Sweating On A Donkey

No, not Sancho Panza in La Mancha! The place is Redhill and the donkey in question is one of those clackety wooden ones that resembles something you might find in the school gym. I like them, actually, great to sit astride and paint and draw. Makes you feel like a real hard-workin' artisan. And boy do I feel like that this week! Temperature in the 30's during the day, and night-time up to 24. 24!!! That, apperently, is one degree higher than the average DAYTIME temperature for this time of year. Never again will I moan if we have a cold July! Much as I feel sorry for people who actually have to work for a living (art doesn't count as work, does it..?!) I do feel the urge to whinge a bit after hours life drawing and sleepless nights. If we could all strip off like the model I think we'd all be a lot better off!!
I am actually seriously considering being a life model. The guy who's ours is definately a few sandwiches short of a picnic, the only requirement seems to be to be able to sit for a while in a set position. Now, I admit this does require a certain amount of strength, stamina, and self-discipline, and I'm rather concerned that my physique wont be up to the strain (I dont care what I look like, but the floppy bod may well collapse into a sweaty lardy puddle!), and the hyperactivity will have to be severly dealt with, but on the other hand life drawing classes are usually pretty laid back and oblivious to faults and failings and you dont need any qualifications and the are desperate for female models.. and I get to steal ideas!

A PUNCH-HOLE THROUGH LIFE

Just woke up from a dream where I was in an acting workshop directed by Christopher Eccleston (the Northern Doctor Who). It was fantastic. He had us all on the floor in feotal positions in situations like having the physical attributes of the opposite sex (to put it delicately), and other scenarios. When we became ourselves again I told him the experience was like "a punch-hole through life" - that statement stayed with me and it isn't as aggressive as it sounds. What it means is: life is a bunch of paperwork and the punch-hole is the space through it. Its the "flow" I guess, something which I am lacking at the moment. My punch-hole doesn't go all the way through and I cant see through, the paperwork of life is blocking the way.
I would love to be able to create that space again!

The Many Sides Of Flat

Flat Walls
Flat Fences
Flat Screen TV

What is behind them?

Well, consider this. Consider that painting was once a flat screen and people would gaze upon it as they would a scene in plasma electronica beamed from miles away. Consider the difference in technologies. But now.. consider the similarities.. both depict "other" worlds, ours but somewhat different, celebrate successes, initiate the innocent, stimulate shame, and laugh and despair at the figures on the screen which may or may not be human. The way I see it, painting is therefore certainly NOT dead. How different are the figures milling around in Impressionist paintings to the idle layabouts in Big Brother or the promenading crowds at the World Cup? How different are Kirchners prostitutes hanging around the street corners to the "hoodies" and "chavs" of today?
Behind each screen is a story.
What's behind your next door neighbours' fence?
It's probably very entertaining!

Shows and Sleeping

I'm conserving my energy at the moment. I should be upstairs sorting out all my artwork and tidying up, but its like an oven in my loft/studio. I should be going to London tomorrow to meet up with fellow artists for my upcoming show, but I can probably e-mail them all they need to know. Its in the 30's temperature-wise and I'm feeling very unwell indeed. I hate to whinge, because its only a bit of sun, but I just cant haul myself up to South London on a stinking train when I am well enough, let alone now when I have a summer cold! What can possibly be gained from listening to an over-anxious latino panicking, like last time we got together??
I will have to make it up to them. I shall e-mail them right now.
If its daft taking 2 hours to travel to London to take back a library book then its equally daft to turn up and try and get a word in edgeways while someone else is having kittens.. boy dont I love the internet and e-communications. Straight to the point, no messings, and all the illustrations there in one place. Call me lazy if you like. I just call it being on holiday.
Sleeping makes a nice change from commuting!

Anyway. Its not as if I'm not doing ANYTHING. I'm doing some little fun bits for e-bay (yeah, yeah.. I know..) and they are a nice no-brainer break; and I'm doing some oil landscapes of suburbia - which I think will look good in the show. (I wont need much space there. Most of my canvases are standard sizes). I'm my own boss for the next few weeks at least, but then I will be doing some short courses so I will have some critiscm again. Not that I dont get any from my e-bay groups. They dont ALL gush!



I ONLY WANTED SOMETHING ELSE TO DO BUT HANG AROUND