ARTISTS TALKING

# 14 [4 July 2012]

I have been in a bit of a state.....have sold the house, and to give time for my next decision I've decided to rent....but rent in Denys Lasduns Keeling House, which is the subject of one of my paintings, and clearly in the tradition of housing that I've been investigating with this project....but awful thoughts about am I too close to the subject.....and have Ilost my detachment.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlocdOp6ZN0

# 13 [30 May 2012]

Interesting how a sale of a painting, in this case a study of Park Hill estate in Sheffield, can lead to something totally unexpected....in this case....inclusion in an exhibition about the makeover of the estate and it's inspiration for a similar 'rejuvination' on a modernist build in Brussels.....hence the exhibitions venue in that city.........interesting to see the response....and fingers crossed that the journey for the opening proves interesting and rewarding.......here's the study as well as the poster/invite for the show.

# 12 [8 May 2012]

this can be a bit of a struggle.......if only at times the way life outside of art can completely de-rail, suck confidence and trip up your routine...it's been tricky....the why's and how's don't belong here.....but also is there a wisdom to posting thoughts regularly........I note a number of bloggers here have almost made the daily posting of I guess it can be called a diary, a sign to themselves that they are out there....they are reaching out and that they are serious about their work and their blog.......I'm not so sure.......at times I have nothing to say, and when I have something to say ( which I do tonight, and it's simply an I'm back message) then it sits unconfortably with alll the words that are there because I set myself a target to say something EVERYDAY......how about this, I'm doing these very unfashionable sea studies running parallel to the buildings.....wonder if they pull the carpet of integrity from under the 'Buildings' 

# 11 [8 March 2012]

this is a recent work ...finished yesterday...it's part of a submission to a show in France.......nothing like putting it in the public domain

# 10 [7 March 2012]

It's interesting how being an artist differs from one to the next. In the course of Hockney's recent remarks upon question of authenticity of the artist, the creation by the hand of the artist etc etc, regarding particular conceptual based (Hirst for example) practitioners who use assistants, as though painters in the past didn't, there is a thought that has come to my mind over many years of seeing post-grad shows and minor and major exhibitions of this work.....what do these artists do with their time. I'm constantly asking myself, did this student actually enjoy their degree course, what did they in fact learn....and we know that the answer lies not in acquiring craft skills....which is an okay by me answer....but having seen a recent mini exhibition for William Morris up in Leyton Library east London, a foretast of the re-opening of the Museum in Waltham Forest, an assistant and I discussed his working methods for production, and though he resented the fact his pieces largely sold to the wealthy......he wanted each worker to have a relationship with their work and avoid division of labour production values and the alienation from the work and disengagement it entails...keeping the prices high therefore, and contradiction to his aims, but that makes me wonder what de-crafted and de-skilled artists now do with all their spare time.....and does it make them happier?

# 9 [27 February 2012]

am puzzled that when it comes to open submissions for art exhibitions/competitions there seems to be a development that says you pay your money to submit, and because there is such a large volume of submissions we can't get back to you unless you are successful. It would seem the 'cooler' the show, Whitechapel London Open and John Moore's the more it seems to be the case. So for the former there is this vague mention of 6 weeks of closing date if you haven't heard.....but we pay significant sums of money, the RA Summer Show with huge volumes of submmisions and Lynn Painter-Stainers still sends out a letter to all......so why no consistency and is this a disrespectful move or just a moan?    

# 8 [23 February 2012]

just had a call from the gallery to say that I've been successfull in the Lynn Painters-Stainers Prize 2012 here in London with this painting....more later

# 7 [21 February 2012]

Le Corbusier,s build in Briey France.....surrounded by trees....decided to paint an image of it as seen through foliage...the grid od the building against the chaos of leaves....one problem I've created for myself to solve....to depict the trees and to locate the building in the spaces remaining......reverse how it might ordinarily be painted.....getting closer to finish, but tomorrow will be make or break day for it's success or failure...can't wait

# 6 [20 February 2012]

Painting, Architects and exhibitions have all been the story of the week.....well so much has happened since the last posting. It's almost as though I'm about starting this off again, but too much has happened and too much has been good... though at the moment it feels like holding the line.....so many things I thought were in place as a bridge to the events of next year that were to happen have been delayed.... an exhibition in Mayfair has become a casualty to the whim of the proprietor. and has been put on hold to maybe later in the year. It's been a maintain self-belief and to stay patient period of time...or is it just the cold in studio and grey light of winter????  

# 5 [18 September 2011]

Having a go at this again. So much has happened since the last piece. For now, just an invitation to all readers to come along to the Threadneedle Prize 2011, opening on Thursday.