On Monday I set out on my return visit to northeastern Italy, to take forward an art project around which I’ve been circling cautiously for a year. It has to do with making some sort of artistic response to an experience I had there at about this time last year. Walking in a mountain area … Read more
I spent a large part of the afternoon hanging my exhibition Set Apart in Unit 9 at South Square. I always find hanging work to be an interesting experience, for several reasons. In this case I have not exhibited the material for at least two years, although I have had some of it on the … Read more
…. my new exhibition. It comes at a particularly suitable time in view of the ideas I’ve been sharing over the past few days about the possible links between my art and religious faith. The title of the show is Set Apart: solitude and sacredness. The best way to explain what it is about is … Read more
Why, that is, do they think that they can drum up trade for their outfit by spamming my blog? Cold calling in this manner is discourteous, and probably illegal. (I have already reported some intruders to the Office of the Information Commissioner.) Don’t they realise that this kind of unprofessional behaviour is going to be … Read more
Today I’d like to say a little about another of my pictures. This is entitled, William Golding’s Kingfisher (Acrylic and gold leaf). I’ve chosen it because it illuminates an important point about a good deal of the “religious” aspect of my art. It is concerned very much with searching, and not with preaching. It is involved with … Read more
After the delivery of my new plan chest, the reorganisation of the studio has taken up a good deal of my energy and time today. Back to a proper discussion tomorrow. I must say that it does feel good to see things getting back under control. Disorder does weigh you down!
I’m fond of the story of the famous composer who played one of his pieces to a friend. “It’s wonderful,” said the friend, “but what does it mean?” So the composer played it again. Our understanding of any work of art needs to take it on its own terms, and it is not necessary to … Read more
It’s odd how ideas come to you. This bit of the discussion fell into place looking at ducks on the Leeds-Liverpool canal. Make of that what you will. I don’t think that matters are helped by the term “spiritual artist” (instead of “religious” or “Christian” artist). In fact, I find it less acceptable, for several … Read more
That was the question put to me by a journalist yesterday. I was thinking about it as I drove for a day’s climbing at Froggatt today. I’ve been asked this before (together with the closely related question: “Are you a Christian artist?”) I don’t think that I’m going to get through the implications of this … Read more
Oh no it won’t! I’ve started a clear-out in the studio in preparation for the arrival of another plan chest. This has been the signal for a rather wider tidying and ordering session than I originally anticipated. All kinds of things are emerging from drawers and boxes and corners, and in many cases the story … Read more