BLOG/DIARY
Friday 14th September 2018
The summer holidays have been and gone. I became quite adept at staring into space in a field in Norfolk. This carried on in any space near water in France where some sketching was done in and around the beach, and in the bustling harbour of Sete - which was way too hot to do anything really.
Ultimately I'm no good at doing nothing for too long, so have been happy to get back to 'normal' behind the easel as my family returns back to school/work etc, giving me the space to sit for hours with a brush in my hand. I've always found painting/drawing totally engaging and am really happy sitting for hours, with the radio/music on - the time rushes by. There can be a lot of internal conversations in this process. Sometimes it's 'this is the best painting I've ever done', while others it's 'Oh god it's completely s**t and pointless and I can't paint' etc. Often you find yourself thinking about some occasion, or person, or anything, prompted by who knows what. At this time of year I get inspired by the memory of the new school year - the new pencil case thing where you get pristine exercise books, and sharp pencils, and clean erasers and rulers and felt-tips and stuff and you have all good intentions for the academic year ahead. This year, annoyingly, I have been thinking way too much about my first year at Manchester Poly doing Fine Art (1987!) I remember SO much about that year - much more than times more recently - and to be fair I made quite a mess of it for all the reasons a 19 year-old might. I do regret that now, as I didn't have the where-with-all or humility to work it out back then, to ask the right questions, to do the right things (to stop doing the wrong things!) and was very nearly kicked off the course. I genuinely still have nightmares about that year. In the dreams everyone else knows what to paint but I don't. Sometimes they're all painting shoes and I'm thinking 'I DON'T WANT TO PAINT SHOES!' Stop thinking about it Andy.
This week I have been completely repainting an oil called 'Touch the Tree' - mostly because I really like the image and think I can paint a lot better now than when I first did it in 2014. If I'm happy with it, the aim is to enter it into a competition/national exhibition. Which one I don't know!
The summer holidays have been and gone. I became quite adept at staring into space in a field in Norfolk. This carried on in any space near water in France where some sketching was done in and around the beach, and in the bustling harbour of Sete - which was way too hot to do anything really.
Ultimately I'm no good at doing nothing for too long, so have been happy to get back to 'normal' behind the easel as my family returns back to school/work etc, giving me the space to sit for hours with a brush in my hand. I've always found painting/drawing totally engaging and am really happy sitting for hours, with the radio/music on - the time rushes by. There can be a lot of internal conversations in this process. Sometimes it's 'this is the best painting I've ever done', while others it's 'Oh god it's completely s**t and pointless and I can't paint' etc. Often you find yourself thinking about some occasion, or person, or anything, prompted by who knows what. At this time of year I get inspired by the memory of the new school year - the new pencil case thing where you get pristine exercise books, and sharp pencils, and clean erasers and rulers and felt-tips and stuff and you have all good intentions for the academic year ahead. This year, annoyingly, I have been thinking way too much about my first year at Manchester Poly doing Fine Art (1987!) I remember SO much about that year - much more than times more recently - and to be fair I made quite a mess of it for all the reasons a 19 year-old might. I do regret that now, as I didn't have the where-with-all or humility to work it out back then, to ask the right questions, to do the right things (to stop doing the wrong things!) and was very nearly kicked off the course. I genuinely still have nightmares about that year. In the dreams everyone else knows what to paint but I don't. Sometimes they're all painting shoes and I'm thinking 'I DON'T WANT TO PAINT SHOES!' Stop thinking about it Andy.
This week I have been completely repainting an oil called 'Touch the Tree' - mostly because I really like the image and think I can paint a lot better now than when I first did it in 2014. If I'm happy with it, the aim is to enter it into a competition/national exhibition. Which one I don't know!
Monday 14th July 2018
My first Open Studios weekend has been and gone, and despite the scorching heat footfall was pretty good with just over 80 visitors over the two days. It was good to meet some fellow Cambridge artists who were doing the rounds, a couple of previous buyers who until then had been unknown to me, and a couple of old school friends who I hadn't really seen for maybe 3 decades - that was quite surreal. I enjoy the opportunity to talk about art, and it's good to gather my work together and take stock of where I'm at and where I would like to head in the year ahead.
My first Open Studios weekend has been and gone, and despite the scorching heat footfall was pretty good with just over 80 visitors over the two days. It was good to meet some fellow Cambridge artists who were doing the rounds, a couple of previous buyers who until then had been unknown to me, and a couple of old school friends who I hadn't really seen for maybe 3 decades - that was quite surreal. I enjoy the opportunity to talk about art, and it's good to gather my work together and take stock of where I'm at and where I would like to head in the year ahead.
