November 2010
Monday 1.11.10
I’m working on the horse though much of the afternoon is taken up with e correspondence as R who normally types them to my dictation, had picked up a virus from Samuel so I persuade him to stay in bed until the evening, when he puts the first six short film sequences onto YouTUBE of me in the studio preparing for the big Gloucestershire College painting.
Tuesday 2.11.10
Lovely e mail from Loughran in New York. She has been to the ACA Galleries which describes as a vast and wonderful space that she feels will be perfect for my work. My exhibition was to have been there in March/April 2011 but we have postponed it until 2012. By chance she met the owners who were so friendly and told her how much they admired my paintings. Such nice feedback to get. She also compliments me on the Deja vu series which she generously describes as mysterious and beautiful and the Gloucestershire College commission. She also asks if I have allowed the use of my painting Sunday - an elderly couple in bed reading the Sunday papers - use in a Campbell's soup advertisement above a young couple in bed reading papers with tea and a tray - above and between them on the wall is what she is sure is painting which she first saw in the Royal Academy in 1995. She says if it isn’t it’s a very close copy. I shall make enquiries from the Bridgeman Art Library who are also a partner of Getty Images in the USA and handle my copyright. Loughran is a fine artist in her own right and has an exhibition in December. Many of her works are of one-winged angels. She first wrote to me whilst she was studying here.
Work late on the commission for the Professors Kotler whilst listening to World Service coverage of the USA mid-term elections. The forecast swing to the Republicans seems to be becoming a reality.
Wednesday 3.11.10
E mail from Caroline at Cantilever Bars who would like to use one of my paintings, Banquet, on their Christmas card this year. They are great friends and collectors who own several of the paintings. The actual painting lives in MJ’s collection and Simon had remembered seeing it or a similar work some years ago. But what I am particularly touched by is that they have suggested that they will make a donation to my Star Art fund towards the new creative arts centre at the National Star College. And this is the third time in the last four weeks or so that one of my friends has volunteered similar support for the College. Sally and Gareth Thomas are going to come to the Mulled Wine, Mince Pies and Miniatures weekend - they now support this rather than sending out Christmas cards. And my friend Sheila has said she would like to buy a particular painting if the National Star College is going to reap some benefit too. How fortunate I am to have friends and collectors who go out of their way to do this.
Strange to admit that we’re both watching a television programme on the laptop on the kitchen table at 7.30 But this is no ordinary television programme, it’s Nick’s wonderful Wallace & Gromit’s World of Inventions. A brilliant first episode of what promises to be a magnificent series and one can feel the evident joy of Nick’s creations. Wallace has invented a mechanical elephant called Kevin who seems to digest everything he can get his trunk on to produce methane to power the studio. One of the inventions they show is the work of a kinetic sculptor who has invented the most incredible beach walking machine powered by wind; so complex and sophisticated yet made from the simplest of material - plastic piping and bottles. What a fantastic impact Nick’s work has; W&G are on the cover of this weeks Radio Times and on the Christmas postage stamps. I e mail him to say congratulations and he replies to say he hopes it works to inspire the young Wallace’s of tomorrow which without a doubt it will.
Thursday 4.11.10
Am now struggling to make horse’s structure convincing. With sculpture of course it has to work from every angle.
Friday 5.11.10
Hurrah! E mail from Professor Nancy Kotler in Chicago in response to the photograph we sent of their commission, saying she and Professor Phil (He is hailed by Management Centre Europe as "the world's foremost expert on the strategic practice of marketing.") in Chicago, think “..the painting is absolutely wonderful - we love it.” I’m so pleased and relieved. It has taken me about a year to complete. They have quite a sizeable collection of my work dating back to the early 80s when he first saw my prize-winning painting at Sotheby’s in the RA/Daily Mirror world of newspaper exhibition. We have fond memories of our visit to their Chicago home in ‘98 with Barry Friedman the New York dealer and the Blondels who were showing my work at the Chicago Art Fair. Apart from the paintings they also have a magnificent glass collection - Dale Chihuly etc.
Busy working on the horse when receive e mail from David Bynog at Rice University in Texas telling me that the Fall edition of the Journal of the American Viola society had just arrived from the printers, with my viola on the cover - if I send my address he’ll send me a few copies, which means I can send one to Karl and Sharron as they bought the painted viola and the ‘cello form the auction during the Music Festival (of which 60% goes to the Star College and 40% to the education part of the Music Festival).
