Yes: but which is the “best”? It’s a problematic choice I face on a regular basis. Every time I put forward an entry to be included in a competitive exhibition I face the same question. Just what is my “best work?” Of course, in some cases the fact that an exhibition is devoted to one … Read more
This morning I managed to finish my latest piece, which is one of my series on “The Green Man”, and executed in egg tempera. As I cleared up it became obvious that I had rather over-catered for the egg medium, but was anxious not to waste it. We planned to have scrambled egg for lunch, … Read more
Well …. not exactly. I really am not a classic Scrooge when it comes to Christmas. Even so, I have to confess that I have been rather irritated over the past few days by the growing demands on my time of Christmas preparations. I really do like to keep in touch with my friends and … Read more
I was horrified, updating my art log-books today, to realise just how little work I have managed to do during the pandemic. You would think that with the cancellation of all kinds of distractions it would be possible just to get stuck in and do some creative work freed from distraction. Evidently it doesn’t work … Read more
I am beginning to dare to think that things might be on an even keel at last. Not only have I managed to take part, during the last week, in my usual life-drawing class, but I also went to the meeting of the regional Italian Circle, and last night (believe it or not) we went … Read more
I wrote in yesterday’s post about the sense of a return to normality I was beginning to feel, stimulated by the recovery of activities that have been in suspension for many months, as a result of the current pandemic. This feeling has been growing during today, but not always with the expected sense of positivity. … Read more
I might have mentioned in a previous post that it should be possible to obtain pigment for use with egg tempera by grinding up the scrappy end pieces of pastels. After all, pastels are only raw pigment bound with gum arabic. Yesterday my wife and I made shopping trip to Ilkley where, incidentally, our nearest … Read more
As we watched the Men’s Final from Wimbledon this afternoon my wife suddenly let out a cry of, “Hedgehog! hedgehog!” At first I wondered if this might have been a comment on Djokovic’s prickly response to the partisan support of the crown for his opponent. Then I realised that, sitting by the window, she had … Read more
Yesterday evening I decided to make good on my promise to learn a little more systematically about egg tempera techniques. There is an excellent website for this purpose, called temperaworkshop.com, and I was browsing through it. I was amused and surprised to discover, reading about the gesso foundation upon which this medium is painted, that … Read more
This battle to get to grips with painting in egg tempera is really turning out to be a testing experience. I am very grateful for the fact that today I have not been able to do anything artistic because of social and family commitments elsewhere. I can stand back and take stock …. and even … Read more