​During renovation work in a kitchen, an elderly French woman stumbled across a dusty old painting stored above the old-fashioned stove. The old picture was put down as rubbish and was destined for the wheely bin. We may never know when the penny dropped for her, but at some point, she decided to have it looked at before the irreversible action. A local expert was called in to have a look and they decided it was likely a genuine artwork from a thousand years ago. Once it was assessed properly, the expert proved that it was a missing masterpiece by the Italian painter Cimabue.
 
The mosaic maker and painter from Florence lived between 1240 and 1300. He is known as part of the Italo-Byzantine period. Credited with being the first major influence of the day to move away from the traditional Byzantine schema, Cimabue helped to bring in a more diverse and creative edge when depicting scenes from literature. A heavy influence of religious thought dominated the scope of what artists were doing at the time, and Cimabue was no different in that he is best known for his iconography.  
 
Christ Mocked is one of the eight panels from a multi-panelled fresco of which five are still at large. The image shows Jesus on his way to the Crucifixion as members of the public amuse themselves on his story and his fate. Painted on a poplar wood panel with a gold-leaf background, the traditional and exquisite style is an ideal example of the era’s work. Discovering the poignant image and rescuing it from its fate in the heat of family cooking, it’s remarkable that the work is still in good condition.
 
When the lost Cimabue was discovered in the old French house, it was snapped into auction. Several interested parties showed up to try their luck at the painting, which was valued at around 400,000 Euros. One of the biggest names present was The Louvre, the world-famous French museum of art. However, when the bidding began it became clear that public funded resources were out of their league when it came to the missing masterpiece. The painting eventually sold for 24 million Euros.
 
The story didn’t end there, though, as the French government stepped in to attempt to secure the work. The Minister for Culture declared the work to be a national treasure and applied an embargo on its export. This meant that the new owner was unable to take their new painting home. The Louvre was given a timeline of 30 months to raise the money to outbid the auction winner by the state secretary at which their patrons came to life. With the reward of tax breaks, several people donated money to the museum in a hope to raise the funds. Eventually, they managed to raise enough to buy the painting from the owner, probably for a profit, and keep the painting in France.
 
Christ Mocked will be on display in The Louvre in 2025. Two days after the sale of the painting for the astonishing sum of money, which put the work in the same graph as Da Vinci and Raphael, the elderly French woman died. It’s sad to know that she’ll never enjoy her fortune, let’s hope that she had grandchildren who can enjoy it in her name.
 

A lot of us are struggling these days. If it’s not with the fast pace of career and family balance, it’s the far-too-steep slope that we must climb to reach it. The paths laid out for us are many and yet they each require a particular mentality that we may be unsure of. Sometimes we find that we are unsuitable for many or even most of the opportunities that people have provided us with. Maybe we can sense a bad deal when we see one and we see them everywhere. A creative person may feel compelled to work on things in their own way which can be problematic in the modern workplace. Finding opportunities that suit a creative person can be difficult as novelty always starts off small. Even if we mass produce a novelty idea or item, the public opinion will be small.
 
Communicating the value of creative ideas requires us to have a fundamental understanding of the problem we are solving. If we use what we have at our disposal, be it time, material, knowledge, mental ability, or any combination of these things, to solve known problems that benefit the wider community, then a business model can work. The necessity of any business is to fulfil a need for a price that is competitive with society at large. We need to think creatively to redefine solutions and problems that suit people more accurately than other services. Not only do we limit current competition, but we also provide unique factors that can change the industry over time.
 
When going into business, the thing to remember that happiness and contentment are what you are selling. The services and items on offer are tools for us to bring that about. We exchange contentment for contentment, so the object is to be rewarded in kind. We ask for money if we need to, or a fair provision of service that we would otherwise not receive. Sometimes the largest issues in a community are based on a lack of money and a lack of social leverage, meaning that those perhaps we are best to serve are unable to respond in any kind at all. This means we require a third party that does provide financial or social rewards. The most obvious example of this is a charity. This is how business is done in the modern world. 

