1980s Pop Art By Doug Kemp

1980s Pop Art. Doug might describe this period as the ‘Bitty years’. Between divorces and the loss of a parent. A general economic recovery resulted in a lot of get-rich quick kids with a disposable income and some with a snobbish desire to own some “real” art.

This post-Athena retail generation fueled an inflation of some dubious artworks for those who could afford it, and the growth of pop up galleries run by wannabe artists often exploited the situation while the paint was still wet.

Meanwhile, in Suffolk, in the latter part of the decade, Doug has moved home and studio again.

Storage and transit issues were slightly alleviated by the acceptance of some pieces by various galleries, including some in USA and Switzerland.

Demob Happy. Loughborough loose Acrylic Painting On Canvas from the late 1980s

Happy girl. Acrylic Painting On Paper from the 1980s collection, this female character appear in further works on canvas and as a Giclee print.

Chicago Artist and Model. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s pop art collection.

Musica America. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s pop art collection. Classic advertisement style.

I, Wonder Woman. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Heroes pop art collection.

More Conflicts. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Divorce pop art collections.

During the 1980s I took an assignment at MJS International Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas, and produced a small series of paintings. Although a relatively short time was spent there on that occasion, the experience appeared to have had a disproportionate influence. Although, perhaps, it was just resurfacing and reinforcing earlier experiences.

Bigger and brighter fed Doug’s already primed fertile mind, because of so much more potential material being available. He also took a roll of paintings (on paper) over there with him and didn’t bring them home.

Fort Worth is a city in North Central Texas. In the late 19th century, it became an important trading post for cowboys at the end of the Chisholm Trail. Today, it’s a modern city, with international art institutions like the Kimbell Art Museum.

The Fort Worth Stockyards are home to rodeos, and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honours pioneers. Heee-Haaa!

Fort Worth days. 121 x 91 cm Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s & Texas art collection

Fort Worth Cowboy. Acrylic painting on canvas commissioned in Fort Worth Texas in the 1980s.

Texas. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.

Shopping in Fort Worth. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.

A planned tour of the Chicago art scene in the late 1980s was cut short by a family bereavement, but other occasions provided stimulus from visits to the sites of modern real life legends and the sites of famous movie scenes also served to enhance the tableaus in the work, incorporating both real and imaginary.

Chicago has always been my favourite city in the United States of America. Its decor and history of real-life gangsters and movie characters are recalled but in vivid colours. For me it was a city where the sun always seemed to shine and didn’t suffer too much from the wind.

Chicago days, v1. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.

The big parade. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s collection.

Dream on. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s collection.

Mr Chicago. Limited Edition Artist Lino Print 24×26 Inches. This is a commissioned piece of work.

Lady with two feathers in her hat. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s & Divorce series.

Lady with four feathers in her hat. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s & Divorce series.

The range of Doug’s work, within the current developing style, was now almost as varied as it was numerous.

Attempts to classify Doug’s pieces are like trying to herd eels – once it is felt that a labelling genre has been tied down, it slips away also to be included in another category as an overlap.

There appeared to be a move away from classic character influence to an expression of imagination in comic book form. The influence of physical objects and places come to the fore (and background!)

Study for Hi Joe Hi Mary. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s, a precursor this painting was reproduced as a new improved version.

Who said that? Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s modern art collection.

What’s this thing? Acrylic painting on paper 1980s & Heroes Pop Art Collection.

Walk like an Egyptian. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s & Heroes pop art collection.

Rangoon Ice maidens. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s & Divorce pop art collections.

Hanging Joke. Acrylic pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s. This painting left a number of galleries confused as Doug provided no information on how the painting should be hung.

A Madonna (ma-donna) has an obvious religious connection and is a representation of Mary, mother of Jesus in the Christian faith. A church icon and in paintings throughout history, the term has also become a byword for purity and even beauty.

Various depictions have appeared over time, often related to the fashion of the time.

Sea Madonna, v1. 92×92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s

Sea Madonna v2. 92×92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s. Appears she is concerned that the gull might steal her kebab.

Sky Madonna. Unique monoprint from the early 1980s

War Madonna. Silkscreen and Giclee print, available from the print store

This collection has only a minor religious influence ( actually more just an influence of historical religious art). Madonna here also appears to owe her identity partly to the comic book character Lady Blackhawk and various war films, together with the real, striking fringe of an ex-art student and friend.

Betty Page had a nice fringe too. As is often the case, the works take on their own identity while still in production.

Dada was an art movement that developed in reaction to World War I, the Dada movement consisted of artists, writers, musicians and performers who rejected the logic, reason, and aestheticism of modern capitalist society.  Their works, express the nonsense, irrationality and opposition to what was happening in society in general.

