Portrait of Margaret Campbell by Artist Joe Campbell

Did this portrait of my daughter Margaret about 12 years ago. Really loved the way the sunlight affected the colour. The subtle graduations across the face took time. Also, I really liked the way the left eye was lit up by the light. This was a challenge but I'm proud of both the painting and of course, the sitter...

This is a page from a new compilation of poetry I'm putting together. The image makes more sense with the poem, Phil

Phil, vagabond and rocker
Playboy of the Western World
Poet, holder of our dreams
M16 rock
Machine-gun blues
Drilling a bore-hole
Through walls of indifference
Through the Northern Taliban pall
Through our hearts and into the wall
Of poe-faced fakery

Lizzy - loud, live and dangerous
Twin-guitared, guttural
Over-driven purveyors of precision
Rat-tatted, staccato riffs
Razor edged and riven
Driven through our heads
Living in our hearts
A delicious distortion
Of all that was holy

Wee Freebie: Future Shock Story War of the Worlds: Dave West & Joe Campbell

Here's a wee freebie. This is a story Dave West from Accent UK and myself submitted to 2000 AD Future Shocks. This one didn't make the cut. Not sure why. I always thought it was a nice piece of work even though I say so myself...

Just two more extracts from Missing: Have You Seen the Invisible Man? Written by Dave West, Artwork, Joe Campbell Available from Accent Uk: www.accentukcomics.com

Amelia Earhart Graphic Novel Colour Version

These are new colour versions of previously published pages from Amelia Earhart: First Lady of Aviation by Myself published by Uproar Comics. Really enjoyed adding in the colour. Turned out more of a watercolour effect. Just took the original pages into Photoshop added a new layer and set the layer to "multiply" this is like have a clear gel over the top of the original black and white artwork. You can colour the artwork without obscuring the lines underneath.

Accent UK: Missing Have You Seen the Invisible Man Graphic Novel Extract

Just finished a new bit of work for Accent UK's serial Westernoir. Should be published shortly all being well. Thought I'd post a few things from the last graphic novel with Accent. Recognise anyone?

Portrait of John Campbell

This oil portrait features in my new profile picture. Just thought I'd share it. It's of my son John Campbell. The pose and lighting were influenced by A Titian painting, Painting of a man. I think John was about 20 when this was painted.

Phil Lynott Pen & Ink

Here's one of the man himself as promised. Takes me back to seeing an original Lizzy gig at The Culdaff Arms in Donegal shorty after the release of Vagabonds of the Western World. I think it must have been sometime around 1973. Myself and a mate, Terry Deehan put up a couple of posters around Derry advertising the gig. No mean feat at the time since we could easily have been shot. For our efforts but instead of dying we got two free tickets instead and Terry's brother, Tony drove us the 30 odd miles to the gig.

When we got there, apart from ourselves hardly anyone knew they were playing there that night. We didn't care, we were fans even at that stage so we had no problem standing at the front of the stage awaiting for great things. And, we weren't disappointed. On comes this colossus, full throttle in black leather hits the stage and goes straight down on his knees slides to the front of the stage and the band explodes into The Rocker. Ah JESUS! That was it for an hour of what I could only describe as a religious, out of body experience... We were different, fundamentally changed after that night...aw dear, when I think of it...so long ago and far away and yet...

Rory Gallagher Portrait from Joe Campbell Colour Version

Just thought I'd include the colour version of the black and white pen and ink Rory portrait for any die hard fans out there like me. Watch this space for a few of Philo and the boys. If you'd like more of this kind of artwork just let me know. I plan to start with Irish rockers and work my way out. Speak soon...

