Royal portraits: An interview with artist Alexei Maximov

HM Queen Elizabeth II by Alexei Maximov

Following the launch of the Royal Portraist exhibition I have been given the fantastic opportunity of interviewing artist Alexei Maximov.

Over the past 20 years Maximov has created portraits of HM Queen Elizabeth II, HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, HRH the Princess Royal, HRH Princess Michael of Kent, as well as HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, HM King Harald V of Norway and HM Queen Sonja of Norway to name but a few.

Maximov is also the first Russian artist in history to be given permission to portray family members in official residences and will be presenting the Queen an original print to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Interview with an artist

What inspired you to draw such iconic royal figures?

Enamel miniature technique I am working in is initially a tsar’s, a royal technique. I’ve had several solo exhibitions – the last time taking place in Russia in the State Armoury of the Moscow Kremlin Museum.It’s the treasury of the Russian tsars.

It’s pretty natural to work on tsar’s portraits in this technique. There are no Russian ruling monarchs in the meantime. By chance I had an opportunity to create portraits of the ruling monarchs of Europe.

Alexei Maximov

What was the most challenging part of drawing a royal?

The only difference and the only

challenge in the case of the royals is to get access to them.

How do you feel about seeing them on display in the Queen’s Jubilee year?

I have a great deal of respect towards the British monarchy, if my exhibition adds something to the celebrations I’ll be very glad.

How long does it take to create a single piece of art?

It normally takes about half an hour to draw a subject, but then there is a very time-consumimg process of working an enamel miniature in the oven.

You can never say how long it will take, for example for the portrait of King Harald, the Queen Mother took 3 months.

Profile of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Alexei Maximov

What would your advice be to a new or budding artist like myself if I wanted to draw or paint portfolios?

I try to make a personal contact with the sitter to catch as much as possible of their individuality before the sittings.

In case of the royals I had to prepare by watching documentaries, seeing photographs and reading about them.

What will you create next now this project is over?

Only a few artists can make enamel miniatures, it is somewhat old-fashioned these days, but on the other hand I am still alive and eager not to give up portraying in this media.

My dream is to continue the Royal Portraits series, adding more Royals to it. The new members of the Royal Family too, who wouldn’t want to portray the Duchess of Cambridge?!

What is your favourite piece of art work from the collection?  and why is it special to you?

I take my pieces as children. Who is more loved by a father or a mother? To name the elder – to offend the younger and vice versa. I am happy the kids are alright. I love the process.

You can see the exhibition in the Marie Antoinette suite at the Ritz Hotel in London until May 1st 2012.

Sound bites, audio stories and the future

I’ve decided to develop my audioBoo page with some bits from my past radio work and use it as a way of sharing my blog to a wider audience.

I will be using audioBoo very much like a talking Twitter and have a play around with the technology to see what, if anything, comes of it.  Watch this space for more developments, especially surrounding my children’s stories.

A sonic-boom or meteorite: Is the truth out there?

What a Sonic boom looks like

Tonight I was sat watching television and the flat shook after I heard two loud boom-booms.  A sound like you hear on the box when there’s been a controlled explosion around a tower block before it comes crashing to earth.

I sat on the sofa and watched the news emerge on social media, turning on my local news radio and TV News channel I wait to hear what happened.

Over the next hour or so news of this boom was being discussed by all from Radio 5 Live through to my friends on social media and by text message.  It seemed no one knew what was going on giving the local radio presenter lots to discuss on his show.

The loud boom-boom was confirmed by the MOD through news reports to be a “Sonic-boom” and everyone began calm down across the media, friends stopped texting and life returned back to normal.

It got me thinking

Harry Pearce in Spooks

Sure, the MOD confirmed what they did but as a journalist I know that the MOD will release what they want us to know.  I’ve also watched Spooks. After hearing the boom-booms myself and seeing the effect they had on my flat I had to question who was in the helicopter that the jets were going to “save” from being hijacked that would warrant that kind of response?  Would we ever know the full story?  And more importantly, would we want to know?

What you need to hear

Let me throw it out there that we actually have no idea most of the time what is going on in the world for real, that there’s things that as the public we’ll never know.  Why else do they have a secrets act?  

