I was asked recently why I take the trouble to drive over to Ilkley each week to take part in a life-drawing class. Let’s face it, I do seem to go to a lot of trouble (and expense!) in order to do this, and it’s certainly not unreasonable to enquire why an activity is worth … Read more
…. which best describes how life has been over the past few weeks. I guess that this has been reflected in the rather friable nature of recent posts. I have been struggling against injury and the weather, both of which have been interfering in their own way with the things I want to/need to do. … Read more
I have signed up for another group of on-line Italian language lessons. It has been difficult to find a time when both and the teacher are available. For our initial meeting we have had to settle for 7.30 am on Thursday! Ouch! I hope very sincerely indeed that we can agree on something more congenial … Read more
This week we are enjoying a visit by our nine-year-old grandson. These experiences are always enjoyable, but invariably present their own challenges and surprises. Working with him in the studio on a little print experiment presented one such experience. It is my habit, when I return from one of my weekly life-drawing classes, to pin … Read more
I enjoyed a very unusual experience today. I was invited to take part in an informal life-drawing class, organised by a model I have worked with over many years. It was only possible to fit three artists in her tiny flat, but what we lacked in space we made up for in time. In the … Read more
Over the week-end one of my sons and his family have been staying with us. One of the delights of these visits is the fact that my nine-year-old grandson really enjoys art. At some point during every visit he will ask if he can do some painting or drawing with me in the studio. He … Read more
At last I have rested negative for this wretched covid! It is possible to start thinking positively about activity once again. There is the small matter to be dealt with, that it has left my asthma in a pretty dreadful state, but at least there is a sense of movement in the right direction. I … Read more
I need a model in order to make progress with a picture I have been planning. This ought to be a relatively straightforward matter, but I am in a blind alley at the moment. What I need is a female model, probably aged between 25 and 45, but this is not an essential requirement. Age … Read more
I’ve just finished a sort-out of a part of my collection of sketches. Over lunch my wife and I were musing on the possible implications of our deciding to move house one day, and I was struck by the immensity of the task which would face me then, of sorting out the huge collection of … Read more
I believe that I exist in several quite different manifestations, and these have precious little to do with each other. Moving between one can another can be a disturbing experience. Tomorrow there will be the first meeting of the new annual programme of the regional Italian Circle for the Bradford and Harrogate area. Foolishly I … Read more