Wash Day Blues was a surprise commission for a client's husband's 50th birthday. His wife wanted the painting to include her husband as a young boy and also to include reference to his favourite Manchester City player, Colin Bell.
In the photographs provided for James to use as reference were his two younger brothers and so the painting finally included the three boys and Colin Bell’s football shirt hanging on the washing line.
The painting was so popular with the family, we subsequently published limited edition prints in order that his brothers could also have a copy. It coincided with James already in the process of creating a series of northern art inspired paintings influenced by his childhood growing up in east Manchester. James applied the overall black and white palette with minimal areas of colour as a contrast to draw the viewer to connect with the happy aspects of childhood.
