Exclusive
By Charles Heslett
SIBLINGS can be the harshest critics.
And when the one doling out the disapproval happens to be among the most famous living artists you could be forgiven for taking it to heart.
Margaret Hockney – older sister of David – said he expressed a dislike for her latest work, but she was having none of it.
The 70-year-old entered a series of scanned images of her face for Leeds City Art Gallery's open show.
Her 'scanographs' were among 91 artworks picked by the show's judging panel from a record 431 submissions from the public.
While it draws admiring glances from the hundreds of visitors to the show, Margaret's more famous brother – who is two years younger – remained distinctly unimpressed.
She told the YEP: "My scanner discoveries are totally unrelated to my brother's pictures.
"He has a totally different vision to me, he sees colour, space, form and in fact he has been an artist all his life – I am just learning about all these picture elements.
"He certainly doesn't like the 'scanned self' picture that is in Leeds – and computers are not really his thing.
"But he is pleased enough that I have found a new and fascinating media."
By her own admission Margaret "came late" to art in 1999, only picking up the brush, or more accurately the computer mouse, when she retired after 30 years in nursing and a decade as a medical herbalist.
Speaking from her Bridlington home, she said: "When I retired I bought myself a computer system which included digital camera and scanner. I discovered the internet and discussion groups.
Experiments
"I found some really good online classes, and learnt how to use Adobe Photoshop and other software. I did lots of experiments with digital cameras, using fisheye lenses, infra-red filters and then practised my Photoshop learning skills.
"Then I decided to compare the scanner with the camera.
"I scanned my hands, a housefly and objects such as flowers and fish, and realised there was a lot of potential fun.
"I liked the clarity I got with the direct scan – it is always in focus."
Margaret's octopus scan was selected for the Royal Academy's summer exhibition and a scanned sprat was picked for the open show at the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull.
On the strength of these successes she tried a self-portrait.
The Bradford-born artist said: "The result is the picture in the Leeds exhibition. It is a set of six different face scans edited in Photoshop with the largest portion showing enhanced wrinkles.
"I was just fascinated with the effects.
"I might add it is a bit strange scanning your own face on your own. With the face on the scanner, it is a case of reaching a hand out for the mouse and hoping it is on the OK button to 'scan'."
Margaret entered the show after Tony Hogan, who has his own art centre in Rudston, near Bridlington, gave her an entry form.
Fellow artist Rob Gobel delivered all their submissions to Leeds City Art Gallery in The Headrow.
You can vote for your favourite work of art in the show through the YEP's People's Choice award.
The exhibition ends on September 18 and is free.
charles.heslett@ypn.co.uk