Tuesday 20th June 2018
Just back from an amazing few days in Monmartre, Paris. I have to pinch myself that I'm there, and in the sunshine the place dazzles with life and noise and smells, and basically I love it. I'm also a massive fan of the writer George Simenon so really enjoying walking in the footsteps of those in his Parisien tales. We spent nearly four hours in the Musee d'Orsay which is just superb, and a temporary exhibition 'Ames Sauvages', featuring artists from Estonia, Lithuania was an unexpected treat. We were wowed by the simple beauty of Johan Walter's landscapes. As ever, the work of Bonnard and Vuillard did it for me, with 'Two Brothers' by Bonnard that most struck me. The Musee de l'Orangerie also had its moments (where I'm pictured) but not quite the occasion as at Orsay - the Monet water-lillies, initially staggering but somehow soporific.
Walking for miles, talking and wine (and surreally watching Brazil v Switzerland in the World Cup in the Place du Tertre) meant no sketching occurred, but I have some photos to work from, hopefully before July and Open Studios.
Just back from an amazing few days in Monmartre, Paris. I have to pinch myself that I'm there, and in the sunshine the place dazzles with life and noise and smells, and basically I love it. I'm also a massive fan of the writer George Simenon so really enjoying walking in the footsteps of those in his Parisien tales. We spent nearly four hours in the Musee d'Orsay which is just superb, and a temporary exhibition 'Ames Sauvages', featuring artists from Estonia, Lithuania was an unexpected treat. We were wowed by the simple beauty of Johan Walter's landscapes. As ever, the work of Bonnard and Vuillard did it for me, with 'Two Brothers' by Bonnard that most struck me. The Musee de l'Orangerie also had its moments (where I'm pictured) but not quite the occasion as at Orsay - the Monet water-lillies, initially staggering but somehow soporific.
Walking for miles, talking and wine (and surreally watching Brazil v Switzerland in the World Cup in the Place du Tertre) meant no sketching occurred, but I have some photos to work from, hopefully before July and Open Studios.
Tuesday 13th June 2018
An old mate of mine from St Neots, Simon King-Underwood, has been round taking a few portraits of me at work in my studio in Cambridge. Like me, Simon returned to art quite recently and is finding his way back into the many practices that creativity offers up, including photography - and luckily for me I've got some useful photos to add to my portfolio, rather than the snaps of me on my hols I've been using til recently. Cheers Simon, top work! Instagram @simon.king.underwood
An old mate of mine from St Neots, Simon King-Underwood, has been round taking a few portraits of me at work in my studio in Cambridge. Like me, Simon returned to art quite recently and is finding his way back into the many practices that creativity offers up, including photography - and luckily for me I've got some useful photos to add to my portfolio, rather than the snaps of me on my hols I've been using til recently. Cheers Simon, top work! Instagram @simon.king.underwood
Monday 11th June 2018
I have some paintings now on show at Byard Art as part of a mixed exhibition. It's a good feeling... I remember wandering around Cambridge when I was just out of college with no idea how to go about getting my work into one of the galleries. It's only taken me 25 years! .The photo shows four of the five works - the left image hos now been sold and replaced by 'At Browns' - which as yet I have no photo of. I hope i get to see the 'Trumpington Street picture again, as I put a lot into it, commitment and thought. It is probably my most ambitious painting yet.
I have some paintings now on show at Byard Art as part of a mixed exhibition. It's a good feeling... I remember wandering around Cambridge when I was just out of college with no idea how to go about getting my work into one of the galleries. It's only taken me 25 years! .The photo shows four of the five works - the left image hos now been sold and replaced by 'At Browns' - which as yet I have no photo of. I hope i get to see the 'Trumpington Street picture again, as I put a lot into it, commitment and thought. It is probably my most ambitious painting yet.
Friday 1st June 2018
A big thanks to my pals David and Paul at Romsey Barbers on Thoday Street, Cambridge, who have been showing my paintings for some time now. There they are on the left, look at those Geezers! And there's my painting - available to buy! www.romseybarbers.com |
Important people look at my painting
Thursday 10th May 2018
Big day for me yesterday, as my portrait 'Wonder Woman' was shown at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.
