My name is Pete Mason and I’m known as the Post Pop Art Man. I create pictures by recycling postage stamps into pixellated images. My art work can be viewed on my website www.thepostpopartman.co.uk . Each stamp represents a pixel. By choosing the everyday objects of postage stamps and placing them so that their usual significance becomes obscure, enables the audience to see 'Art' with new eyes.

 

Madonna

Barack Obama

Red And Blue Fuchsia

Enlighten us about your wonderful artwork.

I produce art works from thousands of used postage stamps; the largest pieces use as many as 22,000 recycled postage stamps while the more typical 4' x 3' canvases use around 3500. Using either canvas or huge pieces of paper I draw the image I will produce. I divide the surface on which I am working into stamp sized squares, but often use more than one stamp per grid section. Stamps are sorted by colour, design and postmark pattern. I then begin the process of finding appropriate stamps before cutting and shaping them and finally sticking them to the surface. This is how I achieve resemblances and shapes in the portraits, landscapes and tributes I create.

Martin Luther King

Queen Elizabeth II

Catherine Middleton

William And Kate

How did you think of such a creative concept of recycling postage stamps into pixelated images?

This came from my experiences as an art teacher working with young people in secondary education in order to inspire some of the less creative elements in a large classroom situation; in that once they admit to liking soccer, fishing, ballet, pop music etc. It is only a step away from creating their own images of their favourite subject on to a set of four or five British postage stamps. The challenge “Are you going to do one,Sir?” was met by my creating on board a copy of my hero Roy Lichtenstein’s ‘Blue-eyed Girl’. This portrait was 5’x7’ as I had to make it large enough to be seen at the back of the classroom....and the rest is as they say 'history'.

Blue-Eyed Girl

When did you realize that you're meant to be an artist?

From childhood, I always enjoyed drawing and painting but began my more formal studies at Lichfield College of Art in Staffordshire, England before moving on to Stafford College of Art in the country town of Stafford. There in 1962, I was awarded the National Diploma in Design in Painting and Lithography. It was at this time that I was influenced by the resurgent Pop Art movement in painting. I particularly admired and still do the works of Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. I continued my training at The University of Leeds where I was awarded my degree and this led me to begin my career as a teacher of Art and Design.

During my teaching career I was seconded for one year to The University of Birmingham achieving the Diploma in Art Education contributing to my Masters Degree awarded in 1977. During my teaching career I taught Art and Design in secondary schools in Staffordshire, Liverpool and Walsall and ran evening classes for adults. Now I’m retired from full time teaching and I am able to concentrate on my own creative work producing portraits as well as images in tribute to some of my favourite great artists of the twentieth century.

David Beckham

Mailbox

Peter And Katie

Prince Charles

You have so many creations. Which piece of work is the most special to you?

I have a variety of favourites; Nelson Mandela for his impact on the world, Margaret Thatcher as a powerful image of a powerful lady and Bruce Forsyth and Cliff Richard who gave me the opportunity, having produced their portraits of actually meeting two really nice people.

Nelson Mandela

Margaret Thatcher

Bruce Forsyth

On average, how much time does it take you to complete one pixelated image from recycled postage stamps?

Three foot square canvases usually take eight or nine working days whereas a portrait such as that of Simon Cowell which measures 7’ by 12’ and used 22,000 stamps took almost two months.

Simon Cowell

I saw some of your drawings. They look amazing! Tell us more about them.

As an artist I love to draw, pencil being a special medium capable of strength, boldness and subtlety. The drawings are usually preparatory sketches for the larger stamp portraits.

Winston Churchill

Diana Princess Of Wales

Tony Blair

David Beckham

Do you have any dream project?

Since my college days in the 1960s my hero has been Roy Lichtenstein and his work entitled ‘Mural with Blue Brushstroke’ from 1986 measuring over 22 by 10 metres is a favourite of mine. It would be an ambition to make a tribute to him in a similar manner as a commission but this would require several million stamps and a very kind sponsor for a large space and funding.

Peter Mason with his portraits