My Trip to Castle Galleries in Liverpool

I must say, firstly start by visiting www.castlegalleries.com and invest in some art, not just for something to look at or for certain future profit, but for genuine stimulation of the mind and thought.

I recently have been in and out of Castle Galleries in Liverpool’s famous L1 postcode and I have been blown away by what was hanging on those walls. Some of my favourite pieces were by: Bob Dylan, Stan Lee, Keith Maiden, Bob Oxley and Hamish Blakely.

I had amazing conversations with Lee Sillery who is an art consultant for Castle Galleries in Liverpool and in my opinion he should open a gallery of his own in future. The way he spoke and his passion for some of the paintings were awesome. His descriptions were art pieces themselves. I hope myself and Lee remain friends forever, as his passion for Art and the way he sells art is beautiful for lack of a better word.

BOB DYLAN

I listen to Bob as a musician but never knew he was also an artist. (The words artist and musician – I don’t know anymore... anyway…). Looking at his pieces in person was astonishing. That was the closest I have ever felt to this man. Almost as thought his presence was in the room. I see in my head, himself just walking along creating a new piece of music in his head and him stopping because he caught some inspiration from the way the sky looked or the food he is about to eat or the features of a person as well as what is around that person.

I won’t stay here and act like some big art guy knowing about the brushes he uses or ink or whatever… You’d have to speak to Lee about that, but truly the strokes on the canvas and details of his paintings draw you into the mood, thinking, and excitement of the paintings. You should definitely get one. The times certainly are a changing and Bob’s name will live a long time, so getting one of his pieces will be a great addition to your collection of life’s collectables.

My favourites were – Nowhere and Anywhere, Man on a Bridge, Sidetracks – 25th October 1998 Chicago, Illinois and New York Skyline, Seen From Queen.

I have a new admiration for this man now. He has even inspired me to pick up a brush or something of the sort again… well I am very good at colouring in.

STAN LEE

The famous Marvel God. This guy in my opinion will never die even though his human age is over 90 at this time. Let us face it, he will soon move on to the other plane of existence and his work will be cherished. He will probably get an even grater send off than apple founder Steve Jobs.

The Marvel Collection | The Stan Lee Collection is exclusive to the gallery. Hand-signed by Stan Lee, this is truly special as some of our favourite heroes grace the canvas. This collection is to commemorate the 95th birthday of who is arguably the worlds greatest comic book writer and editor. This guys mind is a GOD send.

I am in love with Spider-Man because growing up as a child I related in-terms of being a good young man, but knowing you have some power. I always had to be careful what I said because even though people didn’t realise it, I was very aware at a young age of the power and responsibility thing I possessed.

Thor the god of thunder.. Well I just liked the fact he was a God and in Asgard It is always about drinking, fighting, women and a love that comes with that. Not some modern day putting down of each other. It’s tradition to have a good time.

The Incredible Hulk is a man with a monster inside. I relate again to this as I know what I have inside of me but choose spirituality and peace.

Logan is just nuts.

I am very glad to have seen this collection because it really gave me the confidence to push forward with all my passions. Who would have known that at Stan’s very very old age, he will feature in his own films, make as much money as he has and see a generation of new actors and new technology bring his mind to life. Extraordinary! So my advise to myself – this me – and others, is follow your passion… You never know.

Keith Maiden

It was a pleasure to discover Keith. Lee told me he has one of his pieces on his wall and I would like to join him. Having seen some in person, filled with hidden messages in the main subject, I just thought it was spectacular. Lee (Mr I can sell art) really took me into a piece of Keiths’. I saw messages relating to modern society and symbolism of other subjects that translate into making the full art piece. A piece may have credit cards and an earpod and some flags belonging to countries but you have to take a ‘step back’ or ‘closer look’ to really feel it’s full effect. This is particularly evident in his ‘Avarice Egocentric’ piece.

Two main things I noticed whilst Lee and I discussed; one was we started to have a conversation about life after we looked at this piece. We went on for over 20 minutes about personal things and after a while of discussion I realised it was because of this painting. This was special to me because I didn’t realise and this is what art is supposed to do. It served its purpose. The second thing that sparked an interest was that Maiden’s titles for his work were art pieces in themselves. Titles such as; Red Lippy, If I Were The Devil, Proper Gander and Equilibrium.

I enjoy the idea of his paintings never running out of discovery and meaning. You will always find something new in them, a hidden message, a new word and world that makes up a part of the full piece or the subliminal message in writing that reflects that piece and the state of society. I think he actually is the best I have discovered so far as I write this up on Christmas day in 2017.

I think you should invest in his work if you are the sort of person who loves debates, has a thought on modern society and if you just simply love to stare at an amazing piece and be taken on a journey. You have to show your friends his pieces. It always sparks a conversation.

Bob Oxley

There is something special about when water drips down a window or a car surface or a building, or a ray of colours as paint drips down a canvas. The thing I loved about Robert Oxley's work was how real and emotional the pieces were. You could look into this wildlife artists’ animals’ soul on his canvases.

Virunga and Ranthambore II particularly got my attention. I loved how real they are and the texture of the work itself. The details that were in these pieces just made my mind seem colourful. Especially as I’m a fan of psychedelics, I think these in a hall way in your home can make that minimalistic hallway pop.

Also a lot of people care for the animals these days and this is a special way of blending art and awareness together.

Hamish Blakely

And so I say to the lovely Gail, wife of Hamish Blakely; “Thank you for being so gorgeous and inspiring the genius that is Hamish Blakely”.

I was on my out of Castle Galleries in Liverpool one afternoon after going to see Lee again and saw this HUGE oil painting hanging on a wall behind reception. You could say it was the centerpiece of the gallery, which I am sure it wasn’t intended to be. It was so grand that I had to stop and admire. I just stood there looking at Amsterdam Of Angels.

Lee explains to me how Hamish uses his wife as his muse and in most of his paintings it is a different interpretation of her and of course with something else behind the meaning of the painting. I thought this was outstanding.

For me the way he paints her, the way he makes her so real yet fantasy like, drew me in closer and closer admiring not only her but his full work. I love this sort of duo pieces. When a man or woman use their significant other as a muse, it shows love, it shows passion and it just takes your breath away. I think a good relationship is when you and your other half can share something special together that just can’t be taken away from you both. Be it you both like art or music or theatre.

Hamish did make me feel like I too should have a woman to admire and a woman who admires me back because lets face it, Gail must truly be flattered and in love to be used as a muse in most of his paintings. He captures emotions of her face and emotions of the piece astonishingly well. Life like indeed.

I think you should have a Hamish in your place of rest, call it one of your passion rooms. His paintings deserve to be in a room that extends his work externally into that room. Interior designers get your thinking caps on.

This guy is an amazing artist. The scale sizes of some of his pieces are truly grand. Side note: he paints denim well.