There were some amazing works on show, a lot of interesting people milling around and I was fairly moved to be part of it. It was 5 years ago I did my first drawing for 20 years (Old Mr Farrer Up the Road) and I'm delighted to come this far. It was inspiring to see so many different styles and approaches, and also that smaller works and drawings were included. I wondered why my other entry 'Rebecca in Charcoal' wasn't accepted, as it is one of my favourites - but probably for the best as I hadn't asked its owner if I could borrow it back!
Sun was shining, lovely long walk along the South Bank to Burmondsey and only my blistered feet to complain about.
Big day for me yesterday, as my portrait 'Wonder Woman' was shown at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.
There were some amazing works on show, a lot of interesting people milling around and I was fairly moved to be part of it. It was 5 years ago I did my first drawing for 20 years (Old Mr Farrer Up the Road) and I'm delighted to come this far. It was inspiring to see so many different styles and approaches, and also that smaller works and drawings were included. I wondered why my other entry 'Rebecca in Charcoal' wasn't accepted, as it is one of my favourites - but probably for the best as I hadn't asked its owner if I could borrow it back!
Sun was shining, lovely long walk along the South Bank to Burmondsey and only my blistered feet to complain about.
Monday 30th April 2018
It is a year since the Private View for my solo exhibition at Novi on Regent Street, Cambridge. The year has flown - they do the older you get - and it's still very fresh in my mind. Apart from the impromptu speech that was thrust upon me (my 'friend' Nick Lowe described it as "genuinely the worst speech he'd ever heard") it was a memorable occasion, and I worked out that over 200 people attended the Private View. In the month that followed I was 'artist-in'residence', and I got to meet lots of people and catch up with a few old faces - including school friends etc from St Neots, people I met on my Foundation Course in Cambridge, and even my best pal from my time at art college at Manchester Poly.
I really enjoyed being part of the Novi furniture for a short time - it was definitely a good moment.
It is a year since the Private View for my solo exhibition at Novi on Regent Street, Cambridge. The year has flown - they do the older you get - and it's still very fresh in my mind. Apart from the impromptu speech that was thrust upon me (my 'friend' Nick Lowe described it as "genuinely the worst speech he'd ever heard") it was a memorable occasion, and I worked out that over 200 people attended the Private View. In the month that followed I was 'artist-in'residence', and I got to meet lots of people and catch up with a few old faces - including school friends etc from St Neots, people I met on my Foundation Course in Cambridge, and even my best pal from my time at art college at Manchester Poly.
I really enjoyed being part of the Novi furniture for a short time - it was definitely a good moment.
- Tuesday 24th April 2018
- Cambridge Drawing Society's Spring Exhibition has been and gone, and as usual it was busy and successful and this year with lots of new members which I think is always a good thing. The PV was so busy they were queuing onto Trumpington St and for while entry was a one-in one-out (ish) basis, and made for a lively evening. My charcoal drawing 'Emily V' (pictured) was 4th in the Visitor's Favourite vote, and considering there were 438 works to choose from I'm pretty happy with that. My favourites this time were the works of Karen Macwhinnie and John Preston and I think George Hamilton is a super painter, though he seems to visit some far-flung places that I doubt I'll ever get to!
- Wednesday 28th February 2018
- The 'Beast from the East' is here, and while the rest of my family pray for a day off school/work, there aren't enough hours in the day for me to do all the paintings that are half-finished, or exist in my head, and I'm happy to be in my art-shed despite the cold. Ten years of being a gardener prepared me for the extremities and 3 pairs of trousers, a bunch of jumpers, hat, scarf and electric heater will do for me. Picture shows a view (inc daughter pelting shed with snowballs) from my window this afternoon
- I am currently doing a double portrait painting, which is taking me longer than anticipated. My intention to 'loosen-up' (arguably the only advice I was ever given at art college) has become 'tightened' in my quest for likeness. I also like to live with a finished portrait for a while and put it before an objective eye, in case I have made some kind of error that I am blind to, being too close to it.
- On the subject of portraits, 'Wonder Woman' has been selected for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Open Exhibition, which of course I am really pleased about - that being the main aim of this winter's work.
'The Same, But Different', charcoal, 48x74cm, 2018
Wednesday 21st February 2018
I recently revisited an image which dates back to my days behind the bar in the King's Head, St Neots in the 90s. I was going through some old stuff and came across the original negatives for the image which became 'That Was What There Was' (see 'DRAWINGS/PAINTINGS') - a large drawing that sold quickly and got a fair bit of interest from some of my peers, who remember that time, and some, who remember the actual person, Dave.