Hans Richter, the acknowledged father of Dada, stated that Dada was not art: it was “anti-art.” Dada represents the opposite of everything which art stands for.

Where art was concerned with traditional aesthetics, Dada ignored aesthetics. If art was to appeal to sensibilities, Dada is intended to offend.

Night garage. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s, Sitcom series of paintings.

Rah Rah Pom Pom Girl. 122 x 92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on paper from the 1980s modern art collection.

Office days. 122 x 92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on paper from the 1980s modern art collection.

Not hiding. 122 x 92 cm Acrylic pop art painting on paper from the 1980s modern art collection.

Msic v2. AKA The office party. Reference Ms Icarus. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s art collection. Do you own Misic v1? Please contact us and let us know. We don’t have a digital copy of the artwork.

Dr M. Acrylic pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s.

Painted in the 1980s. A developing style at a time where when some people chased each other around in big spaces and canvases and minds needed a treat and not just the exercise.

In contrast to the Cityscapes, landscapes and vegetation are now often the order of the day and the bright yellows and reds have given way to greens but not knowingly dabbling in Veganism. A chase or just plain “seeking” features in the representation of the characters and, unusually, they do not dominate the works in their proportions. They are, however, still critical in the telling of the tale.

The sizes given for these paintings might not be accurate but it is believed the approximate size of all the pieces is around 122 cm (48 inches).

Stag at Bay. 152 x 183 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

The Maze. 76 x 81 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

The Citadel. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

Home and Dry. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

Decoy. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

Hide & Seek. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

Night garage. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

Stormy weather. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

Discovering the West Country. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

A Sudden shower. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

Giants at play, v2. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

Breaking up the Happy Home. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom collection.

A selection of milestone paintings from the 1980s. Art is subjective and these paintings have been selected as they either reflect points in Dougs life or the have had positive feedback.

Happy girl. Acrylic pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s. This character appears in multiple works & formats.

Man alone. Acrylic self-portrait pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s and Portraits collection

Viewing domestic bliss. 152 x 162 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s & divorce series of paintings.

The sculpture. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

The settee. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Industrial still life paintings on paper from the 1980s. “Up the workers” had other, sad, connotations at the time. Although not intended as a political comment there may have been a subconscious influence (as many influences on Doug actually appear to be) by the current industrial relations of the time.

Doug worked in a few factories in the very early days, with pin-up girls on the walls in juxtaposition with heavy machinery.

The emergence could also be, of course, just have been the effect of country life and a passing craving for the city or maybe even a celebration of getting away from it?! Spot the other pieces throughout this site have the occasional Industrial touch.

Industrial still life v1. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s

Industrial still life v2. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s Glamorous pin-up girl in juxtaposition on factory wall.

A Tribute to a man who inspired me… Fernand Leger.

Fernand Leger was a trailblazer and very much regarded as ‘the forerunner’ of the new and upcoming style of art that is now commonly known as the origins of Pop Art.

Leger was a French painter, sculptor and filmmaker who in his early years developed his own form of cubism which later developed into a figurative style. He was also influenced by Medieval and Renaissance paintings, something else in common with Doug. See all of Doug Kemps works that reference Leger

Forging Leger. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s & Leger Series of art

Transporting the forged Leger, v1 Forms a Diptych with v2. 183 x 152 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s & Leger Series of art

Transporting the forged Leger, v2 Forms a Diptych with v1. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s & Leger Series of art

The puzzle. 122 x 114 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s

The art lovers. 183 x 138 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s part of the art lovers mini collection.

Street scene. 163 x 122 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s and cityscapes collection.

Rose tinted glasses. 183 x 153 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s.

The Pentaptych show, Glasgow. Set of five Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the late 1980s. Amusingly, Doug’s in-joke here is that he did not specify in which order the gallery should hang this series.

Man Alone. Acrylic self-portrait pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s and Portraits collection

Ladies day. 127 x 101 Acrylic abstract pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s.

LOC (Liberation of colour). Acrylic abstract pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s.

Jukebox days. Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s & Dancing times art collection.

The 1980s saw the first set of nude paintings, with Lucy and Little Egypt. By popular demand these paintings are going to be reworked in to Giclee prints and will be available in the print store later in 2022.

Lucy. 114 x 122cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings. * Giclee update

Little Egypt. 114 x 122cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings. * Giclee update

Ladies day. 127 x 102 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Zip. 182 x 138 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Walk on by. 182 x 138 cm Acrylic pop art painting on canvas from the 1980s collection of paintings.

Torpedo Jacks. Acrylic pop-art painting on canvas from the 1980s. This character appears in multiple works & formats but was able to afford a few different suits..