Collection 2 - in progress

Round One

The first little collection was finished and dropped off at the Corner Gallery where a space was needed to sit them all together. Here's one: angle's a bit off so you can't see the cat very well. The other is at the bottom. I had a large armature so made a guy for a change - the man who can do everything (in another life I'd make sure I was one of those types). Of course, it was a standing pose and ended up being taller than usual.

Actually I was also helping to set up the yard for its first exhibition of 2022. With the help of Brian - one of those guys that can make/do all kinds of things - we got the yard set up with bunting but sadly, no fairy lights since even with fresh batteries they refused to turn on.

They're now on my table to fiddle with a bit and if I can't find some clue online as to why they're broken, will use them in a sculpture of some sort.

But the trestle laid out with food and drinks looked very pretty and inviting and it was all ready in time as Zed and the first attendees arrived early. Zed Talijan, a Brighton based artist does a lot of slightly abstracty coastal/seascape paintings with some figure work and flower pieces too. The gallery looked great with his soft colours creating a lovely cohesion and calm feeling to the front gallery area.

There's such a range of work styles in there you really have to stop and work your way systematically round all the walls and stands to make sure you don't miss anything, and Jackie rearranges things constantly as work is sold and new pieces come in.

Round Two

So despite the fact I'd planned to get back to painting once these four pieces were done, I immediately prepped four more armatures then started right away on another piece - and it's already finished.

I know what the next one is going to be though not, as yet, worked out the technicalities it will need. Painting remains unreturned to and I reckon I'm gonna have to do this second figure before my mind refocuses on canvas.

I had thoughts of having a day in some arty place. Farnham and the Sculpture Park looked very promising until I realised it'd take two trains, two buses and a half hour walk to get there - most of a morning in fact. Could I cycle it quicker? Mm, maybe (maybe not) but an 80+ mile round trip is a bit much for a few hours in a town.

It's frustrating how many creative events are in places you need a car to sensibly have a chance of getting to them. That's why I like Torquay since you can walk or get a bus (just the one) to several arty places and see a lot of art and craft over a couple of days. I should really see if there's any affordable B and B available (and hope there are no more train strikes to come but I suspect we're in for more disruption over the summer). But I'm off for a bike ride once this is posted so that'll have to do for now.