NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE

Even on this simple/humble blog you can't hide from soccer or Wog ball to some in Australia - because it's so popular with European immigrants.(Note: One of my sons says this word is a serious insult and should never be used).
Anyway, in Europe now we're right in the middle of Europe 2016 soccer madness. All the old stars have been resuscitated on telly: including Pele, Maradona, and Best amongst others. And, of course, David Beckham, villain and saint of English football - once reviled, when he was red carded and sent off the pitch in a World Cup game against Argentina - and then colonised when, despite often playing under pressure, he led MU to an unprecedented triple crown: the Premier League championship, the FA Cup and the European Cup.

Beckham effigy hanged outside pub in 1998

Here's my version of his pretty face.

You can see more of my portraits here:

https://www.artfinder.com/ray-johnstone

EMERGING MELBOURNE ARTISTS

According to The Age arts and culture correspondent, Lynne Knowall, collectors can forget Blackman, Roberts, Streeton, Williams, Drysdale and even Brett Whitely.
Her advice is to focus on emerging artists Ingrid and John & Robyn and John who have been identified by the National Gallery of Victoria as their pick of the up and coming Melbourne artists of the future.
"An initial showing of their work blew our minds," said one of the NGV curators. "We were so overwhelmed by an initial showing of their work that a big splash is being planned for the Christmas season 2016 with a blockbuster exhibition of paintings they did en plein air in France in June.
A catalogue has already been printed.
Melbourne 21 June 2016

Here you can see them painting in Fources in France.

This bastide village is officially classified as 'One of the most beautiful villages in France'

Collectors are advised to get in while the going's good.