This week is the first week without something or other scheduled in my diary for months. Except on Thursday the local press are coming to take photographs for a piece about Southwell Open Studios. We are joining forces with the first Southwell Music Festival (brainchild of Marcus Farnsworth).
My 6ft paintings from ‘Perfume and Savages’ are currently stored in the garage but I’ve managed to install a couple in the house. One is a bit low – therein lies the problem of squeezing big paintings into domestic settings. I’m toying with the idea of taking the light fixings down. Mmmm
The other three paintings will hang at the newly refurbished ‘Reach’ centre, home to a charitable organisation which supports adults with learning disabilities. Kerri Pratt from HMS will also be installing work in the offices too.
Yesterday I took a small portrait (35 x 25cm), oil on board, to the framers. This is the second one. The first one completed last year was longlisted for the BP portrait prize. These are legacy paintings of my two little grand daughters Emily and Rose. When Jem was ill last year I started to think about mortality. I couldn’t go to the studio but I was able to work at a desk in my small space at home. Whilst my family support and enjoy my contemporary work they actually LOVE the portraits.
