Relationships Art Collection Artist Collection

There must be few people who haven’t heard of the adage… “The Actress and the Bishop”…. or “Come up and see my etchings….”

Relationships don’t always involve two people and throwing another person into the mix will inevitably cause problems and this is the basis of many a good film noir plot and a fertile ground for images on celluloid and canvas.

American Tourist. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s

The Samurai. 121 x 92 cm Acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Jump Jump. AKA Sweet C. 45 X 58 inches 2000s collection Acrylic painting on canvas, Doug Kemp

Snake charming sisters. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s

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

Twins. 61 x 61 cm limited edition artist silkscreen print. Pop-art you can buy from the Doug Kemp artist print store.

Comedy and farce also lend themselves to the complexities of relationships and it should be remembered that relationships don’t necessarily even involve another person.

Discounting relationships with animals, where there can be some real interaction, people have been known to form strong attachments to inanimate objects or places. Unfortunately, this is often now dismissed as a mere obsession or, in a severe case, a fetish.

Stone Bride. Post-2000 acrylic painting on canvas from the Divorce collection

Final conflict. Acrylic painting on canvas painted in the 1990s

Chinning the snake. Post-2000 Acrylic painting on canvas from the Divorce collection

The Fitting. 121 x 91 cm acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s artist collection.

In reference to Ira Levin’s ‘The Stepford Wifes’ book .The term “Stepford wife” is generally used as a derogatory term for a submissive and docile wife who seems to conform blindly to the stereotype of an old-school subservient role in their relationship with their husbands.

Dusting, vacuuming or laughing together while you’re paying the bills, sharing those moments while washing the dishes, such is togetherness…. What could be better than all of this domestic bliss? Maybe an Au Pair would have helped….even a Slo-vac.

Domestic Animals. 76 x 81 cm painting on canvas from the 1990s Divorce Domestic Bliss mini collection.

Domestic Animals, V2. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s pop-art Divorce Domestic Bliss mini collection.

Viewing Domestic Bliss. 152 x 162 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s found in the Divorce Domestic Bliss mini collection.

Limited edition signed art prints from the relationships art series by Doug Kemp.

I often see images or moments in time as snapshots that are then filed away (often unintentionally) deep in the memory. These can be resurrected, triggered by another image or event, and both may reappear featured together (although not originally related) as complementary images in the same piece of work. These may be related to the once physical or to a mental background to the major subjects and often develop, almost organically, even during the actual process of putting paint to canvas.

The works of Relationships in Art, like the memories and their portrayal, are diverse and naturally influence the feelings of the viewer (as all art should), dependent on their current mood. The emotions to be evoked are inherent in the work but time can mellow or, much worse, reignite bitter feelings best left in the past. This is greatest from a personal view of the author of the work and others may just view it as in passing in blissful ignorance and, hopefully, in appreciation of what they get from it.

Some works exude natural happiness but others can evoke the mild anxiety intended, which IS film noir and life’s influence.

Doug Kemp, paraphrased.

Strange sisters. 182 x 165 cm Painting on canvas from the 1990s art collection

Walk on by. Acrylic painting on canvas 182 x 137 cm from the 1980s

Cherry Beret. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s and part of the falling pop-art mini collection

Strolling. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s artist collection

A walk in the park.Acrylic painting on canvas from the the 2000s art collection

Apache. Acrylic painting on canvas from the the 2000s art collection

In almost all cultures in the world, jumping depicted in life and in art has the similar meaning, it is a representative way of acknowledging an achievement of one’s goals, jumping for joy.

The Magician v4. 114 x 127 cm – Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s and Magician mini-series of art

Jump and Jive. Acrylic painting on canvas, the 2000s Art Collection, Doug Kemp Art

Jump the Rabbit. 48×36 Inches Acrylic painting on paper 1990s Art collection, Doug Kemp

Falling depicted in art?  This could indicate that the subject matter is trying to hold on to a situation in life that is not serving their wellbeing. The characters falling in my paintings are bearing hidden insecurities, and social anxieties, or are faced with unstable situations in their lives. Falling figures and the different forms in which they can be depicted also act as a structural device for the whole image.

Falling in love scenes in paintings? – hindsight is a marvellous thing and from that viewpoint, it can’t even be considered a good idea at the time. It’s not necessarily the falling that hurts but the landing. Best to keep falling or learn to bounce and roll, but always wear a crash helmet.

Doug Kemp.

Cherry Beret. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s and part of the falling fine-art mini collection

High wirers. Acrylic painting on canvas 50×45 inches 2000s

Love in the time of bubbles AKA Corona follies. 2000s collection Acrylic Painting on canvas.

Cha Cha Cha. AKA Anyway Up. 45×50 Inches Acrylic painting on canvas 2000s Doug Kemp Art

Duck and Dive. 45×50 inches Acrylic painting on canvas 2000s collection, Doug Kemp

Mzic. AKA The office party. Reference Miss Icarus (Ms Ic). Acrylic painting on canvas 1980s Murder art collection.

