30 09 2019

Not a foot did I set in the studio yesterday, except to collect my drawing knapsack. Which I put on my back and took for a very long walk. No drawing at all - too hot, too uncomfortable, too uninteresting. Not true, of course - there are various bits I regret not confronting - but the world does not need more drawings.
Going to buy some new canvases tomorrow. Yeah, right.

28 09 2019

 Done, done, done. One nearly also done. Anthropomorphism continues to rule.

27 09 2019

Good days pottering yesterday - knocking the studio back into shape to get ready to trash previous work. I'm not going to give myself grief.

26 09 2019

Home again, home again... great meet with the Walthamstow chap, Malcolm, with whom I am very happy to work. He took me over my old college which has been trashed beyond belief - 'remodelled' - to the point of unrecognisability. It's now a 6th form college. The art school was closed as its teaching methods were 'ad hoc'. Indeed, it was. Felt a surprising affection for the place as memories tumbled in.
The Kings conference, CyberSoc, was stimulating...in a laid back way. Raul was there and we were able to talk about my presence as artist in residence in Russia next year. Need to consider an on-line art-gesture of some sort for it, I think. I'm certainly not about to repeat what I did in Rome.

Saw very little art - a dash though the National to use the toilets :)

The stuff awaiting me on the easel is abysmal but some of the ink drawings are OK.

19 09 2019

Emily Carr book driving me mad. She says stuff and I dunno. Its like reading my own diaries except she has 4 dogs, a monkey and a rat instead of 4 parrots, a tortoise and 2 hens. Her morose husband is called Henry.
Determined not to take it to England with me - I go this afternoon - its such a wind up ( Oh caravans!! Bloody hell)
So, CyberSoc, the Serpentine, Waltham Forest and a visit to a brother beckon.

18 09 2019

Been ink drawing - first up the hill, which I found I could climb quite easily. Once the road rises above a particular level it seems to be easier, whether the body is used to it or the air is better I can't tell. Difficult though as there isn't a good work space - I was balancing me and the work on the bench there, didn't really work.
 In the afternoon - had to wait in till 3.00 when the gas service man eventually turned up (at least this time he DID turn up) and by then having missed siesta - only went to the river bank, by where there are picnic tables. The parking by the river packed with caravans.
Quite happy in my corner, watching and drawing caravans through trees, when one arrived and pulled up  by me. It was a signal of some sort - they started flocking in. The overflow space where I was started to fill up - at first it was rather jolly, I was thinking it might all be fun to meet new people every night, very carnival atmosphere - then they started to approach me. At first for a match for a cigarette and then... and very soon the air was full of smoke and dust from the caravan wheels and the gypsy in me turned into a fascist and I left.
Results predictably poor.

17 09 2019

Drawing yesterday; restricting myself to ink which is easier than struggling with colour and requires less concentration. Woke this morning and saw immediately what was wrong with the painting on the easel, how can I be so blind?

Despite the sunburn and the little flying beasties, planning on more of the same today.

The trick is to find somewhere private and I've done that - now to decide if that's it or to find somewhere else. (This was the lay-by over the damn, it's never used as it's quite hidden from the road. Has tables and chairs. Downside is the noise from the road. Upside is small scented flower and great views.)