01 08 2026

 Made it though July, hurrah - now finding the splendid blind over the big vellux makes the first studio - the one with air con - too dark to paint in. lalala.

So did some drawing over the latest Hommage. Rather worrying as its a portrait of my heart consultant who is veryhmm very apparent. He has long hair worn loose and always wears a mask, anyone who knows him will know him. 

Can't be helped, I guess. Def part of the entropy-and-death ness of it all. Don't suppose he'd care, should he ever see it -

31 07 2026

 Nothing achieved except the awful works-in-progress turned to the wall. BUT adorable Norbert came round and fitted a blind over the velux which will make working a deal easier if I ever get to it.

Got visitors, young and opinionated in the right way. Been touring and will continue for a while.

24 07 2026

 Woke bright and early and cool, praise be - so straight to studio before the day becomes too hot.

-Im trying to draw the next in the Hommage a Kitaj series and so looked for photos of the others so that there should be a level of consistency in format. Couldnt find any on line. Then it dawned on me that the portfolio with them in was next to me in the studio...

will photograph the lot when this ones done. Maybe.

22 07 2026

 What with not sleeping - sweaty heat - and not breathing - dust, smoke, what-have you - nothing is being achieved. A bit of fiction reading in front of a fan, lots of dozing.

And lying in a cool bath, that's such a grace. Otherwise irritable, mecontent, judgemental... on the plus side, a sudden call from the heart surgeon to see him tomorrow evening which I hope will enable the change of meds. necessary for a balanced body. Coupled with a Monday morning RDV with doctor, joy joy, should get sorted.

 

16 07 2026

 Spending time in the studio because its got the aircon unit installed - and cleaning up. Resolved to finish scanning press books, as the basis for a biography of sorts. My brother Steves death has shown that memories are inaccurate and transitory and while this doesn't particularly matter, I don't think, Id rather get stuff down while I can remember it.

12 07 2026

 Down to 30 and a decently chill wind. Walked! Easily if slowly. So it was the heat rather than any other number of possible maladies that have hindered me.

Apropos; my hitherto agreeable dentist has introduced me to the idea that I'm ill.  I knew that of course but only speculatively - a doc tells you something, gives you more pills, hey ho.

Dr B pointed out I have heart disease and lung disease. Had I kind-of taken this on board earlier I would act differently. For instance, my massive hypertension could be redeemed to an extent by meditation. Regular exercise is a real healer. Attention to diet... oh lordy, time to treat myself as a patient and act accordingly.

Studio a mess, plan is to turn current work to walls and clean up. When current work dry, use glazes to get some sense into them.

On the plus side, three of my paintings are on the walls here: one in bedroom, one here in study, one downstairs in living room. I LIKE ALL THREE. 

 

11 07 2026

 Got in a fairly long day yesterday - when I understood everything Ive been working on is rubbish, and my attempts to change this were disastrous. Need to change my success criteria? How do I know if something works, especially as my aim is to overthrow what is known.?

Oh well. Dentist this morning. Can only get better,