Alej ez Contemporary art

Recent artwork

The Lark over the Sussex Weald at Devils Dyke’ or ‘A Hike on the Downs’

The Lark over the Sussex Weald at Devils Dyke’ or ‘A Hike on the Downs’

Print size 124 x 30.5 cm

Detail…can you spot the lark flying?

Last summer, one clear day my friend Eros and I had a picnic in this exact location, it is hard to believe that it is only twenty minutes outside Brighton. It had been in my mind for some time to depict this mesmerising view. We sat on the grass with our sandwiches when i heard it first, a lark, instinctively i found myself looking up scrutinising the sky to subsequently find it, up there, held in the air singing its defiant rather loud tune.

Devils Dyke was formed during the Ice age; it is England’s deepest and widest dry valley nearly a mile long. Described by Constable as ‘the grandest view of the World. The view I portray looks down onto the Sussex Weald confined by the South and in the distance the North Downs.

Painters and poets have historically celebrated this view, it comes to my mind the poem ‘A Hike on the Downs’ by John Betjeman from the book printed in 1937 ‘ Continual Dew’ that goes like this:

“Yes, rub some soap upon your feet!
We’ll hike round Winchester for weeks—
Like ancient Britons—just we two—
Or more perhaps like ancient Greeks.

“You take your pipe—that will impress
Your strength on anyone who passes;
I’ll take my Plautus (non purgatus)
And both my pairs of horn-rimmed glasses.

The joy of companionship and invitation to roam these country paths in your own eccentric fashion, be who you are among the greens.

Can you spot the two larks in this print? As it happens in nature you will have to put some effort to find them. Larks in Mythology and literature have several meanings, they stand for daybreak as in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 “Like to the lark at break of day arising / From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven’s gate; ..”


Firle From Glynde

Print size 124 x 30.5 cm

View of Firle from Glynde Glyndebourne
Firle from Glynde. A celebration of the countryside, the beautiful Southdowns Natural Park, with its soothing and inviting presence. Print size 1240 x 305 mm from £180. Last summer I went for a walk from Lewes to Glynde. I visited 12th C. St Peters Church at Firle and stared for hours at the fantastic John Piper’s ‘Tree of Life’ stained window, with its vibrant colours that has influenced this work. Also springs to my mind the lovely poem by D. H. Davis ‘Leisure’ written back in 1912 but that is so relevant these days. quoted ‘What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass….’
Detail

Brighton West Pier Cormorants

Print size A1, 59.4x84.1 cm

Brighton West Pier Cormorants Print
Brighton West Pier Cormorants. If you are observant of wildlife you might have spotted cormorants drying their wings on the ruins of the West Pier in Brighton. These birds are rather elegant with their slender figure, long necks and anthracite iridescent feathers. Attributed to Christoper Isherwood is the following poem. ‘The Common Cormorant or Shag, Lays eggs inside a paper bag. The reason you will see no doubt It is to keep the lightning out….’ This poem no short of humor was composed at a dinner party, guests set each other the challenge of writing a poem containing a given word. The cormorants are resting on what was before a beautiful Victorian leisure pier. The West pier sadly was destroyed by a series of fires and remains only its bent structure of rusted wrought iron. Print size 84.1×59.4cm. Made from an original ink drawing. Colour and shades added digitally. From £180

Regency Brighton Pavilion Finial and Domes

Print size A1, 59.4 x 84.1 cm

Regency Brighton Pavilion Finial and Domes
Regency Brighton Pavilion Finial and Domes. The colour scheme of this piece relates to the specific Regency colours found in the interiors of the Brighton Pavilion. Gold dragon scales friezes, carmine onion domes, Gothic Prussian blue jali screens, Turner’s patent yellow diamond crenellated parapet in octagonal pinnacle. Finial convex, feathered rings topped by fluted rings. Other sources of inspiration are medieval and early renaissance paintings. Print size A1 59.4 x 84.1 cm. From £180

Ochre Brighton Pavilion Finial and Domes

Print size A1, 59.4 x 84.1 cm

Ochre Brighton Pavilion Finial and Domes.
Ochre Brighton Pavilion Finial and Domes. The colour scheme of this piece relates to the soft ochre render colour of this edifice with its dragon scales friezes, onion domes, jali screens, crenellated parapet in octagonal pinnacle and finial convex, feathered rings topped by fluted rings. Print size A1 59.4 x 84.1 cm. From £180

If you are interested to purchase one of these prints please contact or visit Leo Frames in the heart of Brighton’s North Leine.  70 North road, Brighton, BN1 1YD

Artists Open Houses Festival.  This May 2019 I will be exhibiting my artwork at two follwing houses: Art83 – 83. Freshfield Rd, Kemptown, BN2 0BL and Number 10. 10 Palmeira Square,Hove, BN3 2JB. You can find more info about my previous entries to Artists Open Houses here ALEJ EZ OPEN HOUSE 2018

You can see my latest work and updates by following me @ Instagram alejezart