Social Media Inspires Artist Joanna Gilbert for her Touring Exhibition

An artist is using the phenomena of social media as the inspiration for her latest exhibition.

Joanna Gilbert is exploring our growing use of social media – on sites such as Twitter and Facebook – and how we bare our innermost thoughts to friends and colleagues with Windmills of My Mind, which begins touring this September.

Indian-born Joanna, who describes herself as “very much the modern working mother”, said she was fascinated by how much time adults spent immersed in one another’s thoughts and wanted to probe the trend deeper.

A specialist in pop art portraits and modern abstracts, she uses digital technology to create hand-painted works of art at her studios in London.

The collection of pieces – including NObama, about the American President’s first year in office; Painting Peace, done to remind us that everyday there are soldiers praying for peace in Israel; and Stay at Home Mum, illustrating the pressure on women to “have it all” and still look glamorous - are akin to status updates on Facebook and Twitter, but in tangible art form, she says.

Each canvas takes between ten and 15 hours to paint and is worked from digitally-enhanced photography.

“Art is an expression of inner self,” says Gilbert said.

“I’m trying to reflect the diversity of ours lives now, in this generation, by building a collection that will reflect what we think about what is happening now.

“My exhibition tells the story of a happily married mum of two. Perhaps it doesn’t sound particularly interesting, but isn’t that point? Through social media and blogs, we have all become obsessed with the minutiae of daily life.

“Think of it as a real life tangible blog, with each painting telling the viewer about a snapshot of a mind. It is status updates in art.

“My paintings are like blog entries – a snapshot of a moment or a day.”

Joanna, who has been commissioned by companies such as House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, Sports Direct and B&Q as well as by private collectors, draws inspiration from pop artists Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Allison Lefcort, as well as younger artists such as Kris Hardy.

After attaining a BA (Hons) degree in retail marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2000, she furthered her qualifications by studying graphic design and photography.

She began painting in 2005 and started to experiment with mixed media on canvas, using metallics, gold leaf and other media to create 3D pieces of art.

In 2007, Joanna started to produce portraits.

“There are always going to be fine artists who can create paintings like they are photographs,” she says. “I like to turn photographs into paintings and add a little pop!”

Gilbert’s friend and patron, Michael Maslen, said: “I have watched Joanna go from strength to strength over the last year and really become an artist with great creative presence and one to look out for. This exhibition will give people the chance to see her talent up close.”


ENDS



For further information, interview requests or image requests please contact:

Monique Lester

London Digital PR

Tel: 07958411653

Email: info@londondigitalpr.com



Notes to editor:

• To find out more about Joanna please visit http://www.joannagilbert.com/

• Please note locations for the tour are yet to be confirmed.

The Stories Behind the Art – Artist Joanna Gilbert talks about her Inspiration for her Striking Art Work

April 2010

Part One – In the Beginning!

Joanna Gilbert is a rising art star and is building a name as a new talent not to be missed.

In this post, Joanna talks about the inspiration for some of her work.
The first piece of importance in Joanna’s collection is ‘The Piano Man’.

Jo wanted to give a 30th birthday gift to the most amazing pianist (and brother in law) she knows – Jonni Gilbert from The Gilev Showband. http://www.thegilevshowband.com/

The Piano Man - By Joanna Gilbert

Joanna says “I knew I wanted to give him something special but did not have a clue what – after all, he really does have it all. So I decided on doing a painting of him playing at one of his gigs. This revived my creativity and passion for art – a hobby I always loved doing but somehow never found the time”

This led to the next piece, aptly named ‘The Decider’.

The Decider - by Joanna Gilbert

“This commission from Mike Maslen for his daughter’s room was the turning point for me. The reactions I was getting from The Decider and The Piano Man – was proving that actually, art is an option, and I decided that art was the path for me!”

‘The Boxer’ was a commission for Sportsworld who own the Lonsdale brand.

The Boxer - By Joanna Gilbert

The painting is currently in the head office boardroom and has triggered discussions into a pilot concept incorporating original art for advertising. This would mean that Joanna Gilbert would paint portraits of key sportsmen and women that would be photographed and reprinted on walls of retail interiors.
‘House of Fraser / Sophie Ellis Bexter’ was created as part of the Simons Group Exhibition of Original Art by Joanna Gilbert, this painting is one of Joanna’s personal favourites.

House of Fraser/Sohie Ellis Bextor - By Joanna Gilbert

It shows the flagship, beautiful Westfield House of Fraser store which was opened by Sophie Ellis Bexter.
It was so well received at the exhibition that Joanna was invited to meet the MD of House of Fraser and present him with the painting which he loved.

For your own original paiting, email info@joannagilbert.com and for more from Joanna visit:

http://www.joannagilbert.com/

Show Reel - Joanna Gilbert, Contemporary Artist

Rising Contemporary Art Star Joanna Gilbert makes her Mark

22, February 2010

Art must be in Joanna Gilbert’s blood. The Indian born British artist is making her mark in the contemporary art world. Joanna uses digital technology to create hand painted works of art which once seen, are never forgotten. Her inspiration comes from Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein as well as younger modern artists such as Kris Hardy. Her style, despite these influences, is very much her own.


