Hey Hockney!

If you've got some spare time lying about - or even if you don't you should check out the DAVID HOCKNEY CURRENT exhibition that's currently on at the NGV. It's a lovely celebration of colour and life. I didn't realise until I went myself but a large number of works on display were actually created using an iPhone or iPad. When you see photographs of Hockney who is approaching (or already) his eighties, there's something wonderfully fun about his artistic methods. It also allows him to become about a billion times more prolific. As I was looking at the works, it increasingly felt like a new kind of impressionism as he builds up lines dabbing with his virtual brush. Even more so because the iPad is so mobile, quick and mess free, a sunset through the trees can be captured in an instant. Quite amazing was watching the video replays of his paintings coming to life as each stroke can be captured on the device. It may seem that it's easy to 'paint' on a tablet but the animations show the complexities involved and the buildup of layers. I'm still astounded!

If you'd like to expand your knowledge, we have books on Hockney! Such as 

HOCKNEY'S PORTRAITS and PEOPLE

Or perhaps you aren't quite so keen to head into the city, we can also stock the official NGV record book of the exhibition!

And let's not forget Hockney's book with Martin Gayford - A HISTORY OF PICTURES an excellent look at the history of pictures (as one would expect)!