Having had the operation for my second cataract I find myself in an odd situation, in that some aspects of my vision are much worse. Distance vision is unimaginably better than before, but reading is very difficult. It will be a little while before I am able to get reading glasses. It occurred to me … Read more
I never realised, before taking up art seriously, just how stressful exhibiting can be. The situation is probably different if you are fairly well up the “tree” of prestige and success, when a great deal of the strain of getting work before the public is carried by the gallery which represents you. If you are … Read more
My wife asked me, towards the end of the recent Ilkley exhibition. “You’re not used to success.” Today I began to appreciate just what she might have meant by that. I am quite efficient and well-organised when it comes to putting on an exhibition. The trouble comes when I am faced with the job of … Read more
I guess it is probably the case with many occupations that their public image, and the basis on which most people are enticed into them, focus on a few large and positive features but somehow manage to forget to tell you about the more routine and tedious bits. Well, that’s certainly the case with art. … Read more
You are no doubt familiar with all the cliche characterisations of artists–as romantics, as insane, as visionaries, as condemned to starve in attics, and so on, and so on. I discovered a new image today. I’m not entirely sure that it applies to all artists, but certainly it describes my life at the moment. I … Read more