CLAY, SUPPLY AND TEETH...........AGAIN!

Look, I know what you are going to say...I fiddled again this evening with this painting. I think it improves it in the photograph, but not sure in the flesh. The problem is that I probably dont actually like it, and never will no matter what I do. So, it may be painted over sometime in the near future. Let me know what you think. Lets vote on it............. remove or save? The waste mould I made was a complete disaster, as you know and so I had to repair the clay figure which altered the way it looked. No problem. So I returned to good old modrok to mould it and.........................yes, you guessed it, probably another disaster. So its back to square one next time Im in my studio, remodel the clay again and use a much more expensive, but hopefully more reliable, material and technique. But dont hold your breath folks ! So, what about the Supply? Well Teachers UK texted me with the offer of a weeks work next week, I replied, but now they have gone silent on me. Ah well. And the Teeth? As you know, I had a tooth extracted last week and since then it has felt like food has got stuck in the gap, but upon further inspection with a mirror and my finger I have deduced that he has left part of the tooth in my mouth! It moves, it still gives me tooth ache, and it makes me feel ill thinking about it. Im tempted to pull it out myself, but A, Im not brave enough and B, having already paid for the extraction of the tooth I feel the dentist should really complete the job. Went to Hunstanton for the day yesterday. Been driving for money today. When I tell you all that your thoughts create your future let me tell you mine............ I will be making a good living from my arts endeavours..........its just a matter of time. so now tell me your thoughts. Love all and hurt none my friends, its the only religion you ever really need. Your future is already assured, its just a matter of fitting it into your current lifespan. Bye for now.

GETTING BETTER........?

the promo video I made for KLA studio artists group is now completed and up on Youtube, so I thought I would try and post it here too. A nice start to the blog. Its the second blog in two days! Like a bus, you wait ages then two come along together ! So, today, I spent the morning at cafe creative in Leicesters LCB where I got talking to several diferent artists including a sculptress and a musician. One other person also turned up with her new friend who was there the other evening. Once again she failed to acknowledge me but at the end I broke the ice , said it was nice to see her and said goodbye. I think she begrudgingly muttered something back as I left the room. Its sad how this friendship has died. Last time I saw her we hugged good bye, she followed me in her car to her parents,flashed her lights to say cheerio, said we would "be in touch" (which sounded a little too businesslike at the time), then the next thing I know she hates me and yet we havent had an argument or anything. Strange, and sad. I hope she is happy now, but sadly she didnt appear so. And I was left wondering why she wasnt working in the job she loves. I hope there is nothing amiss there, because as much as it upsets me that a once close friend can now treat me in this manner, I would only wish her well. Well, look, you dont know who Im talking about, so lets move one. NICK! NICK!, I shouted across the road, near DMU today, but Nick didnt hear me. Went on to DMU and left package of gallery hire literature for the professional project module in fine art, missed the Lancaster and the Ruth, but did speak to the marvellous Ed Rennie and the Adam. When I got home I was absolutely kna...ered. Yet I hadnt actually done any work! Which makes me wonder what actually constitutes "work". Maybe this could be my next SOAPBOX video. In studio at Knighton Lane all day tomorrow. Im so thankful for the little space where I can be with myself and make arts. I am trying to succesfully remove plaster mould from the clay figure. Wish me luck. Then what I am cast it in is unresolved. OK, well, time to go. The gum is still a little sore, and Im so tired. Oh, Jane got her MA grade today, congrats to Jane ! Love all and hurt none folks. Create your good future with your good thoughts, tell the Universe what you desire, be specific, and be sure that you deserve it.

CLAY and TEETH

The sketchbook image was made while the person who posed was actually taking a break.

It inspired a drawing that now lives with the poser.

It inspired a painting (shown here) that was rejected by the poser, but accepted by the City Gallery Open, Leicester in 2009.

And now the painting has inspired the sculpture.

I know a song like that................."I know an old lady who swallowed a fly, etc.," Do you know it?

Anyway, this clay figure now sits covered in plaster awaiting its final casting. Havent decided on material yet as bronze is now out of the question.

Am attending networking events in the creative industries sector publicising ARTCELL to those who might engage it in community events/schools/etc.,or who may like to collaborate on a project, and am also pushing STEVE B. ROBINSON in the line of Unique Works of Art to Your Commission, i.e. portraiture and abstracts. Meanwhile am also organising life drawing events where I am tutor and...........nope, not gonna say until its sorted.........

Oh, and the tooth part of the blog title? Its sympathy seeking............ had a tooth extracted today. Lots of blood. Thought dentist was going to dislocate my jaw.........he did dislocate my wallet, lol.

Well, keep life interesting folks, happy birthday to Claire Hilton at end of this week, think good thoughts, love all and hurt none.

Namaste

To talk or not to talk..........

