The painting created by London-based mixed media artist Alexander Hall to mark the 200th issue of the drinks business has gone on sale for £10,500.
Entitled ‘Hip, Hip, Hooray’, the 105cm by 125cm painting was created in Hall’s signature drip style with oil paints, spray paints, Chinese black ink and 24-karat gold leaf. “As it was a cover image I wanted it to be punchy so readers do a double take when they first see the image,” Hall told db.
Inspired by the shields on bottles of Dom Pérignon, each bottle’s vintage celebrates a different db milestone – 2002 when we were founded, 2006 when our website launched, and 2019 when we produced our 200th issue.
If you look closely, on the first teal shield you’ll spot our tagline – “where drinks mean business” – running up the right hand side of the label.
The painting has been signed and dated by Hall. Those interested in buying it can click here for more information.
Framed 15 x 12 inch mini prints of the painting are also available for £150 via Hall’s art platform, Haut de Gamme. 75 signed and numbered mini prints have gone on sale on Alex’s website.
For the Hip, Hip, Hooray painting, Hall created the outline of the bottles with black acrylic paint, covered their tops with 24-karat gold leaf, left them to dry, then stenciled the shape of the three shields and filled them in with spray paint.
The labels were written in Chinese black ink with a fountain-pen nib.
Hall told db that the moment after the shields have been painted and before he begins his drip technique is the most critical part of the creative process.
“That’s when I need to gather my energy and be in the right frame of mind as it’s the moment when I really go for it and push myself to see what kind of energy I can get out of a flick of paint,” he said.
“I’m never afraid of flinging paint onto a canvas. If you try to control paint then you’re taking the fun out of what you do. I want my paintings to look ignited,” he added.
Having worked as a professional artist since 2011, Hall’s big break came in 2015 when he was asked by keen collector Peter Jones – of Dragon’s Den fame – to create an original artwork for a charity auction Jones was organising.
The painting, featuring a trio of Champagne bottles with ‘Breakfast’, ‘Lunch’ and ‘Supper’ on their labels, sold for “a considerable amount” and the buyer was so taken with the work that he asked Hall to paint four more versions to give to his friends, one of whom happened to be restaurant mogul Richard Caring.
Hall cites Pop artist Andy Warhol, and Abstract Expressionists Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns as his greatest artistic influences. The full interview with Hall appears in the 200th issue of the drinks business – March 2019 – which is out now.
