A blast from the past. (well, maybe a gentle breeze!)

Is it really a month since my first blog? I had some very encouraging feedback on it, but I'm finding that, if I'm not in the right frame of mind, I shy away from writing the next! A bit like producing art work, and I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who know the feeling. Anyway, something happened this week to inspire me to write - I met up with a tutor of mine from the Poly, (sorry, Northumbria Uni!), who I knew in the 70's. Oh my god, how old do I feel! I came across him in 2 ways. First of all, through browsing the Internet. I can't remember how, but I ended up looking at a page by the Arts Editor for the Journal newspaper which mentioned a final exhibition by The Newcastle Group at Northumbria. The article listed the exhibiting artists, amongst whom was my old tutor - Derek Dalton. The Newcastle Group are/were a group of artists living and working in the NE of England who felt they needed a higher profile, and to promote the quality of regional art as opposed to that in The Capital. So began, in 1984, a series of Exhibitions, both here and abroad. The group grew as it began to become established, but 25 years on, with many of it's members now living and working far and wide around the globe, it was decided that all good things must come to an end.
I thought I could maybe get to meet with Derek if I went to the exhibition and possibly pick up his contact details. As fate would have it, I came across them in the December issue of the Living North Fine Art supplement, so I boldly rang him. We arranged to meet at his home/studio in Corbridge, where he does 'the odd bit of work now and again', because he apparently doesn't need the money now!!!! What an enviable position to be in. He welcomed me in and we caught up on who and what from the 70's, and discussed the current art scene in the North East. One of the things we talked about was how to price your work, and he told me an amusing story about someone who owned an early Hockney, amongst others, but was having to sell it for financial reasons. The original price was, let's say, £500. He asked Hockney how he decided on the price, seeing as he was a relatively unknown at the time, and the reply was that he sells for the price of a Mini. So Derek asked the collector how much he was hoping to sell it for now, and his reply? The price of a Mini, which was maybe in the £1000's. He then asked Derek how much he sold his work for and the reply came, quick as a flash - 'For the price of a washing machine'! Derek wanted his work to be affordable and accessible. Just what I want this site to promote!
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