​

To achieve authority status in your chosen area of problem solving, it’s necessary to dedicate your whole mind to the problem. A lot of information is likely already available about your chosen problem and the methods in which is has been solved before. If the problem is new, then we can find similarities in other solutions that we can use as metaphorical tools to explore our own example. Having the right solution is only part of the equation as well. To have people be willing to give us a chance, being an authority will only get us so far. We must be easy to talk to, interact with, and a pleasure to spend time with. When you can make your time worth rewards, either financial, social, or both, then you will find making progress natural.
 
A solution that people can understand means making it simple to apply. If we are a learned expert on a subject, it may become more difficult to see the hurdles in the thought process you’re offering. When choosing solutions to problems and finding ways to provide for us in other ways, people generally choose the easiest and most rewarding option. In general terms, the higher the cost, the higher the quality of service and item. This is because to provide excellence and ease of use, a lot of work is done, and the best ingredients are used. When we pay more for something we generally expect to have a better product because of it. Sometimes sellers use this logic to make products appear better than they are.
 
When establishing yourself as a legitimate source of business and therefore solutions to people's problems, its important to not leave people feeling cheated. This means that using psychology to sell things that people don’t want or at a price that is out of balance will ultimately result in unfriendly feelings and mistrust towards you. When a community loses trust in you then they will no longer feel your services are of any value. The advert and the assurance will mean nothing to them because they don’t know if they should believe it. We can see this in action when politicians draw rosy pictures of rational and functional society when in fact it’s crumbling around them. It’s not long until their narrative no longer makes any sense when compared to reality and the population loses trust in them. 

​

To build trust from a community that doesn’t know if you deserve it, it’s necessary to show that you are present not only to serve yourself but to serve others too. To become trusted and accepted by the wider ecosystem of finance, service, and production, it’s important to be of real benefit to others as much as you are yourself. If a person is unable to look after others or themselves, it becomes unattractive for business. They offer services that do not match the market because the effort and intention to provide is missing. If a person can’t look out for your interests or their own interests, then the service they provide can’t be guaranteed to be adequate.
 
Business must be beneficial to society, not just for the customer and the seller. If the solution to a problem creates more problems, then it’s not a good service. The nature of modern business gives rise to the need to be socially responsible as well as profitable. Making a profit means more jobs for people and more money sent to governments for public services. Provided the money is made fairly and without causing harm to those around it, it’s a good thing. Our creative solutions and abilities are the tools we have to apply ourselves in wealth generation for ourselves and those around us.  
 
Wealth isn’t everything, it’s not the goal. Our problem is in security and in desire. We use money to enable security for ourselves and our loved ones. We also use it to get what we want in life. This is the experience of ownership or time spent. The attraction of money is because of the ability it has to get what we want. It’s power, and in the right hands, it can provide for everyone. When used wisely and creatively, we can use our financial ability to make life better for the community we work in and live in. Making a fair wage is how we get along in society, as the world is prepared for us, and we are prepared for the world. Our ability to solve problems for people and provide genuinely positive experiences is a valuable resource that we can use to fulfil our obligations.
​

To do this properly, we must accept that we need education. We’re not born into any skill and even highly talented people spend a long time practicing and learning how to do what they do so well. If we want to stand among the talented ones, then we must strive and work as hard to be as reliable as they are in the field we choose. This is why choosing a field that we enjoy working with is essential because to make work for you in your own way then it will take a lot of time, most of which will be unpaid. Doing things in the way other people want it done will earn you money faster, so only follow your creative path if you are prepared to take that route. Sometimes, though, it’s the only route we have. Only when we’ve learned the skills and practiced them until they become a talent will our ability be worth paying for.
 
Making people happy is what problem solving is all about. If we can make people happy with our skills without making other people directly unhappy, then we have a great business. What is directly unhappy? Some people will just not like you. They might see you as a threat to their business, or a threat to their social status. Overseeing a business is not a job that comes without its pitfalls. Some people have predefined assumptions about businesspeople and those of us who have studied marketing. If you are in the business of selling products, services, or both then marketing is essential reading. Directly making people unhappy involves action that is inconsiderate of their freedoms and rights to thrive. Antisocial business is not good marketing.
 
A service mindset with a creative attitude and a willingness to look after yourself and others in equal amounts will be the foundation to your creative journey. Once you’ve established trust, authority, a genuine solution to a genuine problem, and a way of benefitting from it personally, your business model is ready to go. Naturally, we need continual maintenance, an eye for new growth and necessary cuts, and a continual process of grounding and reassessing the situation. A creative life is well within reach.
 
If you want to learn more, why not try Principles and Practice of Marketing by Professor David Jobber and Fiona Ellis-Chadwick
​

Since Bloomberg reported on the “Black art gold-rush” back in 2018, many African artists have enjoyed a swift boost in popularity. Especially with social media helping people with an internet connection reach the eyes and ears of anyone else with one, the benefits to developing and newly developed nations are easy to see. Crossing borders and hurdling cultural differences, a good piece of art speaks for itself and often sells for more than reasonable prices. When Godwin Champs Namuyimba found repute with his own exquisite talents, something caught fire and the desire to burn bright with his name spread around the artworld.
 
The rise in popularity for African artists meant that quality spoke louder than experience, and names that so far had not been seen in big exhibitions or selective showcases were able to stand shoulder to shoulder with more well-known creators. A bright future seemed available for so many who had previously been selling work for pedestrian prices to the mainstream. Being whisked away from the high street stall and into the classy and exclusive venues is a dream for many painters and other artists. When a trend takes place and you’ve positioned yourself well, then the odds are in your favour.
 
With a keen desire to reach some kind of professional standard when it comes to selling art, Namuyimba sought representation and support to raise his game. With an expert understanding of the scene and the way forward for artists in his position, Stjarna Art signed the artist to their books and took care of the process of production and resale. Previously to this arrangement, Namuyimba had worked with a French gallery however during the pandemic he was unable to complete his contract and his visa never materialised for his appearance at the exhibit. If it hadn’t been for Stjarna, Namuyimba may have suffered the same kinds of defeat due to finance and struggle. 

​

During 2020 when Namuyimba’s work first went on sale in auction, his works received good coverage and reached several thousand dollars each. Collectors were very happy to pay decent sums for the so far little-known painter from Uganda. Even with a smudge on his backstory with unkept promises, the community seemed to be able to put it down to the stresses of covid and not the character of the individual. From spending time in a spartan apartment in Uganda with a few pieces of Belgian canvas he’d imported, and very little else, to receiving four and five figure sums for his hard work was a big leap. An advance was provided with a ten-painting deal which gave Namuyimba the tools he needed to thrive.
 
It didn’t stop there. When he discovered that he was an investment that art collectors saw value in, Namuyimba took his skills to as many beneficiaries as he could. A team of artists had enjoyed his work in the past and he was able to locate one in particular who pushed his financial situation into the next league. Receiving around $450,000 for 25 future works of size and quality, the artist was suddenly free from the constraints of financial dependency. With many conflicting projects that required his complete attention, it seemed that Namuyinba could sit back and get his head down to work.
 
Rumours of a seedy reputation in his old art scene began to rise, possibly from jealous peers who didn’t meet the standard, and these ultimately ended Namuyimba’s deal with Stjarna Art. It was fairly messy with a booked expo being let down in the process. With the breach of contract in place with third-party investors that gave Namuyimba such a large financial boost, and the unsavoury rumours, the art firm not only cut their ties but changed their history, one client claiming to never have represented the artist but only collaborated with him during 2020. 

