Motivation

So, I have these two paintings on my easel, neither of which I've touched for days. I just don't seem to have the time and when I do have time, I'm cream-crackered. Maybe I need a holiday (look out France, here I come!) to recharge my batteries.


The small matter of where I paint can also be a barrier. I use the rear of my garage (the front when my wife's car is out) and I usually have to get everything set up to work off my workbench. We often think of moving house and I'd like the luxury of a garden or spare room that I could use as a studio. However, I don''t think that oils would be welcome indoors...

I went to view the BP Portrait Award on Saturday. My favourite was a small painting in the Florentine/Venetian style of a young woman. I feel that too many portraits are just photo-lookalikes and don't reflect the painter's art at all well. If you want a photographic representation, take a photograph!

Painting again...

Well, I started to recreate an old painting of mine (my first sale) but wasn't too happy with the way it was going. After several days of working on the picture, I decided that I was getting bogged down and started on a new canvas. Much better! Now I can see where I was going wrong with the first attempt.

By the way, I visited Art Matters in Earlswood, near Redhill in Surrey. This is a facility providing art therapy to those with mental health issues (stress, anxiety, depression etc.). I was amazed at the high quality of the work produced under the guidance of the manager, Mark Cremmen. They always take part in Surrey Artists Open Studios and are also planning an event to mark Mental Health Week on 8 October between 1:30 and 4pm. Why not go along and be surprised.