In Amsterdam, by luck, I met Lino Hellings. She advised me to keep my work diary on-line, exposing my work methods rather than protecting them, risking the humiliation involved in failure. So:celebrate error. In my heart I knew this to be a good idea. My brain, horrified, fortunately tells me it will be too boring for anyone to read.
Sunday 30 August 2020
31 08 2020
It's possible I really am going mad... but can make changes. There are two others on the go. However today we drive to Belpeche to see Richard and Alison and tomorrow I go for 2 days to Carne-Minervois to draw with Kat. Thursday am spending the morning in the mountains with Philippe. So should get to studio on Friday with raw material if nothing else; just hope I don't loose contact with what I'm doing while I'm off.
Saturday 29 August 2020
30 08 2020
Haven't photographed yesterdays work but its cracking on - managed a pretty full day, starting early and ignoring any other responsibilities. Having brother-in-law here helpful in that respect. Off to market now and will prepare lunch - maybe get some more painting in today too.
Friday 28 August 2020
28 08 2020
sold a pic from 2003 yesterday, the butterfly/war series. Never liked them. They were soooo hard to do (I took the faces from real dead people photographed in Le Figaro.) Had to stop. Same punter is after a painting of a chalice and hasn't realised that it contains 2 portraits, my dead father, my dead brother. Told her but she doesn't seem to mind - as she didn't realise the butterflies were about war. Can I bear to part with it to someone who knew neither Stafford nor Simon? Is this what it means to let go? Let her have the butterflies cheapish but quoted full price for the chalice. She's still interested.
Thursday 27 August 2020
27 08 2020
Bleeding tasteful innit. Turned to the wall. Currently on landscape with Pogo jumpers. Actually about to stop - work finished on roof and in studios and today is devoted to cleaning, hurrah.
Monday 24 August 2020
25 08 2020
Suppose that this is the new shape of life, getting photos up of the artwork. What else?
24 08 2020
Not taken photos of the elk/eagle stuff yet, mostly because I flattened battery photographing the relic series of way-back-when. Thought they resonated with the saint series and I may have a point. When battery has recovered will also snap chalices... might make a sweet collection ensemble.
People working in other studio. Bob appeased with work done to get Phil into system. Time (temp) my own.
Sunday 23 August 2020
23 08 2020
Going steadily mad. Got in two hours yesterday and can't see when I will get any other time for the foreseeable.
Friday 21 August 2020
21 08 2020
No chance of work. Have varnished the sold painting (from the war series of 2003) and been heroically working on household management, various. Only got one image in my head that I want to explore so not too tragic.
Plasterers etc in studios. Very hot, I'm sorry for them.
Had a challenging day, ha, yesterday when the brits tuned down my application to be excused jury service. I got off on appeal but was scared by it. On the big plus side, all the deeds on my fathers cottage have turned up (-long story) so we can sell it within the family. Looming dosh = possible project.
Tuesday 18 August 2020
18 08 2020
Studio currently unusable -- new skylight being fitted in bathroom and work conducted from from work-space. Currently in the study underneath and the noise of things being hurled onto the floor is terrifying, keep expecting the ceiling to collapse.
Sunday 16 August 2020
16 08 2020
Thursday 13 August 2020
13 08 2020
Tuesday 11 August 2020
12 08 2020
Yesterday said goodbye to Bruno with a sense of tristesse; he is friend we value highly. He comes of a political family (Jack Lang is his cousin) and is always happy to discourse on current affairs... he spoke to many of the young french in bars here and was dismayed by the number of paranoid conspiracy covid theories that are abounding. Personally l find them highly entertaining but I'm trained in esotericism (MA Exeter, since you ask)
Sunday 9 August 2020
09 08 2020
Dawning on me that this continual working in isolation is not necessarily a Good Thing. Getting tempted to open the gallery/garage on Sundays and see if that can help - seeing peoples responses. Will ponder ont.