Time for a Snowscene

Snow at Bishop's Street Within: Extract from Crossing Borders: www.guildhallpress.co.uk

Just thought I'd get this one in early (just before it snows out there) Thing about snow-lovely to look at nightmare to negotiate. In fact now that I think of it there's no negotiation at all. This wee scene was painted sometime around 2001. It depicts Bishop's Street Within. (within the old walled city of Derry) The classical building on the right is the local courthouse- good craic to be had in there! The building on the left is the Masonic Lodge (no craic at all in there) Been a few unfortunate changes though since this was painted. Those beautiful mature trees, (God knows how long they'd been there) have since been "removed". Yes! - Cut down. Seems that the powers that be didn't take into account what a gift those were to artists looking to paint the scene, especially during snowstorms. Ah well...

The other thing, the one commandment, about painting snow scenes is simply this -wait until the sun comes out! There is nothing to paint when the sky is overcast. During that, there are basically three colours: black; white and grey well maybe fifty shades of grey (no pun intended) No, when snow falls and then lies, wait until the sun comes out. Believe me it's worth it.

The whole world transforms. The colours are breathtaking. Look at the scene above. Not only was this scene sunlit, it was also captured late afternoon as the sun was going down. This threw the entire foreground into shadow creating a dark tonal area at the front of the picture. This shadow also meant a range of blue-purples right across the front and mid areas of the painting. The colour of snow is also greatly influenced by the cobalt blue of the sky above, hence the blueish nature of the snow there.

 Contrast that, if you will, look further down the street, about 400 yards away you can see the War Memorial in the Diamond (centre of Derry's inner city) highlighted by the setting sun. But, not just the background but the sunset also just catches the tops of some buildings. Not only does this add interest in terms of composition it also means the yellow colours are directly complimentary to the foreground blues and purples. Oh, I love it when a plan comes together...

Summer in the Donegal Highlands

Summer in the Highlands Extract from Crossing Borders: www.guildhallpress.co.uk

This painting resulted from an unplanned walk down a secluded lane in the highlands of Donegal during a summer stroll. The light was unusual (mainly because I think the sun was shining!) Sunshine means shadow and shadow means colour. A rare opportunity for an Irish artist indeed. As I walked I got the feeling that this small lane way would go on forever, bending just enough that you could never see what was around the corner, no matter how hard you tried.

You could see from the grass that grew down the centre of the path that the modern world hadn't quite reached this far. This is exactly what this lane looked like 150 or 200 years ago. But still, it was well tended. The verges were well trimmed and the fencing all in place. The composition interested me here. The pathway creates a strong perspective, a way to lead the eye from the foreground into the mid-ground. Note the way the front of the path takes up more than half of the bottom of the painting then disappears almost to infinity two-thirds the way up the picture.

Two lines of shadow form horizontal lines that compliment the horizon line (the place where sky and land meet) There is a lot of foreground in this painting because of the bend in the lane. This provides an opportunity to add detail and strong colours in the foliage and the leaves. In the far distance the viewer can just glimpse distant hills with very little detail and lighter more muted colour. Its those two things that create a sense of distance in the painting. 

If you are looking to compose an interesting picture rules of thumb are: look to put something of interest in the foreground; the mid-ground and the background. Look for lines (like the pathway) that lead the eye through the painting. Look for strong foreground features such as the nearest tree with its detail and shadows. Apart from all that remember to also just stop and take in the beauty before you...

Rory Gallagher: New Unpublished Poem and illustration by Joe Campbell

Really proud of this little pen and ink. The poem's a tribute to not only the best ever blues guitarist (in my humble view) but also his guitar, hence the title; Rory's Strat.

Still got to add colour. Working on that-

Rory’s Strat

Rory, gracious virtuoso

Grounded in modesty

Loud, solo and true

Setting light to the crowd

Hammered, driven blues

Blood, sweat and torn apart

Bedecked in denim

Flat out, heart-burst

Caustic fingers

Danced on the board

Of a worn 61’ Strat

A treble-boosted, life partner

Customised, modified and re-wired

Tube screamed and twinned

Sunburst at one stage

Pitted and eroded

Stained, stripped and exposed

Down to the grain

Sleeps now

Glass-cased and silent

Good night

Hope you enjoyed it

A thing of beauty! Apparently Rory Gallagher had a very acidic blood type that stripped the paint off his guitar. Not just his guitar but our teenage years.