​

Perhaps the big take home sense from this artist's journey is that when you come from a community that has less experience in something, it’s easy to get lost and swept up by the forces at play there. We can sometimes get caught by the tide of expectation and eager anticipation offered by well-meaning players in the scene. Even then, we can make mistakes, upset a few people, and still find our way to the top of the mountain. It just takes the courage to keep moving forward.
 
Via ArtNews 
​

It's been a long few days for all of us, the seasons are changing and so is the world around us. In times like these, it's always a good idea to sit back for a while and gather your thoughts. It's in the quiet moments and times of relaxation that we have some of our best ideas. In Britain, and in several places around the world, a cup of tea is the universal symbol for this activity. Brewing tea has been a popular pastime for millennia, with origins in China and India, now tea leaves are grown all over the warm enough world. Rather that using the dusty teabag, many tea connoisseurs prefer to make their favourite drink with loose leaves. Even then, a couple of teabags go into a pot just as well. When you make tea in the cup the teabag often drips over the counter as it makes its way to the bin and there's always a chance of it tearing when you stir it. A pot is the cleaner, more refined option and we should all get one. Have a look at some of these fancy teapots that people are using.
​

The classic and original. Cast iron and made to last, you can boil it on a hob to make hot water and you can infuse anything you want to. If you want to drink tea like the upper crust of times gone by then this is just perfect. 
​

Love for the bees. If you like your tea sweet or if you simply love honey, then a bee design teapot exists for your enjoyment. The bright yellow colours of this Price and Kensington teapot light up the golden tea with extra nectar for that anticipated cup and setting. 
​

Sometimes simplicity is the best way forward. A uniform and modest design brings this unassuming two-cup teapot to your kitchen. If it's just you and a friend or you happen to be in the mood for a double serving, you can save yourself some trouble and make it all in one pot.
​

Is it more than just tea you're drinking there? If you prefer not to say then you can give subtle hints with this every day is Halloween witches' brew teapot. Who knows what mysterious powers it will invoke when you stir up a storm?
​

If the Daleks have been trying to exterminate you or the Cybermen have been trying to delete you, or if the Master has been playing tricks with your head, then maybe it's time to make tea in a Tardis. The thing is, how much tea can you put in it? If it's anything like a real Tardis then you'll have a swimming pool in there. 
​

You know what rhymes with tea? Geometry. That's why this geometric design looks great and is very fitting for the purpose. The fresh minty colours with a hint of sunshine gives an uplifting effect. A high-class design is seen in the shape in which early 20th century vibes mingle with modern sentimentality.
​

Now this time we really do back in time. It feels like an episode of Poirot with this sleek and enchanting black teapot. The intricate design can be admired while you wait for the infusion to work its magic.
​

Stylish and sturdy, this London Pottery polka-dot teapot is a classic design and shape. You can fit several cups in this generous ceramic and give your home a slightly rustic and down-to-earth feeling.
​

Hop to it, put the kettle on! This frog and tadpoles pot and cup set is perfect for pond lovers and nature fans. If you like getting out in the wild from time to time and enjoy the sights and sounds of the great outdoors then perhaps this is right up your street?
​

Just enough for one, this mug and pot set makes the perfect amount for a ten minute break and keeps everything neat and tidy too. This Sass and Belle Folk Floral teapot is an ideal gift to show someone that they really do matter.

Do you need some tealeaves? Why not visit Art of Tea for a great selection of many delicious varieties. Before October 21st? Enter AFFILIATE15 for 15% off. 

Creativity is about finding new ways to look at things and then acting on them according to the novel thinking. Metaphors and flow-charts can be created that guide us through processes and progress, images and stories can be created to apply knowledge across universal circles. Courage is about action, moving through the anxiety and fear by stating your ideas, acting on them, and speaking up when needed. We solve problems by being creative and the right solutions take account of the whole situation. The way forward is directed by the reality of the entire situation and the limitations that it applies. A goal can be in any direction provided it lubricates healthy society and culture. Resistances and frictions are the opportunities for creative input and novel ways of taking responsibility.
 