Tweets from @rachsmith

We seem to accept this as given, that once an official sounding body (like the MOD, Police or Home Office) confirm something we, as loyal subjects, all nod our heads and calm down. 

No more tweets, messages, texts, calls or hysteria and we all go about our daily life despite deep down knowing we’re not being told the full story.

We are told what they want us to hear, what they feel we are “safe” knowing.

Is this so bad? Would you really like to know the full truth?

I have a friend who was reading a horrific account of a young girl’s abduction from a US court report, that report gave her such graphic detail she felt compelled to tell me about it over coffee a week later and said she felt physically sick reading it. We discussed about taste and decency and that some things are best not told.

Conspiracy?

So take this recent “sonic boom”, there are some that will believe what they hear and skip along in life, happy and blissful without questioning anything and there are some who will question what’s actually going on, creating conspiratory theories that they will convince themselves are true.

Me?  I’ll be in-between, not fully believing every word someone says but equally, not worrying about it too much either.

The way I see it is that there are times when I do need to wear a journalist hat because it’s a subject where nothing but the truth will be good enough but I do sometimes like living in a blinded reality where I think I am protected from the harshness that is really going on.

Sal, Cape Verde

When I first heard of Cape Verde I was drawn to its sale’s speech of untouched sandy beaches, all year sunshine and peaceful surroundings.

When I got to Cape Verde I found that the books were true in all these areas, the island had one day of rain in 2011 and temperatures were a hot 25 degrees when I went in March with tropical winds hiding the heat of the sun.

I read before I went of the natural beauty on the island and wanted to use this as part of fuel to encourage me to write more, it certainly did that!  I am now half way through my Space Story and it’s a visit to The Blue Eye that started me off again. 

The Blue Eye, Cape Verde

The Blue Eye: A gap in the rock that reaches down to the ocean floor where there are minerals lying that you can see when the sun hits the rock in the right angle.  It’s a bit of natural beauty that’s only comparable so far in my young life to Nature’s Window in West Australia.

I also read that there was not much to do on the island, which to be honest with you I was actually looking forward to however I was pleasantly surprised that this was nonsense.  Granted it’s not commercial yet and is not lined with bars, theme parks, water parks and countless other British touristy life and there are no wildlife parks or zoos due to the sheer lack of wildlife on the island itself, however there are things to do on the island, it just depends what you’re looking for.

Fisherman's wife's market stall on the pier in Santa Maria

If you wanted to you could get down to the Tourist Office in town ran by an English lady and her Portuguese husband and book to: Scuba dive, snorkel, ride on a catamaran, deep sea fish, walk with lemon sharks, visit a salt farm and lake, surf or swim or if it’s more on-land activities you could kite surf (or learn how to), walk, trek, off-land on 4×4 or quads not to mention the restaurants, cafes and bars lining Santa Maria. 

I would also recommend a visit to the pier to see the local fishermen and their wives do their thing (but only go if you’re okay watching live fishing with all the blood and gore)

If none of that is of any interest than there’s the Caribbean style heat to sit back and do nothing in.  In short, I loved the place and I found it extremely laid back, friendly and safe.

Its history and future?

Volcanic coastline of Sal, Cape Verde

The islands were formed from volcanoes; there is one still live that you can visit for a couple hundred euros for the flight. Tourism is the lifeline of Sal since its salt exportation stopped.  However, the island feels in no hurry to create a mecca for British culture which I found extremely appealing.  Not only because the island is untouched but because there seems a buzz about it from almost everyone had I spoken to out there.  Most people felt happy that things are developing but dread the island being swamped with the tackier side of tourism.  So far it has not and it has the potential to be a thriving place to visit in years to come.

Lion Rock, Sal

I was told by our guide on an island tour that the average age on the island was 26, with 15 deaths a year.  Most people who work in Santa Maria – the main tourist area – live in the islands capital Espargos and travel down daily for work.  Talking with the locals you get a sense that there’s a life outside of Santa Maria very real and separate from the glossy tourism guide books.

One of the ladies from the bar in my lovely little hotel, The Sabura, was a single mother of a 7 year old “I want only to work for my girl,” she said, “I don’t wish to find a husband or change my life but I do want to make money and savings for my baby’s future.”

