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How much is it going for? It’s not formally for sale, but if someone fell in love with it, I’d consider
an offer.
Tell me about the picture. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while; a fantasy about what might
happen if the O<strong>us</strong>e froze over. In the late 17th century, this happened in London and they held ‘frost
fairs’ and hog roasts on the Thames. So I’ve painted a parallel Lewes with a bit of the old Bear Hotel,
the Riverside building, Clark’s jewellery shops both sides of the bridge. The foundry chimney can
be seen in the background, and there’s a roast chestnut stall beyond the bridge. I enjoyed putting
it together, with the chimney smoke going in one direction, the men on the swing another. It has a
slightly grotesque, dreamlike quality to it.
There aren’t many people. No, it’s as if the fair hasn’t quite opened yet. There’s a sense of a
s<strong>us</strong>pended action or a ‘caught moment’.
What’s inside the tent? I’m not sure. It might be a fortune teller!
What materials did you <strong>us</strong>e? Egg tempera on a gesso panel.
Does any painter directly influence this image? I like the s<strong>now</strong> scenes by the early Dutch painter,
Hendrick Avercamp.
What response do you hope for from your art? I like things that rattle the cage a bit, work that
engages you and keeps you in the room. I don’t like art that declares itself on first viewing.
You also play with the Contenders. What do you listen to when you paint? Radio 3, Radio 4 and
vario<strong>us</strong> CDs. I’m enjoying the Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir at the moment. Really great rough
and ready blues.
Peter Messer and Jo Lamb are having Open Studios in the Paddock Arts Studios on Paddock Lane during
Artwave, 12.30-5.30pm, 28/29th Aug and 4/5th Sept. They will also be selling a range of freshly printed
cards of their work. During the second two weeks of Artwave, Peter will also be exhibiting upstairs at the
Elephant and Castle pub alongside his wonderful eleven-year-old protégé, Ashley Carter, who has made
several witty interpretations of Peter’s paintings.
w w w. V I VA l E w E s . C o M
Foc<strong>us</strong> on...
Frost Fair by Peter Messer
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