Still adding clay to my horse, having removed the angel so that I can work on the back.
Saturday 6.11.10
Continuing to add to the horse and sometimes sculpt away. We try a few photographs of it between a couple of pillars in the garden to start to give me an idea of how it would look. As usual up very late working on it.
Sunday 7.11.10
R takes my horse into Cheltenham to try to get some shots of it in the Promenade, in front of the Pump Rooms etc. It’s quite difficult getting the right elevation to make the scale of the maquette look life sized!! It looks rather too small in front of the Pump Rooms as in reality it’s only 20 inches high to the tip of his ears. But R’s managed to get a good one in front of the Municipal Offices and cleverly paints out the base on the computer. Then it’s my turn to try to paint it with four or five different designs. This is quite a strange sensation manipulating a virtual brush with a mouse and dipping it into a rectangular neon square of fluorescent colour. But off I go and it becomes quite compulsive. Have to stop at half past seven when I hear my sister Gill and my Mum arrive. Gill’s been back for a reunion with some of her school friends and also done a spot of decorating for my Mum. It’s lovely to see her. As well as taking sailing and bridge lessons she has also started riding again and says it has changed a lot since she went in her girlhood; although I remind her that as a young teacher she was also photographed by a newspaper on a horse at a rodeo! What I’m really delighted about is I hear her commenting to Richard on my maquette, describing it as beautiful, which quite makes my day as I have been agonising over it. Interestingly she recalls that I did study sculpture as a student and I remind her that it was perhaps the practicalities that meant I practised painting rather than sculpture when my children were small as one could paint on the kitchen table once they were in bed in comparative quietness.
We are up until 4 am with me doing virtual paintings on photographs of my horse that Richard has managed to clone. He sends them off just after 4...
Monday 8.11.10
..so I’m very pleased when I rise rather later than him, that he tells me we’ve had e mails from both Edward at the Racecourse and Sophia at the Museum both independently and generously saying that this is brilliant. Great relief ! Richard from the appeals office at the Star College phones to talk us through increasing the pledge on the Big Give with some of the moneys from my painted quartet which the Big Give should double. We are going to add it to the proceeds of my forthcoming Mulled Wine, Mince Pies and Miniatures weekend in aid of the new creative arts department. I’m just signing off when one of the mobiles rings; it’s Jack from BBC Radio Gloucestershire asking if I’d seen the Crucible exhibition and if I’d like to make a few comments about it on the Steve Kitchen show this evening. I tell him that I thought it stunning and fabulous - an exhibition of national importance seen in one of the most breathtaking of venues, Gloucester Cathedral and that I’d made my first tweet on it. I look at the catalogue and remind myself just how beautiful works like the Lyn Chadwick’s Cloaked Figure’ looked in the corner of the cloisters - full of dignity and mystery and the Damien Hirst ‘St Bartholomew - exquisite pain’ scissors and scalpel in hands, movingly exhibited in front of the high altar; Anthony Gormley’s cast iron figure prone on the floor like a child clinging to mother earth for fear of being flung off as it rotates its way round the sun. David Mach’s disturbing Calvary’ a crucified Christ made out of steel and wire coat hangers - almost as terrifying as ‘Silver Streak’ the figure of an enormous gorilla in this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition; the tiny Angus Fairhurst ‘The difference between feeling and thinking - ape looking towards heaven’ less than 12 inches high, like a memorial to his own life which sadly he took.
After the little broadcast I’d really scheduled a return to my upstairs studio to commence painting but I cannot resist working on the naked winged figure who is currently suspended on the armature without his horse. He looks very rough and unfinished by comparison and I find myself compelled to work on his form. The joy of creation is quite overwhelming until as I gradually turn him to work each side I find that the armature where it supports his body from the back, will not permit me to work on the buttocks, which are such an essential and beautiful part of the male form. But I’m not sure how to get round it. The armature was there as I had originally thought the figure might be robed. I explain my dilemma to Richard and start to pull upon the torso to see if there is any play or movement; Ri chard explains that he had wired the armature to the metal Tiranti support. As I tug it lifts and exposes one of the copper wires that Richard cuts and even though his body begins to open in parts I know I have to do this. Gradually bit by bit as I lift, Richard cuts more of the wires and eventually releases the figure whilst I start filling the hollow with clay. R makes two metal hooks that fit under his arms - he’s amazingly heavy - enabling me to work on the buttocks to complete the broken form. I’m also able to lengthen the legs as the support structure was not really high enough.
