John I took another small step towards sorting my things today, in preparation for the possibility of our moving house. My wife had asked the unsurprising question of whether I really still need the four drawers of cassette tapes which have sat under our hi-fi set for several years. I took her point! Clearly in several … Read more
I was horrified earlier this evening to discover just how much time has elapsed since I last posted. It almost feels as if I have actually been out of sight of the Earth. In fact the explanation is far more banal. I have simply been diverted by other things. A real problem for me at … Read more
I was struck, while reading an article by Samual Reilly about the painter Caroline Walker, by his observation that “one definition of painting might be the it is an extended act of noticing.”* That really does appear to hit the nail on the head. It even works in relation to my comment in an earlier … Read more
Participation in exhibitions is often interesting for reasons which have nothing to do with selling one’s work. Very often the most useful part of the occasion can be the opportunities for conversations with colleagues. My involvement with the Thornton Art Trail over the week-end is a case in point. One of the other exhibitors in … Read more
This week-end I am taking part again in the Thornton Art Trail. I have had the good fortune to be allocated to a very welcoming private house, in which it has been possible to display my work to advantage. On the first day of the event there has been a good flow of visitors. My … Read more
After the long period of disruption during which I was not able to produce anything worthwhile, I do seem to be getting back to something resembling “normality”. It seems that there is one big hurdle to surmount, however, before I can really say that I have reached that state. The large, missing piece at the … Read more
Even after twenty-five years at this game I find that I am still learning new things. I mentioned in a recent post that I have been asked to undertake a commission, for the first time ever. Naturally I was keen, and threw myself into the task, which is now finished, to the satisfaction of the … Read more
It is really good to be working again after such a long layoff. Starting work, however, is far from easy, as I’ve found on previous occasions. The idea has been identified. The medium in which I want to work has been chosen. The canvas has been under-painted and the idea sketched. Even so, I am … Read more
For several months now (as regular readers will know) I have been feeling the lack of any progress in all sorts of aspects of life. There are several obvious reasons for this, such as the legacy of my injury and the disruption consequent upon our decision to move house. There have been some signs on … Read more
For some time now life has been in a state of mild disorder. The primary cause of this has been the fact that we have now committed ourselves to selling our home and finding somewhere else to live. Perhaps the largest impact of this has not been so much on the practicalities of life, but … Read more