Jim Trainer's Friends

Jim Trainer's Page

About my artwork: As a student I tend to paint in several styles, some encouraged by tutors, others in emulation of my hero's.
I'm probably more comfortable working quickly in biro or watercolour. Most of my work looks better before it is finished and I'm most pleased with the sketch book stuff.

Artists I like: Some of the full time student work in Newcastle in just great. Daisey Carpenter is going to be very big one day. I tend to be drawn to artists who paint the human figure. however, I don't like the classics a great deal. I love the work of Egon Schiele, and Zak Smith's Gravity's Rainbow illustrations. Dale Atkins is wonderful at times, the list goes on and on.

What exhibitions are good at the moment?: Dale Atkins and Brian Addison, both in Newcastle April/may 2009

At 20:46 on January 7, 2010, Mik Godley said…: Thanks Jim - same for you!

How's it going?

At 21:17 on November 17, 2009, Mik Godley said…: Glad you like the iPod miniatures Jim, but I've only just started using it - I was hoping to find others who use it.
How's things with you?

At 9:11 on October 19, 2009, Jasmine Ronel said…: Thanks for lovely comments!!

At 16:40 on October 15, 2009, Christopher Stewart said…: Very interesting artwork Jim... thanks for the links !

Take care,
Chris

At 20:18 on August 21, 2009, Neil T Butler said…: hello Jim,thanks for your kind comments re the paper,scissors picture...should have a few new images to upload soon as the new studio has really got things flowing...thanks again...neil

At 19:26 on May 31, 2009, Ayse Kapusuz said…: Hİ Jim, nice to meet you!

Ayse

At 8:56 on May 5, 2009, Mik Godley said…: Hello Jim,

Write an instruction book?!! Quite an idea, but I guess there are reasons why those on the market are poor, or publishers wouldn't publish so many of them.
Though I did find a good one about twenty years ago which I've just dug out of my shelves:"The Materials and Techniques of Painting" by Jonathan Stephenson. I found that very helpful, though he's a "colour man" (pigment specialist paintmaker) not an artrist, because - gawd knows - they taught me nowt about painting at art-school!
One day I would like to make a book about this project I'm working on, because it's turning out to be quite a story - maybe that would be "instructive"?

Cheers, Mik

At 17:36 on April 28, 2009, Mik Godley said…: Hello Jim,

Thank you for your comments on the paintings – I’m glad you liked them – I always appreciate a bit of flattery!

I can see from your work why this strand of work would interest you – you’ve got some promising figure drawings and portraits. I like the fact that you experiment with different media and approaches – something I always encourage in my students. That’s how you learn – how you get to “measure up”, even though it takes a while. Even Van Gogh got pretty good – and he was hopeless when he started!

Actually, I think experimentation is what I most enjoy – I get a ‘buzz’ from finding out what will happen, surprising myself – often preferring it if I can’t predict the outcome, trying this-and-that in different versions. Why not try working on two or three simultaneously, just to explore differences? Maybe working on more than one will stop you over-working them? Maybe one or two will work out? It seems to work for me.

Having said that, it’s also good to find out what happens if you keep pushing on a work – a learning experience, even if that particular piece ends up in the bin – it’ll improve the next ones. That’s what I keep telling myself too – plenty of mine are abandoned, sometimes too many, but that’s part of the process.

Keep at it!

Cheers, Mik

At 23:32 on April 25, 2009, delia vilhelm said…: Hi Jim
Thank you for the information. So far I only tried with oil colours on a copper plate, but I will try other mediums.... bathroom sealant sounds interesting!!! And maybe bitumen too.....
Sorry I can't see the image, maybe I am not looking in the right place...
The profile image I use was part of an exhibition last year, all about this baby bird I had, very cute/ugly called 'Silverwing' - a charity event at children's hospital.
Cheers
d.