tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216319616743923482024-03-14T05:25:17.791-07:00tedconeysfamilyportraitsThe blog is about my paintings of family life completed over the last forty years. I have recently set up a gallery in our house to display the work and the blog is also a record of my attempts to manage and pubisise the businessTed Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.comBlogger804125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-6389410310499868032024-03-14T05:24:00.000-07:002024-03-14T05:24:42.548-07:00In My Own Image<p> The first article (hopefully there will be more!) about my up coming exhibition at the Norris Museum is out now in the Ely I magazine. You can also see it in my latest Facebook and Instagram posts.</p><p>The photo to accompany the article was taken by my wife. Since then we've had a visit from the Norris's official photographer who spent about five hours here on Monday. He was very painstaking and professional as he took photos of me, the paintings and objects.</p><p>I know I'm very difficult to photograph as I often close my eyes at the wrong moment but hopefully there will be a few, looking wide awake.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-3636670901905193302024-03-07T02:17:00.000-08:002024-03-07T02:17:17.801-08:00Give Us A Clue<p> I'm currently experimenting with ideas and ways of showing images in my new painting - </p><p> 'Old Wives Tales'. There will be five canvases, each one to represent my grandmother or her four sisters. The women all had a personal tragedy in their lives which I am trying to suggest with one object (or small group of objects) in the painting.</p><p>I'm currently working on Beatrice, the eldest sister, who lost one her sons when he was a young man. You can see my efforts so far on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-3044144239301065832024-02-29T02:03:00.000-08:002024-02-29T02:03:47.703-08:00Home<p> We've recently seen a wonderful theatrical experience at our local arts centre. Entitled 'Home ' its about what happens to a family who have to face the threat of flood waters rising were they live in the fens.</p><p>The writer/director of Temper Theatre who inspired the production, used to live in Ely but left home after school to study drama in London. He only returned to the area during Covid to be with his parents in lockdown and was inspired by the history of the fens during his enforced incarceration.</p><p>The show has already been seen in London, Cambridge and the Edinburgh Festival and will currently be touring China </p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-5694667214654223082024-02-22T02:53:00.000-08:002024-02-22T02:53:03.371-08:00Search Continues<p> I always keep scraps of ephemera (postcards, magazine clips etc.) for inspiration, in a folder ready to start the next painting. This happens over the course of about a year.</p><p>Recently, I've just stuck all these bits (you can see them on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts) on to the drawing board while I begin experimenting for my current work 'Old Wives Tales'.</p><p>One thing I haven't found yet is a painting of a scrap of paper I want for reference. I've looked through Dutch old master catalogues and googled 'paintings of paper' but no luck so far.</p><p> Any Ideas?</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-20392715266063992492024-02-15T03:03:00.000-08:002024-02-15T03:03:24.044-08:00 Too Damn Big!<p> I've recently taken some more of my postcards (of my paintings) to sell at the Babylon Gallery. This includes the drawing of my 1931 Morris Minor (see latest Facebook and Instagram posts). I am hoping to take another batch to the Norris Museum when my show opens there.</p><p>Although the Morris does appear in the painting 'Who Stole the Toothpaste?' which will be displayed at the Norris, the actual car won't be one of the objects I'll be including in the exhibition.</p><p>There are no entrances big enough to get it into the museum. A pity, as it was such a hit when I drove it into Ely Cathedral a few years ago.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-62040433250947233182024-02-08T02:54:00.000-08:002024-02-08T02:54:26.566-08:00Shaping UP<p>For Christmas I received some oil bars to experiment with, for my painting, OLD WIVES TALES.</p><p>You can see the results on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts.</p><p>Working on preliminary canvases, I found that using a shaper (a semi hard, rubbery tool) to push the paint around seemed to work best. <span> I am looking for a slightly out of focus effect for the house in the background. Not quite there yet but I'll keep trying.