30 10 2018

Light slowly dawning. Drawing yesterday -went well, nice people there, good model;sufficiently off centred by local stuff and loss of part of a tooth to take myself by surprise. This morning in studio - like what I'm doing, recovering a dull picture (one of the 6th xtinctions. Now shes drowning in plastic)
Still plenty of paperwork to do but think the backbone dealt with.

20 10 2018 sat

Sod all happening though moved some paintings around yesterday. Had nasty flu for a couple of days following the flu jab - always do, but its better than a three week stint. Now guests here and the carte de sejour deadline creeping ever closer. Getting web-site updated.

12 10 2018

Not a stroke done - been paperworking for the Carte  de Sejour application, watching the chimney sweep and attending to Jim who has been trying to heal my fractured computer.
Stuff is happening inside me though, I can feel it gestating. Unnatural sense of ability in me, as if I know what I'm doing and am sure it will be done. Not smug though. Maybe its the steroids.

08 10 2018

Probably best not to dwell of the painting prize but one thing sticks and and that was my reaction. I thought i'd bounce up and make a speech but found my desire was to be as invisible as possible. Realised that that was because I felt the audience viscerally, variously hostile or indifferent. I copped their disappointment. PLUS the other winners are friends; the drawing prize, the graphics prize, the only person I didn't know was the photography winner. That sense of, its who you know; they are a gang; its a club; its not fair.

07 10 2018

I won the painting prize at Magire :) Here I am clutching it, flowers and  ready to defend my bottle of premier bulle. Can't help thinking what luck, though I persist in liking the work. One of the judges in chatting to me told me that the work wasn't easy; it demanded more attention than most people were prepared to give.

05 10 2018 Friday

Off to hang the Magrie show. I LIKE the work I'm taking though will reserve judgement till its up.

03 10 2018

Paperwork, guests, pressure, problems... almost off my  head. No chance of studio work for the foreseeable.