Paint My Album has been a little restless since we completed our 2,000 classic album covers redone in Microsoft Paint. We're now inviting our contributors to send in other examples of their artistic prowess, especially if they don't have any. Incidentally, if you want to send us your artwork, of just about anything you want, send it to paintmyalbum@gmail.com
Tim Robbins from Abingdon in Oxfordshire did exactly that, except that he has artistic prowess by the bucket icon-full. Here was one of his first entries to us, Cash, by a Johnny Cash played by Frank Butcher off of Eastenders.
But what of his work away from redoing classic album covers? Let's take a look at the magic of Tim Robbins, from Abingdon.
. Churchill as a Chinchilla - Tim Robbins, Abingdon. On Microsoft Paint (2010) Tim Robbins from Abingdon takes a wry look at history throughout his oeuvre. In this image, he depicts former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as a chinchilla. Is it a satirical nod towards the help Britain got from her American ally? Were we merely the pet and plaything of Roosevelt? Let's find out from the artist himself: 'I wanted to do a picture of Winston Churchill as a chinchilla,' says Robbins.
'Batslug' by Tim Robbins (2010) - Microsoft Paint.
Winston Chutchill isn't the only figure 'messed with' by Robbins. Here, the artist has imagined 'Batman,' but as a 'slug.'
'I combined a bat and a slug,' says Robbins.
'Tree Sturgeon' by Tim Robbins - Microsoft Paint (2010)
In this nod to the absurdism of Edward Albee and Eugene Ionesco, Tim Robbins has drawn a fish in a tree. Can you imagine such a thing? It takes time to digest what he's trying to achieve here. The viewer has to remove all sense of the world in its recognisable state, and begin again, afresh. But once one has done so, what do we see? An arrow, with a label, that says 'me.' We're thus asked to imagine not only the logical improbability of a fish in a tree, but also that the fish is a person, and that person is Tim Robbins from Abingdon.
'The End of Bread - Part II of a triptych' by Tim Robbins - Microsoft Paint (2010)
This work is part of a triptych, but as the other two parts got lost in the post, it's difficult to know what the message is. Clearly, the piece of banana bread has been killed or run over or has committed suicide or is resting. The industrial chimneys fill the horizon with acrid smoke. The upturned shopping trolley is a clear tribute to the father and son in Cormac McCarthy's apocalyptic novel The Road. But what is the message?
'I wanted to do something with Banana Bread,' explains Tim, 'But I wasn't happy with the age-old convention of its being eaten. But rather, imagine this: The bread has been killed or is resting, and there is blood or jam, coming out, or going into, it.'
Tim Robbins has a Facebook appreciation page of his artwork, at Painty Paint Paint.
You didn't just send in your classic album covers redone in MS Paint for nothing. Actually, most of you did. But we were collecting them for a reason. Art. Yes. It turns out that if you have a lot of something, however useless that thing may be, then that collection is art. Ed and Anthony tested that theory at a real-life art gallery in Manchester.
We have several pictures of criminals on Death Row quoting famous mistakes from British sports commentators. We mainly used cricket commentator Brian Johnston, football summariser Kevin Keegan, and snooker's 'whispering' Ted Lowe.
Regards, etc.
Dear Paint My Album,
Hi,
No.
Regards, etc.
An Actual MS Paint Art Collection Sent in By An Actual Artist
More than one pair of eyebrows were raised in the Paint My Album bedsit yesterday, when we received a whole collection of already-exhibited artwork from Stephen Smith, from Roanoke, Virginia, USA.
We were bowled over by his pictures of skulls and owls and waves. Look at this first picture: it's some waves.
Waves. Stephen Smith (2010) - MS Paint. Canvas Size - Normal
These waves have bubbles near them, which look like little planets. What is the artist saying? I interpret it as follows: The world is 70% water, but within this water there are numerous planets, and within these could be more water if we explored them. Therefore, taking these uncounted planets into account, the world could be as much as 80% water.
Stephen Smith is 29 years old, and began his MS paint artwork hobby three years ago on lunchbreaks. He has since completed 200 paintings, focusing on such themes as skulls, owls and waves. He uses Microsoft Paint for its simplicity.
Orange Soda Attack. Stephen Smith (2010). MS Paint. Canvas Size - Slightly Big
This is my favourite of Stephen's Oeuvre, focusing on the nightmarish vision of a world inhabited by dogs, who suffer constant air attacks by Kenan and Kel.
Reginald Likes to Party. Stephen Smith (2010). Ms Paint. Canvas Size - Moderate or good
Roanoke, Virginia, used to raise much of its economy through coal exports. Consequently, many of the city's computers are powered by the fuel. This fact is not lost on Stephen, who depicts an alien 'thinking' a dollar sign, while uttering 'funfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfunfun.'
Chaos Unleashed at the Whim of the Maniacal Owl King. Stephen Smith (2010). MS Paint. Canvas Size - 34DD
Time and time again we see Smith return to his trademark theme - owls. This owl (notice the claws) is adorned by the internet acronym: WWW. A coincidence? Next, regard the skulls. They seem to be attacking the bird, but wait. The owl cocks her head. Is she listening? What are the skulls saying? Is it the owl that's talking and the skulls listening? Can the owl even see the skulls? Yes, he can. His vision is near 360. It is a confusing piece, and I don't like it.
You can see the rest of Smith's work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepybeef/
Please send your own artwork in to paintmyalbum@gmail.com