Went to a creative industries networking event this evening. It was pretty good. Not sure Im getting any better at networking though. However, somebody else was there. Somebody I met at University, and somebody who dumped me in my hour of need because I was needy (go figure!). Should I have spoken to her? Should she have spoken to me? Its a tricky situation, but the chances are that ,since we exist in the same geography and still share the same passions, we will come across each other again. Any suggestions on how to deal with this situation next time it arises will be gratefully received. I hate avoiding people like this. It seems so immature. I have, by the way, resolved to return to my reason for being on this planet. Ive had the break I asked for and now its back to destiny once more. Anyone seen that bloke with the scythe? hahahaha Oh, and the sculpture is almost completed but..........there had to be a but didnt there?........ the qoutes Ive had for casting it in bronze are just horrendously high! Am now looking at diferent mediums. Will let you know when I know. OK folks, time to go. All day in studio tomorrow...............my haven of sanity...............so remember to think carefully as your thoughts create your future. Love all and hurt none, its all we can ask of ourselves and others. ............ Namaste.

GOOD ENERGY

Had that annual reunion with the good young folks of my alumni, and this year Chez came too. Sadly her Ralph wasnt feeling up to it so I hope he feels better now. It was a lovely afternoon sitting on the balcony at Soar Point Pub drinking (my wife was introduced to toffee cider by Laura !), and eating, and it was good to see Neal there too. Sadly Nick didnt make it, never mind, maybe next year, although it has been suggested that we meet up again before Christmas. I believe Mel was going to meet up with the others in the evening but I declined that one. Sometimes age does matter. I have been a member of New Dawn Art Group Facebook site for a little while now (which lead, via an innocent and nice comment from me, to the inevitable, it seems, ending to what I thought was a friendship. Que sera, sera) but now it has just vanished! How does that happen? Good thing I made contacts while it was there. The sculpture is not going too well. Waiting for the clay to become workable is just like watching cricket, if you know what I mean. But the new painting is coming along nicely. I will upload when completed. I have decided that its about time I stopped making art to please other people and make art that pleases me. Thus the figure is making a re-appearance. Well, more to say later. Remember what I keep telling you folks; your thoughts create your future so be carefulwhat you think. Love all and hurt none. oh, and if you ever see Vals Art Diary on Youtube you will have heard this............... " Eat Your Cookies". She is a little crazy, worth a visit. Bye for now.

BAD ENERGY

BAD ENERGY; I can do without bad energy these days. I have been party to the effects, and perhaps even been the cause , in the past and no longer am able to indulge in this waste of energy. Since my depression I have found that I am acutely aware of the ill effects of these vibrations and tonight just proved the point.

Had a meeting, wont say where or with whom, but there was definitely a lot of aggression in the room. A couple of strong minds were at conflict and this even spread itself to the lesser ego's. I thought at one point that I would have to leave but I stuck it out, not wanting to cause a fuss. However, often this sort of behaviour becomes the seeds that force some personalities to permanently leave and is never good. I know because I have been there and got the t-shirt, as they say.

Things are said which would not ordinarily be said and cannot be taken back; for instance, I am left wondering, because of what a couple of people said, what the group thinks of my work. I saw some work today from an outsider wanting to be an insider and I just thought, wow, his work is so much better than mine, and it has an eco message too, and I found myself becoming excited by the idea of his coming inside. He had a very calm centre which made me feel safe. Maybe it was the turbulance of the meeting and his own energy being so opposite to that which was growing in the room which made me feel so good about him.

That said though, I wonder about my own work. I have put up a pic of my studio which now has a few recent paintings on the wall. Are they any good? Do they make you "feel" ? Would anyone want to hang one in their lounge? I dont know. Im feeling lost again, but I vowed to concentrate on my first love and try to make it pay and Im sticking to my guns. If you have any constructive remarks regarding my work please let me know.

I have to start making small works for our LCB show. I have to start asap. I have to find the money to buy the materials. I have to.......blah blah blah.

Anyway, Im in studio most of day tomorrow, working on the clay and maybe starting another painting in the nude genre.

Tomorrow, Friday, I wanted to attend the MA show at DMU but family comes first and I have been seconded by number three son. Hope to see it later in week. Saturday I am excited about. Its the DMU reunion. I dont actually attend the nightlife but some of my year group get together for lunch at Soar Point Public House. So it will be Laura and her boyfriend and their mutual friend Science Boy, Amy and her " Sock", Neal, me and my Agnes, hopefully Chez and her Ralph, possibly Nick and any others who can make it. Who would have thought that these girls would still be in touch with me, a man old enough to be their fathers, so many years after graduating? Interesting that they are all girls. Hmm.

Well, got to go. Just remember folks, be careful what you think as your thoughts create your future. Love all and hurt none, its the only religion you really need.