John I’m sure that this is not the first time on which I’ve remarked on the perpetual and recurring problem of artists, namely, the question of what to call a work. Titles can be the bane of one’s life. It isn’t so bad if you are into portraiture, when the name of one’s sitter is enough. … Read more
I was rather startled yesterday, doing my regular language study, to discover that I was being taught the Italian for “Fuck off!” I was surprised for several reasons. Having studied Italian for seventeen years, although I had encountered the word, I have never seen it the vocabulary for a course. I have never felt the … Read more
I’m not really paranoid, but there are occasions on which it does feel that the world is trying to foil my attempts to be an artist. Just as I am getting into my stride again, and producing work, I am besieged by demands on my time which take me away from it. We have committed … Read more
It is with some caution that I’m saying this, but I do seem to be airborne again. After a month during which I have not managed to paint anything, this week I have re-started work. The “warm-up” routine I devised, doing little pencil-sketch portraits appears to have broken that dreadful sense of inhibition. The reference … Read more
Perhaps the tides turned. I would like to think so. We spent this weekend with the family of one of my sons, in Sheffield. It was a really pleasant visit, with the usual country walking around the Derwent Valley, not to mention the pleasures of their hospitality. The high-point of the event for me, however, … Read more
I have become convinced that the primary reason for my inability to engage with art, over recent weeks, is the prospect of our moving house. An enormous amount of my time has been diverted into activities such as ensuring the that garden is presentable, and disposing of things we no longer need, and would not … Read more
The old saying, that “one swallow does not make a summer” is perhaps to be borne in mind at the moment, but nevertheless, I am suddenly optimistic. I have actually managed to do a piece of work today. My wife kindly agreed to sit for me (although she did go to sleep during the session!) … Read more
For an embarrassingly long time now I have been unable to get to work on a new painting. The reasons for this are obscure, and I toggle between several of them. I have not spotted anything to paint. (Partly true, but insufficient.) I’m afraid to fail. (Well, that would be true if I could focus … Read more
I’m afraid that it is true. There do seem to be the most enormous differences between the ways in which men and women view the world. This has little to do with equality, but a great deal to do with simple difference. We were watching the Ladies Singles final from Wimbledon this afternoon, and as … Read more
I enjoy a good read, especially just before I go to sleep at night. My normal routine alternates fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Right now I’m into one of Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet. It struck me last night that this must be the third time I have read this work, and I started to reflect on … Read more