AJ Callan Original Art

Feeding the Imagination

2013-04-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

This week my fluffy friends have turned their attention to their diets. A strict five-a-day regime has been adopted in an effort to keep them at their best. By this we mean five acres a day. Keeping the hills and meadows neat and trim takes a lot of effort and they have to munch constantly. I'm hoping this will get me the best presented farm for the third year running. There's no points for long grass, weeds or bunching up of livestock. When the judges arrive the animals need to be spread evenly over the fields.
To make it a bit more attractive to the stock I've introduced some new varieties of grass. This has two benefits- a more varied diet and some more colours in my paintings.

I must go now, before I get sectioned!

Lilac Lunch

Mowing the Meadow

The Show Goes On

2013-04-08T07:36:00.002-07:00

The exhibition at Harrison Lord in Brighouse has gone very well. The combination of great presentation and hard work has resulted in healthy sales of original pieces.
I want to thank Steven Lord and his staff for their continued enthusiasm and support.

Following this, the next venue will be Priory Art in Tynemouth, commencing on Saturday 13th April. Jan Tandy will be taking delivery of a range of original pieces over the course of the next few days. In the meantime I need to be busy replacing work that has been purchased by those who have seen the work to date.
It's really exciting that this work and my new 'icons' have proved to be popular with collectors. I cant wait to see what the future holds.

Making an Exhibition of Myself

2013-03-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

'Where have I been?'-you may ask.

Well, the truth is I've been rather busy in my studio and it's given me time to think.
Following my successful exhibition in Sheffield I have several more to follow.
My peaceful country scenes are appearing in galleries across the UK.
It's a good job really, as it seems we may be hearing the patter of tiny trotters soon.
Following an 'eventful' visit from a very frisky boar we've got some happy sows busy knitting lots of booties. The sheep have been very curious given the strange squeals going on day and night seven days a week!

But there's more news. Life down on the farm has given me a taste for the village life.
This has resulted in me producing some new pieces, a few of which I have put below.
You may recognise a few familiar characters from my farms here.

Not being one to sit still though, I have also decide to introduce another style of work to my portfolio. This now resides in a sister blog-just tap on the link at the bottom of this week's post.

See you soon!

Just Busy Chewing

The Baby Sitters

The Big Rescue

Time to Celebrate

http://www.ajcallanurbaniconsat.blogspot.co.uk

Heartbeat

2012-10-29T03:37:00.000-07:00

I have been hiding away recently to complete work for an exhibition at Heartbeat Gallery in Sheffield. The owners, Helen and Thanasis are making final preparations for a two month exhibition, starting on 2nd November.

This will be the largest collection of the work to date in one place and I am looking forward to it. There is more information on Heartbeat at www.heartbeatgallery.com

In the meantime I continue to develop the style, introducing new features and details.
Here's some new pieces below.

The sound of little trotters

2012-10-05T02:53:00.002-07:00

At last! We have finally managed to coax our latest additions out of the pig hut.
We enticed them out using a bucket of fresh food. Nothing else would work.
These are our new saddle back pigs and they are an impressive bunch.
The other animals didn't know what to make of them at first, but curiosity is getting the better of them. I love their big floppy ears. You never see their eyes as their noses are always on the ground, truffling.

Taking over

Truffling till sunset

A High Fibre Diet

2012-09-24T12:52:00.003-07:00

As you've probably noticed by now all my animals are committed vegetarians.
We've cultivated the highest quality grasses for our discerning little friends.
This excellent diet has resulted in healthy animals with glossy coats and a pleasant nature.
This makes it easy for me and my faithful sheep dog, with no arguments before bedtime.
The other benefit is a landscape that looks like carpets of many shades.
What a picture!

Fluffy Friends

Daisy's Best Side

A Stranger in Town

New Horizons

2012-09-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

Golden rolling hills, winding narrow roads, quaint farm houses-typical sights in the countryside of Britain. It's just the way I like it.
Autumn sunsets are unforgettable with their lengthening shadows and rusty colours.
The livestock are making the most of the fresh grass and seasonal extras.
Heavenly bliss!...

A Mooving scene

Golden Fleece

Sunny side up

2012-09-02T12:09:00.001-07:00

Hello again from the farm. I've managed to swap my yard brush for some paintbrushes to create some more pieces. Some are starting to appear in UK galleries now and feedback to date has been very positive. In fact one gallery in Sheffield-Heartbeat will be holding an exhibition of the latest work from November to January. I'm just hoping the animals don't suffer from stage fright!
They have been beautifully framed and this will be the largest collection of original pieces appearing in one place to date.
Anyway, that's enough chat for now. I must get back to work-I feel the need to paint!

Keeping the grass trimmed

Eyeing up the talent

Golden Fleece

2012-08-20T12:29:00.002-07:00

Our woolly friends are proving popular with my latest customers- the local knitting circle.
No sooner than they are sheared the wool turns up again in the form of a cute scarf or a thick jumper. I'm even thinking of getting some for the sheep for winter. I think they will look rather natty in different shades of blue and pink. And there's another advantage. They will be even easier for my rather short sighted sheepdog to spot at a distance.
Time to get the shears sharpened!

A peaceful scene

Smile for the camera!

Fields of Gold

2012-08-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Summer is passing rapidly and things are calming down on the farm.
We've had sunshine, rain, hail storms and gales.
Sunsets have been few and far between but when we have had them, they've been magnificent. Gold skies and longer shadows have added to the drama and the animals are making the most of it. In fact I can safely say that their numbers have doubled!
Autumn will bring more antics. Just wait and see the results.

The Bigger Picture

2012-08-06T08:29:00.002-07:00

Following a successful breeding season and the Olympic ceremony we've decided to expand the farm. We needed a few more acres to accommodate the extra livestock and we have invested in a new tractor.
Everyone now has their own field with enough grass to go around. There's a new hen hut and pig sty. Even the farm house has had a lick of paint.
I've arranged for a big screen TV to be set up in the top field so we can all watch the Olympic closing ceremony together.
It's been a good year so far and autumn is on the horizon. Just look at the results!

What a Party!

2012-07-28T05:20:00.001-07:00

After a very successful night at the Olympic opening ceremony my animals have had a lie-in. They performed perfectly without any signs of stage fright. I can take a little credit for that though because for the last four weeks I've had the opening ceremony tracks played constantly through speakers I installed in the hen hut, cow sheds and sheep pens.
They know every song off by heart!

They'll be catching the 2.30 cattle truck from Kings Cross and be back on the farm before it all sinks in. I cant wait to welcome them home. I'm sooo proud of them!

Fit as a Butcher's

Midnight Feast

A Fluffy tale

2012-07-10T02:12:00.001-07:00

We've had fun down at the farm this week. The big clear up started after the rain storms.
We washed the cattle, hosed down the new pigs and used hair dryers on the sheep. They ended up resembling fluffed up balls of wool with their legs looking like knitting needles sticking out at the bottom!
Angus's coat looked great and gave him admiring glances from Daisy and the other girls.
The unusual weather caused Henrietta to lay an 'eggstraordinary' three eggs in one night.
That left the other hens looking a bit worried. Still, it gave them something to cluck about.
That reminds me...I haven't seen the fox around for a little while...

Ask him...no you ask him!

Star Grazing

Salad Days

2012-07-03T02:42:00.000-07:00

At last, the wellies are off. I've packed away my sou'wester, removed the sand bags from my studio door and cleaned up after the wettest June on record in the UK.
In fact it's been so bad the animals have developed stilt legs to keep their tummies dry!

The extra long grass is fattening them up nicely for Christmas (a bit too much in some cases). Daisy and her girlfriends are still moooning over Angus, handsome beast that he is.

The Chickens are content and are growing in number as the foxes don't like the wet weather. We are expecting delivery of a new breed of piglets shortly. That should be fun....

The Diet Starts Tomorrow

Eggstraordinary!

Bright and Breezy

2012-06-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

There were smiles all round as Angus and his concubines made an appearance at the Royal Highland Show in Ingliston near Edinburgh over the weekend.
Being used to cameras by now they were pretty relaxed about it, posing for photos after extensive grooming sessions. What a life!
Back at the Pennine farm it resembled Glastonbury as the heavens opened for three days and three nights. I even considered building an ark for the animals until I remembered that I had more than two of each!
Cows look funny in wellies and the chickens even funnier. Maybe they might start a new trend...

With This Ring

Leggy Cow

Green and Pleasant Land

2012-06-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

Olympic fever has taken over the farm. The animals' brush with fame has made them hungry for more. They have been seen queueing for the auditions for the Olympic opening ceremony.

Angus and his mates think it's a load of bull (but secretly Angus cant wait for a weekend away with his true love).
Over at the hen coop the Colonel has been working his magic and we are expecting some double-yolkers on the big day.
The sheep aren't too impressed-astro-turf doesn't appeal. The pigs, however will eat anything.

If they are successful I might even get a few free tickets, but I wont hold my breath......

A Load of Bull

Love at First Sight

When's it Due?