It takes courage to be able to look at the whole situation and not just the situation from your perspective. Other people will have their own versions of the story and their own ideas about what the end results should look like. The behaviours and systems that result in the situation will be rooted in a dynamic and shifting consensus that always needs to be addressed. It may feel like our views are the ones that are important because of the way we think about them however society is a complex system of many people who each have their own direct reasoning with an equally as vibrant passion for their experience.
 
Because of the possible conflicts of interest and ideal, it’s important to be confident and know your intrinsic worth. Being spoken over and dismissed is a possibility and you need to be prepared to address this calmly and confidently. A creative solution may require new methods of communication and expression that speaks to others in ways they recognise and can respect. The same works for us, too. We may conflict with the interests and ideals of others and be a source of friction and resistance. Understanding the reasoning for their ideas can be difficult if we’re passionate about their antithesis. Because society involves the fluid working of diverse groups, it’s best to look for the logic and ration in their argument and then using that to make your point sound more valid. We need to address the light of it and not the shadow of it as its hardly ever our intention to cast the shadow even though it’s inevitable.  
 
Everyone is a human being with a distinctive history and set of mental pictures that define the way they behave and the things they aspire towards. We all have our own pain points that cause us distress and we have reward senses that help us achieve personal success. These things vary from person to person and community to community. Because we don’t necessarily think and feel in the same way it can be difficult for us to get the idea someone is trying to portray. This means we must be available to humanise situations and accept the rich tapestry on offer rather than tick a box or simply deny relevance. If it’s relevant to them then it’s relevant to the bigger situation they are a part of in equal measure. It can be brave to let go of our predispositions and allow ourselves to validate another person’s point of view.
 
The grey areas are where the definition between what is right, or legal, and what is wrong, or illegal. Right things are affirmative for the culture of the situation and legal things are universal fail-safes. What is legal may not necessarily be right for you or your situation, so these areas become grey in that there is no clear guidance. We need to make space for these grey areas and confront them with our positive attitude towards growth. Each of us has a line drawn that defines what is acceptable and what is not, the combination of these lines needs to manage to stay parallel with the majority without overcrossing the minority and cutting them out. In social dynamics, no lines can be drawn but methods and language are necessary areas of creative collaboration.

​

​We are all unique, not one of us can be completely likened to another. Another person is another story, another background, and another vibrant patchwork of experience that shapes who they are. If we speak up for ourselves and our perspective, we’re usually not acting as a spokesperson for our demographic, but as our own voice. When a person has a view, it’s their view. It’s not the view of their skin colour, their sexual preference, or their age. When we get used to the idea that there are no inherent patterns we can stereotype then although the workload increases exponentially, the validity and reach of what we do will be a lot more precise and a lot less confrontational or abrasive.
 
It is often human nature to make guesses and assumptions based on what we know from seemingly similar situations. Sometimes this will happen to you and your experience and input can be side-lined in favour of a textbook version. We all know how hurtful this can be, when our senses are overwritten by others because they would rather believe in an intangible archetype, or their own personal experience based on a completely different story. If you’re watching the Matrix and you see the same cat you know they’ve changed something but if you’re watching Tom and Jerry, you know it’s something to do with the mouse. Seeing the same cat twice has many meanings, and the things in real life are just as diverse in their meanings. We need to have the courage to listen and validate everyone’s own experience of meaning and symbolism as these things directly affect the way we feel and our ability to work together.
 
When we work together towards a common goal of progress and peace, conflict resolution and easier living methods, those in our group are our allies. They’re not mirror images of ourselves. In national politics, allies don’t get involved in the internal affairs of their counterparts. The laws and systems that go on within each allied nation are their own business and only soft pressure is applied across borders. People are like this, too. We are allied with those around us who work towards a common goal. We’re not charged with governing them but with helping them create a joint vision and action plan that considers their unique style and ethos.
 
