Covid Strikes

 On returning from Australia we both caught Covid and have felt tired ever since. Yesterday was the first time I ventured into the studio.

I was going to open my pop-up gallery on Sunday and had a potential booking. However, I have delayed the start until 14th May to give me more time to set up one of the rooms upstairs which had been used as a bedroom for when all the family came for my birthday weekend.

This week I'm in the local papers (you can also see the photo and story on my Facebook and Instagram posts) advertising my reopening. Luckily the start date is deliberately vague so its still useful to have the publicity.

Observations

 Our recent trip to Sydney was very much about seeing family, so there was not much time to do any art work.

However, apart from two rather hurried sketches, I did also manage one little watercolour which you can view on my latest Facebook and Instagram posts.

We had one leisurely morning and I sat on the terrace of the house we were staying in and made a study of the one opposite. I was intrigued by the use of corrugated iron for the roof which had turned a rather nice rusty red.

No Place Like Home

 We've just been to Sydney for three weeks (hence my lack of blogs) to visit our son , Leo . We had a wonderful time and visited the  national galleries to see  the exciting artwork. This is always very stimulating to me for future ideas.

However, I also enjoyed visiting the home, gallery and studio of the late  Brett Whitely. This had been purchased after his death by the local council as a memorial to his work.

I know I am biased, but I always get a buzz from seeing how other artists live and what inspires them.

Easy Does It

 For my birthday (Today! so Happy Birthday to me) I requested a small easel to display one of my paintings in the garden gallery.

 I'm running out of wall space again but having one nearer the floor makes a bit more room. Also, if some of the  pictures are on easels this gives  more flexibility as to how I arrange them.

Yve sent me  the perfect size and I'll hope to get another before I reopen in late April.

Odd Jobs

 Our former neighbour came over to do a few odd jobs for us. Among other things, he fixed my painting 'Katy's Gold' which we noticed had begun to come off the wall. As the painting hangs  at an angle to the vertical surface, there was a chance it could tip forward onto the floor.

My five year old grandson was coming this weekend and usually sleeps directly below this picture so I thought it important to get it fixed!

Simon also hung a screw in the ceiling ready to add another object to the collection. When it arrives I'll let you know.

An Honest Answer

 Well, I took part in the podcast (see last weeks blog). The first question rather took me by surprise.

' Which of your paintings are you most proud?' asked the young interviewer.

Straight away I answered 'For You -In Loving Memory'. Then  I had to explain the story behind the title. It was an honest answer but if I had been given the question in advance I would probably have chosen something different.

The painting is about the stillbirth of our daughter, Fay and although it happened over forty years ago I can still get emotional if caught off guard. I think I managed to hold it together.

You can see the tiny painting on my latest Facebook and Instagram posts.

Podcast, Anyone?

 I've taken part in many radio interviews over the years but never been involved in a podcast. So I was intrigued to be asked to take part in one via our local radio station.

They are helping students at the local sixth form centre to set up their own podcast as part of a media studies project.

 I'm taking part tomorrow but as there has been minimum contact with the student I've been paired with, I'm not quite sure. He said he wanted an artist to talk to. I suggested he sent me some questions to start me thinking about what he might ask, but have heard nothing back - yet.