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Paintings
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When an exhibition of paintings by ex-beatle Paul McCartney opened in Siegen, Germany, last year, it seemed designed for critics' sarcasm. After all, Siegen was the birth place of Peter paul Rubens: What could be more offensive to the memory of the great Flemish painter than to have the splatterings of a rock singer presented in his own home city? But, McCartney's intense paintings were greeted by accolades, not jeers. More than ninety percent of the reviews were positive, many of them alluding to the range and sophistication of McCarthy's artwork. This original coffee table-size pictorial collects seventy-five paintings, photographs of the artist at work, and an extended interview with Paul: "I think there's an urge in us to stop the terrible fleetingness of time. Music. Paintings. It's the same with Linda's photos. Try and capture one bloody moment please." Relax, Paul. You've captured a few.
When an exhibition of paintings by ex-beatle Paul McCartney opened in Siegen, Germany, last year, it seemed designed for critics' sarcasm. After all, Siegen was the birth place of Peter paul Rubens: What could be more offensive to the memory of the great Flemish painter than to have the splatterings of a rock singer presented in his own home city? But, McCartney's intense paintings were greeted by accolades, not jeers. More than ninety percent of the reviews were positive, many of them alluding to the range and sophistication of McCarthy's artwork. This original coffee table-size pictorial collects seventy-five paintings, photographs of the artist at work, and an extended interview with Paul: "I think there's an urge in us to stop the terrible fleetingness of time. Music. Paintings. It's the same with Linda's photos. Try and capture one bloody moment please." Relax, Paul. You've captured a few.
- GenresArtMusicNonfiction
148 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Paul McCartney
777 books462 followersSir James Paul McCartney MBE, known as Paul McCartney, is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer, and animal-rights activist. He gained worldwide fame as one of the founders and members of The Beatles. McCartney and John Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and "wrote some of the most popular music in rock and roll history". After leaving The Beatles, McCartney launched a successful solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda Eastman McCartney, and songwriter/singer Denny Laine. He has worked on film scores, classical music, and ambient/electronic music; released a large catalogue of songs as a solo artist; and taken part in projects to help international charities.
McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles. His song "Yesterday" is listed as the most covered song in history and has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American television and radio. Wings' 1977 single "Mull of Kintyre" became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, and remains the UK's top selling non-charity single. (Three charity singles have since surpassed it in sales; the first to do so—in 1984—was Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", whose participants included McCartney.)
His company MPL Communications owns the copyrights to more than 3,000 songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, along with the publishing rights to such musicals as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease.
An iconic figure in contemporary culture, he is regarded internationally as an entertainer and humanitarian. Aside from his musical work, McCartney is an actor, a painter, a poet, and an advocate for animal rights, vegetarianism, and music education; he is active in campaigns against landmines, seal hunting, and Third World debt.
McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles. His song "Yesterday" is listed as the most covered song in history and has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American television and radio. Wings' 1977 single "Mull of Kintyre" became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, and remains the UK's top selling non-charity single. (Three charity singles have since surpassed it in sales; the first to do so—in 1984—was Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", whose participants included McCartney.)
His company MPL Communications owns the copyrights to more than 3,000 songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, along with the publishing rights to such musicals as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease.
An iconic figure in contemporary culture, he is regarded internationally as an entertainer and humanitarian. Aside from his musical work, McCartney is an actor, a painter, a poet, and an advocate for animal rights, vegetarianism, and music education; he is active in campaigns against landmines, seal hunting, and Third World debt.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 31, 2022
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: This has got to be a vanity project. Even knowing McCartney’s background in art (not school) and his insatiable thirst for knowledge, I had to wonder too. In one sense, it is a vanity project; in another, not at all. The volume is tied to an exhibition of his paintings in Germany and I can honestly say that even if the man isn’t who he is in the music world, I understand these paintings being shown.
Along with the reproductions of the paintings, many of which I loved, I enjoyed McCartney’s interview with Wolfgang Suttner, their talk of influences; of process: the blank canvas; the desire to “apply paint,” then sometimes “scratching” to get at what’s under the surface, under the layers; the reason for blank areas. To an artist, the topics might seem facile, I don’t know; but for me it was top-notch stuff. And I related some of it to writing.
Along with the reproductions of the paintings, many of which I loved, I enjoyed McCartney’s interview with Wolfgang Suttner, their talk of influences; of process: the blank canvas; the desire to “apply paint,” then sometimes “scratching” to get at what’s under the surface, under the layers; the reason for blank areas. To an artist, the topics might seem facile, I don’t know; but for me it was top-notch stuff. And I related some of it to writing.
January 5, 2011
This is my Christmas present from Hannah. I was far more impressed with Macca's work than I thought I would be. It is interesting to me the relationships he has created with other artists and his willingness to rejoice in the work of those who have inspired him. Just as he readily jumps into Little Richard's Lucille, he is quick to acknowledge the influence of DeKooning and others on his painting.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews