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,

06 07 2026

Half baked work... its too hot to do much, which is fine by me. No burning need to continue as yet. Signs and portents ominous (though when are they ever not -)  drops of blood on the balcony this morning and blood smeared on the walls. Yesterday, a drowned mouse in the water butt. 

 

28 06 2026

...still at it, all is possible with aircon though would very much like blinds for the velux - sun beats in. 

Don't like having to keep windows and shutters shut, feel too remote from the world. 

But this will pass and lord help us, there may come a time when we think these days were heaven.

26 06 2026

 ...Aircon good enough and the painting continues, very very bad but l like it. There's a series and when they're finished we'll see. Dream led; maybe that's why they please me so much. 

Trying to find a way to make a blind to cover the skylights and failing - no way can I mount a stair ladder! - will ask for help next week though this extreme heat will be over by then, god willing.

Little deer painting has arrived in Switzerland!! Made it in one piece and the dear darling client likes it. Feel like a real painter.

24 06 2026

 ridiculous heat... and Im not posting any of the work Im doing, too shocking! Kitsch, tacky, jejune -nice I can shock myself. 

21 06 2026

There's a little aircon unit in the studio so painting fairly easy, except it isn't. I seem to be channelling my inner Picabia, from his most uninspiring time. 

There's an exhibition of his work at Ceres which I can get to, via three buses and several hours. Fairly daft thing to do in the current extreme heat so that idea on hold.

Back to the old roller-coaster of delight in getting something right and total despair when it aint. If it weren't so hot I'd give it up and try some housework.