</span></p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-262395102540124092024-02-01T03:01:00.000-08:002024-02-01T03:01:55.624-08:00Planning<p> Yesterday I visited the Norris Museum to meet Claire and her staff to discuss my exhibition, which takes place from late March to the end of June. Exciting stuff!</p><p>I watched as they laid out thumbnails of my paintings in the gallery to try and work out where each one would go. They have to juggle this with placeing the display cabinets, as my objects will be an integral part of the show.</p><p>We also planned events to run alongside the exhibition. A talk by me, workshops and a pop-up studio showing my latest work-in-progress all look possible.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-60956269501444640192024-01-25T04:31:00.000-08:002024-01-25T04:31:58.661-08:00Anselm Kiefer<p> Last week we went to our local cinema to see a documentary film about the work of Anselm Kiefer.</p><p>I worked out that we are about the same age but there the similarity ends! In his work, Kiefer confronts his German heritage after the second world war in giant, monumental pieces using mixed media.</p><p>His studio reminds me of an aircraft hanger and he uses a bicycle to move around it!</p><p>The film 'Anselm' is a powerful insight into the way he works.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-9930802476033530222024-01-19T10:36:00.000-08:002024-01-19T10:36:01.099-08:00 Everything In Place<p> I'm now working on my new painting 'Old Wives Tales'. After making drawings of the dolls house from different angles and the messages pegged to a washing line, I've now collage them together.</p><p>You can see the results of these compositions on my latest Facebook and Instagram posts.</p><p>There will be five canvases, each one to represent my grandmother and her four sisters. They will be all linked visually by the washing line.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-66573502533206946582024-01-11T03:14:00.000-08:002024-01-11T03:14:03.801-08:00Real Families<p> I'm so glad I got to see the 'Real Families: Stories of Change' exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum last week before it closed. There were some fascinating images of different sorts of families on display.</p><p>One image that caught my attention was 'Business Page' by photographer, Larry Sultain. You can see it on my latest Instagram post.</p><p>I was considering using the image of an old newspaper in a future painting and this was an unusual and telling way to convey information. My ideas are to muddled up to discuss now but we'll see how they sort themselves out in the coming year.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-1734469312718185402024-01-05T01:12:00.000-08:002024-01-05T01:12:23.016-08:00Good News -And News<p> There's good news and other news.</p><p> The dates for my 80th birthday exhibition at the Norris Museum have been confirmed. 30th March - 22nd June. It's title is probably ' Every Object Paints A Picture - works by Ted Coney' </p><p>My painting 'DREAMTIME'' (pictured in my latest Instagram and Facebook posts) is one of the pictures chosen.</p><p> This is the same painting which has just been turned down by the Babylon Gallery for an exhibition celebrating Wicken Fen. Although in the early stages I made studies of the fens and collected plants for the painting I can quite see why it was rejected. All those memories of Lockdown are buried deep in the painting as the image of the disintegrating Victorian puppet theatre took over.</p><p>You can see the early stages of DREAMTIME on the THE COLLECTION page on my website.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-47119926189191061352024-01-02T07:06:00.000-08:002024-01-02T07:06:54.212-08:00Small Is Beautiful<p> Among my Christmas presents this year were some more objects for the dolls house.</p><p>From TVs to toilet roles, you can see them on my latest Facebook and Instagram posts.</p><p>This miniature house and its contents are going to feature again (last used about 20 years ago) in my latest painting 'Old Wives Tales', so maybe I'll make drawings of these new items soon.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-48823157952139713242023-12-23T00:23:00.000-08:002023-12-23T00:23:22.087-08:00Keep Looking<p>I've put our sixty eight piece Nativity scene out again, as I try to do, every Christmas. However, some of the figures are now also permanently displayed in my garden gallery as they appear in the painting from 2019 'The Wasp and the Ring' Can you spot them?</p><p> Both the models and the painting appear on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts.</p><p>Happy Christmas!</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-7489862458269650382023-12-13T08:32:00.000-08:002023-12-13T08:32:09.885-08:00Measuring Up<p> I've just been sent a list by the Norris Museum, of possible paintings they might use in my exhibition next year. My task is to send them dimensions, so they can begin to see how many can be fitted in the gallery.</p><p>One of the paintings the Curator hopes to include is 'Snow Angels and No Angels'. This comprises of fifteen small paintings, celebrating some important female members of my family. Although they should be seen in a horizontal line I have never been able to manage that as our small cottage.</p><p>They seem dotted about, but in fact follow a path around our house which mirrors the journey I made in 2008 discovering the Eleanor Crosses from Harby to London. </p><p>The first 'Snow Angel' is our second daughter Fay, who was stillborn. You can see this canvas on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts and all fifteen on the PRINTS FOR SALE page on my website.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-26526396827473800442023-12-05T02:49:00.000-08:002023-12-05T02:49:21.102-08:00A Nice Present<p> Last week I did the final tour of my pop-up gallery foe this season. Usually, I reopen again in April but things will be different because of my exhibition at the Norris Museum. So my next tour could be September 2024! </p><p>I had a lovely couple for this booking and apparently I was part of a present. They were old friends and one had arranged to take the other to the Old Fire Engine House for lunch, then onto me.</p><p>I hope I measured up to expectations but I did get a nice Email afterwards</p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-88488497291632597852023-11-29T06:25:00.000-08:002023-11-29T06:25:16.298-08:00Small But Perfect<p> The 'Small But Perfect' exhibition is launching at the Babylon Gallery in Ely tonight. There are apparently 300 works of art, all hoping to be sold before Christmas.</p><p>I've just put one tiny canvas in - a preliminary study from my 'Dreamtime' series (see my latest Facebook and Instagram posts)</p><p>I'm not sure anyone will want a picture of a disintegrating Victorian puppet theatre, but you never know.</p><p>The idea came from a nightmare I had in Lockdown about being trapped inside a toy theatre and I couldn't get out.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-12009275735066431792023-11-21T02:21:00.000-08:002023-11-21T02:21:56.976-08:00Last Will And.....<p> Recently I've been making an inventory of all the fifty five family paintings I've produced over the years. Notes on the first thirty nine were covered in the tour guides I'd written (see picture on latest Facebook and Instagram posts) but after that it was all a bit spasmodic.</p><p>Some paintings had quite detailed notes written about them while others were missing.</p><p>I wanted to get everything up-to-date for two reasons. One, to give the Norris Museum information should they require it for my exhibition next year. The other was more practical. To make it easier for my children to sort out my stuff after I've died.</p><p>I still need to number each picture though, otherwise they will have great fun trying to match the canvas to the title!</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-75823818650115281482023-11-15T01:28:00.000-08:002023-11-15T01:28:27.607-08:00Only A Preliminary<p> I've finished (I think) my current painting 'The Counsellor'. Giles has put the eleven preliminary canvases produced during its creation, onto my website on the WORK FOR SALE page.</p><p>Prices range from £40 - £60 and who knows, someone might like one for Christmas?! They show my experiments with colour, texture, composition and trying to work out how I was going to make the final piece.</p><p>You can also see a selection on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-47532256707460288092023-11-09T03:05:00.000-08:002023-11-09T03:05:18.841-08:00But Shadows<p> Our contribution to the Window Wonderland event last weekend was to put examples of my shadow puppet collection on display.</p><p>When I took part two years ago, I used some of the smaller puppets from various parts of the world. This time I displayed three larger ones from Java, Indonesia and India respectively.</p><p>I also snook in the Laurel and Hardy puppets I had produced in 2014 in preparation for my painting 'The Rashamon Effect.' Partly to give a sense of scale (these figures are small in comparison) but also because its lovely to see them back- lit for a few hours.</p><p>You can see our window and the painting on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-15362617949953089292023-11-02T08:44:00.001-07:002023-11-02T08:44:28.017-07:00A Damp Tale<p> What happened to me this week seems very unimportant when so many people have suffered from terrible flooding.