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'Chrissie Hynde's paintings convey the same maverick spirit as her music.' - Christie's Magazine
In 2015, Chrissie Hynde, the singer, songwriter and leader of The Pretenders, produced an oil painting of a ceramic vase. It proved to be the starting point for Chrissie Hynde's first body of work, nearly 200 canvases in all. These paintings are now shared for the very first time in Chrissie Hynde's signed limited edition, Adding The Blue.
"I always thought I would get into painting, but I got waylaid by rock 'n' roll. Finally, I thought, "Now's the time." As soon as I could be alone and paint without any interruptions, I just couldn't stop.' - Chrissie Hynde
'These paintings wake me up, show me life, make me want to get up and do something.' - Brian Eno
In Adding The Blue, Chrissie Hynde's first collection of paintings is presented chronologically, beginning with still life studies and culminating in vibrant abstract compositions. Working exclusively in oil on canvas, her art encompasses a wide variety of subjects, including figures, portraits of friends and family, self-portraits and landscapes. Adding The Blue is a vibrant book of oil paintings that are, in Brian Eno's words, 'full of life, love and discovery'.
Adding The Blue features an original text by Chrissie Hynde, and includes forewords by visionary musician and artist, Brian Eno, and the Royal Academy's Artistic Director, Tim Marlow.
Narrated throughout with Chrissie Hynde's thoughts, anecdotes and reflections, over more than 200 pages Adding The Blue offers a brand new perspective on her life and art.
'The fact that she's a great musician doesn't undermine her painting; it underpins it... I love the fact that in her studio, below the pots filled with brushes and under the table filled with tubes of paint, is a basket full of plectrums. Tools of her trades, old and new.' - Tim Marlow, Royal Academy of Arts
Chrissie Hynde is best known as the singer, songwriter and leader of The Pretenders, formed in 1978.
The groundbreaking debut album, Pretenders, introduced a union of punk and New Wave that drew inspiration from bands including The Kinks and The Who, and nine Pretenders albums have followed. In 2014, Chrissie Hynde released her first solo album, Stockholm. Chrissie Hynde has collaborated with a wide variety of legendary musicians, including Neil Young and, most recently, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.
'I thank my lucky stars every day that I can play guitar, be in a rock band, and if I want to paint, I can paint. I don't want anything else. I'm totally satisfied with that.' - Chrissie Hynde
'Coming off tour can be a tricky affair. It feels like jumping off a trampoline. Painting is the one thing I've found to adjust back to civilian life. Genesis has been there collecting it all into book form.' - Chrissie Hynde
Presented in a linen-bound solander case, Chrissie Hynde's 212-page, quarter-bound volume is printed on heavyweight uncoated paper, with hand-torn page edges. Each book is individually numbered and signed by the author Chrissie Hynde.
A loose-leaf print of Chrissie's self-portrait, 'Sunday painter', is also included (suitable for framing: 8" x 11"). Numbered and hand-signed in pencil, this print is exclusive to the Adding The Blue limited edition.
'A collection of still lifes, portraits, and colourful abstracts, created in a "calm frenzy"... Chrissie Hynde's art book is a grand, lavish thing.' - The Observer
| Deluxe | £285 |
Chrissie Hynde's first body of work, nearly 200 paintings in all, are shared for the very first time in her signed limited edition book and print set, Adding The Blue.
Since 1974 Genesis has created signed limited edition books on behalf of authors and artists ranging from the Beatles to Buckingham Palace.
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In order to make investing in one of our limited edition books or prints easier, we offer an interest-free option to spread the cost.
For purchases over £150, the payments are spread over three months. For example, for a purchase of £360, £122.40 would be paid today, followed by two instalments of £118.80.
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