This is the attitude I found with most local women I spoke with who were working in bars or restaurants. In fact most of the local people I spoke with here hard working and honest in their intentions and future plans. 

The sea port, Palmeria

You do get the poverty, with shanty towns on the outskirts of the capital, however the guide was explaining how each help the other and when it comes to poverty they are “all as one.”   This made things easier when shopping for souvenirs because, unlike other countries I’ve visited, when I was asked to shop and said “no” I wasn’t asked again and was left alone.

I saw the poverty in the simplest way when I visited the port town of Palmeria on my island tour and someone from another group had come out with pencil crayons, that probably cost £1.00 in the pound shop for a pack of 10. 

Local lads playing sand football in Santa Maria

This lady I was watching gave a young boy who couldn’t have been older than 7 or 8 two of these pencil crayons and his face lit up.  His mother was thanking the lady and the boy was showing his friends the pencil crayons sharing them around.

I think of children in the UK, what they have and how they’d react if a lady gave them two coloured pencil crayons and felt immediately humbled by what I saw. 

The music – it’s all about the music!

Santa Maria, Cape Verde

There were other highlights on my holiday and one was most defiantly the Cape Verde music.  It’s a strange mix of salsa, samba and fast African beats – for those who know Zumba dancing it’s very similar to a fast track dance. 

I had been dancing with locals from my hotel and although I know how to salsa I couldn’t keep up (although some may say it was the beer making my feet dance wrong!)  Whatever it was I found it extremely good fun and upbeat.  I even found a street party - quite by random - and felt safe to dance amongst the locals without hassle that I would have found in other African countries.

Sunset over the Rui Hotel, Sal

The dancing is just one of the strange mixes on the island, with its Portuguese influences in music, food and language mixed with African culture and topped with the island mantra of “No Stress” which is written above almost every shop door the local people are extremely easy people to be around and beautiful with it. 

I spent only a small amount of time on the island but completely understand why it’s becoming popular, I just hope and pray it doesn’t spoil the relatively unspoilt way of life it has right now.

I stayed all inclusive at the Sabura Hotel in Santa Maria which was an adult only small hotel, safe, clean and comfortable with a brilliant restaurant service and local drinks till midnight.

I booked with First Choice although I am sure there are other travel agents booking to go, flights were through Thomson and I know people who were staying b&b in the hotel and other hotels on the island.

I would recommend getting quads, visiting the blue eye, fishing pier and Santa Maria’s bars if only to hear the music!

I would also recommend bringing with you some colouring books and pencil crayons for children on the island, their smiling faces will make your holiday!

Why I write a blog

“The beach with no name”

For those of you following parts of my blog, you will know I have been adding some art-work I have been painting these past few weeks, they are scenes of the sea that I have been lucky enough to have burned on my brain.

Painting them has made me wonder what it is all about: Life, experiences and our history.  It makes me wonder why do we have it?  What is it all for?

Having all the answers

Me sat by “Nature’s Window” Kalbarri National Park, Australia

Growing up I used to think, as most young people do, that I had all the answers – this thought was made even stronger when I was travelling and being thrown into the most bizarre and as one friend put it “fantasy” like situations but was able to cope as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

This ability to cope is not something I’ve taken for granted having seen friends in similar bizarre situations crumble.  It’s something I know I’ve adapted to and learnt along the way – the part I find interesting and complex is “how” have I learnt these skills?

Take my painting as an example:  I am not trained; I have not read any painting books or educated myself in the different brushes or strokes that can impact the canvas in the best way.  I know nothing of the history to art and how themes can be developed but I still manage to paint something that half resembles something.  Is this chance?

Living carefree

‘The Sunset’, inspired by a picture of a sunset from Greece

Ironically, for someone who has a blog, I am actually quite a private person.  As a teenager I would surround my bedroom wall with poems and sayings of uplifting and sickly sweet meaning.

My ex-boyfriend had endured this so much even bought me a book of quotes  from his trip abroad when most other boyfriends would have bought back a stick of rock.

Surrounding myself with positive influences coupled with a strong need to always ask “why” and trying not to lose the innocence that come with asking it, has meant that I live my life thinking of things I can do rather than being held captive to reasons why I can’t.

