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| Work In Progress, New Year's Eve 2014 |
It’s been a
pretty enjoyable Christmas break this year.
I’ve had plenty of R&R, and eaten and drunk enough to remember just
how lucky I am to have the option. I’ve
also attended several cheery social gatherings and had many enjoyable
conversations in the process.
New Year’s Eve
will be a quiet one this year though. I
intend to be painting at midnight, with occasional recourse to a bottle of the
good stuff. In case that sounds a little
tragic, it’s actually become something of a ritual with me in recent
times. After so many years of regretting
my failure to really function as an artist, the last few have seen me producing
artwork consistently and with none of my old doubts about my abilities. I won’t claim
everything done in that time has been of the highest standard, but it’s all
stuff I believed in while I was doing it.
Most importantly, at no point did I feel like stopping. It’s back where it belongs, (at the centre
of my life), and I can no longer really imagine not devoting as much of my
available time to it as possible.
It feels even more
appropriate than ever to be getting back to the easel as soon as possible this
year. I have an exhibition to work
towards, (next June, - at Rugby Art Gallery & Museum, with Andrew Smith), and
it’s inevitable that will occupy increasing amounts of my attention as the
deadline looms. The house may be a mess,
(and my workroom even more so), but there are four paintings intended for that
show well under way, and a few remaining days of school holiday to push them
along as far as possible.
So, to be hard at
work, and ankle-deep in torn paper, acrylic paint and PVA as the old year clicks
over into the new, actually feels like an excellent and enjoyable way to be
facing the future.
Postscript:
I'll admit, I've worked hard this month to get the blog post count up to 100 for the
year, (a mere affectation, - I have a slightly autistic liking for round
numbers). For the reasons outlined
above, it’s possible that my bulletins may be a little thinner on the ground during the
first half of 2015. I certainly intend
to keep the blog going though, - so thanks to all those who
bother to come back on a regular basis, (and to leave encouraging
comments). I hope I can still dredge
up a few things of interest in the coming months.
Happy New Year
It sounds like an absolutely excellent way to cross from one year into another. Your words remind me of a friend, who is also a painter/collage artist, and the most 'real' artist I've ever met (in 'real life') in that it is at the very core of his being, it's what he lives for... so what you describe resonates and I have no doubt that he will be in his studio tonight working through the small hours too... ankle-deep in just the same things.
ReplyDeleteAs I'm an illustrator I'll be working some hours tomorrow to meet my deadline and I'll enjoy it too... but not tonight!!
Good luck with the preps for your exhibition and happy new year, Hugh. Cheers!
That is an excellent choice for green.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're getting comfortable back in the saddle and I'm looking forward to the results.
Happy New Year Hugh!!
Cheers, Guys. Here's hoping for a productive 2015 for all. I was trying something slightly different as midnight struck, and I think it's going to work. I'll take that as a good sign. Hopefully, I'll have something 'finished' to show you soon. Best wishes.
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