Cockney Alphabet - (detail) R for Cock Linnet

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:16:34 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

The Cockney Alphabet - (detail) R for Cock Linnet*

A little taster of my new limited edition screen print, The Cockney Alphabet.
A for 'Orses, B for Mutton, &c., &c.. (you get the picture)

Limited Edition screen print, 50 cm by 70 cm (B2), signed and numbered by the artist,

* Cockney rhyming slang: minute

This lady dillying and dallying about the old Club Row bird market is edwardian Music Hall star Marie Lloyd, famous for her saucy performances and double entendre. When asked to tone down her song 'I sits among the Cabbages and Peas' because of its suggestion of micturation in the vegetable patch, she promised to amend the words - and sang instead 'I sits among the Cabbages and Leeks'! Much better!

Her most famous number was 'My Old Man (said Follow the Van)';-

My old man said "Follow the van,
And don't dilly dally on the way".
Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it,
I followed on wiv me old cock linnet
But I dillied and dallied, dallied and I dillied
Lost me way and don't know where to roam.
Well you can't trust a special like the old time coppers
When you can't find your way 'ome!

Umbra Sumus (We Are But Shadows)

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:23:20 -0700

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Umbra Sumus (We Are But Shadows)
An Exhibition of Work by Mr. Paul Bommer, including Works as yet Un-seen by the World.

My design for the reverse of the A5 promotional postcard!

A Solo Show of Work old & new, including many brand new 'Delftware' tiles inspired by Spitalfields, its history and people.

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th April 2012
11 am 'til 6 pm
... Private View Friday 27th April 2012
6 pm 'til 9 pm

15 Wilkes-street,
Spitalfields,
London, E1 6QF

Nearest tube: Liverpool-street

spitalfieldslife.com/
RSVP: paul@paulbommer.com

Leopold Bloom sketch

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:55:59 -0800

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Leopold Bloom sketch

Ulysses by James Joyce is one of my all-time favourite books. I've read it a few times, and struggled quite a bit in parts I freely admit. Its dense and foggy at times, but also hugely inventive, irreverent, comic, touching, beautiful and keenly observed. It is full of layers, illusions and conundrums. Joyce himself said that if Dublin (where the book is set, all on one day, 16 June 1904, and where I lived for 5 years) were wiped from the face of the earth the city could be re-built in intimate detail from Ulysses alone.

I have long wanted to illustrate the book, or create a series of prints based upon it. Perhaps this year, I shall!

This is a sketch of the novel's anti-hero Leopold Bloom from the 13th chapter, commonly known as Nausicaa (Ulysses is so-named because, although set upon one day in Edwardian Dublin, it mirrors Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, which tell of the decade-long travels of King Odysseus, or Ulysses in Latin, from the battlefield of Troy back to his home and family on the island of Ithaca. As a result the un-named chapters of Ulysses are usually known by the names of those in Homer). Bloom has just noticed that his fob-watch has stopped (actually at 4,30, not 4 as I've shown. Mea culpa!) and wonders if that was the moment when his unfaithful wife Molly and her lover Blazes Boylan climaxed sexually “Funny my watch stopped at half past four” he notes, then ponders “Was that just when he, she?"

Done in my sketchbook using a black biro. I love the smearing and ink-spatters, especially when blown up large, that a biro can give. I've a tendency to overwork (or over-egg as Nick puts it) images and to smooth out blemishes and imperfections. Good then to put the brakes on my OCD every now and again!

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - vignette 10

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 01:31:30 -0800

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #10
'Epilogue'

At the beginning of the last month (December) I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the tenth (and final) vignette. 'In the months after the burial of John Williams at the crossroads in Shadwell on 31st December 1811, some further evidence came to light. A search of The Pear Tree revealed a jacket with a bloodied pocket, blood stained trousers abandoned in the privy and a bloody French knife hidden in a mouse-hole – the knife that could have been used to slit the victims’ throats. However none of these items could be incontrovertibly connected to John Williams...'

I have shown the skull of John Williams as it may have appeared on the bar shelf of the Crown & Dolphin pub, on the corner of Cannon Street Road and Cable Street (just across from where his body was interred at the crossroad or 'four went way'). The supposed criminal's cranium sits lost amid the paraphenalia of a mid 20th Century public house - dusty bottles of whisky, port and gin, &c., postcards, tankards, a ceramic Virol pot, photographs, a toby jug and a brace of Staffordshire lions (based largely on items upon my own mantelpiece).

The Crown & Dolphin closed as a pub in the 1980s and has since been converted to flats. The whereabouts of John Williams' skull is unknown.

To know more go to spitalfieldslife.com/2012/01/02/chapter-10-epilogue/

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - vignette 9

nobody@flickr.com (Paul Bommer) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:43:08 -0800

Paul Bommer posted a photo:

Ratcliffe Highway Murders Map - Vignette #9
'A Shallow Grave'

At the beginning of the month I was asked by the Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life (spitalfieldslife.com/) and publishers Faber & Faber (faber.co.uk/) to produce a map marking the bicentinary this month of the horrific Ratcliffe Highway Murders (December 1811), with vignettes indicating the location and dates of the pertinent events as their anniversaries occurred.

The vignettes were inspired by the book investigating the case 'The Maul and the Pear Tree', by P.D.James & T.A.Critchley, first published by Faber in 1971.

The map beneath was an 1811 map of the area, provided for me by the wonderful Stefan Dickers, archivist at the Bishopsgate Institute.

This is the ninth (and penultimate) vignette. After his suicide (or possible murder, according to some) the body of the supposed Ratcliffe Highway murderer John Williams was taken from Coldbath Square Prison in Clerkenwell back to Shadwell where the killings had taken place. His body was placed upon a cart and paraded through the streets of Wapping, Ratcliffe and Shadwell - past the Marr's house at 29 Ratcliffe Highway, the King's Arms where the Williamson family was butchered and the Pear Tree where Williams lodged and was arrested - before being taken to the cross-roads of what is today the junction of Cable St and Cannon Street Road (then more sensibly known as simple Cannon St!). A small and shallow hole was dug - deliberately way too small for his body to lie with any dignity - and his body dumped in. Then, at the bequest of non-other than the Home Secretery, a stake was driven through his heart (using the still blood- and hair-caked maul with which the Marr family were destroyed!), lime thrown in on top and the grave quickly back-filled.

I have shown the moment just before the stake was thrust deep into Williams' heart. I got Nick to pose for this, kneeling on the edge of the sofa with a claw-hammer in one hand and a roll of cellophane (for the stake) in the other. The cart on which Williams' cadaver was displayed stands behind.

To know more go to spitalfieldslife.com/2011/12/31/chapter-9-a-shallow-grave/