From graffiti to full blown mural. This work in Bedford was completed by artist Iain Carstairs on the side of his own house. It is an interpretation of a work by a Canadian artist called "The White Village".
Sadly Iain died this week, aged 58. He leaves his mark on two other Bedford buildings. I am very familiar with one of these, on the side of an Italian coffee shop, but was unaware of this one until reading a report in the local paper at the weekend. I decided to seek it out at lunchtime as an appropriate topic for today's 365 photo..
It seems that spectacular as his work is, he was also a very well loved and generous man. One of his neighbours stopped to speak with me as I paused to appreciate the artwork and record it on my camera. She was clearly very fond of him and regarded herself most fortunate to have this painting on Gladstone Street.
By the way, the mural is not just a lick of paint: - 'The 35.5 sq m (382 sq ft) piece was created using pigment paint on lime plaster, a technique dating back to about 1500BC. The piece is made up of 56 sections, each of which took about two days to complete. "As the plaster carbonates, the pigment is pulled into the surface of the plaster so it actually becomes part of the stone," said Mr Carstairs.' (as reported by BBC when work was completed last year).
"You have about eight hours to put the pigments on before the plaster becomes too hard to accept any more colours."
"
It is amazing the journey this project takes us on.
@gaylewood Gayle - I took it in the rain, which was incessant yesterday. But it still seemed to come out well. Yes, what hours of dedication but he has left behind some beautiful artwork.
This is really beautiful, and I like the pov and comp you've used, Helen. Thanks for sharing it with us, and also for sharing information about the artist. What a pity he died so young. I wasn't familiar with the Canadian painting you mention, so I looked it up (it's beautiful), and I see it's by A.J. Casson, a member of the Group of Seven, who died as recently as 1992. Thank-you for feeding my eyes, heart and mind with this capture.
@tristansmum Stephanie I agree it is a shame he died so young. Glad you looked up the painter of the White Village - I thought of you when I discovered he was Canadian and wondered if you would know of him.
@kerosene Yes, a talented man and by all accounts a lovely man too. A shame, it would have been good to have a few more of his creations around Bedford as I don't suppose Banksy will be paying us a visit.
My daughter lives in Bedford, I may have to go seek this out next time I visit her. Fav