Gallery News

PAP

3/5/13 pm

Can't stop now - it's still sunny. Well, almost. It's sort of clouding over, but the sun peeks out every now and again. I try Margaret's Buildings as a location, but [gasp!] the Lime Lounge has gone! The lovely bright splash of colour half way done has been replaced by some sombre grey cafe. I'm sure it does a lovely cup of coffee, but it's not working for me compositionally so I head back to the crescent.

The tree guys have finished. All that remains of the drumandbass guys is a plastic bag full of empty beer bottles. Ah, lovely. Just the occasional thwack of a football and a "pass the ***ing ball you ****er, you ***** ***** *****" - an idyllic scene. 

I have to remember the sunshine most of the time, but it seems to come out okay and at least I brought my brushes.

PAP

3/5/13 - am

It's a sunny day - exclamation mark. And it's a painting day - double exclamation mark. This could be the summer, so I've got to make the most of it - a three month hiatus from PAP is inexcusable. In my haste to get going I leave all my brushes in a nice little pile in the studio. I only remember this after I've walked up the hill and set up my easel and paints. On my way I pass Mr Walkanddrawbath who I've never met before, but have heard of through the wonder of the web. He sets up over there in the middle of the grass while I am standing on the road in front of the Royal Crescent. Without lifting a brush (because of course I haven't brought any) I have to pack up and slink away - 1-0 to Mr Walkanddraw.

I go back to the studio and get my brushes (all neatly in their pile) and return to the scene. This time I do actually paint a picture and it doesn't turn out too bad. Mr Walkanddraw packs up before me and comes over to say hello. He seems quite nice, we have a bit of a chat, he's going to message me. While distracted the wind picks up, and blows my easel over. I try to rescue it with one hand (the other clutching my palette and brushes) only to smear the painting across my jumper. Mr Walkanddraw politely leaves me to it - 2-0 to Mr Walkanddraw.

I make some attempt at repairs, but the light has moved too much. Godammit.

Other things:

• There's loads of flies on the walk past the allotment - must be the first warm day for ever that's brought them all out at once or there's a big pile of manure the other side of the hedge.
• There's some tree guys chopping down a tree.
• I get stopped by some school girls doing a survey about Bath - the last question is, "what do you think would improve Bath?". I struggle with this one, knowing that their survey is going to make all the difference and finally, unhelpfully, come up with, "Better weather."
• The yellow lines by the crescent must have been repainted they seem particularly vivid today.
• Some older boys (students?) arrive in the park and sit down just near me. No problem, but for the hardcore banging drum and bass tunes they start blasting out. What with that and the chainsaw from the tree guys there is no peaceful vivaldi moment. 

Regardless, spring has definitely sprung.

PAP

It's one of those painting days where nothing seems to go according to plan. It's my own fault - I just grabbed my bag and ran out the door, forgetting the 1st rule of PAP: ALWAYS CHECK YOUR STUFF.

So I get to the Crescent (yeah, yeah, I know I've done it a million times already, but I've got this idea see ....) and I find I haven't got all my paints and I've only got my reject brushes. On top of this there's a bitter wind so I almost give up before I start. But I don't and you can judge for yourself what painting with sticks looks like without any cadmium red. I guess it could have been worse. I say that of course, but that's ignoring the guy who stood behind me for five minutes - way too close (he doesn't need to stand that close. why's he standing that close? is there something in my ear?) and ... humming! Grrrr

Roll on spring.

The Big One

Du Soleil!

More summer

Another painting of the Royal Crescent, but this time it's up close - up close and personal...

A few things of interest:

• A squirrel runs across the road and up the steps. He pauses, sniffing the air before running off into the small garden underneath the left hand window.
• Some media type peepel turn up for a photo shoot and this model runs up and down in front of me with a dog at her heels while the photographer snaps away with his impressive lens.
• The squirrel comes back. He's carrying something big in his mouth as he scampers down the steps and back across the road to safety.
• The media peepel turn up again, but this time the model is in a different outfit. No running this time, but still with the dog. She tries to look thoughtful yet stylish while still holding a big model grin.
• Someone laughs wildly in the distance. Whatever it was, I can't believe it was that funny.