Patron of the arts
252 wordsAt last year’s Leamington Christmas market, I was impressed by the prints being sold by local artist James Vinciguerra. He draws buildings and landscapes in an interesting Hockney-esque way, colours and edits the drawings digitally, and produces prints of the results. Rather than buy one right away, we asked him whether any of the local galleries sold his work. One does, but having seen his direct pricing, buying from a gallery with bricks-and-mortar overheads seemed unattractive.
On Sunday, we were in town to buy a clothes rail (£6.50) to replace another which had broken, to find that the Christmas market was on again (it was the big Leamington Christmas lights switch on day). He was there, a piece of cardboard to stand on, his only protection against the cold.
This time we jumped at the opportunity. We chose a largeish square piece depicting the Regent Hotel entrance, viewed from Livery St., with Parade shops in the background (if you look carefully, you can see shop signs such as “Cash” or “Cow in a bun”). It’s number 3 in an edition of 75, although as I told him — I like how it looks, and I don’t care how many there are.
It’s away getting framed at the moment. I can hardly bear not being able to go and look at it.
It’s not on to reproduce pictures without permission, but you can see one of his other pictures in a similar style, this one of the looking up the Parade from the Dormer Place roundabout.
November 30th, 2005 at 14:49
Hello
I am back at the market this year so come and buy a picture.
Why did you want to buy from a gallery and not from me?
James
December 1st, 2005 at 10:12
Hello James!
You’re a top artist but you’re not a very careful reader
The timeline goes:
Xmas market 2004 — see your stall, like the work, but are reluctant to make an impulse buy decision; ask about galleries so we can make a more careful decision
Later — see work in gallery; still like it a lot; gallery pricing unfavourable compared to market stall
Xmas market 2005 — two weekends ago — find you again, buy piece, very happy with it.
It’s framed now, and it looks a treat in our hallway. In the course of getting it framed I dealt with three different people, all of whom went “Ooh, that’s one of my mate James’s”.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:37
Hello
Thanks for the purchase, seems like i got the wrong end of the stick with the first post. grovel grovel.
james
December 19th, 2005 at 13:04
No worries; still greatly enjoying seeing it every day.
December 22nd, 2005 at 13:57
Message for James …. have been trying to find your contact details on the web but this seems to be the closest I have managed to get!!
I already have several of your pictures but am looking for the one/s you did of Warwick School for my brother for Xmas … I know I have left it late but can’t find it in any of the local galleries …..
Can you help??
Thanks
Lorraine
PS If this message doesn’t get directly to James would you please be kind enough to forward .. Thanks