Severed Heads of State in Full

I have finally finished the Severed Heads of State series. (enjoy)

Bear Head

A little side project. Making of a character out of  fimo, then painted with oil.

Number Three from Severed Heads of State.

"Nancy Boy America" 

(oil on paper 210mm by 297)

Severed Heads of State

The very simplest animals do not have a head, so are the heads of state so smart they don't need a body, since the head is of singular importance as it contains the brain? Severed Heads of State is a play on how the world today is becoming more independent from state to state, country to country. For example, the Israeli and Palestinian conflicts are an on going dilemma where one state is trying to become two, all because of differing views. We need to ask why this is happening and when will the evolution stop and how. Is it going to be civil wars ending in one general world war, or will we sever ourselves so far from our enemies that we live in bliss and ignorance of each other.

Bastard Child

Number two from series Severed Heads of State

The next in the series from the "Severed Heads of State" called "Deputy Dear".

(oil on paper 210mm by 297)

The national Business Review 15 april 2009 'Arts scene top 100'

The national Business Review
15 april 2009
Arts scene top 100

John Daly-Peoples | Wednesday April 15 2009

Seen This Century, 100 Contemporary New Zealand Artists by Warwick Brown
 Random House RRP $55.00
Most books about art tell you who the famous artists were. Warwick Brown’s new book Seen This Century tells you who are going to be the future famous artists.
The author has gone out on one of the art historical limbs with his list of one hundred artists who have come to prominence since the turn of the century and who he thinks have potential.
The artists he has chosen are all exploring new territories, some with strong links to the art of the past, others evolving out of popular culture while others are new and innovative.

For most people the artists he has chosen will unknown names. For those more involved with the arts many of the names will be familiar but in this national survey there will be few people who have seen work by all the artists.
The author has tackled this naming of one hundred artists as a sort of research topic and follows on from his two previous books, 100 New Zealand Paintings (1995) and Another 100 New Zealand Artists (1996).
He has trawled through galleries and exhibitions and whittled down the one hundred from several hundred potential listers.
He notes in his introduction that he has not included “traditional artists (landscape, portraits still life, illustrative, decorative etc)” nor has he included ”performance and video/DVD art, craft art … public sculpture, ephemeral installations and works of interest to specialists.”
While most of the artists are born in the 1970’s there is quite a broad range of ages from Kristin Hollis (born 1942) to Alexander Bartleet (born 1985).
In his previous books the artists had good credentials; several solo shows, several reviews, catalogues, grants and awards. They had all the things that go towards identifying successful artists.
With this new selection the artists range in their level of success. While some have only had the occasional show with hardly any reviews or critical mentions others such as Sara Hughes and Darren Glass have built major international careers.
The book also has a subtitle “A Collectors Guide” which reinforces the idea that this is not record of the artists who have made it but rather those who are early on in their careers.
This does not make the book some sort of bible however. It is one of the many tools that collectors and investors might use in association with other information to make considered judgments on the worth or desirability of an artists work.
It could have been subtitled “An Investors Guide” and used for that purpose. However looking back at the authors book Another 100 New Zealand Artists there are probably only 50% of those artists who’s work has made significant gains in the resale and auction markets over the past ten years.
So if one were to use this book as a guide to good investment one would take the same approach as with a share portfolio, choosing a dozen or more artists and buying a selection of their work with the probability of five or six getting good returns within the next ten years.
So is this is a well researched group of artists or just a random selection.
I think he’s got it pretty right and it is in line with the artists of promise I have come in the last decade as a reviewer and curator.
I have included twenty six of the artists who are in the book in several exhibitions and award selections. Last years Team McMillan BMW Emerging Artists Awards featured twelve of these artists with Alexander Bartleet winning the award. I have also acquired works by eleven of the artists and written about a number of them.
This is a book which will greatly expand the current knowledge of artists and the range of art practices being undertaken at present in New Zealand. It also demonstrates that New Zealand art has an amazing degree of innovation and integrity

Latest Painting (still to be titled)

Severed Heads of State

A new series of work called "The Severed Heads of State". A series of small oil on paper paintings. This is the first in the series called the "In-formidable Force". 

Oil on paper. (210mm by 297mm)

Darkroom Dubs

I have been commissioned to create album art for Darkroom Dubs which is a Scottish-based independent record label, founded by Glasgow Dj & production team Silicone Soul. Check them out at www.myspace.com/darkroomdubs. Here are some of the designs for the new albums.

Canvas Magazine New Zealand Herald

Here is an article that was printed in the New Zealand Herald 'Canvas' Magazine on Sunday the 11th of April 2009, that includes a large image of one of my paintings titled 'When You're Asked to Join a War about Nothing'.

The article is about a book that I am featuring in called 'Seen This Century: 100 Contemporary New Zealand Artists; a Collector's Guide' by Warwick Brown (Random House). This book is to be released on the 17th of April and will be available in most well known book stores in New Zealand and abroad. 

 This article discusses the recent shift in opinion whereby being an artist is seen as a respectable profession and that the values of contemporary art is in the social commentary the work represents rather than in the labour and scale of the work.

Detail from latest painting

untitled so far

NEW ARRIVALS TO THE FAMILY

Lap

Francis 

Duchess Dafiny Dillpot

Three new soft toys created by Dave beazley & Andrea Simper.

  

About Dave Beazley

Dave Beazley’s career began with a diploma in cabinetmaking from Whangarei Polytechnic in 2000. After being in the trade for two years Beazley enrolled in the Bachelor of Design degree at Unitec in Auckland – a tuition from which he graduated from in 2006. He then proceeded to create and show in New Zealand and since 2009 he has been at a artists residency in the South of France. 

Dave currently lives and works from the South of France.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Design, majoring in Painting, Unitec, Auckland

The Bachelor with No Bride

2007

oil on board

900mm by 1200mm