Cattle Gridlock

2012-06-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

News travels fast, doesn't it?

Down on the farm the cattle have got very excited and since the arrival of Aberdeen Angus they've been breeding like, well, cattle!
My stock numbers have been growing so fast I'm having to 'farm' them out to galleries around the UK.

I think I will have to give Angus back soon or we are going to have to find more land.
This should give me a little time to spend on the rest of the livestock. I'm even thinking of investing in a few horses.

One things for sure- I've got plenty of compost for my lovely roses.

See you soon.

He's Got My Nose

Hey Diddle Diddle

Daisy Picking

Vanity Farm

2012-05-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Since the arrival of the photographer from Farmers' Weekly things have been chaotic down at the farm. The farmer cant get on with his milking because the cattle are too busy preening themselves for the shoot. The hens have hardly noticed the fox, who's trying to take advantage of the situation. At least the sheep haven't been worried.

The animals have even started making appearances at galleries around the UK.
What next?

I hope to have order re-established by the time you next read this. If not, I don't know what we can do!

Does My Bum Look Big?

Three Generations

Cock and Bull Story

2012-05-23T01:17:00.000-07:00

There's a certain atmosphere around the farm at the moment. The livestock is getting a little excited. Over in the field our annual visitor, Angus has been spotted by Daisy and her friends. Competition is growing for his 'affections' and handbags are at the ready.
The increasingly busy hen coop is becoming aware of the unwelcome visitor but don't know what to do about it.
The sheep? Well they are just getting on with mowing the hills.

Will sparks fly? Will feathers get fluffed? Find out on my next post.

t.t.f.n.

Moody Cow

What's That Mum?

Have You Met the New Neighbours?

Who's afraid of the big, bad fox?

2012-05-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Gossip is rife around the farm, particularly in the hen coup where lookouts are on 24 hour guard duty. Why? Because the elusive Mr Fox has been spotted prowling!

Despite the commotion, we managed to catch a glimpse of our new ragdoll/siamese cross breed cats who, although camera shy, posed for us before running for cover.

Here's hoping things calm down soon.

The Short-Sighted Fox

Camera Shy

Woolly Jumpers

2012-05-10T05:16:00.000-07:00

Our cute little furry friends are back. They've even got a trendy range of coats on, giving them that air of individuality. In fact one is so confident he's managed to round up the farmer's dogs. This one has a great future. Watch out for him on 'One Man And His Sheep'.

I've had reports of a fox making a few appearances on the farm recently so please keep an eye out for me and let me know if you see it. Bye for now.

The Twins

Who's The Daddy Now?

Sheepless Nights

2012-04-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

It's nearly the end of the lambing season. It's been a good year and the fields are full.
The sheep dipping is done and the vet has given us a clean bill of health.
We're training the sheepdogs but the sheep have the upper hand at the moment.
Well, you know what they say. Practise makes perfect.
Please visit our farm soon to see how we are progressing.

New Arrivals

Who's The Daddy

Bringing Back the Bacon

2012-04-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

Well, you know what they say...the more space you have, the more you put in it!
I'm currently being overrun by pigs. As if it wasn't already enough with the dogs, cats hens, sheep and cattle. My new studio is now bursting at the seams.

These little porkers have no manners and will eat anything that isn't nailed down!
That includes the paint which explains the unusual breed colours.
Now where's my shovel...

Snuffling Trufflers

Party Piglets

Moving Home

2012-04-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

It's finally happened. I need more room for my animals so I've been preparing a bigger space in which to work. I moved into a larger studio this week with the aim of working more efficiently. It has caused a little disruption but I hope to be back up to speed shortly.
In the meantime I have been developing a few new ideas and they are currently in production. I hope to have something to show shortly.

A big hello to you all over the world who have been showing an interest in what I am doing. It is very flattering. I hope you like what you have seen.

The drying racks.

My well-used work space

I will have more pieces ready to view in my next post. Bye for now.

The Hills Are Alive......

2012-04-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

with the sounds of mooosic! Daisy, Dora and Buttercup are very excited as Angus is travelling down from Aberdeen this weekend. Hopefully someone will see how well suited they are and want to adopt all four of them! There has also been much frolicking in the field this week, as 'The Jersey Boys' have been rehearsing their latest rendition. A tour is planned, hopefully before they get snapped up. Rabbit season is upon us, but as yet, only a hare has appeared (and it won't be around long if the Greyhound Boys see him first)!

More news from the farm coming soon...

Daisy, Dora, Buttercup & Angus

The Jersey Boys

The Hare & The Greyhounds