Crossing Borders New Poetry and Paintings Collection

I suppose I'd better start with the official press release. It describes the book and sounds so much more serious than I could. here goes...

Available from: www.guildhallpress.co.uk

Crossing Borders:

Guildhall Press to Publish New Collection of poetry and Paintings.

Derry Artist’s Brush with Cancer Inspires New Book

Derry-born artist, Joe Campbell’s recent experience of cancer not only provided a sobering period of reflection but also brought him the time to bring together a collection of paintings from the past twenty years. In addition to the paintings Joe has also composed 40 new poems some of which touch upon, not just the artist’s recent illness, but also personal loss, the troubles and reflections on life and a life lived. Placed side by side the poems and the paintings will form the basis of a new publication entitled, Crossing Borders, published by Guildhall Press

 Speaking of what inspired him, Joe says,

“The cancer was the catalyst. When someone takes you into a room and tells you that you have cancer, it’s a profoundly shocking experience. Your life changes in an instant. Afterwards, you grapple with that reality, trying to make some kind of sense of it. You come to the realisation that your life is finite. For me, that sense-the sense that something could be over-sparked a period of deep reflection. The result was Crossing Borders.”

Joe commented, “The themes within the poetry range from: my illness; childhood memories; the “Troubles” and even feelings about past loss and bereavement. Some of the poems, especially those that recollect the troubles came unbidden. Like many in my age group (56) who bore witness to that dark period, I had buried such recollections with spadefuls of silence. I found the very act of expression a liberating one. Like exposing a festering wound to the air, the exposure began a process of healing, although these are poems are particular and personal, I hope they can be of some use to others.”

The paintings span a period of about twenty years. They are above all portraits of places in and around Derry and Donegal and pay homage to the beauty of our immediate landscape. The paintings reflect a lifetime recording that beauty and such a collection should strike a chord with local people whether at home or abroad. The book will be launched at Central Library on Monday December 1st, 6:30pm, all welcome. Crossing Borders and will be on sale at all good bookshops.

Phew! There you are. if you're wondering about that cover illustration. The one with John Wayne, well, there was a kinda well kept secret during the early "troubles" (we're talking early 1970s) there was definitely a recreational element to the rioting. Think of it. What's not to like? Outdoor pursuits for the unemployed and disenfranchised and the lonely. That image refers to both the definite macho image of rioters and the fact that rioting was often suspended so that the participants could all go home for a while and watch their favourite TV programmes. in the case of the poem it was the movie, The Alamo. One gentleman from Belfast wrote to me to tell me with them it was Little House on the Prairie. Come to think of it you wouldn't have missed that programme no matter what the political climate. The accompanying poem sheds more light:

Recreational Rioting

Oh for the days of the Derry dances

With a hop and a skip

And away we go

King and country

Versus chieftain and tribe

Happy as Larry, both full to the brim

With a cracker skim of a stone

And the resulting scatter, laugh and rally

Oh for the boys of the King’s Own Lancers

With an “Alright mate, up against the wall!”

With a hop and a skip

And away we go

Remember the Alamo

Davy and the boys

A cracker film on BBC 2

Then on to the streets

Out for a throw

Here’s to the days of the Derry dances

With a hop and a skip

And away we go

Extract from: Crossing Borders, www.guildhallpress.co.uk

View of Buncrana Bridge, Donegal, Ireland from Crossing Borders

Always really liked this painting. That bridge is probably one of the most handsome in Ireland. The old ruined fort in the right of the composition is O Doherty's Keep. Ancient seat of the O Doherty Clan. That goes back to the 1300s. In the 1500s it came into the possession of The O Doherty family ancestral rulers of Inishowen. It even housed soldiers from the Spanish Armada who had been ship wrecked on the Donegal coast. The old manor house just visible in the background was built by the Vaughan Family in the early 1700s. Its rumoured that Wolfe Tone, leader of the 1789 rebellion was imprisoned in the keep. Bit of history there for you...