Tuesday 9.11.10
I do a little more to the Kotler commission before R packs it in his specially constructed double box which is completed only minutes before federal Express calls to collect it!
R’s been mulling over recipes for Saturday’s supper party,
Wednesday 10.11.10
E mail from Rick Rumrell in St Augustine, Florida via Linkedin, saying he’s heading to London in January and may be able to do a day visit here. This high powered lawyer who came to my rescue earlier in the year is a great friend and collector. It’s been interesting getting feedback from some of my American friends and collectors all of whom would have voted for Obamah and the Democrats and who on the whole are in admiration of the good things he has done, like the health reform but all are concerned about the states of the economy and huge unemployment. Professor Nancy Kotler says
“As to the elections, what must the world think?... we are grateful that the Democrat held onto the US Senate. There is no doubt that jobs are the primary issue today and the election demonstrates that is the case. Historic legislation was passed in the last two years but no job creation. This is the problem in the information age, totally different skills required. this is a very difficult time; neither political party has the answers.”
My artist friend Loughran says she is relieved that Nancy Pelosi who pushed through the reforms, is still the Speaker - she is one of her heroes.
Rick Rumrell says “..Overall America has rejected President Obama and the Democrats , especially in Florida. Although the economy has not roared back, the voters have blamed the failed policies of the past Republican administrations with debt to the Democrats. The tragedy is that money has dominated the American political scene. I have criticised the failure of the print and electronic media for abdicating their responsibility to independently scrutinise the untrue and unfair campaign tactics used to win the election.
America and the rest of the free world deserve better...”
Thursday 11.11.10
Busy day on the communication front, including copy of the press release from the University re the Awards Ceremony, wanting awardees to check it out. It’s very generous and there’s only one small amendment which is to include being a director of ACS, which is also an important role to me. By forming this not for profit company as competition to DACS, Harriet Bridegeman has forced DACS to decrease the commission they took to the same low level as ACS. It’s not good for any organisation to have a monopoly.
Also e mail from Andy Ginn director of creative academies at Gloucestershire College asking if I might like to join in an exciting mural project that involves eight local schools and seems to have been the vision of Richard Graham, Gloucester’s new MP, and of course I’d be honoured.
Am working on three small paintings towards my Open Studio for the National Star College’s new creative arts centre on the 4th and 5th December, whilst making contemplation's on the large commission for the Doctors Ghandi in New York which is standing on the next easel.
Friday 12.11.10
quite a lot of progress on two of the small paintings I am working on so far for the open studio.
Saturday 13.11.10
Whisk twelve egg whites into stiff peaks before folding in the cooled stewed apples (from the garden) with the zest of a lemon skin - it always seems to take an age doing it by hand but it’s worth it for the magic of the transformation and one doesn’t have to expend electricity or suffer the terrible din. Pile into Sundae dishes with a raspberry on top (or top with creme and pistachio nuts) and voila! twelve apple snow mountains! Actually this was easy peasy dear R did all the real cooking of the braised mushrooms starter with salad and the haddock florentine main course but hey I did stuff the dates with brazil and walnuts but they still weren’t as wonderful as Sarah Daly’s (sustainability expert) beautiful tin of yummy chocolate fruit and nut tiffin or Peter Cottingham’s delicious toffee nut chocolate confectionary - two our lovely supper guests along with Beverly, Peter’s very bright and stunning wife, who came even though she had injured her ankle yesterday.
Another Peter - Pete Bungard - the particularly clever and caring CEO of Gloucestershire County Council and his sweet sweet wife Carol, who used to be a teacher but now does the very valuable job of being a lollypop lady helping all those children safely across the road which she says gives her all the joy of working with children and their parents without the stress.
Lovely Lisa Webb the head of the Open Museum and Artworks in Leicestershire.
Andrew Stonyer, professor of Fine Art at the University, Kinetic sculptor and architect.
Martin Kiszko, composer, poet screen play writer, whose brilliantly written Green Poems for a Blue Planet is illustrated by Nick Park (our other guest) with his beautiful and witty drawings. I take great glee in showing the two sets of his Wallace and Gromit special Christmas postage stamps that we have had franked in a small town in Wales called Bethlehem! also the Radio times cover which hails the new BBC TV series “Wallace and Gromit’s world of invention”.
