The selection of humorous black-and-white drawings takes its name from a drizzly 2007 day in Montreal, Canada, where Billy was touring. Keen to escape the rain, he visited a local art shop and bought felt tips and a sketchbook. His efforts paid off: five years later, in 2012, he celebrated his first-ever foray into fine art - which was an instant success.
BORN ON A RAINY DAY
BILLY CONNOLLY
In 2007, on a dull, cold and rainy day in Montreal, Connolly happened upon an art shop, where the urge to create took hold. Several hours and several Canadian dollars later, Connolly was back in his hotel room with a veritable smorgasbord of art supplies and a creative demon to exorcise. Connolly began by sketching desert islands, one after the other, each island taking on its own characteristics and personality. “The fifth island, I noticed, was considerably better than the first one” Connolly recalls, the progression in such a short time frame excited him and he was keen to pursue his sketching. At every opportunity since, Connolly has sketched and drawn characters from his imagination. Taking it up with more gusto and passion in 2010, when he began to create the Born On A Rainy Day (referencing that cloudy day in Montreal) series, which was first presented to the public during an exhibition at Halcyon Gallery in Mayfair, London in 2012. His subsequent releases of hand-signed limited edition fine art were met with great acclaim, and demand for the work soared. Today, we are honoured to present the long- awaited third instalment from the Born On A Rainy Day series. Connolly describes his artistic process as something of an enigma; something which he cannot explain but seemingly takes over him as he begins to create. “It bears no relation to comedy or music,” says Connolly “my art is pure and un- judged, I am creating for myself, it is personal and private; whereas with a film, comedy show or music you expect people to be critiquing, watching, assessing. Art is different, it liberates you.”
His process mirrors that of the Surrealist Automatism movement, whereby the artist allows their hand to move randomly across the paper or canvas, without an intent to create anything specifically. Automatic drawing was pioneered by André Masson although many other artists practised automatic drawing, including Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Jean Arp and André Breton. Connolly’s images seem to evolve as they are being created and he allows the image the freedom to become whatever it was destined to become. ‘Surreal’ literally translates as ‘above reality’ which perfectly fits this work. The images are very real and recognisable (a dog, an angel) but also seem to float out of all context as if in a dream or a memory, linking directly to Dalí. Connolly’s art can also be likened to that of the cave paintings that originated in Aurignacian culture, possessing a charming simplicity, yet an extraordinary self-awareness and humanity. Connolly’s characters are faceless, completely anonymous; seemingly devoid of emotion or expression, and yet the emotional connection with the audience is quite prevalent. It is perhaps the simplicity of these characters that allows the viewer to connect with them so deeply. There is nothing contrived or intended about this work, it is creativity in its purest form. It has come from a place inside the artist that is not concerned with an audience or showmanship, it is not driven by a reaction or approval; it is simply being, each drawing has taken its own path and begins to come alive as the viewer creates their own unique narrative.
The Angler And The Angel
Double Hit Flatbed Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm Paper size 57 x 77cm Framed size 65 x 85cm Edition of 195 £795
Hang Glider
Double Hit Flatbed Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm Paper size 77 x 57cm Framed size 85 x 65cm Edition of 195 £795
“Filling in my characters with lines is like meditation for me, I just lose myself in the piece.” Billy Connolly
One Man's Band
Double Hit Flatbed Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm Paper size 57 x 77cm Framed size 65 x 85cm Edition of 195 £795
Free Flight
Double Hit Flatbed Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm Paper size 57 x 77cm Framed size 65 x 85cm Edition of 195 £795
Support Your Friends
Double Hit Flatbed Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm Paper size 77 x 57cm Framed size 85 x 65cm Edition of 195 £795
A Glance At The Instructions
Double Hit Flatbed Print on 100% Cotton Aquarelle Arches - Torchon 300gsm Paper size 57 x 77cm Framed size 65 x 85cm Edition of 195 £795
Born On A Rainy Day Portfolio
Set of 6 limited edition prints in presentation portfolio £2,950 | Framed £4,500
Biography
Sir Billy Connolly [B.1942, Glasgow]
William “Billy” Connolly, CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin (The Big One). His first trade, in the early 1960s, was as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards, but he gave it up towards the end of the decade to pursue a career as a folk singer in the Humblebums and subsequently as a soloist. In 2012, Billy Connolly’s ar tistic expression took a new path, in the form of fine ar t. “Ar t, for me, bears no relation to comedy or music. My ar t is pure and unjudged, I am creating it for myself.”
2001 Awarded an honorary doctorate from University of Glasgow 2002 Presented with a Special Award by British Academy of Film and Television Ar ts (BAFTA) 2003 Made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s Bir thday Honours list 2006 Awarded an honorary doctorate from Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama 2010 Awarded an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University
2010 Made a Freeman of Glasgow with the award of the Freedom of the City of Glasgow 2012 Presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award by BAFTA Scotland 2016 Presented with National Television Awards (NTA) Special Recognition Award 2017 Received a knighthood in the Queen’s Bir thday Honours list
The images contained within this literature are an artistic representation of the collection. To best experience our art, we recommend you contact your local gallery to arrange a viewing. © Washington Green 2018. The content of this brochure is subject to copyright and no part can be reproduced without prior permission.
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