APRIL 2008
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Card from Wallace wishing me well after reading my diary. and sweet e mail from Karl and Sharon saying not to try and hurry finishing their commission whilst I'm unwell.
My sister rings again from Montrose (Canada) to see how I am although I feel sympathetic to her this evening as on the ski slope today she tore a ligament and had to be pulled on a sledge to the medical centre and now has a brace on her knee. But she's pleased she will have only missed one day's skiing!
Am beginning to feel a little stronger each day and in between the frequent meals that Richard brings me, I continue to do a little painting on the kitchen table which is now half covered in newspaper and about 50 jam jars and coffee pots of mixed up paint - I'm eating my meals off the Financial Times!!
ditto
Letter from Gloucester Museum asking for permission to reproduce Mes Enfants in the Gloucestershire volume of the catalogue currently being compiled of all the paintings in public collections in the UK.
Phone call from Wallace
I've now got Richard to bring one of my studio easels into the kitchen to give me the opportunity to work on a larger canvas.
R's browsing through my RWA Friends magazine when he notices a reproduction of Al'd'y'riah in their annual exhibition at the end of last year.
E mail from Sophy, Harriet Bridgeman's PA, asking if I will be able to attend the annual meeting of Trustees of ACS (the Artists Collecting Society)in early May. And another from Bishop Michael inviting colleagues from his Bishop's Breakfast group to join him on any part of his seven day pilgrimage walk around the Diocese and County, linking together as many of the ancient Saxon minster towns and ancient churches with Saxon remains to mark the end of the Gloucestershire Millennium
Wednesday 9.4.08
Unfortunately decided I should not go to the first meeting of the Honourable Company of Gloucestershire as have promised Richard and my family that I will fully recuperate before taking on or attending any duties or events.
Thursday 10.4.08
E mail from Greg Smith to say that he had taken the idea of me painting a mural for the reception area of the new Gloucestershire College to the full board, who thought it was a great idea and have approved the funding. I'm really delighted as it will be at 4 metres wide by 2 metres high, a very exciting and challenging project and particularly good as it's here in Gloucestershire.
Friday 11.4.08
There's a programme on BBC Radio 4 this morning about an English mayor of a French village in Normandy. I was particularly interested to hear them interview Cephas Howard as it was from him that Geoff and I rented a boutique and workshop on the Putney Wandsworth border to make pop art objects d'art, shortly after graduating. Cephas Howard was a set designer for the BBC but had been part of the Temperance Seven whilst he was at the Royal College studying painting. Our friend Ronald remembers that whilst he was there, seeing a grand piano passing the window on its way up to a top floor. In the afternoon we get a visit from Tom who has brought two of his recent canvases round to show us; he's [painted them at the Sue Ryder Day Centre under the guidance of the art therapist. We are most impressed when he turns the canvases that Richard had placed the wrong way up, to reveal his abstract rendering of the crucifixion and the other is the cross of St George. As he writhes about on the floor, his body movements so random and almost impossible to control today, I marvel at how remarkably well he has covered the two canvases. I find the crucifixion particularly moving in its vibrant reds and orange it seems to speak of Toms own courage in his battle with Parkinson's.
E mail notice from Nathan of a performance and exhibition that he is taking part in this evening entitled Itchy Park in Limehouse Town Hall.
Dear John, my framer, calls in with a beautiful new frame. We discuss ways of constructing the panel or panels for the huge Gloucestershire College mural project - also how to secure it to the wall both in the studio and in situ.
Sunday 13.4.08
Rob rang to rearrange a time for Richard to meet him with the painting for the Chelsea Art and Antiques Fair.
E mail from the Great Roberto telling us that he's just spoken on the phone to Toyah who is in Xian where she is doing the Great Wall walk to Beijing with people like Cliff Richard, Joan Rivers and Olivia Newton John who after recovering from breast cancer fifteen years ago, is raising money to build the Olivia Newton John Cancer Care and Well-being clinic in Melbourne. We've just sponsored Toyah - anyone else who wishes to do likewise can look at this page.
Two calls from Rob Whittle re the painting Richard has just delivered to him for the Chelsea Art Fair (they meet in a Co-op car park half way between our two homes). E-mail from Bishop Michael saying he is pleased I will be joining him (on parts of his pilgrimage).
E mail from Olivia Newton John saying thank you for the sponsorship and giving an update on their progress on the Great Walk to Beijing.
Another from Maxine, my god daughter (and daughter of my dear friend Jane who we sadly lost in January) saying thank you for the outfit for Aimée her baby daughter born 26 March and that the dress is so beautiful they are going to have her christened in it; I am very moved by this.
