Popular painter Sarah-Jane Szikora has revealed that she is using her artistic abilities to help dementia patients.

The northern artist announced on her personal blog that she is currently involved in the initial stages of designing and refurbishing three dementia wards in Bradford teaching hospitals.

Sarah-Jane said she hopes that her personal experience of dementia through her mother’s illness will help other people who are affected by the condition.

She wrote in her blog: “Through art, I can also use the experience and hopefully turn it into something positive for others. We must always strive to see the brighter side of life amidst the darkness of living. Laughter, after all, is the best medicine.”

The artist is spending less time on producing Sarah-Jane Szikora prints so that she can fully concentrate her efforts on the design and refurbishment project.

Sarah-Jane has called for further investment from potential donors as the scheme is mainly funded by charity and only receives a small amount from the NHS.

She added on her blog: “So what we lack in funds, we must try and make up for in creativity!”

Sarah-Jane recently told the arts and culture journal Fally rag that she hopes that her light-hearted and humorous prints of giant gingerbread man and confectionary characters provide people with happiness.

She told the publication: “The world doesn’t owe you happiness; you must earn it. Get on that journey of self-discovery and change something. Art helped me to be happy, so hopefully by offering my results, I can pass a little bit of that on.”

Sarah-Jane said that she wanted to inspire human warmth and connection through her irreverent artwork as she does not want to add to the despair that some people already experience.

“The world has seen enough misery without Tracy Emin’s dirty knickers thrown in,” she told Fally rag.

Life drawing classes at the Cleveland College of Art inspired Szikora’s passion for illustrating the human body, which she has now evolved to create extreme comedy figures.

People interested in viewing Sarah-Jane Szikora prints will be pleased to know that the artist said that she will soon be revealing the dates of some gallery events taking place in July of 2010.

The artist also said on her blog that she had the pleasure of going to an exhibition in Newcastle which displayed Fabian Perez prints.

Sarah-Jane Szikora prints have been displayed in Harrods, Selfridges and several important exhibitions across the United Kingdom.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: My Artbroker offers the opportunity to buy and sell work from some of the most contemporary artists including Sarah-Jane Szikora prints, Fabian Perez prints and Rolf Harris prints.

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A noted painter was inspired to pursue an art career after being enthralled by exotic images while traveling around the world.

British artist Neil Dawson almost became a big city banker after he initially discarded his dream to be a painter after graduating from university with a degree in economics.

Neil Dawson always held a passion for art since childhood, but became disenchanted with studying the subject at Central Saint Martins College in London because he felt uncomfortable with justifying his work.

“I would rather people make their own mind up and take what they want from my work rather than me telling them what they should be thinking and seeing,” he said.

It was only after a period of extended traveling abroad that Dawson rediscovered his desire to paint.

Neil Dawson felt the need to translate his traveling experiences to canvas after being continuously bombarded by perplexing, mystifying and exciting atmospheres.

He said: “Being constantly exposed to beautiful, enchanting, strange, evocative, provocative, bewildering environments with the time and mindset to properly appreciate and reflect on them was a defining experience.”

Painting the images that he captured on camera was Dawson’s way of immortalizing his experiences in art.

“As I got home I dusted off the palette and paints in an attempt to recapture some of the sights and feelings from my time abroad,” he added.

Neil Dawson quickly realized how much he had missed creating art after returning to painting and his decision to follow his dream to become an artist has led to a successful career.

Photographic references now form the basis of all Neil Dawson prints as they help to give a basic structure which can be expanded on with a more spontaneous painting style.

“I don’t like have too strong an idea of exactly how I want the finished article to look, preferring to work in a intuitive and impromptu way thus giving the painting a free rein to develop and feed off itself,” said the artist.

Art lovers will be able to see Neil Dawson prints on display at galleries in Essex and Manchester in the near future.

Dawson will be exhibiting his work at the Chelmer Fine Art gallery on May 29th and the Castle Galleries Manchester on June 5th as part of a nationwide tour during 2010.

The artist revealed on his personal website that he would be happy to personalize any Neil Dawson prints bought on the day.

About the Author: My Artbroker offers the opportunity to buy and sell work from some of the most contemporary artists including Rolf Harris prints, Bob Dylan prints and Neil Dawson prints. Visit the website at http://www.myartbroker.co.uk/

Neil Dawson – Chalice – Day scene

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