Billy Connolly Art

Researching into "Comedians who make art", for my dissertation,

I came across Billy Connolly's 'fine art' feature, on Castle Galleries website. 

 

Below is a video and paragraph about the artist's work, from the website.

 

Ideas and Inspirations

The process used by Billy Connolly is similar to that of the Surrealist Automatism movement, whereby the artist allows the hand to move randomly across the paper or canvas, without an intent to create anything specifically.

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.

 

 

 

(Vic Reeves, Billy Connolly and Bill Wyman at a private view of Connollys debut art collection of fine art pen and ink drawings at The Halcyon Gallery, Bond Street on March 14, 2012 in London, England. Photos from http://www.zimbio.com)