Last night I was feeling very low. I was not particularly pleased with my last picture and no new project was in view. Life seemed to have run into a brick wall.
This morning I collected Aiden Hart’s classic reference work on ikon painting, and although I’ve had only the chance of a brief glance during the day it really does appear to be wonderful. Driving over to Ilkley for my weekly climbing session an idea for a new picture suddenly popped in my head….absolutely out of nowhere. It will be a continuation of my long-standing interest in the Green Man, and I might well use it as an opportunity to extend and deepen my acquaintance with egg tempera.
Then there was the climbing! We managed to find a location which remained in shadow the whole day, despite the searing heat. The climax of the day was a two-pitch route (on Buttress No.2, in Ilkley’s Rocky Valley.) The grade was only “Severe” (we have done better in our prime) but it was given three stars in the guidebook, and we would not want to argue with that.
Life seems to be going somewhere again, for which I’m immensely thankful.