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November 23, 2004
Garden Update
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I have been concentrating on trying to complete my big garden painting, and there are two recent pictures of my progress so far above. I am beginning to feel that it is working, although I am not sure what it is trying to do anymore. That always happens with me when a painting takes a while to complete.
Anyway - I am off to Aberdeen next week to catch up with some of my old friends, so blogging might be thin on the ground.
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November 17, 2004
The nights are fairly drawing in...
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Been a bit a struggle to keep working consistently this last week as we approach the festive season, my 40th birthday and my impending move to Oxford. However I have gritted m teeth and managed to do at least something everday. As you can see from above, I have got a lot of milage out the the fireworks festival I went to in Hastings last month… casting myself as a giant sacrifice for the fire. Read into that what you may.
I have also finally continued with my large garden painting, which as always hit a crisis of confidence after the initial rush to get it started. I am frustrasted that it has become pedestrian with too many of my signature dotty marks (I never intend to use them but they appear anyway - especially when I run out of ideas). So here is the laatest picture of it - it still has a long way to go…
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I have also just put five small pictures into get framed for the Scottish Gallery’s Christmas show. I might even take the work up there myself, funds permitting, so I can visit my brother Chris and then venture up to Aberdeen to see some of my old pals there.. we shall see.
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November 10, 2004
Painting is hard
It seems that being offered a job in Oxford has changed my energy this week and I have found it quite difficult to knuckle down to the painting (which is a little worrying). And so far, this week, every bit of work I have done has little artistry and invention. I could make the excuse that my studio is now very cold and it gets dark very early, but in reality, the offer of the job has changed things. I now only have a finite time before I have to move and my wonderful time simply painting in Hastings is coming to an end. The real test for me now, is to be able to do this job and keep developing the painting. I have made good progress this year, but not enough to make a professional living just yet as the work is still too hit and miss. But, this job is part time and this time I am not the boss, so it should be workable. And I’ll have some money for framing and sending stuff off. I have to put a few works into the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh for their Xmas show later this month, so I need to get more works framed. And they want one of them to have a Xmas theme, so I need to think up something clever for that, which is not too naff.
Oh, and I have just found out that my first peice of work at Oxford Brookes is to go to Berlin on a study trip with the the students in early January. What fun.
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November 3, 2004
Cork Street visit
Well I am still in London today as I am working in Rochester tomorrow and friday and it seem silly to go back to Hastings for one day.
So,took the opportunity to have a look around Cork Street. And what agood time to go as there were severalshows which interested me which is unusual.
First off there was my old art tutor from Edinburgh College of Art, John Houston at Browse and Darby.
John Houston
John was in his last year before retiring when he taught me in my degree year in 1989. He was such a gentle man who commanded respect, simply by being so down to earth. It is great to see him still making such vibrant and youthful work.
Next up was was Mary Fedden at the Redfern Gallery. No images on their site as yet, but yet another stalwart quirky painter who has a strong pictorial vision.
Mary Fedden
Then it was on to Richard Whatcock at the Adam Gallery. This is the first I had seen of this artist’s work, but I was bowled over by the luscious atmospheric landscapes, which reminded me of my early train journeys beofre dawn, to Rochester.
Richard Whatcock
Oh, and while I was at the Adam Gallery, I noticed a cataloue by another artist they show called Richard Cartwright. Now, this work I would like to see more of. Fairytale colour mixed with brief glimses of landscape and figues which resonate emotion. Was tempeted to buy the book but I must watch my money at the moment.
Richard Cartwright
Finally,I saw another great show at Houldsworth. The artist name is Gordon Cheung and his work comprises of huge colaged and painted images which are both painterly and contemporary in feel. It was quite a wee find to see so much I liked along one street. I didn’twant to see anything else in fear of gallery burn out.
Gordon Cheung
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Off to Oxford
Well I had a nice day yesterday at Oxford Brookes University for my interview. There were 4 other candidates and we each had to do a 15 minute presentation in front of staff and students and then later a more formal interview. I had a few hours to kill between presentation and interview so I just sat a chatted with the other candidates and drank coffee. My presentation went well and I thought I interviewed as well as I could. I felt quite optomistic. But you are never sure.
I got a phone call as I got into London later on in the day offering me the job, and this time I was gald to accept. I think working in Oxford will be cool and the course seems fine and within my abilities. So after 10 months in Hastings I will be on the move again. I will miss Hastings as it has been a fantastic relaunch pad for my life and art. I will certainly not forget it. I don’t start the job until January, so I must get as much paiting done as I possibly can before I start. The Oxford Job is not full time so hopefully I will be able to find a balance.
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November 1, 2004
Gwen and Augustus John, The Turner Prize
Well no painting done at all since my last blog; Tummy bug knocked me out for a few days and spent a bit of time preparing for my job interview at Oxford Brookes University tomorrow. In fact I am typing this on a horrible PC at the easyinternet cafe on Tottenham Court Road, while I kill some time before I go and stay with Billy in Finsbury Parkthis evening. I came up to London early, so as I could visit Tate Britain to see the Gwen and Augustus John and The Turner Prize exhibitions. Well I went throught Turner Prize in extra quick time (even for me). There is no point in me pretending that this stuff is interesting to me; the Turner prize has become a curator’s infliction and now going through the spaces I am reminded of academic and scholarly research, dispassionate and without any soul. I remember a few years ago when I worked at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, the head of research was very pleased with me as I was toying with abandoning painting to work on an animated project on the computer. She kept telling me that it was ‘so much more exciting than making yet more paintings, anyone can make paintings…’. This comment has eaten away inside me for years, and yes, for a while I dabbled with the possibilities of digital work, but it came nowhere near the raw experience of exposing one’s vision through marks with pencils and paint. I am now wholly commited to paint in my own particular way and shuffling through the Turner Prize as I have just done only confirms this to me.
I was delighted to visit the comprehensive show of Gwen and Augustus John’s work. However, it really did highlight just how much more sophisticated and charged Gwen’s work is in comparison to her more showy brother. Her brooding portraits resonating through understated tone and dabbled paint. And her drawing is exquisit…. a real tonic to see. Oh, and they even has on display the Gwen John which I have seen for years at Aberdeen Art Gallery. Like bumping into an old friend.
There was also a nice showcase of Paula Rego’s work on and an exhibition of drawing selected from the Tate’s collection.
I love the Tate Britain (The Old Tate Gallery). Its salons are so well proportioned and you can just drift into a room full of William Blakes or Stanley Spencers on your way out (as I did today). Wonderful.
Well off to Oxford tomorrow for the interview. Wish me luck as I think this does soundlike the job for me at the moment.
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