Three artists are continuing to put their skills to the test as part of a unique challenge ahead of a much-anticipated mid-November judging date on Westside.
Paula Gabb, Helen Roberts and Helen Owen have been tasked with trying to create a single piece of artwork inspired by leading crime writer Paul Finch’s latest novel.
The artists, who are all members of the Birmingham Art Zone community group, have been set the challenge of interpreting Paul’s recently released book, Never Seen Again.
And Paul himself will get to judge the winning entry during the climax of the friendly competition at Velvet Music Rooms in Broad Street on 16 November.
All three artists first had to read the book, which tells the story of a former crime reporter who fatally compromises a major police operation, with the winning artist due to receive £500, and the runners-up getting £250 each.
Paula, the founder of Birmingham Art Zone, said: “I’ve got bookmarks and notes all the way through the book, and have also done various sketches.
“I thought what a challenge to create one piece of art from a whole book, with so many different plots and twists and turns. But it was exciting taking on this fabulous challenge.”
Paula is creating a digital piece of art having developed carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes tingling and numbness in the hand, during the Covid lockdown.
She added: “I used an app designed for artists to paint, but I can almost feel the paint under my pen when I am using it on my tablet. It’s also less messy than paint.”
Her entry, which will be printed off using ink, has been created on the theme of a newspaper front page to reflect the journalists who feature in Paul’s novel. The two other artists are both using acrylic paint.
Paula concluded: “The three of us are all friends so we don’t feel as though we are competing against each other. At the end of it we’ll probably go out for a glass of wine.”
Helen Owen said: “It’s certainly a challenge. I read the book and did a sketch book of the events in the story. There are 53 sketches in the book and I’ve now started a big painting for the competition.
“I don’t know how it’s going to finish up, but I’ve got the story in my head and I’ll definitely have something by the 16th.”
Helen Roberts commented: “It’s going well. I’ve got loads of it done but will probably go over parts of it over and over again until I’m completely satisfied. I tend to work on it at night and then have a look at it in the morning.”
Helen said she read Never Seen Again while in London’s Docklands area, adding: “I was inspired by boats as part of the book is based at a marina. I was also influenced by art history, how a whole story can be told in an image.
“I had several ideas in my head, and have done another painting based on the book but this won’t be entered into the competition.”
The idea for the unique art competition idea followed a chance conversation between Paul Finch and Westside BID general manager Mike Olley during this year’s Birmingham, Sandwell & Westside Jazz Festival.
Paul, who will get to keep the winning painting, said: “I would just love someone to do an interpretation of one of my books. I just love the idea of an artist reading my book and then creating a painting, condensing 130,000 words into one canvas.”
Main Picture: Helen Roberts’ Work in Progress