Much lively discussion during the evening ranging from David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ in further education to memories of what some of us thought were the days of the golden age when it seemed to exist as part of everyday life. I think we were all particularly heartened to hear how Lisa’s “memory boxes” and tables are evolving particularly in relation to people with Alzheimers and dementia where artists have been commissioned to make small objects to be held in the hand and experienced in a tactile was. Highlight of the evening is Martin’s performance which takes them all by surprise when his mobile rings as a call from his daughter Zita who wishes to update her mobile phone; but really it’s me ringing from another room saying ‘hello Dad’ to start this seemingly real call. People are slightly taken aback and a bit aghast that he should be taking a call at the table but his rendering of ‘Upwardly Mobile’ is brilliant as is his performance of ‘The Board of Butterflies at the Annual Moth Meeting’.
Sunday 14.11.10
Lovely Lisa leaves for Leicestershire at lunchtime; it’s been so good catching up with her and all her achievements at Artworks and the Open Museum. it’s back to the easel for me trying to complete the three works to go onto the invitation card for the Mince pies, Mulled Wine & Miniatures weekend on the 4th and 5th December for the National Star College’s new creative arts centre, which means that I’m up all night. Richard too only gets a couple of hours as he’s been laying out the text etc.
Monday 15.11.10
R takes the paintings to be photographed at the Darkroom early, whilst I’m still working on the tiny circular Lighthouse painting, measuring only 7.5 cms in diameter, which Richard photographs himself to go on the reverse of the card with the text in black and white.
In the evening go through sketch books, sort out canvases and mix paints to take to Gloucestershire College for the workshop with the arts students tomorrow.
Tuesday 16.11.10
What a glorious day, sun shining . Several copies of the journal of the American Viola society arrive with my viola on the cover. It’s a stunning layout and the image runs from top to bottom. Really good colour but what a wonderful surprise when one opens it - there on the inside of the cover is the image of the back of the viola which fits exactly and the lettering of the cover as if seen backwards through glass. It’s fantastic and there’s a whole block of text which mentions the National Star College, Cheltenham International Music Festival and my narrative for the painting.
Whilst I’m getting ready to leave and at the same time as Sue from Tewkesbury Printing has brought the proofs, Richard brings up the phone. It’s lovely Andy Curry inviting me to a ladies lunch at Scott’s in London, which Lionel is treating her to as a birthday celebration. She’s inviting several of her friends from the charities she supports. But imagine my dismay when I discover it’s on the same day that the University are so generously awarding me the honorary Doctorate of Arts, which also includes a buffet luncheon.
We then drive over to Gloucestershire College to give a bit of a talk and to do a workshop with the first and second year art diploma students. they had just had a talk from de Monfort University so Robbie thinks I should do a shorter talk then the workshop after lunch. it’s quite a large group - about 40 - so I talk a bit about keeping sketch books and what a valuable resource they are and that mine form a journal; that the process of drawing itself tends to help one’s inner eye to regurgitate or build a memory bank of the way things look and are. I rarely if ever refer to it directly for paintings unless it’s a portrait or similar. I prefer to draw on the memory and subconscious as that gives a more personal image. During the afternoon session I attempt a bit of a self portrait from memory, trying to look at the way light shapes and informs all that we see ; so thinking about the structure of the skull beneath skin. I don’t go on for too long as I feel that unless I speak all the time their concentration dips and of course they are only sixteen or seventeen years of age on average. The course they are doing would be equivelant to two A levels. I decide to leave it fairly sketchy and to engage them with their own self portraits. Some use mirrors and stand at easels, some work at tables. Some are motivated and absorbed from start to finish, others perhaps too self conscious and inexperienced to make confident starts. One boy asks me if I will paint him so I sit and do so for a few minutes in the hope that it will spur him on. I’m really delighted that two young men who left the National Star College in July, Craig and James and sitting almost next to me. They are lovely boys and James has a most infectious sense of humour. He tells me that he’s not good at people but good at design and when he shows me his sketchbook I see what a powerful, obsessive sense of design he has. Craig is also cautious but produces a very nice self portrait although he feels a little disappointed in it himself but am delighted when he tells me he’s going to try another one at home. They are both really enjoying Gloucestershire College but very much valued and miss the Star. A delightful Romanian girl who sits next to them makes a very good self portrait. She shows me a lot of her other work on her phone which is also impressive. She’s only been speaking English for two years. Robbie introduces me to one of the second year students who received one of my awards at the end of last year; very bright, edgy and political and she’s aiming high with proposed applications to Goldsmiths and the Slade. I tell her that Nathan was at the Slade for his Masters. We discuss student fees as it is imperative she gets into one of her choices at the end of this academic year before the big increase. Robbie tells me that students will be hard hi; they have had a big increase in applications to get onto courses before it happens!
