Final Times Square Prints + New André Rieu Release Available Today

Hi all!

I hope your July is off to a fantastic start. Here in the UK, we've been in the middle of a heatwave and it’s been absolutely sweltering. That said, the heat hasn’t slowed me down in the studio. I’ve been busy working on new typewriter art and I’m really looking forward to sharing what’s coming next.

One upcoming project involves a trip to Oxford, where I’ll be capturing a very special landmark. I’ll be revealing more about that very soon..

A quick update from me, the A3 edition of Evening in Times Square has now completely sold out. Thank you so much to everyone that secure a print. All 200 prints have gone.

There are now just 21 prints remaining in the A2 size – the same dimensions as the original artwork. If you haven’t ordered yours yet, this is your final chance to grab one before they sell.

👉 Click here to order one of the final 21 A2 prints

As of July 2nd, 27 million people have watched my Times Square artwork on Instagram. It is absolutely mind-boggling to think that so many people have seen my artwork and it was all recorded on my little iPhone with the aid of a beautiful sunset over the river Thames. I am genuinely blown away and so grateful for the support.

Thanks again for being part of this journey. From the feedback I have received, I think I need to do more evening scenes in colour. The question is…where to next? Leave a comment if you have any suggestions.

It’s Finally Here: My Print Collaboration with André Rieu

In the summer of 2024, I had the honour of being invited to Maastricht to join the legendary musician André Rieu during one of his concerts on the Vrijthof. Armed with just my 1920s Underwood Standard typewriter, which I somehow managed to fit into a suitcase, I created a new piece of art live in the square.

In collaboration with André Rieu, I’m excited to announce that a limited edition of 250 prints is being released today, Wednesday 2nd July, at 12:00 midday (UK time). The collaboration video is also scheduled to go live on André Rieu’s social media channels at 3:00pm this afternoon, so you're hearing about it here first with early access to the prints.

The work captures the spirit of André’s beloved hometown and the magic of those unforgettable open-air performances. It was a real privilege to present the finished artwork to André on the steps of the Théâtre du Vrijthof, just moments before he led his orchestra through the square to begin the concert. A memory I will always treasure.

This artwork contains a number of hidden typed messages woven into the design, each one a quiet tribute to André’s concerts and the waltz-filled world of the Johann Strauss Orchestra.

Just like right now, last year's concert was swelteringly hot! Weather forecasts predicted cooler evening temperatures so I packed my classic red jumper which I am known for wearing, this proved to be a big mistake, it was 30 degrees even at 9:00pm at night. I am visible sweating in all the photos taken when I was typing at the concert.

Here’s a little extra cool fact from the on-location project, you see the chair and table, well they came directly out of Andre’s beautiful castle to match the vintage 1920’s Underwood typewriter that I had bought with me. It was an exhilarating experience, creating art live for an audience of 11,000 concert-goers!

Positioned on a raised platform at the back of the crowd, I had the perfect vantage point to capture the essence of the concert. Meeting some of my fans in the audience was a delightful surprise.

As the sun set, I found myself a unique "seat" in the large window sill of The Hoofdwacht, a national monument on the Vrijthof. It was, as they said, "the best seat in the house," until security had to move me for safety reasons.

The highlight of my trip was meeting André before the evening concert. Presenting him with my finished artwork was a moment I'll never forget. He even shared it with the audience, laughing as I pointed out his depiction as "a capital I and O" on stage.

If you missed the original moment, you can still watch the full video over on my Instagram: @jamescookartwork

Thank you as always for the support.

Until next time,
James

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