27/25/18
NB:- "Imprint": washes over selected charcoal marks makes for a more painterly and softer outcome whilst still retaining the drawing element - it's just not as overwhelming. Marrying the two worlds. Artistically I'm in a good place. It's utilising time more effectively.
28/05/18
On Hodler's "Night": covered figure personifies death as an intensification of sleep. On the back of the canvas Hodler wrote: "There is many a people who lies down to rest in the evening but who does not wake up in the morning."
"Night" by Ferdinand Hodler - 1899/90 - Museum of Fine Arts Bern
"Riot" and "Chidren of the Stage" started.
"Children of the Stage" - early progress.
Haven't painted on board in two years. Keep forgetting how forgiving the surface is.
"Riot" piece started.
29/05/18
Hot air balloon in trouble over Draperstown medical centre.
Started small canvas of "Cult" drawing I did five years ago. Been a long time but its always good to keep everything - just in case.
"Cult" painting in progress.
30/05/18
Let's see what happens.
02/06/18
Playing about with "The Mountain of the Heights" - particularly the sky. Intangible so the marks should be also.
Early layers of sky
03/06/18
"Rosetta II" by Jenny Saville - oil on watercolour paper mounted on board - 2005/06
"I want to be a painter of modern life, and modern bodies." - Jenny Saville.
A.F. born today.
More progress in the sky of "The Mountain of the Heights".
04/06/18
"The Mountain of the Heights" and "Imprint" on the studio wall.
05/06/18
Notes from a previous workshop:
Turn off distractions
Centred space
Give yourself permission to move your practice forward.
Elevator pitch - needs work.
Find focus and priorities.
Studio days - regimented routine.
Be persistent and consistent.
Find unproductive habits + break them.
Defend creative time.
Slow down and hear your own ideas.
"Creativity is not a talent - it's a way of operating." - John Cleese
When you value serendipity, you start noticing it at work right away.
07/06/18
Awarded iDA from Atypical Gallery and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland!
09/06/18
Degree show work entitled "My Darlene" by photographer Ryan Hamilton.
Installation shot from Stephanie Tanney's degree show. Not unlike Holder's shrouded figure.
A close up of one of Karl Hagan's stunning paintings at the Belfast School of Art degree show.
One of Aimee Melaugh's atmospheric paintings at her degree show.
Saw a lot of art. A LOT OF ART.
Belfast School of Art degree show was fantastic but there were four stand out artists:
Ryan Hamilton in photography.
Stephanie Tanney in sculpture.
Karl Hagan in painting
Aimee Melaugh in painting.
The Golden Thread Gallery group exhibition "After an Act" was great.
"Submerge Form (Red)" by Deb Covell - 2017
David Moore's show in Belfast Exposed was really interesting.
The back wall of David Moore's exhibition entitled "Lisa and John" in Belfast Exposed.
10/06/18
Whiterocks beach just outside Portrush.
11/06/18
Zero energy. There are not enough hours in the day. Structure. Guilty of putting off work because of convenience.
Some sketchbook work done today but not enough.
13/06/18
Is yellow is the colour of hope?
"Selvportrett I Helvvette" by Edvard Munch - 1903 - The Munch Museum, Oslo
16/06/18
"Painting 1946" by Francis Bacon. Part of the MoMA collection.
Bacon was fascinated by butcher shops as a child. The figure in the painting said to be pre-war Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain - known for carrying an umbrella. This work is raw power, beauty and horror rolled in one.
My painter's table of 8 years.
18/06/18
Detail of "Cult" painting in progress.
Paint/draw with purpose. Reasons - just because I can't pin them down doesn't mean they aren't there.
20/06/18
Lubaina Himid - take a "given history" from found objects and then "paint a history on them that isn;t as much talked about." Daytime can't be squandered - every hour counts.
23/06/18
Bonnie keeping me company in the studio today.
Painted pretty much up to 10pm tonight,. Stuck in the zone.
24/06/18
Jan enjoying the sunset at Rosses Point, Sligo.
Trip to Rosses Point. So hot too and great to bump into Rob and Sally. Small world.
25/06/18
View of "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" in the Hamilton Gallery, Sligo.
Great to see familiar names (Lisa Ballard, Alison Pilkington and Clement McAleer) in the Hamilton Gallery's group exhibition 'An Irish Airman Foresees His Death'.
One of my favourite pieces in the Hamilton Gallery had to be "Spirit of the Aviator" by Brian McDonagh.
26/06/18
Trip to The Model in Sligo town before home. A wonderful space.
Outside The Model, Sligo.
Massive painting by Antje Majewski in the "Future Perfect" exhibition, The Model, Sligo
28/06/18
Close up of "Cult" - Oil and Charcoal on Canvas
Slowly getting back into the rhythm of working again. Finished "Cult". The small child is considerably creepier than expected. More work to "Mountain of the Heights" - been looking at Cezanne's multiple treatments of Mont Sainte-Victoire for some sort of guidance.
Getting there with "The Mountain of the Heights".
Extremely hot in the studio - close to 30°C.
30/06/18
I have Sickert's "Ennui" on my mind.
"Ennui" by Walter Richard Sickert - 1914 - part of Tate Collection