
Welcome to Artist’s Corner, the bit of my blog where I post quite a rubbish picture that I have drawn and pretend that it is art. Today is something of a bittersweet day because I am, sadly, going to announce my retirement from Artist’s Corner. The time has come to pass the baton on to someone else.
Regular readers and art connoisseurs will, of course, know that while this section of my blog was once entirely about my own work as a visual artist, the 2020 collection has thus far comprised of a series of collaborations between me and my 2-year-old daughter. Essentially I have provided the outline and she has provided the colour.
The reception has been somewhat mixed, with many critics lauding the talent of Little Proclaims while at the same time decrying my own. And frankly that has hurt. I have cried real tears over some of the comments in the last few weeks and I hope that those keyboard warriors who have been so cruel now feel an appropriate sense of shame.
Nonetheless it would seem selfish to stand in the way of my daughter’s burgeoning talent and so, from next week, this section of my blog will be dedicated to showcasing some of her solo efforts.
But I couldn’t depart without one last collaboration, and this, in many ways, might be our finest piece. You may remember some weeks ago that I posted Snake, which was a drawing of a snake that was going to be a frog when I started drawing it, but then I thought the head looked more like a snake, so I finished off the drawing as a snake.
Well Little Proclaims was insistent that I could not dissolve our creative partnership without fulfilling my initial promise to draw a frog. So I did try and I came up with what you see below.
Little Proclaims appears to have gone in quite a dark direction this week and I can only assume this is because she, at least, is a little sad that our collaboration is coming to an end. Although if I’m brutally honest, she still doesn’t really understand the concept of blogging and has had no idea that any of this has actually been happening.
Anyway, enough of the preamble. Let the work speak for itself. Here is our final collaboration, ‘Frog’:

Very bold indeed. The thick black and blue lines are likely to be symbolic of the bruising of a psyche that has been cast off to make way for the new, innovative talent now known to the world as Little Proclaims. No longer will she be hindered by a collaborator of lesser talent. Yes, Elder Proclaims, it is time to yield to the superior artiste, Little. Don’t let your bruised psyche ache too badly…
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I will try to soldier on
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You can do it. You’re English, after all.
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More Welsh than English but it’s a grey area. Not sure how that affects my stiff upper lip…
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LoL! My apologies for any offense.
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She is obviously entering her blue period, which is at odds with the way the sunny nature of your frog comes across. Your paths are diverging, but I hope this isn’t the last we see of Friendly Frog.
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I expect the frog will bounce back somehow
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It is possible to read too much into a work of art, especially when one brings one’s own preconceptions to the table. The undoubted darkness of this piece more likely reflects the pain she suffers for the state of the world today, rather than being a statement on your collaboration, yet the bold use of black in what appears to be an attempt to usurp her collaborator’s contribution seems to me evidence of her growing confidence in her own role. I, for one, look forward to seeing which direction she chooses to go.
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While your assessment stings on a personal level, I have seen a preview of her solo work and there is much to look forward to.
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Will she run her own blog? Quite important if she intends to make a living from her art.
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Not at all. I fully intend to exploit her ‘work’ for my own benefit as any good parent would
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Good move. It’ll prepare her for when she becomes an adult and can be exploited by professional gallery owners.
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I do like the chipmunk element but struggle to see why you called it frog.
However, I am a fan of the scribbling. Obviously.
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Talk about kicking a frog when he’s down…
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What frog?
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The end of an era.
I am bereft….
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I suspect that somehow you will cope
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Leaps and bounds! What more can be said? Ideas are spawned but, sadly, croak.
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I am hoptimistic about the future though
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Legs hop you are successful.
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I weep tears of great sadness that i will no longer see your work here However I must say she is a lot better
Stay well and laugh when you can
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I can’t hold her back any longer. I may well work on some solo projects of my own though…
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I do hope I haven’t said anything that has led to your hurt feelings and tears. Out of respect for you, I have always tried to be honest, if nothing else. I think honesty is the foundation of real art. I will miss your artwork, and I hope that you can see your way back to the page with your marker in hand.
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I see the mistake you made. I’ve never looked for honest criticism. I’m someone who thrives on baseless praise.
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Then let me say – I am regularly bowled over by the absolute gems of wisdom and humour that dance off your keyboard. I learn from you, almost daily.
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That’s the stuff
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If we all stand up, clap really loud, scream bravo & encore will you reconsider your decision? I will even throw in a shrill whistle or two. No wait… I can’t whistle
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Too bad. The whistle may have swung it…
However I expect I’ll be back with my own rubbish drawings soon enough. It seems like the sort of thing I would probably do.
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beautiful indeed!
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Always nice when a true connoisseur drops by
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Much more James Jnr on this one and all the better for it. She is obviously trying to hide that bl**dy spotty-eared rabbit which continues to lurk in the background. I am keen to follow the progress of you both as solo artists. Are you George Michael or Andrew Ridgeley (actually, in retrospect, not a good example)? I look forward to a dearth of rabbits masquerading as other animals over the coming weeks…
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