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Original David Hockney iPhone artwork available to download

Wed, 01 Jul 2009

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To coincide with Imagine: David Hockney - A Bigger Picture on BBC1 last night (available on iPlayer) the BBC is offering a chance to download a small selection of original iPhone artwork from the acclaimed artist. You'll need to be quick as the offer is only open for 48 hours.

Now in his 70's, Hockney continues to playfully experiment creating art using his iPhone, a device he discovered only a few months ago.

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paintings & illustrations, mostly, which i upload to flickr.RT @fragmentedm

I draw manga/anime characters. I also do graphic design and photography.RT @spialelo

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Reluctant to call it digital art, Hockney even has a miniature easel to sit his iPhone on in his London studio.

"This is all new territory for art. Sometimes I lie in bed and send illustrated art lectures to friends and also my own iPhone paintings. No camera is involved," Hockney recently told The Evening Standard.

"I like to draw flowers by hand on the iPhone and send them out to friends so they get fresh flowers. And my flowers last! They never die!"

The director of the Imagine documentary Bruno Wollheim told the BBC that Hockney uses the iPhone and iPod touch application Brushes to actually create the paintings.

"With his thumb brushing the screen he works on the same scale you can see in front of you. It's a medium he started using tentatively five months ago but in just the last seven weeks he's made over 200 of these images," said Wollheim.

"He likes the medium for its directness and speed, the ability to draw and paint at the same time, and the instant delivery."

Brushes offers several realistic brush styles, an advanced colour picker, a gallery view, and virtually unlimited undo and redo options.

The iPhone paintings, adds Wollheim, are now being seen for the first time outside of a small circle of friends

"There's no reproduction or printing involved, but Hockney is exploiting the layering techniques he's developed from print-making and watercolour. There is a beauty, freshness and immediacy of touch to these images."

(The David Hockney exhibition, 'Drawings In A Printing Machine', runs until 11 July at the Annely Juda gallery over two floors, along Dering Street, just off New Bond Street, London. Like the best things in life, entrance is free.)

"David Hockney wakes up just before the dawn, takes his phone and from his bed starts to draw the cut flowers by his window, using the 'Brushes' app," says documentary director Bruno Wollheim.

Posted by: Nick Spence

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Comments received


Jane Perrin said on Wednesday, 01 July 2009

Absolutely loved the program, I found the whole concept riveting. I was inspired by David Hockney at school, carried on to Glasgow school of Art and have spent the last 24 years as a professional photographer who loves to escape and paint. Commercial pressure makes the latter difficult and i often feel i have lost my way, Listening to David last night I was newly inspired to be myself and I cant thank him enough. What a wonderful portrait he would make, I would love just to hang out with him and my camera. thanks for the best program in years.

Danny Kelly said on Wednesday, 01 July 2009

Jane, how very true. He's 71 and never stops, really impressive, well worth watching on iPlayer again and beautiful scenery just outside Bridlington.

Mike Watts said on Tuesday, 21 July 2009

How fantastic,
I remember Hockney's amazing "joiner" mosaic pictures with polaroid prints to include the dimension of time. I can't think of another artist that blends traditional artistic skill with the latest technology like Hockney

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