</p><p>I was preparing for a booked tour of my pop-up gallery last Sunday. We had blue skies and I put out my Visitors book on the garden table in the hope that someone would sign it. Unusually for me, I left the book open at the next available page (normally I would leave the book closed)</p><p>I was too preoccupied with final arrangements to notice that it had started to pour with rain! The pages were fast turning to pulp and the lovely comments were disappearing.</p><p>I managed to gently dry the pages by an electric heater while the tour took place, in time for one of the now, crinkly pages to be inscribed.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-9119603963800863932023-10-27T03:30:00.001-07:002023-10-27T03:30:45.396-07:00 Finished?<p> I always have this dilemma. When is a painting finished? I think I might have completed my latest work, 'The Counsellor', but then I might not.</p><p>You can see it on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts.</p><p>I shall do what I always do, leave it for a while and keep looking back at it on the easel.</p><p>This year I need to get it to the framers before Christmas but I've still got a bit of time to make adjustments - or not..</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-40623588040259926042023-10-19T10:24:00.000-07:002023-10-19T10:24:38.028-07:00A Bit Of An Enigma<p> I've just sent some notes to the Joy Laurey Archive, detailing a conversation I had with Joy some twenty five years ago. Joy revealed that she had been influenced by a Chinese mask when designing the face of her puppet, Mr Turnip for the Children's T.V. programme 'Whirligig' in the 1950s.</p><p>The mask would have very low cheekbones so the top of the face would look very different from the bottom when viewed from very different angles.</p><p>As a child watching black and white T.V. I always imagined that Mr Turnip's facial expressions were changing, when all it took was the tilt of the head to convey different emotions.</p><p>In my painting 'The Enigma of the Chinese Mask' I have tried to show the emotions on Turnip's face (who represents me!) combined with landscape, to express my impressions of family life.</p><p>You can see two details from the painting on my latest Instagram and Facebook posts.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-64222659678909184182023-10-13T04:34:00.001-07:002023-10-13T04:34:53.613-07:00Exciting News!<p> It's finally been arranged that I'm having a three month exhibition of my work at the Norris Museum, St. Ives, starting late March 2024. As this coincides with my 80th birthday it could be an interesting year. </p><p>The curator visited again the other day and has started to choose from a long list of paintings they might display. It's quite a small gallery so its going to be interesting to see how everything fits in.</p><p>They are particularly keen to show some of the objects as well, which have inspired me. This chimes with them being displayed in a museum setting where objects tell the stories.</p><p>The next challenge is to think of a good title for the exhibition: Any ideas?</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-18355793262284047612023-10-08T04:09:00.000-07:002023-10-08T04:09:12.119-07:00Flexible Space<p>Recently, I've been using one of the gallery spaces upstairs as a drawing studio. I was making ten charcoal studies of the dolls house for my next painting 'Old Wives Tales'. (you can see some of the drawings in earlier blogs)</p><p>As I've got two tours booked in the next few weeks it's been set up as a gallery again, which can be seen on my latest Facebook and Instagram posts. Luckily, all the Installations and display cabinets are on wheels so relatively easy to move things around.</p><p>In early December they will be on the move again as I turn the space into a bedroom for family coming to stay at Christmas.</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721631961674392348.post-3780864787543369702023-09-30T04:31:00.000-07:002023-09-30T04:31:17.533-07:00Day Of The Dead Revisited<p> I've just been taking some photographs of my Day of the Dead models for my granddaughter's art project.</p><p>I collected the objects together when I was researching for a painting about my mother entitled 'OFFRENDA' in 1997. Although I used Sooty and friends to represent our family I was interested in the idea of building an altar of memories, Mexican style, to celebrate those that had died but would not be forgotten.</p><p>You can see the photographs of part of my collection and the painting on my latest Instagram post, which is also available on my website</p>Ted Coney's Family Portraitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144897296765519502noreply@blogger.com0