Thursday 17 May 2012

The Other Studio part two


It's got to the stage of the week now where I start talking to myself. Not just muttering profanities but openly discussing things with myself. I have been here four days. I think this is normal when Albert doesn't really answer back and the only person I spoke to yesterday was the coalman and his accent was unfathomable. It's not something I worry about - in fact I feel fully engaged with myself now - the work is flowing, I feel confident with it. I am missing Ruth and the kids but I'll be back with them tomorrow night. They understand. Peter has been telling Ruth that lot's of his friends Daddies live in different houses to them. Amateur psychologists on here are welcome to send me their thoughts.

I finished painting for the week late last night. Probably when you were all tucked up with your malty drinks. I do have another thirty or so hours here but I need time for it all to dry enough to transport back home. I'll do some more collage work today and I have to practice clay model for a couple of the art workshops I'm hosting over the summer. I may even go for a really decent walk this afternoon if the weather holds. There may even be a pub or two at the end of it.

I've put a few pictures up for your scrutiny below. None are finished pieces. It's mostly groundwork at the moment - I'll add the next layer and maybe some finer details in a few days when this layer is dry. And they may of course change completely.

Paul


collage in action



the one about a traditional folk dance that gets out of hand


the one about an alpine village experiencing an incident


the one about a disco on a cruise ship


the one about secret swimming and sirens


the one about the lido

the one about a jam jar with some flowers in it


Tuesday 15 May 2012

The Other Studio

My dear friend Mark Kearns has asked me to keep him updated on how my week painting in isolation up in North Wales is going. It's going fairly well Mark. It takes a while to get into it. New studio set up, new environment - it messes with your standard working practice.
So day one. Yesterday started well doing a little collage work to warm up with. I tend to do collage when I feel I need to refresh my creativity - to stop taking the painting for granted and to look at things differently.
So a couple of hours of that followed by a walk round the top with my dog Albert. The sun was shining which was sheer contrast to when I arrived on Sunday. A quick trip into to town for supplies and then onto and into the painting.
A predictable slow start while the coffee kicked in but plenty achieved. Day one is all warming up and trying not to get too angry when things aren't working instantly. Day two is always better and I'll be going in shortly. Wish me luck.
I'll post a few bits and pieces of work over the week but in the meantime here is the set up.

Paul


downstairs bedroom/office now studio (note the 
use use of plastic to protect the furniture from blood,
sweat and tears)


The kitchen. Where outrageous collages are created.



And the room where the occasionally faithful Albert hangs out.

 
Bonus picture. The view from the top yesterday. 
See it can be sunny up here!

Other Work

So it's been a while since I posted anything. Not that I haven't been busy painting or at least trying to paint it's just that I committed myself to a five month commission of mostly graphic design and illustration.
The basis of the work was to create a graphic identity for Crane Valley Park, a newly merged park traversing the London boroughs of Richmond and Hounslow. Starting with an interpretation board (the sign you get when you enter a park that says 'you are here' ) and then a series of leaflets married to that plus updating the educational packs that I'd previously been working on to cover this area. A lot of work but all very welcome and also good for me to be deeply involved in a project from start to finish.
But back to painting now before anyone finds out that I do things for money too.