Somewhere on my OUTSIDER: the art of Ian F Harris website I appear as though I am making some kind of apology. I openly and foolishly suggest that there is no theme to what I paint. I take it all back. After much thought, I have decided, there is a method to my madness after … The post a method to my madness appeared first on OUTSIDER ..read more

As far as I can tell, the Art of painting is only about two things. Painting on to a canvas (or whatever surface you wish), a series of ideas (or one idea) in whatever way one wishes. i.e. This could be anything the artist wishes, a landscape, an abstract, absolutely anything. It can mean what … The post The Art of painting appeared first on OUTSIDER ..read more

You will hear me continually banging on about ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ and I stick by that. ‘Different horses for different courses’ and all that jazz. I will defend everybody’s right to call themselves an artist and the work that they present to justify the calling. However, (there’s always a ‘but’ … The post High Street Galleries appeared first on OUTSIDER ..read more

One of the hardest things for me as I pursue the artist’s journey is taking myself seriously. Or to put it another way, fighting off what is commonly called ‘Imposter syndrome’. The dreadful black cloud of doubt. For me it shows itself usually when I have just finished a picture. I look at it and … The post Imposter syndrome is a bastard appeared first on OUTSIDER ..read more

There’s a lot of stuff online at the moment concerning the craziness of the art world. Some people seem very angry about the prices being paid for what they tend to call ‘not real art’ or words to that effect. Shamefully, it is not unusual for the disgruntled to follow up with an unnecessary remark … The post Concerning the craziness of the art world. appeared first on OUTSIDER ..read more

The Curmudgeon Times loves to see the idiot Tories missing yet another chance to redeem themselves. And brilliantly, they have done it again. Source: The Curmudgeon Times. Issue 4. The post The Curmudgeon Times. Issue 4. appeared first on The Curmudgeon Times ..read more

Views: 2 I have to admit that I wasn’t that surprised to hear that The Royal Shakespeare Theatre has added £175,000 to its coffers. I’m not surprised for a number of reasons including the one that as the name suggests, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, has friends in high places. I’m not surprised because that’s what institutions do. That’s what they are there for. To exist. Without question. They are like mountains. They are there. And without them we are told, ‘the sky would fall in’. Unfortunately, we believe it. The Great Swallower of Monies has been ‘awarded’ £175, 000 to er…up-grade their l ..read more

Views: 2 This little snippet of summer that we are lucky enough to be going through at the moment, is marked by the return of the usual in this idyllic corner of Stratford upon Avon (Trinity Mead), that I live in. And the usual? I refer of course to The Dog Cacophony. The return of er…summer in my area means the return of The Dog Chorus. (Actually, it never really went away, you just don’t notice it as much when there’s a howling gale and a sky heavy with rain). It’s a sad fact, but the days of the early morning dawn chorus sung by birds around these parts, is gone for ever.  It has been ..read more

Visits: 0 At the moment I am really venting my spleen and doing my nut every time I come across that weird breed of young, greedy and more often than not, bearded Americans who, are making a lot of money on YouTube by exploiting young kids (and my grandchildren). I despise them and the way they have ‘taken’ over what children see on TV these days. They present garbage that presents itself to very young kids, as entertainment. Kids who don’t know better. Kids who do not have the experience or know-how to offer critic. These kids are victims and the idiot, stupid, greedy, bearded Americans, vamp ..read more

Visits: 0 My letter to The Stratford upon Avon Herald. (Just in case it is ignored). Dear sir, Like many hundreds of people, I was taking photographs of the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations and all that makes it an enjoyable occasion. In this case I was photographing THE EMPTY DINING TABLES (no diners) through the windows of Luncheon ‘tent’ in the RSC gardens. I was also listening to music (earphones) when I heard muffled voices and suddenly a hand went over my lens. I reacted by swearing and looked up to find myself confronted by two men in black who informed me I wasn’t allowed to take phot ..read more