December Buzz

It is really all very exciting at the moment, all the hard work and long hours are paying off and many fantastic opportunities are arising.

I am currently working with a number of interior designers who commission art for client’s interiors and have done a funky abstract New York skyline called ‘Manhattan Celebration’.

The interior designer, Janice Dalton was searching and searching for a particular painting but then decided to commission a piece of art by Joanna Gilbert. The painting is loved by the owner who very kindly leant it back to me for my recent exhibition at HJA solicitors.

This month also saw the big meet with Duncan Bannatyne. Completely in awe of being in the presence of someone so successful and inspiring, I somehow managed to keep my cool and present him ‘Mr Super Ice’. It was received very well and as I later found out via twitter, his wife loves it also!

I have visited his hotel in hastings to identify areas in need of artwork. And am creating concepts to present back to the big man himself shortly!


Finally I am embarking on a great journey with the wonderful commercial interior designer – Sarah Jones – from Grey Interiors Ltd. I have been chosen as one of their top artists to provide bespoke art commissions for company interiors and offices. More to follow on this exciting venture soon! But the below paintings are some sample canvases I painted for one of their clients. 

Mr Super Ice to meet Duncan Bannatyne

Mr Super Ice is due to meet Duncan Bannatyne in November.

The portrait which was created by Joanna Gilbert represented how he began his career with one icecream van - 'Duncan's Super Ices' to where he is now.

Of the painting, Gilbert said 'I am very excited about the thought of meeting Duncan and giving him the painting which as you can see has become a firm favourite in our house!'

Mr Super Ice is forming part of the exhibition 'Windmills of My Mind'.

Exhibition opening night: Monday 18th October, 6:00pm to 8:30pm

The paintings will be on show in the atrium of:

Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors

180 North Gower Street

Euston

London

NW1 2NB

RSVP to info@joannagilbet.com

Windmills of My Mind Exhibition

All 12 paintings for the exhibition are complete and varnished. With 2 weeks to go, invites gone out and RSVPs coming back there is not much more I can do apart from wait!

The exhibition will be held in the beautiful atrium of the Hodge Jones & Allen LLP office during the week of the 18th October – 21st October. The opening night is open to the public so if you like art or know of any sad looking empty walls then please come and join us for a drink!

The paintings will then be moved to the lavish Home House for an exclusive  'Cultured Pearl' networking event brought to you by ‘The Oyster Club’ on the night on 21st October.

If you would like to attend any of these events please RSVP to info@joannagilbert.com

August and its work work work

It has been an amazingly satisfying month (or three). I am kind of feeling invincible at the moment. I know that seems very super hero but it is true. Sometimes in life you get these moments when you are just on a buzz and everything you do is exciting so you 200% immerse yourself in it until you cant breath. But, you love it!

Know what I mean?

Hmmm, well put it this way, I love the fact that I am cramming in 50 hours work in each day. Like the wonderful Tanya Rennick from The Oyster Club said - you have 9 meetings already and its only 11am.

I just feel good.

Anyway I hope you do too.

Much love and brushes.

Jo

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.

Behind the Art – Second in the Series of Joanna Gilbert’s Art Stories

Part 2 -What Came Next

May 2010

This is the second in Joanna's series of blog posts talking about the inspiration behind the art.


This is called “NObama”! When Obama was voted in as president of the USA, I decided to paint him as part of the celebration of a new era. Like many, I was inspired by his charisma, his speeches and his personality. Like many I hoped that he could help us through the troubles of 2009.

NObama - by Joanna Gilbert

I had originally called the piece “Obama Rocks” but when I released my show reel there was such an outcry against him that I gave it a new title.

Now, several months into his presidency, his speeches, his charisma and our hopes have all changed.

“Magic & Sparkle” was a commission developed to celebrate the proposed (now approved) flagship M&S development in Cheshire Oaks.

Magic & Sparkle - by Joanna Gilbert

This will be the company’s biggest store outside London and is being described as the ‘Marble Arch of the North’. Work on the 150,000 sq ft store, which includes a 950-space car park, begins early next year and is due to open in spring, 2012. This was an exciting project for me for one of the UK’s leading names in retail.


“B&Q – New Malden” was a commission for the giant DIY brand in celebration of its most energy efficient store, featuring the largest wind turbine yet installed on a building in the UK.

B & Q New Malden - by Joanna Gilbert

The DIY chain said the 159,000 square foot store in New Malden, South London, would emit 50 per cent less carbon emissions compared with a traditional store of similar size. It will also stock the largest range of green products under B&Q’s One Planet Home brand.


“Painting Peace” is very close to my heart. I get so frustrated about the one sided anti Israel propaganda, saying Israel fired missiles here, and killed Palestinians there, without explaining the whole story. Because we only hear what the news want us to hear, I hoped that my painting would send a message that every day the Israeli soldiers, who fight to protect Israel, pray for peace.

Painting Peace - by Joanna Gilbert

This painting was sold on eBay. I decided to use the concept to create a charity auction, with all proceeds being donated to UK Friends of AWIS (The Association of the Welfare of Israeli Soldiers). The piece has received a lot of positive attention and many have been very moved by the idea of young boy soldiers praying in full uniform at this holy site.

For your own original art work by Joanna Gilbert contact her here: info@joannagilbert.com

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/