Sumptuous Nostalgia in Garry Cartwright Jigsaw Puzzles UKBringing the look and feel of the period, atmospheric, memorable Garry Cartwright Jigsaw Puzzles UK. Garry Cartwright jigsaw puzzles UK include nostalgic street scenes, great Liners, Trams, Canals and a day at the Races. Dedicated to Garry, this page contains an interview with the man himself. Hear from Garry himself on his inspiration, techniques and favourite jigsaws. Garry has very kindly answered our interview questions. The answers are reproduced here as given.
THE INTERVIEW
Background and Training I was born on 2nd March 1953 in Duddeston Mill in Birmingham but in 1956 became what they called at the time a 'Brummie’ in exile as a lot of people were moving out to the new suburban estates that were being built and we moved to Kingshurst where I was really brought up! I have had no formal training to paint, being totally self taught and I get the ability from my late father (who never really developed his talent; mainly due to WWII). I did in fact work for the Civil Service for 18 years before leaving to paint full time in 1990. I currently live in Shirley, Solihull and work at home (although plans are currently afoot to move to Northumberland, hopefully this year). I love Northumberland!!
Area of Interest I do enjoy the old street scenes which I have become known for but it was an area I fell into by accident really as when I was first starting out some of my early paintings were seen at exhibitions at the NEC near Birmingham and Art Publishing houses requested I do more. Then the jigsaw Companies approached me from the same source - the NEC exhibitions! My real loves are certain periods of History - Roman, Medieval and Napoleonic (plus wargaming in these periods) and SHIPS!; I am interested in ships of all kinds but particularly Nelsons Navy and Liners. Also I am a member of the Nelson Society and The 'Sharpe Appreciation Society' of which I am now officially 'on staff'; see the details on my website as I have created paintings with a 'Sharpe' connection.
A good deal of my time is also taken up with helping to raise funds for and organise 'Thistle Grove Retired Greyhound Trust' and I have two Greyhounds of my own and would love to see the end of these wonderful animals being exploited for peoples’ 'entertainment'!
Techniques
With regard to techniques in my work, I work only in 'oil' (although I do get requests sometimes for other mediums) and the street scenes are obviously referenced from old black and white photos (for accuracy) and I used to use the 'grid method' of transferring all the individual images to make up my compositions on the canvas but the computer has taken a lot of time consuming work out of the equation (thank goodness) and I prepare all my preliminary work there even colour and light testing before transferring to canvas. I paint in an unusual way in that I don't build up my painting in layers working on the whole canvas at once as is the usual method in oil painting but I prefer (as I believe 'Vermeer' did) to paint as a 'fresco' painter would in that a chosen area is painted to full detail before moving on; to do this you need to see the finished work in your mind from the start - no hit and miss techniques as you will get with watercolour!
Advice for Kids (Perhaps you can inspire your child to match those Garry Cartwright Jigsaw Puzzles UK some day!) As regards advise for kids wanting to create their own jigsaws 1. Choose a subject that you enjoy or have an interest in as it makes you keen to complete the detail before getting bored. (I hate painting landscapes). 2. Make sure there is plenty of things going on in the picture; a bowl of fruit is colourful but not much fun to look at all the time you are building the jigsaw (or landscapes!). 3. Try to give the picture a strong light source from one direction or another so that you get a contrast of light to dark which will always catch the eye and makes a painting popular (look at Jack Vettriano's work). 4. Don't be afraid to use strong colour in the first place; colourful clothing or other inanimate objects.
Favourite Jigsaws Favourite jigsaws - of my own - would have to be 'Ocean Greats' issued by Gibsons Games and I still have the original for sale!
Of another Artist - I do like Edward Hersey's pictures; similar to my own I suppose ! Do you do Jigsaws?
I do do jigsaws myself but tend towards the really large ones 4000 or 5000 pieces which I frame and hang in my house (almost like tapestries). The pictures are usually historic in scene military or naval.
Which Manufacturers do you work with
I have worked with Gibson's Games, Falcon jigsaws which is part of the 'Jumbo' Group from the Netherlands and once was produced by Waddingtons in the early days.
You can see full colour images and buy Garry Cartwright jigsaw puzzles UK at: It is just great to get an insight into a wonderful artist. I love too the tips for kids and of course Garry Cartwright jigsaw puzzles UK.
As well as Garry Cartwright Jigsaw puzzles UK, Garry completes a lot of artistic work. You can contact Garry, including to organise a commission, through his website
garrycartwright. |