My lovely friend Joyce comes to visit today bearing beautiful tulips and container of chicken soup. It's so good to see her and hear about the wedding dress she has just made for her daughter Kylas(for her marriage in May) and the bridesmaids dresses for her two grand daughters. Joyce specialised in fashion design when we were students
Nice e mail from Harriet Bridgeman re ACS and the Trustees meeting in May.
This week is the first time I've been back in the studio since before Easter. The light is rather better than on the kitchen table but I'm making a positive effort not to start until after noon as other people who have had pneumonia have warned that it's easy to do too much too soon! Beautiful get well card (designed by Star student) from the Star College; I'd also had lovely one a week or so ago from Gill Henry of the appeals office.
When I arrive in the kitchen for my late breakfast Richard is looking very pleased as he'd noticed that an envelope had come from the Art Consultants containing cheque for two works that had been purchased for the new London headquarters of the international firm of accountants, BDS.
E mail form the Great Roberto saying that he is shortly to return from Las Vegas and is interested in my suggestion of doing a Soundscapes performance in the beautiful ruins of Llanthony Secunda Priory in Gloucester.
A very cheeky looking little dog called Archie peers out at me on the front of a get well card from dear friend Lisa who manages and curates for Leicester Museum Services 'Artworks'. She asks if I've received the poems inspired by two of my paintings in their collection, Expresso and The Whale, that have been written by their poet in residence. Archie is her 13 week old terrier.
I'd started a new canvas on Wednesday, an interior to which I'm adding more -
and more figures.
I receive a wonderfully witty, flattering an cajoling letter from the Chairman of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum asking firstly if I'd be a guest of honour at their appeal launch (in July) to raise £150,000 towards the Museum's new extension. Secondly, would I like to draw the winning raffle ticket and thirdly (saying "this is where I take my life in my hands") would I consider donating a picture or even a drawing as the star prize !!! I have had a long and fruitful relationship with Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum, with three solo shows there in the past 22 years, I am very fond of it and its staff. and thus always pleased to support. His letter is also a rather good example of how to write a begging letter for charity as first and foremost it makes you smile as well as reminding one, very gently, of the long relationship with the organisation.
In the studio refining "Dance Perpetual".
Receive grateful e mail in reply to mine from Alec, the chairman of the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum plus one from the organiser of the the launch garden party.
Richard speaks to Michelle Blondel to confirm the opening date of my forthcoming exhibition.
Late evening Henrietta and Kev arrive with a sleeping Isaac and Samuel.
Had call from Michelle Blondel wanting to discuss the date of my opening. She thinks it would be better to start the show during the week after 6th September as feels people might not have returned to Paris from the long summer vacation. So we are now thinking that the vernissage or opening should be on Thursday 11th and Saturday 13th September.
Also a call from Sarah Beer who is organising an exhibition at the Simon Chorley auction house in July where the entrance fees will go to the Cobalt Unit. I have asked if next year they might do something for the National Star College, which she has agreed to.
Lovely day playing with Isaac and Samuel.
Whilst Kev and Henrietta are working on photos for his design company "Dogtag"s, website we take Isaac to Toddington Station where the restored steam engines and trains of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway has been brought back to life by hard working volunteers. Although Isaac had been excited he is a little apprehensive when he sees the size of the engines and carriages close to. But he is enthusiastic about the cafe. After half and hour he's keen to go on the train. We are on board for about an hour and a half although our journey to and from Cheltenham Racecourse Station probably only takes half an hour each way. We pass endless engines and carriages in various states of dilapidation. Isaac gets very excited when we see sheep, cows or horses in the passing fields. We are joined in the compartment by another two year old, Ethan, (who speaks English and Hebrew) with his parents, one week old sister and grandmother (who doesn't speak English). Ethan too looked a little perturbed to start with but by the end of the journey both boys are jumping up and down together at the window to the rhythm of the train and imitating it's whistle.
After bathing our two little boys and putting them into their pyjamas Henrietta, Kev, Isaac and Samuel leave at about 8pm and are home by 10.30.
R takes painting to Rob Whittle to show at the Harrogate Art Fair.
Now that Eddy has finished taking down part of an old stone wall to make an entrance with step's onto the terrace behind the workshop, all the excess building materials have been moved and rubble taken away in a skip. We spend the morning planting the two new small beds at the top of the steps on the Kitchen side. It has made a lovely area with its tall old conifer on top of which the song thrush sings and Isaac is now able to play hide and seek around its trunk. Planted peas, radishes, and thyme, chives, sage, oregano, mint and two more small (at the moment !) bay trees.
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