Studio notes May
A show opened, I spoke and it was ok. It helped having reading glasses on so I couldn’t see people’s faces, must employ this tactic again. My work looks more comprehensive than I realised. Met James Evans which was a delight.
Sold a few paintings this week. Good validation, and money.
I have just completed my last show with The Arborealists, a little sadness. However I need to move on. Many of the group I will miss, some are good friends who I know will keep in touch. They gave me a big slice of confidence, experience, and support. I’ll be forever grateful to Tim Craven, who is so kind and generous.
Making work on failed paintings, subject wise they are all over the place but at least I am producing something. Enjoying paint immensely.
Made some more charcoal drawings of GY. Largely unsuccessful but I will keep going, working on and over them.
I see someone’s simple painting of a purple chair, people are going nuts over. It is a strange world. I need to keep off instagram. I shall look and post less.
Saw an excellently curated show in Suffolk, the work so rich and deeply honest, it has made me want to work harder. This is the type of work I aspire to make, I don’t want to placate boring people.
Came home and looked at a particular painting, which is so shit I sanded it back and erased it from everywhere.
Made a painting of a cave on an old unfinished seascape. The paint did magical things, giving me ideas for technique, yet the way forward remains veiled.
Made some chaotic charcoal drawings, leaping wildly from page to page. No purpose, felt good. I wonder what I’ll make of them tomorrow. These exercises are liberating and they’re not for anyone else’s eyes.
Started two small wet in wet paintings of a view of Cromer, where the town slopes down away from me, and the sea appears to be high above the land. They have an energy I’m enjoying.
Frantically primed numerous sheets of paper with gesso, ready for some quick fire paintings. I went to find a particular spot, drawn by Turner yesterday, and think I have found it. I hope this is the beginning of some new work, my brain is fizzing.
Made some quick oil sketches on paper of the riverside. Need to look at them with fresh eyes another day. Enjoyed painting a tiny Britannia atop her tower.
Spoke again at the show. I wasn’t even nervous. Not sure why I have been so resistant to talking as actually I am learning people are interested. Two wonderful women asked great questions and were genuinely interested, they helped a lot.
Finished the two Cromer paintings, one I entered for a thing.
Looked back on a special old drawing, it has real magic. Going to translate into paint if I can. Not sure why I haven’t done this before.
Entered another thing, one I said I wasn’t going to bother with. Felt like putting my head on the train tracks.
Some work going to glorious Scotland, to a gallery with hugely supportive and brilliant curators. These are the kind of people I love working with. They show others up, it is clear as day who I should (and shouldn’t) work with again.