Back home to continue work on the small paintings and miniatures
Wednesday 17.11.10
We seem to be partying with the press a lot this week. it’s wonderful Weekend’s fifth birthday so have been invited to a celebration at The Greenaway. We immediately bump into the wonderfully flamboyant Ian Mean, editor in chief; such a shrewd man who has Gloucestershire’s good always at heart. He used to be on the Mirror. After being given drinks and chatting to Maggie, the PA to the senior executives, we’re ushered into a room where the speeches take place. I’m very surprised to see a large screen with a slide show of some of the covers of the last five years and to feel Richard nudge me when I’m confronted by an image of myself in the studio on a stool two or three times during the presentations. It was quite early on in their first year and I remember being very surprised when R came home with it. They have always been hugely supportive covering exhibitions, charities and projects that I’m involved with. It really is an excellent magazine and in its five years has twice won Best Supplement of the Year from the Newspaper Society. It combines sophisticated celebrities who live in the county with huge coverage of the people of Gloucestershire and small businesses etc. I learn an enormous amount about what is happening here through its pages which are also very entertaining well written and laid out. It’s really good to have the opportunity to congratulate and thank people like Tanya its Editor and Lucy Parford the features writer. We also chat at length to the photographer who over time we’ve also got to know quite well; both his parents are artists his mother a painter and father a sculptor. He introduces me to Zog Zeigler whom I’m delighted to meet as he’s married to Jill who was one of my fellow art students. Zog writes on motoring. A very affable man who does a lot of work for the World Service and Radio 5. They also have a daughter called Henrietta.
Back home to paint more little pictures.
Thursday 18.11.10
Dental appointment - all’s well, nothing needs to be done. Decide whilst I’m here that we should have a quick !!! look at the shops again. Finding things in my size is not always easy though much better than it used to be. I was really pleased when 8 became popular as the average small size in off the peg used to be 10! But most stores now carry 8 and many also stock 6 and I’ve even purchased size 4 which is American 2 from Jesirée in the last year or two. In the good old days I designed and made my own but time doesn’t permit now so I have expend some valuable time on an occupation I prefer to observe rather than partake in especially when I notice that my favourite jacket is becoming a little threadbare.
Back home in time for Sue from Tewkesbury Printers, who are kindly donating the printed card for my open studio, to deliver them between 4 and 4.30. Then it’s back to work.
Friday 19.11.10
Stop work in the studio at a quarter to five to change for the official opening of the new Gloucestershire Media office, which is a large open plan space in the same building as BPE; so we’re not surprised to see a big plaque outside saying this is also the Estonian Consulate as of course John Beevor is both Consul and a lawyer with BPE. Again we’re warmly greeted by Ian Mean, editor in chief, who proudly shows us around the space and points out that he has the print of the painting he auctioned for me at the Star Art auction and exhibition I held at the Gardens Gallery in 2006. The editors’ offices and board room have huge photographs of parts of Gloucestershire, the top of the Cathedral tower sillouetted against the sun red sky in Ian’s; later Kevan shows us his and there is a panoramic townscape of Cheltenham.
A lot of familiar faces here; Pete Bungard and Andrew North (CEO of Cheltenham Borough); Ruth Fitzjohn; lovely High Sheriff Ceri Evans with his delightful wife who tells Richard that there are four stages of Father Christmas. Dame Janet Trotter does the grand opening and speaks quite movingly making comparisons with the repressed press in Burma and the recent release of Aung San Suu Kyi. But is full of admiration and respect for Ian, Kevan and their teams even though as she says, they have sometimes been critical of things she has done. But of course that is her point, it is what freedom of the press is all about. We chat to Kevan and then his wife who have just come back from Australia and are suffering from jet lag. Ian introduces me to the new MD Sarah who seems very nice and like Ian has one of my newspaper painting giclees in her office.
Saturday 20.11.10
It’s the special 5th birthday edition of Weekend and as Ian Mean had told us, it is printed on a very nice superior paper and has reproduced many of the covers from over the time, including a little one of me in studio during its first year. Another photo of me congratulating them and saying I love Weekend, it does so much for Gloucestershire, they should be really proud, which is true; always well written and designed it does much to encourage and promote the people, the organisations and the businesses of Gloucestershire. We;re also honoured to appear on their Bib and Tucker birthday celebrations page, including one of me with Zog Zeigler, motoring correspondent who I was delighted to meet as he is married to Jill, a friend of mine from student days.