Weekend getaway. Acrylic on canvas 127 × 114 cm from the 2000s collection. What a carry on.

Demob happy. Acrylic painting on canvas from 1980s Murder collection and Divorce series. Some men will bend over backwards for a quiet life.

Weekend getaway v2. Acrylic painting on canvas 127 × 114 cm from the 2000s collection.

So far so good. Featuring actress Leslie Caron. 45×50 inches, Acrylic painting on canvas 2000s Collection.

Jump Jump. 50 x 42 Inches Acrylic painting on canvas 1990s Dance Art collection.

Angels No. 1. Acrylic painting on canvas. Part of the Angels mini-series.

Whether dancing the Turkey trot, the Tango, the Twist, as a flapper in the Charleston or even Disco fever, they can all be considered the vertical expression of a horizontal desire (for a carnal relationship). Mating displays and mere exercise aside, celebrating dance is its own form of art.

Electro Swing.127 x 114 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the Dancing times pop-art collection.

Dance to the Music, v1. 127 x 114 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the Dancing times pop-art collection. Not to be confused with the painting Dancing to the Music.

Roof top Boogie Woogie. 127 x 114 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the Dancing times pop-art collection

Tango v2. 127 x 114 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the Dancing times pop-art collection

City days, v1. AKA Hither & Tither. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s Pop-Art collection

The Maze. 60 x 81 cm – Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s Sitcom mini art collection

Sunrise Sunset. Acrylic painting on paper 121 x91 cm from the 1990s art collection

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

Good old Summer time. Acrylic painting on canvas. Modern Times, 50 x 45 inches 2000s – Doug Kemp Art

Fort Worth Days. 122 x 91 cm Acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s Art Collection

Running man. Acrylic painting on canvas, has its own page & video – Running Man Page

Despite the circular background remaining in the same position as its twinned painting (Running Woman). There is a reversal in the sense that whereas ‘The Running Woman’ is running into the frame, our male character here is facing outwards.

However, he is not running away, but rather running into the entrance of a tunnel where the optical viewport offers multiple planes of perspective which are presented by the stridden layers to which he is navigating.

The scantily-clad female is a reoccurring character throughout a number of paintings and pays homage to one of Doug’s favourite iconic pin-up models from the 1950s, Bettie Page.

Spies,  early 1990s acrylic paintings on paper from the relationship art series. These are not actual spies like 007 but rather observers. The title of the series reflects the subject matters of insufficient trust and love.

Here are characters whose intentions and true emotions are hidden. They are afraid of being hurt at the point where people might truly understand who and what they are. In this type of relationship, people pretend or act in certain ways to hide their own feelings. Shaken, not stirred. Not.

Spies v1Acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s collection.

Spies v2. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s collection.

Spies v3. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s collection.

Spies v4. Acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s collection.

Spies v5 (No Hiding). Acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s collection.

Spies v6 (City Times). Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s collection.

Art lovers standing in an art gallery admiring their own work but harbouring resentment. Possibly excessively blinkered on past accomplishments, yet knowing that someone around them also has had their own past experiences that they still can not overcome.

In an art gallery, it becomes almost dangerous to overhear others’ comments on a piece of work, particularly your own. Everyone is an art critic in a gallery but it is warming to realise that a piece may mean so many different things to different people, with there being no need to actually agree.

The danger comes when someone tries to convert or educate another’s opinion without invitation. This obviously also applies in society, generally, but a difference of opinion even in art has also caused great strife throughout history, the latest (and probably the worst) being the particular taste of Mr Hitler.

Various works of art stolen by the Nazis are still missing to this day and are being avidly sought by different individuals and organisations.

The Art lovers. 183 x 137 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the Art lovers collection

Art lovers Zurich. Acrylic painting on canvas 182 x 152 cm from the 1990s Art lovers pop-art collection

The Art lovers v2. Acrylic painting on canvas from the Art lovers collection

The monuments art collection shows Doug’s love of Art Deco architecture. This architecture is still to be found in most cities and towns and particularly at the seaside. Not always noticed and often neglected, it was once the epitome of a brighter hope and confidence between the World wars.

Fashion (even in architecture) changed greatly post WW2, and many great examples were torn down with only a relatively recent revival and desire to preserve them. Now they are more than just monuments to times passed, and even if only the mere facade is kept and the rest has been disemboweled in modernising their utility, that remnant takes its place in the established cityscape. Some of the remaining structures formed reference to the 1950s and 1960s subculture, architecture and principles of modern-day design.

This collection also pays homage to the form of the figures and structures in the Medici Chapels in Florence, designed by Michelangelo.

Monuments v1. AKA Trains, Boats, Planes. 115 x 127 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s collection.

Monuments v2. AKA Paramount. Paramount Pictures was the force behind many glamourous Hollywood movies, although the central structure represented here actually resembles an Odeon. 115 x 127 cm Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s collection.

Monuments v3. AKA The Guardians. 115 x 127 cm acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s collection.