 It takes courage to work alongside unique individuals towards a common goal. At first, we know nothing about each other and nothing about what each other want to achieve. This is frightening to accept as not knowing is a source of real anxiety. Having the courage to start at the beginning and assess exactly what needs to be done from the start via a setting that comes from a different backstory requires time and patience. It might be easy to assume that we want the same things as other people and other cultures because we feel strongly about it. We imagine the other people sharing those feelings. Feelings are based on experience and history as much as right and wrong so it’s not possible to fully know what someone else will perceive when given new ideas. We get the job done better when we have the courage you start at the very beginning and accept not knowing.
 
When designing future process and output, whether it is artistic or not, it’s important to speak your true voice. In the same way we must humanise others and accept their experiences verbatim, the same can be said for yourself. It might be easier to lean back on common examples and well-known statements that point at your situation but when we find our own words and describe our experience and desires for ourselves, we can uncover unique and particular elements that so far have been in the blind-spot. Stating our own needs and moving towards them via the existing framework is sometimes a challenge. The world was designed by others with their own individual needs so aligning the various systems at play to achieve your own goals challenges the experience others may want to rely on.  
​

​Toxic safety is where we settle for something that is unhelpful or contrary to our goals and objectives but provides stability and security. We can be working for a company that doesn’t listen to your needs or has a culture of aggressive motivation that can cause stress and depression if you’re not suited to it. The opposite may be true in which your organisation relies on self-guided and mature objectives and open concise communication where you would prefer a more hierarchical and assertive style to work with. The organisations and the cooperative groupings we work within are not always the best place for us, it requires a lot of courage to break from this and go out in search of the better option. Knowing our virtues and demonstrating them at each given opportunity will result in a compatibility with those who are likeminded. Standing up for what you believe in, and vocalising concerns, is frightening for most of us.
 
Courage is about bring brave and working through the sense of fear and anxiety. It require a stable and grounded mindset with enough time to address fleeting sensations that stand in the way. We need a slow and steady walk towards the objective with a guided and open-minded approach. Unifying the whole to produce a clear vision and direction everyone can agree on requires putting the information in place and giving people the opportunity to address it from their own perspective. Being able to play our part and then sit back while the community takes in our input and responds in their own time means letting go of the immediate desire to move forward. We need to remove the blinkers and see things from the bigger picture. This can be frightening as suddenly the scope of our purpose is extended by a large degree however the opportunities and available directions mean this mindset provides the best chance of growth. Creativity uses the ingredients available and makes something that is viable to all viewpoints, either as an address to an issue or a solution to one. We need both if we are going to solve our problems and discovering them on a holistic scale means taking a selfless and impersonal systemic approach as well as listening to ourselves and taking our own experience seriously. You need two eyes open, one to look outside and one to look within.

Also: Get inspiration, ideas, and more by browsing Art.com and support Alternative Fruit with any purchase from this link. 
​

​Human creativity is a mere reflection in the pool of what the universe does all the time. From the days of the beginning, when the laws of physics were put into action, to the modern day with stars and galaxies stretching out as far as the eye can see, creation itself shows us what is possible from just a few raw ingredients. The entire visible universe is made of protons, neutrons, electrons, and photons. The relationship between these things is well-defined and in knowing the rules, scientists have been able to look deep into the night sky and figure out what is going on.
 
From these basic raw ingredients and the laws that govern their behaviour, the universe is able to create all manner of complex and enormous constructions. Stars and planets have formed in every possible way that we can think of and more, plumes of dust span huge distances that mean we see them over a period of millions of years in one view because of the finite speed of light, with the furthest side being so far away that the light we receive is much older than the light we see from the near side.
 
Galaxies are completely extraordinary in their diversity. Spirals with varying arms and colours, globular forms, ellipses, and clusters all take on differing forms based on a few set rules. The different colours and effects of material, light, and gravity produce a spectacular array of shapes, colours, densities, and behaviours. Each one can be studied in so much depth that you can uncover an almost infinite amount of information about its contents and how it moves through space.
 