Of Warhol she says” I love his work. I also take inspiration from Allison Leftcort – her work is very simple, yet edgy and she has lots of celebrity clients. I’m planning to follow in her footsteps.” Seeing and hearing her enthusiasm and determination, somehow you wouldn’t doubt it.


Joanna moved with her parents from India to leafy, suburban Kingston Upon Thames when she was two. Her schooling built character, since she was one of three Jewish children in her school and so she learned early to be individual and not part of the mainstream. Joanna then describes he move to North West London and this lead to her meeting the ‘man of her dreams’. Very much the modern working mother, Joanna balances her painting with looking after her two young children. As she puts it on her Twitter profile, she likes to juggle life around her painting. But it is art and painting that is in her soul.

Having gained a BA Hons degree in Retail Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2000, Joanna began her career in the commercial marketing of major brands such as Orange, Discovery Channel & Puma, working on everything from Point of Sale, Direct Marketing to Advertising.


After furthering her qualifications to include Graphic Design and Photography she began painting again in 2005, combining the simplicity of graphics with the personality of brushstrokes.


During her abstract phase, Joanna began experimenting with different collections of mixed media on canvas including the use of rich metallic’s, gold leaf and various mediums to create 3-Dimensional exciting, thought provoking pieces of art, which have been commissioned for both residential and commercial properties.



Gilbert then moved onto portraits in 2007 as the demand for requests grew. She states, “There are always going to be fine artists who can create paintings like they are photographs, I like to turn photographs into paintings and add a little pop!”

Her friend, Mike Maslen, encouraged Joanna to develop her talent. She says he has been her” friend, adviser and kick – starter” and inspired her to take the plunge into a full time contemporary art career.


It began with a painting for Mike’s daughter’s bedroom and turned into a commission for a major construction company and she has since gone from strength to strength.

Her work has included *Commercial commissions for:


Westfield Centre, London - House of Fraser flagship store which was opened by Sophie Ellis-Bextor in November 2009.
Marriotts Close, Witney - A £50m retail, leisure and residential project designed in association with West Oxfordshire District Council.

Kettering NHS Hospital Trust - Cardiac Catheterisation Procedures Unit.

Mike Ashley – Sports Retailer Tycoon who owns Sports World and Sports Direct.

B&Q New Malden – B&Q store incorporating renewable technologies including ground source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, solar roof panels and a planted sedum roof.

Marks & Spencer, Cheshire Oaks - Flagship store developed by Simons in partnership with Marks & Spencer.

She has also undertaken private commissions, including work for Alan Rubenstein (MD for Jewish Chronicle) and Richard Ferrer (MD of Jewish News).

Most of Joanna’s work has come from word of mouth referral. Her most recent painting, entitled ‘Painting Peace’ depicts an Israeli Soldier praying by the Western Wall. It was a topical piece and very much about now. It is a very modern image with a strong message.

Each painting takes between ten to fifteen hours to paint and is worked from digitally enhanced photography. Joanna likes to work big and feels that the bigger the canvas the better for her. The images are strong and colourful and one cannot help but notice them.

The concept of this painting has led her to the idea for her new collection. Joanna is working on a collection about now. “I’m trying to reflect to the diversity of our lives now, in this generation in building a collection which will reflect what we think about what is happening now”.

The collection will go on show in September and will contain contemporary portraits of celebrities from now, as well as topical paintings reflecting to the diversity of our lives right now in this generation and where we are at.

Joanna’ s work makes a fantastic gift and each piece is unique. They make an ideal gift or addition to any room. If you email her a photo or an idea, she will work on concepts for you, no obligation

Email ideas to info@joannagilbert.com

For Joanna’s work online visit http://www.joannagilbert.com/

Contact:

Monique Lester

London Digital PR

http://www.londondigitalpr.com/

info@londondigitalpr.com

+44 7958 411653

Original Art for Original Interiors!

9 March 2010

After a really busy January, February seemed quite chilled in a ‘hands on brushes’ kinda way.


I created a concept for Duncan Bannantyne and James Caan which will be shown to them in mid March – so expect some pics of my paintings shortly.


I also attended a great Art Workshop held by an amazing artist called Pip Seymour who taught me about various techniques I can use on my paintings to add more texture and life.


Exhibition wise - I am showcasing some of my work at the SEED ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ supper quiz for around 300 people to see. http://www.seed.uk.net/event.php?id_evt=182 Seed are a charity that aims to enthuse and educate Jewish families. They really loved my artwork and have offered me the chance to show off some of my other pieces.
My flyers and promotional material needed a rework and after overcoming artist writers block (finally!) I created a concept that is so simple it really kicked me in the face and made me realise how I over complicate things.


It is VERY limiting not having a smart phone and I have driven myself and hubby and friends mad choosing which phone to go for. After much deliberation I decided yesterday on the Sony Ericsson Xperia x10,then I did a complete ‘Jo-turn’ today and am now eyeing up the Nexus One (thanks to Monique for the recommendation).

My life is Google, my mail is Google and I am all ‘G’d up for it. Bring on April!


The ‘NOW!’ concept is taking shape and there are lots of ideas pouring in from war scenes to dice symbolising the gamble we take with everyday life.


If you have any ideas on what NOW! means to you, let me know so I can paint it!


Send your ideas by email to info@joannagilbert.com


http://www.londondigitalpr.com/

http://www.joannagilbert.com/