David Hockney RIP

In my opinion a very talented artist and great human being who didn’t take himself too seriously. A sad loss.

indeed, he spent quite a few years living locally too, In Beuvon En Auge one of, if not the, prettiest village in this part of world.

Agreed...

His chain smoking caused an early death
I liked his stuff particularly the wolds paintings.

Yes sad loss. Also yesterday Nigel Cabourn died, another Northerner who left his mark, this time in the fashion world.

Years ago SWIMBO and I were in a gallery and she nearly bought a Hockney original daub; just three brush strokes on canvas. I only found out recently that she didn't - Rob

Robert (@Blackswanwood ) please forgive the following... and, Admin, please remove if considered in poor taste

My father was in the British Army until 1967... Regiment; REME... as an armourer, small arms. Posted many places such as (then) British Somalia (1949~51), Hong Kong, Germany... Ended up in Warminster as an instructor. (Sorry for the long preamble...)

During his time he took up oil painting (around 1962?)... did a few that ended up in the officers messes on different barracks/camps. Before he retired from the Army he was asked to do a painting for the cover of a book about Japanese prisoners of war at Son Kwai (not sure of the spelling). Bear with me, I'm getting there...

At the book presentation/launch the author (unable to recall his name) was asked who the artist was of the painting - the painting was on display at the book launch - and was asked to tell the artist to contact him when he came out of the Army. The person asking was Henry Moore - Google AI says "Arguably the most celebrated British sculptor of the 20th century. He is globally recognized for his monumental, semi-abstract bronze figures featuring organic forms and sweeping curves. [1, 2]"

Sadly my father never contacted him... I've often wondered what our family life may have been had he done so... Not saying he may have been up to the likes of David Hockney! But...

I've got some of my father's early works... one being a copy of a "The Charging Chasseur, or An Officer of the Imperial Horse Guards Charging, is a c. 1812 oil-on-canvas painting by the French painter Théodore Géricault." He did it from a "Look and Learn" magazine I used to get back then...


Another is more modern,

I only have a black and white photo of the POW painting. It's whereabouts now is unknown. My father told me it had been given to the Imperial War Museum but, when I enquired, they couldn't tell me if it was.

Please forgive the distraction from the OP post. Hockney will be missed.

@Accipiter - your father clearly was a talented artist. There’s nothing to forgive about your post

Agreed and what an heirloom to have.
Surprised about IWM’s comments. Either it is in their collection or not, surely.

AndyP said:

Agreed and what an heirloom to have.
Surprised about IWM’s comments. Either it is in their collection or not, surely.

Click to expand...

Thank you Andy.

Possibly it's not the sort of painting that they want admit to having? The b&w photo (if I can locate it) is a bit on the gruesome side... imagine a fire with bodies being burned... smoke rising... and (totally unintentional) there's a face discernible in the smoke... The painting is from what the author described to my father... Certainly these days such paintings are not welcome to remind us all of man's atrocities to others...

Years ago, we (my then wife and I) entertained David at a weekend music party at our then farm in Capel, Surrey. The next day (random stayover) he did a painting of our son, aged around 4, as well as our groom Siobhan. Using my amateur paints. Gifted it to us. Has been treasured ever since. Very interesting and intelligent, kind man. Only met him a couple of times. He was a wild spirit. Sad to hear of his passing.

"Look and Learn". That takes me back...

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