01/07/20
Some more Matisse-inspired bamboo work for shapes in the foreground and that’s the large painting finished! Title to be confirmed later.
02/07/20
Abrupt awakening.
So “The Hill of the Red Witch” it is. Very close.
Eventually got some good ground work down on two new pieces. Some human hair included.
Great Julie Curtiss talk with Brooklyn Rail.
03/07/20
LOFT
2013 - 2015: 14 works (over 3 years)
LISNAMUCK
2016 - 2018: 36 works (over 3 years)
2019 - June 2020: 16 works (in 18 months)
That’s crazy!
04/07/20
Really pleased with “Left Out” thus far but the mouth on “RPM” is really annoying me!
05/07/20
QUESTIONS
07/07/20
Working out left hand on “L.O.” is tough. It’s not the shape of it but the lay of the fingers that’s the bother. Pre-mixing … is needed to unify the hands and face. It’s the difference in definition between the upper and lower hands that are jarring a bit.
Days that just don’t go your way. THUMB NEEDS TO BE A FRACTION LONGER!
08/07/20
Working method today is attacking the canvas in micro stages.
NON FINITO = nice idea.
Does something have to look finished before being deemed complete?
Detail of “Left Out”
…I limped home tonight. Painted for nearly 11 hours. Not sure if “Left Out” is done, but it’s bloody close.
09/07/20
… Yes it’s there!
Good drawing time this evening.
10/07/20
Priming, studio cleaning and two little pieces drawn up. Interior one has promise.
11/07/20
The Ruination of the World.
“Rock Pool Memory” - the original drawing is not exact and so the dimensions are a little skew-whiff. Possibly why the painting is not coming together.
12/07/20
Horrible day painting but at least it beats not doing anything at all! “Rock Pool Memory” is just that - a memory.
A sense of critical…. ?
14/07/20
Such as strange pain down arms and shoulders last night. Shake it off or…
Trip to A&E - allergic reaction to insect bites. The usual then.
15/07/20
Studio time.
High contrast in BT’s face might be best avoided. Playing around right now just.
Nice chat with Chloe, Dominic and Niamh - some interesting discussions.
16/07/20
![“Hotel ‘78” complete. [] is right - something slightly different about it. Softer maybe.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a9c08aa372b9620b4f4faf4/1596298573274-34GK5VOLBNDGHLF24D6J/16.jpg)
“Hotel ‘78” complete. [] is right - something slightly different about it. Softer maybe.
A nice dull background on “Seashore Jester”.
17/07/20
Applied … again.
18/07/20
Solid studio day. Resurrected “Rock Pool Memory”. Tonal values not there on “Seashore Jester” just yet but happy enough so far. Stumbled across the old Enfield painting that I abandoned four years ago. Decided to give it another crack.
19/07/20
21/07/20
Been a few days of home improvements.
24/07/20
Sketched out little commission and cleaned out palette.
Martha Tuttle talk on Brooklyn Rail excellent! Links to antiquity and the tactility of the work is fascinating.
26/07/20
The past few days I’ve literally been going round in circles with “Rock Pool Memory”. Originally I thought executing the proportions properly would have solved any issues that were cropping up but no. I think I’m in two/three minds as to how to approach it so perhaps shelving it isn’t a bad idea for now.
27/07/20
I think it’s important to take a step back sometimes and focus on other elements of practice. So today is a drawing and research day.
“ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS”
“ART IS LONG, LIFE IS SHORT” the reversed first two lines of Hippocrates’ ‘Aphorismi’
Nearly six hours of sketchbook work today.
28/07/20
Did not expect to but “Rock Pool Memory” is finished. It really has been an unprecedented time of creativity. Silver lining in a weird and unnerving time.
“Rock Pool Memory” finished.
29/07/20
The Troxler Effect - monsters in the mirror.
Treated myself to some art books.
30/07/20
Detail of ‘Enfield’ painting in progress
Short stint today, Slow progress but progress nonetheless.
31/07/20
Parts looks OK and then others are close to the point of madness. At least the dead crab looks well.