I wanted to try something new with it, so I got a new print made, then jigged things around in Photoshop and was really excited about a poster format. The charcoal drawing, which I called 'The Same, But Different', isn't quite what I was after, so I may try again, a lot bigger, with paint, as for me the moment is very real, and these days I don't get to spend all day down the pub waiting for something, anything, to happen.
I recently revisited an image which dates back to my days behind the bar in the King's Head, St Neots in the 90s. I was going through some old stuff and came across the original negatives for the image which became 'That Was What There Was' (see 'DRAWINGS/PAINTINGS') - a large drawing that sold quickly and got a fair bit of interest from some of my peers, who remember that time, and some, who remember the actual person, Dave.
I wanted to try something new with it, so I got a new print made, then jigged things around in Photoshop and was really excited about a poster format. The charcoal drawing, which I called 'The Same, But Different', isn't quite what I was after, so I may try again, a lot bigger, with paint, as for me the moment is very real, and these days I don't get to spend all day down the pub waiting for something, anything, to happen.
'Wonder Woman', oil on board, 2018
Monday 19th February 2018
Until this year I’d never tried to exhibit in London before, but in February I had a portrait ‘pre-selected’ for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries - I spent most of this winter working on portraits with this exhibition in mind. Not all of them have been any good, but I guess I wouldn’t have got to one I did like without doing the other ones first. In ‘Wonder Woman’ (pictured) I decided to steer clear of the light vs shade thing I’ve been working on in the recent past, in order to show the character of the model more clearly - if it was a dinner on 'Master Chef' I would have said ‘I wanted to let the ingredients speak for themselves’!
‘Preselected’ means that the painting has to go to the gallery and be shown to a panel for selection to the final show. I have no idea how many pictures go through this stage, so don’t know my chances – fingers crossed. Instead of taking the very large painting myself I decided to use Picture Post, and had to meet with one of the business owners Tom at the Cambridge Services, which is pretty much to Cambridge what Luton Airport is to London. The handover took place at 8pm, in the dark, and rainy, and felt very cloak and dagger being new to the game. The painting then heads back in a van to storage in Doncaster before going to London in a week or so with a bunch of other paintings gathered along the way, safely in the hands of a company who do this thing for a living. I hope.
Until this year I’d never tried to exhibit in London before, but in February I had a portrait ‘pre-selected’ for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries - I spent most of this winter working on portraits with this exhibition in mind. Not all of them have been any good, but I guess I wouldn’t have got to one I did like without doing the other ones first. In ‘Wonder Woman’ (pictured) I decided to steer clear of the light vs shade thing I’ve been working on in the recent past, in order to show the character of the model more clearly - if it was a dinner on 'Master Chef' I would have said ‘I wanted to let the ingredients speak for themselves’!
‘Preselected’ means that the painting has to go to the gallery and be shown to a panel for selection to the final show. I have no idea how many pictures go through this stage, so don’t know my chances – fingers crossed. Instead of taking the very large painting myself I decided to use Picture Post, and had to meet with one of the business owners Tom at the Cambridge Services, which is pretty much to Cambridge what Luton Airport is to London. The handover took place at 8pm, in the dark, and rainy, and felt very cloak and dagger being new to the game. The painting then heads back in a van to storage in Doncaster before going to London in a week or so with a bunch of other paintings gathered along the way, safely in the hands of a company who do this thing for a living. I hope.
Grantchester - It snowed.
Tuesday 12th December 2017
On Sunday I took my first CDS workshop in ‘Portraits in Charcoal from Photographs’ in Grantchester. It was in the balance as this was the morning that the snow fell in buckets, but most people made it and really it added to the occasion. Though i have never been taught any of this stuff (they didn't teach 'technique' at art college!) over the past few years I have picked up quite a few things I think worth passing on for anyone who enjoys working in charcoal. What I like is that charcoal is so basic but is really adaptable with lots and lots of ways of adding to your tool kit and mark-making methods. I've got a variety of items that I've adapted to the job, but none so far that can beat the cat's toothbrush that someone brought in for creating texture. Always ready to learn!
I thought it was very kind of me to get my wife to make an apple cake for the occasion, which went down really well, and as the snow continued nearly all day outside all we needed was Robson Green and the naughty handsome vicar from ITV's 'Grantchester' to pop in on a break from their Christmas Special for a slice or a mince pie. Sadly they couldn't make it - their loss!