From the very big to the very small, living creatures have been able to use these same basic ingredients to allow the universe to perceive itself through its own material. The laws of the universe have allowed its contents to assemble in such a way that a conscious understanding of what it is can be achieved. It’s completely remarkable how this has been achieved from what is believed to be nothing. Where did these laws come from that allows such things to happen? Who knows, but what we do know has been put down in video lecture form for us all to learn from and enjoy.
 
When we learn about one artist, we can decipher their work through an understanding of their life story. We can learn about their motivations, circumstances, history, and achievements in order to appreciate what they produced, why they decided on it, and what makes it so unique. Space is like this, the universe is like an artist with a huge story behind it. By learning the story and by deciphering the encoded wisdom, it’s possible to look way into the distance and figure out what is going on. A complete course that is suitable for people who know very little about the subject and for people who want to refresh their memory, An Introduction To Astronomy is on YouTube from Professor Jason Kendal.
 
A more advanced selection of material is also available, for those of you who want to get a more in-depth understanding of the most up-to-date thinking on the subject.  Enjoy this full-length and free introduction to graduate level astronomy from Jason Kendal. 
.

​​From just four dollars to an approximate quarter of a million, an antique painting has been determined as by one of the master painters of the early 20th Century. N.C. Wyeth is responsible for some of the most dramatic and imaginative evocations that accompanied literature and stood on their own merit. With over 3000 paintings to his name, the prolific artist was an unending fountain of inspiration. Over 100 books were illustrated by him, and the works remain as poignant today as they were at the time. The most famous of his published works is probably Scribner’s Treasure Island, the proceeds from which funded his budding career.
 
Originally bought in 2017 for the fact it had a nice frame, the genuine Wyeth was taken home by an art enthusiast without an inkling of its provenance. However, in a moment of clarity, the new owner decided to do some research before assigning the unknown work to the wastepaper bin. Thankfully the sleuthing paid off and within a few weeks the painting had gained attention on social media from several art experts. Lauren Lewis, from Maine, was so intrigued by the painting that she dropped everything and went in person to the New Hampshire residence where it was being kept.
 
An expert with a career’s worth of experience with Wyeth paintings, Lauren Lewis was able to clarify that the work really is 99% a Wyeth. Clearly, unless we see the work created by the artist, there is always a little doubt. However, with replica works, one or two of the key elements of individuality can be copied however the whole range of talent and micro elements that build the artist’s personality are rarely imitated in one item. The painting in question is believed to be the missing illustration for Ramona from 1939. Due to be sold at auction in just a few days, the painting is valued around $250,000 and is already gaining lots of attention from collectors.
 
One for the tabletop: ​Great Illustrations by N. C. Wyeth (Dover Fine Art, History of Art)
​

​When we re asked to think about the origins of modern art, our minds are often drawn to names such as Picasso and Matisse. Talented male artists are rightfully taught and talked about as instrumental figures in the evolution of today’s flourishing art scene. With big characters such as Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali strutting their works in the major consciousness, the women of the time are often over-looked. A historical chauvinism and male-centred storytelling style has caused the imbalance in our understanding of the history behind our favourite movements and collections.
 
“Matisse, Derain, and Friends” is a new exhibition that aims to disrupt this half-blind public image. The Fauvist art style was made popular in the early 20th Century and involved the use of vivid colour and emotionally charged, expressive images. Often obscure, and with a casual twist of the abstract, fauvist images are easy to remember and usually become amplified talking points. On display at the Kunstmuseum in Basel, Switzerland, the exhibition opened on September 2nd and will remain open until January next year.
 
Women painters and female subjects often made their mark on this movement at the time, and many were highly influential on the style. The public memory is being challenged with the show as the display concentrates on these elements rather than the more famous male works. What is also sometimes misunderstood is that the artists often employed sex workers to be the model in their paintings. These people had stories of their own and brought a darker and more dangerous side to the culture.
 
Emilie Charmy is perhaps the most well-known example of a female fauvist. Her tumultuous upbringing saw the orphaned child taken in and given lessons in art. She was a headstrong individual and shunned many of the socially expected learning on offer for young women of the day. Choosing to take up an occupation normally associated with men, her contributions to the style gave a unique and priceless aspect to the larger body of work.
 
Also on display are works by the mythologically inspired Marie Laurencin. She moved in the same circles as greats such as Georges Braques and Guillaume Apollinaire. Having studied her craft at the world-renowned Academie Humbert, Laurencin quickly gained the nickname, “The doe among the wild beasts”. Like her stylistic counterpart, Emilie Charmy, her works were often compared to her male compatriots of the scene. Charmy was once described as “The woman who paints like a man”.
 
Making it clear that these female artists held as much talent and were just as instrumental in the evolution of the style is the aim of this latest exhibition. The celebration of female fauvists is clearly necessary as their works were highly influential in the progression of trends that led to today’s eclectic and varied market. The public consciousness is rich with images of the style and when we look at works made by these lesser-known heroes we can quickly see how much of their influence we already recognise. Rebalancing the books and putting women artists of the past in their rightful place next to the men on equal footing is a noble and necessary activity, and with the quality and adventurousness of the works on offer, it’s also a rewarding one.   

The iconic Welsh designer Laura Ashley is being celebrated with a curated exhibition this summer. The free to enter museum at Llanidloes is showcasing some of the designers most significant objects and images. Within the display, visitors can find an extremely rare 1960s version dress alongside many other accessories and interior furnishings. A highly-successful business woman, Laura Ashley brought hundreds of jobs to the local economy and employed many more all over the world at the outlets.
 
The Powys location is the home of the designer, where Laura Ashley lived and designed her iconic fashion. The museum pays particular attention to the effects the artist had on the local area with influence and benefits rising from her extensive reach. Born in Merthyr Tydfil and living close-by in affluent Rhayader, the fashion icon is still well-loved and admired by her community nearly 40 years since her death in 1985.
 
You’ll need to visit the exhibition before the end of September, when the space is renewed for something else. The temporary showcasing will be open to all 10am to 1pm on Mondays, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm on Wednesdays, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm on Fridays, and 9.30am to 1pm on Saturdays.
 
The work of Laura Ashley is still a much-loved aspect for designers and retro-feel clothing fans. With a thriving interior design business and a fan-favourite dress-sense, eBay is choc-full of hand-me-downs and brand-new items that carry the sought-after name. See what you can find and support Alternative Fruit with any purchase. 
​

Featured at the New Museum, and with international acclaim from an expo at the Venice Biennial, Mire Lee is captivating art lovers with her gut-wrenching installations. A fully kinetic and tactile form allows for explorations of the disgusting and the morbidly fascinating.
 
Born in Seoul and living in Amsterdam, Mire Lee stood out from the crowd with her 2022 ceramic entrails. The Endless House: Holes and Drips installation received a range of reviews, with being unable to look away the common denominator. Now displaying in New York’s the New Museum, a fresh batch of creepy creativity is available to admire.
 
The walls have been layered with fabric and wet clay that’s been allowed to flow and expand with the help of a steam machine. A muddy red paint was then applied to give the material a sense of organic origin. Then, to fill the space, a variety of moving sculptures have been placed that are representations of the natural world. Metal and plastic objects are used to build the shapes with fabric and paint to finish the job.
 
The imagination can be left to run free while standing among the grotesque and horror-film-like setting. Walking among the moving sculptures can help bring a nightmarish scene to life as visitors explore and make conscious all the chilling ideas. If you like your thrills to be over the top and designed to disgust, then you’ll be right at home at Mire Lee’s Black Sun exhibition.