DAVID Hockney’s talent was so obvious from an early age that one of his teachers asked for a painting while he was at art school – telling the budding artist “this will be worth a lot of money one day.”
The little known tale about the artist was revealed by Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, Leader of the Conservative Group on Bradford Council, while paying tribute to the artist, whose death was announced on Friday.
The Worth Valley ward councillor said: “My Conservative Group colleagues and I were saddened to hear of the sad passing of David Hockney, a truly talented craftsman, an accomplished artist, photographer and stage designer, amongst other related skill sets.
“The breadth and depth of his talents were recognised at an early stage.
“The late John Bradley, a former Leader of the Calderdale Council Conservative Group during his retirement, had the pleasure whilst working as an art teacher, of being one of those who taught David Hockney how to paint and also craft pottery at Bradford College of Art, though Mr Bradley realised at a very early stage that Hockney would need little teaching and soon surpass the skills of his tutors, though it was unlikely that he would have predicted that his student would go on to be one of the most influential British artists in recent history.
“It is a testament to Mr Hockney’s brilliance, that towards the end of his studies, Mr Bradley, asked him if he could keep one of the pictures that he had painted whilst on the course and offered to pay for it.
“Hockney declined payment, but gifted the picture to his former tutor, who told him with confidence, “this will be worth a lot of money one day” and took it to his home in Shelf, near Halifax. Hockney’s brilliance was already shining through.
“When Hockney went to the Royal College of Art, his clash with the College over his failure to complete a painting of a live model, coupled with his refusal to write an essay for his final examination, insisting that he be assessed solely on his artworks, David Hockney’s talent saw the college back down and change its regulations, in order to give him his diploma.
“We should all be proud that a local lad, a Bradfordian, was so influential and even went on to became the record holder for creating the most expensive artwork in the world by a living artist, when in 2018 his Portrait of an Artist (not the painting that he gifted to Mr Bradley) sold at Christie’s in New York for a staggering $90m (approximately £70m).
“It goes without saying that David Hockney and his talent will be missed by many people.
“The thoughts of Bradford Council Conservative Group go out to Mr Hockney’s family and friends at this sad time."
