Pushing forward, even in the shadows
I don’t know about you, but this lockdown is never ending, it probably has a lot to do with the fact that previous lockdowns were shorter and had a review/end date. I think it has been about 6 weeks and probably another 5 to go but who knows. I am cross with myself for even bringing up the topic of lockdown, it seems to have replaced the ‘weather’ discussion you have whilst standing in a queue. I spend very little time discussing Covid with people, although that’s probably because I don’t see a lot of people. My saddest confession is that I have started watching ‘A place in the Sun’ where people are shown five properties for sale. Occasionally I like their chosen location but the majority are Spanish resorts with 80% British population and not a slither of culture. I think I watch this because I’m desperate, I would go anywhere on holiday right now if I could. A girlfriend of mine in Australia told me she was fed up, driving around Bunnings carpark looking for a parking space, Bunnings being the Australasian version of B&Q. I found myself closing my eyes and visualising the idea of being in the sun in a crowded car park pulling out my list of things to buy, masking tape, paint… I told her, I wish I was there, sounds like such fun!
I stare at my computer screen with no idea what I want to talk about. I’ve spent nearly 2 hours and moved no further ahead than uploading progress images into my OneDrive folders. I have no completed works to share with you just pushing forward on many things. I have to try and say to myself, it’s okay to be like this, just get up early, stay fit in mind and body, never watch day-time TV and go to the studio.
In fact that’s what I will do, just share some progress images with you and if anything springs to mind as I do I may write a few words.
Alan:
A single red brick in various stages of development as I think about what I am trying to say about it. I play with the surrounding tones hues and textures that affect its presence; the location and shape of the shadow offering different senses of grounding in space.
Oh so many continuous reworkings with my self portraits. My greatest challenge at the moment lies in the shadows, the colour of shadow, the tone of shadow it's never what you expect it to be.
I've also been thinking about the difference between the reflection I see of myself in the mirror and the view of myself as seen by others. We can never see ourselves in real time, as others see us, only in a two-dimensional photograph or video footage.
in a moment of madness I turned my coffee cups into horse skull with opium pot. All work in progress
The funniest thing....I was listening to Cilian Murphy's nocturnal playlist, curious to know what was in his record collection and look what happened to my, 'girl with sneer', face. Is it just me, or does anyone else think it bares a resemblance to Mr Murphy?
