The Camden Market Free Art Man 31st May 2026
Here's yesterday's video from Camden Market. I'll be doing The Camden Market Free Art Man every Saturday and Sunday until November, when I'll hopefully be leaving for Thailand to prepare for 2027.
Any weekday's at Camden will be bonus days if I get time, which I probably won't as there's a load of new songs I'd like to get recorded from my Bandcamp this summer.
When I was in Thailand last year I did mostly big expressionist paintings and not enough small pop art ones. We have an apartment in Korat now, where I'll dedicate less time to getting my retirement there sorted out and more time making pocket sized acrylic Blond Cards. I'll also try and get all the cardboard cut, painted black and the backs done so that when Aon and I return in February it won't take so long to get them finished, photographed, processed and uploaded.
Free Art Frees Art is becoming well oiled production line both in London and in New York where @ronthroop Ron Throop is doing similar public displays covered in Advertism. We're obliterating the traditional art distribution model in much the same way Napster did the music industry. Cull the unnecessary and nefarious middlemen and take it straight to the masses for free. FREE ART FREES ART. Free music freed music, so why wouldn't free art free art?
Yesterday was the third day of having the crypto social LP's at Camden. So far, only one has been taken. An Ecency one a lady took because she liked the colour blue. I'll push these more aggressively in future, as I will the cryptocuReny series. But for now, they'll just sit alongside the other big paintings that hardly anyone wants, that I lug to Camden on the bus knowing full well I'll only be lugging back home again. Another series I'll be taking to Camden soon is Blond Magnums. Larger versions of Blond Cards with less Advertism than normal. I have a lot of small and big work at Camden but not enough medium.
Blond Magnums will be about 40cm by 30cm. Not too big to carry round Camden Market and fit into most tourists carry-on luggage.
The most memorable interviewees from yesterday for me were the lady who's sung in a band for a year yet struggles to remember its name. Like Emma Pugmire who plays drums in Edgeworth Band. Emma's been my drummer for over a decade yet still hasn't memorised a single song. Another lady gave me a drawing in return for a painting, which has only happened once before.
I wonder if people think there might be a catch when art is free? I’ve noticed at our giveaway shop that people often feel uncomfortable when they’re told they can just pop whatever they like into their bag and walk straight out. It feels a bit like stealing, and there’s also that sense of propriety or the need to give something back – that’s what we grew up with.
I’d have loved to have picked up a few things, but unfortunately I’m not in Camden; who knows, maybe I’ll get there one day, provided I can get a visa.
Nice to read that you’ve found a place in Thailand. I hope it’s possible to stay there into old age. In practice, that doesn’t work out for many people.
I’m still looking for a place myself. Good luck – you’ve still got a lot to sort out.
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A lot of people assume there's a catch, or don't understand why I'm giving my paintings away. It's helpful in putting off people who can't be that interested anyway. I hope you find a good place to retire. If Thailand doesn't work out, there are a few back up plans. All in South East Asia though.
Incredible effort, as usual. Your genius never lets you down! Thanks for the plug. I'll be posting my summer plan asap, after my return from the humid south. I need to teach this phone how to take dictaion.
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Excellent, looking forward to seeing what you'll be getting up to!
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