Local artist?

[malagoo]

Does anyone know the artist who signs PA on paintings? I have recently visited the new coffee & chocolate shop which has just opened opposite the old swimming bathes, next to Rockies amusements, and inside is a display of pictures all painted by the same artist. Would anyone know if this is a local artist? and does he/she do commissions? I really liked some of the art in there and would be interested to find out more........The person behind the counter didn't appear to know anything about them, so any input on here would be greatly appreciated.

[Richard]

Were they not for sale?

[malagoo]

Yes i believe 1 picture had a sold label on it, but there were no prices.

[Richard]

Ask for the Cafe managers contact number, he/she will know who the artist is since they allowed him/her to display their work.

[malagoo]

Thanks Richard......I did mean to return and ask the question, but so far haven't had the time. Was hoping someone would know on here so i could google them.

[Richard]

Most English artists seem to struggle with signing their work, it's a bit vain, or it distracts from the work or it's done to stop someone else claiming it or stealing it or something?
I think if it's just a study then it shouldn't be signed or else if you put your signature to something it implies it's finished and you are proud of it, which you shouldn't be if you are modest
And really it just distract from the image, you can always put it on the back of the work.
Books usually have an author's name, of course, and Poetry does, but music seems to be another matter, for obvious reasons.

In short if you sign your painting to make it 'valuable' then it seems amateurish - but limited print runs are often signed so the artist approves of them as being 'genuine' and something he is happy to put his/her name to.

All a bit of a debate, somehow!!

[moonjiver]

I think some famous artists would have been quite upset at being regarded as vain for signing their works! As far as I know, quite a lot of artists add a signature or moniker to a painting, but often it is a small name or initials in a discreet corner, hardly distracting and often hard to find.

I'm no artist but I had a go at times, loved working with charcoal and pastels on a large sheet, always added my initials in a dark bottom corner!

[moonjiver]

Quite irrelevantly, there is a large exhibition of paintings by local guy Simon Smith at the Gekko bar on the seafront (near the bottom end of London Road).

I would recomnend anyone to take a look. The works vary a lot from portraits to unicorns and mystical scenes and, although you might not put some of those up on your wall, they are undeniably complex and beautiful.

[Richard]

No point in signing your work as far as I can see, unless you are well-known/famous and want to sell it.
The grey area is where forgers try to cash in on the unsigned 'studio' work and can easly make a 'pastiche' and pass it off as genuine.

[malagoo]

Further to my previous post.....I did eventually catch up with the artist displaying their paintings at the coffee shop (opp the old swimming baths). Having met Pauline Allwood (who signs PA to her work), i managed to secure one of her very nice paintings, which now takes pride of place above my fire place in the front room. I watch with interest of her future works, as i have more walls to adorn.