Rising star artist Alexandra Dawe will be doing the Wytches Market in Glastonbury on the Saturday 23rd June.  For more info visit the Wytches Market website. To see more fabulous artwork by artist Alexandra Dawe like ‘In the Wild Wood’ shown above just click here.  In fact this post is a double hit because we’re also naming ‘In the Wild Wood’as our picture of the month here at Artists UK.  And in case you wondered, yes you can order it as a canvas print if prefer having a canvas print to a lithographic print.

Have you seen the Marvel Avengers Assemble film yet?  We went yesterday and it was mind-blowingly awesome.  Marvel have pulled off the biggest stunner so far with the Avengers film.  Given how good the films of Marvel’s individual super-heroes The Hulk, Thor, Iron Man and Captain America were it isn’t that surprising I suppose.  Apart from still trying to come to terms with a black and too young Nick Fury the Avengers and the villains are all very well-played and at least fairly well cast.  The Black Widow getting ready to face down the alien menace with a handgun did seem a bit daft though.  Couldn’t SHIELD have kitted her out with a better weapon than that?  I don’t want to give any Avengers film spoilers but the film is worth watching just for when the Hulk gets up close and personal with Loki.  That is a real laugh.  In fact in some respects The Hulk steals the show.

The Avengers forming as a team is well done and the Avengers infighting and misunderstandings that were always a trademark of Marvel’s all-too-human superheroes are there and well done.  Each Avenger has such a clear personality and the Avengers film makers have clearly set out to provide the definitive version of each Avenger.

I wasn’t sure about Loki but he won me over in the end.  There is a real slimy nasty menace about Loki and a kind of suave and arrogant way too.  Sadly, he reminded me of too many politicians.  As in the Avengers Marvel comics, it becomes clear who is the boss of the Avengers and Captain America is really impressive.  At first glance he is the weakest of the four Avengers but, as in the Marvel comics of the Avengers, ultimately he is the strongest in what counts - skill and intelligence.

The special effects are with all the stops pulled out in Avengers Assemble.  The jaw-dropping global effects from 2012 are there and plenty of others.  If you haven’t seen the Avengers Assemble film yet then don’t miss Marvel supremo Stan Lee’s cameo at the end where he says that the idea of super-heroes in New York is ridiculous.  Of course it is Stan Lee’s 90th birthday this year, which only goes to prove that Marvel comics keep you young and you live longer.

There are a question or two of course on the Avengers film that you might want to comment on.  Whatever happened to the Avengers Giant Man / Ant Man and The Wasp who were members of the original Avengers line-up?  In a way it seems odd to have Hawkeye and the Black Widow around and leave them out.  I always thought Giant Man was a great Avenger.  That would also have paved the way for Hawkeye to have done his Goliath bit and the Avengers comics of that period had an interesting take on what happened when Hawkeye became Goliath.  We also miss out on Giant Man as Yellowjacket of course who was a real character in the Marvel Avengers comics.   If they felt the need to turn Nick Fury black to introduce a little balance into the predominantly whitey world of Marvel superheroes then why didn’t they bring in The Black Panther?  He’s a rich African tribal chief for goodness sake!  Last but not least there’s The Vision and his unlikely romance with another Avenger The Scarlet Witch (also not included in the Avengers here and nor is her brother Quicksilver).  There are still many poignant, exciting, meaningful and world-shattering moments from the history of Marvel’s Avengers comics that could be put into a film.  Let’s hope some of them make it into the next Avengers Assemble film and if I’ve missed a few ideas I’m sure you’ll put me right in the comments.

If you live anywhere near Glastonbury then the wonderfully talented artist Ed Org will be at the Faerie Fair at Glastonbury on 10-11th March. Celebrated and practically legendary faery artist Brian Froud and his equally talented model-making wife Wendy Froud will also be attending as well as all the other usual artistic suspects.   If you love fantasy art then this is the place to be.  If you are not familiar with artist Ed Org’s amazing work then look here.  If you are really unsure about any of it then you can also find artist Brian Froud’s art here and Wendy Froud art here.

Elfmaid by Ed Org

That incredible legend in his own lifetime artist Ed Org will be exhibiting over thirty drawings, sketches and paintings including some new work by  Ed Org not seen before.  The Ed Org exhibition  will be held at Obsidian Art, The Buck Goat Centre, Layby Farm, Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville,  Buckinghamshire HP22 5XJ from 10th February to 11th March.

If you haven’t yet seen any of Ed Org’s incredible original art then here is your chance!  The Ed Org exhibition also features some guest artists that Ed Org has invited to exhibit there too - Hannah Willow, Kelly Martinez, Mark Duffin, Philthetree, Sue Rawley and Tamsin Abbottt.  These artists do a range of work from jewellery to stained glass so there should be a great variety of interesting art there.

If you need any further information or directions you can phone them on  01296 612150.  If you’ve read this far and are not sure who Ed Org is (shame on you!) then click on the lovely lady to the right here and you’ll    see a lot more pictures by Ed Org.

You can buy Ed Org’s prints at the exhibition or by mail-order here.