It means I live a little carefree, never really feeling settled or satisfied when I know there’s something more I can learn, have a go at or understand better.

My mother once gave me a card that read:

Climb High,

Climb Far,

Your Goal the Sky,

Your Aim the Star

I would like to hope every part of this blog reflects that – It’s a little space for me on this huge world wide web.

What to do in 2012?

New Year 2012 London

So we have a New Year and I don’t know about you but I am full of thoughts and ideas of how to spend 2012.  What I can get up to and some changes I can make.

There are the obvious ones that I won’t bore you with here because you’re probably thinking of doing them yourselves.

I have some other additional goals for 2012 and I must have been a good girl last year because Santa very kindly bought me The Writers and Artists Handbook so I can finally get my books out to an editor/publisher.

Getting published

I have decided to give it a go and see what happens.  If they say “No” and I’m back where I am now at least I tried and I will keep writing either way so I can’t see how I can lose?

I have also decided to start painting again this year and I have some exciting plans for pictures I will create. I will of course share them with the blog in their own “Paintings” section when they are ready.

Why painting?

My painting of Guernsey

As with my writing, I paint for fun and have dabbled in painting over the years.

The style I think I will go with is similar to a collection of paintings I worked on in Guernsey.

The views from the island were stunning and I took the picture then had it developed. I then copy painted the view I took.  This made it so much more special for me.

I plan to use this technique of copy painting from a real picture so that I can share my other travel pictures further.

I will share the ‘art’ work that I create on this blog which in itself is also exciting because what once started as a small blog to chat about my writing is turning out to be something much more.

I now share training plans for my 10k Race For Life, stories, poems, quotes, my travel stories and news and now painting and art-work that I am inspired by or have created.

Watch this space and Happy New Year

Jubilee Time Capsule – Tell a story

Share your story with history

I have stumbled across a fantastic way to tell your story and make history through The Royal Commonwealth Society Jubilee Time Capsule.

I have been interested in this type of thing since the Domesday Reloaded project from the BBC and was sent this information from my work with BBC School Report.  I have since asked teachers to get involved and thought “Why not join in myself?”

Why and what is it?

“The Jubilee Time Capsule is a unique social archive of the 60 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. We want to gather contributions from people all over the world about their lives and experiences.”

So I thought to myself, what experiences have I had that I can contribute?  Then I took a step back and laughed at myself for having to think because I know I have heaps that I have seen in my years on this planet and although they may not be epic by Hollywood standards they are in my standards and surely that’s enough for someone to read in hundreds of years’ time?

What am I going to submit?

Sunrise by Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Looking through my memory bank I feel there are a few things I would like to enter into this capsule from my own perspective on life as an 80’s child through to my travelling experiences and images.

I feel that my story may not be huge but it will be unique. It is judged and I may not get my submission in but I feel should offer it non-the-less.

What could you submit?

From the look of the site it seems there’s endless opportunity to tell people of the future what life is really like for us in a way the text books will not.  I am a firm believer that stories should be shared – it is the main aim for my blog and why I wanted to be a journalist in the first place.

Smiling by the Sphinx of Giza in Egypt

I believe story telling is our oldest and I think one of the most important characteristics that makes us human.  Without the stories we wouldn’t have learnt or grown as a species and I think if we ignore opportunities like this to pass some information into the history books we’re not allowing the knowledge to grow.

How else would we know how to mummify bodies? Learn of ancient gods or share in common beliefs?  How would we travel if noone had spoken of their trips or known how to translate languages?  How would we show grief and respect for fallen soldiers if it weren’t for the stories their comrades told us?

Filming at TopGear

Without stories from our past we’d have no cave drawings, pyramids, songs or books.  Fantastic artwork would not exist because they’d be no need to paint it.  We’d not be haunted by classic movies that extend our imagination.  We’d know nothing of the world or anything that was going on in it and I wouldn’t have a job.

If you can imagine a world like that; don’t take part.  If you can’t imagine a world like that than get yourselves writing, singing, filming, painting or picture taking.

The time capsule will be closed on June 6th 2012 and so it gives us plenty of time to show the future what we’re up to now.

You can find out more about the capsule and how to take part on the website or the FAQ page.  You can follow the project  on Twitter @JTC_2012 or on Facebook.