02/05/23
First day…
Make time for practice.
03/05/23
04/05/23
…the drive to help.
Late Night Art Belfast. The first in a long time.
07/05/23
“Boy Soldier” - finished.
Two new little pieces started this afternoon too!
09/05/23
New EMIC piece in Belfast City Centre
13/05/23
Sent feelers out…
14/05/23
Need to tread carefully with this one.
19/05/23
Supplies!
20/05/23
A good tidy up of the studio.
21/05/23
Studio time.
Going somewhere and then damn near destroyed ‘Mugshot’ piece. Taking some time and stepping back helped save the day.
Looking is still working.
Brought it back. Relying too heavily on the charcoal mark can sometimes lead to images turning into a caricature of itself. Pared back the drawing line - focussed on the tones and limited palette that don’t stray too far from each other. Much more successful as a whole now. Bit more to go but good otherwise.
25/05/23
Luc Tuymans - surgical precision. All working out is done beforehand - composition, colours, size, materials all planned in advance so that intelligence goes from the brain (in the preparation stages) to the hand (in the making). I don’t know if that would work for me. That split second spontaneity - yes it can go wrong and often does - is needed for play with materials. Having a regimented script when painting would not work for me.
Need to catch a grip. Too easily distracted by shiny things.
27/05/23
“Egon Schiele: Dangerous Desires” on Iplayer.
28/05/23
Studio.
“What fascinates you about that bastard?”
Definitely evokes a response. Is it worth it to get response based on the sources for the work rather than the work itself? A pickle. It’s not a glorification of a person’s actions. It is a study, an investigation of a portrait of evil. Aesthetic response to traumatic event.
Ethics vs Aesthetics.
In the end, I’m never speaking or working for anyone but myself.
Wee bit of progress on little prayer canvas. Could the two be companion pieces?
31/05/23
Dublin bound.
RHA show - an art overload but in the best way!
Quick stop in Temple Bar and glad I saw performance for Fanny Gicquel’s show “breathing with heels, walking with eyes”. Also popped into Project Art Centre to catch “Got Damp / Púscadh Anuas” by Avril Corroon.
