Sometimes events in life feel as if they are lying in the way of any progress in my art as if they are a tree fallen across a railway line. Nothing can get past them until they have been cleared. I have to confess (somewhat to my surprise) that the past couple of weeks have been a bit like that. I was committed for some time to give a talk to the regional Italian Circle, and although I have done this kind of thing before, and am really interested in the topic, It seemed to get in the way of my thinking about anything else at all.* Having delivered the talk yesterday, it is hard to overstate the sense of relief I am feeling today, as it becomes possible to start thinking about art again.
Thank goodness also that the final of the UK snooker championship is approaching its conclusion, so that there will be (as I believe the Vatican expresses it) nihil obstat in relation to my getting down to painting again.
*If you are interested, the talk was on the Italian composer Arrigo Boito and his remarkable, but neglected, opera Mefistofele. It’s probably not appropriate to go into that here, but get me wound up and it will be difficult to stop me!