It is some time since I painted. I spent several weeks totally absorbed by the task of exhibiting, following which I felt that I really needed a break. Instead I have been fully engaged with DIY tasks. To my surprise, however, while lying in bed yesterday an idea for a picture came into my head.
Good, or bad? Well, my first response has been one of fear. Could I possibly produce something like that? The fact that the project could only be realised with a model, posed in rather difficult circumstances, was only one of the deterring things about the idea. My work in the past has tended rather to suggest emotion than depict it, and this would be pretty well full on.
Many years ago Graeme Willson told me that he thought I tended to become inhibited by the fear of failure. There was truth in his observation, I admit. I don’t feel that I want to just run away from the idea, but it will be some time before I actually prime a canvas.