09/05/2020

FUN WITH FRIDGE MAGNETS

We're all keeping ourselves busy, but honestly, one day in lockdown is very like another.

None of us knows what day it is – we're always asking each other, 'Is it Tuesday today?' and someone will reply, 'No, it's Friday!' after which everyone will chip in with their own deeply-held opinion until eventually someone will ask, 'Alexa™ – what day is it?'… after which everyone will start arguing with Alexa!


In other news, one of Wilson's artworks has proved surprisingly popular: Original Warhol Print, which he posted a few days ago.


Several people have asked how to bid for the original, and a few others have enquired about getting hold of a print of it.


Wilson says that he's really rather attached to it and was looking forward to hanging it in the living room, but he is willing to make unframed copies available free of charge


He says that it will be his VE Day Gift to you, to make up for not being able to invite you to a street party yesterday.


Wow! Watch this space!



08/05/2020

MAKE YOUR OWN READYMADES

Sales of Wilson's 'R. Mutt' postcards have been disappointing. 

Actually he sold only one – to me – and I was disappointed!


Never one to be disheartened, he is now marketing Marcel Duchamp ReadyMade Kits – which consist of a sheet of sticky labels printed 'R. Mutt' which you can stick onto… well, anything you like, and thus have an iconic and valuable work of art in your own home.


I confess I can't quite get my head around how sticking a label on something mysteriously transforms it into 'Art', yet Byron – who understands these things – endorses this bizarre scheme. 


For some unfathomable reason, both boys suggest a good place to start would be to stick one of these labels on the outside of your toilet bowl…


I've seen these labels and I must warn you that they're not even self-adhesive – you have to spray your own glue on the back of the sheet. 


Wilson justifies this by saying, 'Making Art is supposed to be difficult – if it were easy, everyone would do it!' and recommends 3M PhotoMount for 'extra stickability'…



07/05/2020

R. MUTT

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Wilson discovered Marcel Duchamp and his infamous 'readymades'.

This, he tells me, is a picture postcard of a hitherto unknown work, signed R. Mutt but attributed to Marcel Duchamp.


Attributed, needless to say, by Wilson.


Duchamp died in 1968, while the Betamax cassette, which this postcard appears to show, did not appear until 1975, but let's not split hairs – Duchamp was ahead of his time in the art world, maybe he was also a time traveller…


Wilson says he has a 'strictly limited' quantity of these postcards which he is willing to part with for a 'trifling sum'.


I'd be extremely surprised if £5 didn't secure you one, but do be aware that when Wilson talks about a 'limited edition' this usually means as many as he can print before the printer runs out of ink…



06/05/2020

BOYHOOD OF VERMILINGUA

While they wait for orders to pour in for Original Warhol Prints, Wilson and his brother have taken another dive into the dressing-up box to re-create yet another classic painting from the past.

It appears that more and more people are doing this in an effort to relieve the monotony of lockdown and daytime tv, but I bet not many have re-created The Boyhood of Raleigh with such style, flair, elan, brio, self-assurance and downright panache as this!


Honestly, if Sir Walter Raleigh had been an anteater, I bet this is EXACTLY how he and his brother would have looked when John Everett Millais painted them.


In the original painting Millais used his sons as models; it might have been difficult to source willing anteater models in 19th Century Devon – but it would have created a sensation when shown at the

Royal Academy!



05/05/2020

ORIGINAL WARHOL PRINTS FOR SALE

Wilson has a 'strictly limited' edition of what he insists are Warhol screen-prints for sale.

I asked him how much he wanted for one, but apparently all the best auction houses don't tell you the price, you have to apply – a sure sign that I can't afford one!


I was a little afraid that he might be accused of forgery or passing off, so I asked how he could sell them as genuine Andy Warhol prints when I'd watched him printing them only yesterday, and he drew my attention to the signature.


'Andy Warhol' I read aloud, but once he'd passed me a magnifying glass I could just make out that it had been subtly modified to read 'Antsy Warhol.' 


Touching the side of his snout with one claw, he whispered, 'Antsy was my graffiti nom d'artiste…'


I don't doubt that when Wilson fails to sell any of them we'll finish up with one gracing the living room wall… and the rest stowed in the spare bedroom.


Should you be sufficiently misguided to buy one of these 'future heirlooms', he cautions you to handle it with great care – partly because they're priceless cultural icons and partly because the ink is still a bit wet in places.



04/05/2020

SCREEN PRINTING FOR FUN AND PROFIT…

… but mostly, I suspect, profit.

Two days ago Wilson hadn't heard of Andy Warhol and didn't know what screen-printing was. Today he has converted the kitchen into a screen-printing studio (he calls it The Factory) and he's turning out 'multiples'.


I must say it looks a very messy business, and it doesn't help that Wilson's dark glasses are so dark, nor that his Andy Warhol wig keeps sliding down over his eyes… yet he refuses to work without them.


Byron is doing his best to help, yet Wilson still manages to get ink, well, everywhere.


I asked Wilson if he really expected to get rich selling screen-prints. He removed his shades and replied, 'I find your lack of faith disturbing!'


After adjusting his wig and added, 'I’m just a simple anteater trying to make my way in the universe…'


Tomorrow, expect to be offered an Original Warhol Print – at an eye-watering price!



03/05/2020

ANDY WARHOL

Wilson has only recently become aware of iconic 60s Pop Artist Andy Warhol.

I think what might have attracted his attention was Warhol's estimated $220 million net worth.


Whichever way you look at it, that's £176 million (€200 million), and far in excess of Wilson's immediate needs…


I predict that Wilson will be Googling 'Screen printing for beginners' very soon
_____


📣 In other news: Congratulations to the Bees 🐝 Polly and 🐝 Billi on their 🔔 SIXTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! 🔔
🎂 🐝 🎉 🍷 🎶 🐜 🍸 🍾
Where does the time go?