Sunday 21.11.10
Painting more miniatures for the open studio event
Monday 22.11.10
Edwina and Emmanuel drive down from London to visit the studio and discuss a commission over lunch, such a bright and delightful couple.
The tiny paintings have started to sell. The little Lighthouse yesterday and today Tempting the Venerable and Yellow Sails
Tuesday 23.11.10
My lovely friends and collectors the Mondays have just phoned to reserve Haute Cuisine; they are so supportive having bought from each event and we’ve arranged that they are coming to visit a little before Christmas to collect the cello and viola that they bought from the Music Festival auction and all three pieces are going to join their extensive collection in their new home.
Wednesday 24.11.10
Lovely Katie Jarvis from Cotswold Life comes even though she has hurt her back and is in considerable discomfort; and Anthony the photographer. We hadn’t realised it was going to be such a big feature and were most impressed by her questions and understanding of the creative process and his flair and creativity.
Richard has no sooner put on the tiny Four Forty painting when we receive e mail from the Monday’s who would like to have that also. Shortly after one from another dear friend to say could she buy the Elephant Guided by Angel and the Whale. Aren’t I lucky to have such friends.
Thursday 25.11.10
Up to London via Burford to drop three paintings off at the Brian Sinfield Gallery. We’re doing well and in good time when we arrive in the metropolis; enter Bayswater Road with an hour to go but an hour later we are stuck at Marble Arch behind something called the emergency response unit. Phoned Martin to apologise that we’re probably going to be late and that I won’t be there to make the call at the end of The Tale of the Whale from Zeta which sparks off the poem Upwardly Mobile. Eventually after being redirected around Hyde Park we get to BAFTA at about 7.15. The performance has finished but am greatly relieved to see lovely Andy and Lionel Curry who we had invited to this event. Such a delightful couple. Lionel is buying is my Rumba painting for Andy’s birthday so he and Richard go out to transfer it from our boot to theirs - our luck had obviously changed as we are both parked in Sackville Street just opposite BAFTA. They are keen Latin American dancers themselves so it seems wonderfully appropriate that it’s going to such a good home. They have already met Martin and Nick and as there are other latecomers too (Lionel explains that the whole of London had been gridlocked) Martin performs three of the poems again. I sit next to Nick’s actress friend Melissa who is next to Manuella the film director/producer friend of Martin’s from LA. The other side of me is her co-director on their current project. What a privilege. Andy and Lionel take their leave with promises that we’ll get together shortly whilst we stay on until the end of the event when we go off for dinner with Martin, Nick and Melissa, who suggests the Haymarket for an Italian. It’s a fun meal with lots of interesting anecdotes and discussion,. I really like Melissa who is half Persian and comes from Iran; full of great warmth and enthusiasm - as well as acting she makes jewellery and works at the the Opera House. It’s about 11.30 when we all depart. Remarkably back home by 2 am, much helped by the stimulating conversation over dinner which I try to continue whilst sending two or three e mails.
Friday 26.11.10
Working on two or three of the pieces for the open studio.
Saturday 27.11.10
Delighted to receive a letter from Michael Shinn saying that he and his daughter Catherine have accepted my invitation to be two of my VIP guests at the Awards ceremony on Tuesday. This dear man taught me as a student and became head of the art school after Reggie Dent, so it means a lot to have him there.
R picks up the Echo and Weekend Magazine and there we are again partying with them at the launch of their new impressive premises, with Kevan Blackadder who says I am a rose between two beards.
Sunday 28.11.10
Working out my acceptance speech and words of encouragement for the new graduates on Tuesday; paring it down to just three minutes is quite difficult, making every word relevent. Finish another of the miniatures for the Open Studio next weekend. Weather forecast rather worrying as snow has descended in Scotland and other parts of the country so it doesn’t bode well for next week as we’re told it’s going to spread to most parts of the country. I think the lowest temperature for November has been recorded in Wales where think I heard the weather reporter says it has been -15.3C
Monday 29.11.10
Day divided between working on the small miniatures, currently painting one with Mark and Julia Hurrell in mind; they were pipped to the post for the little lighthouse painting by Kev’s parents and practising my speech for tomorrow. My sister Gill rings in the evening to say that she doesn’t think she’d better attempt the drive tomorrow morning from Bedfordshire due to the snow that is forecast to fall and I agree. Likewise I have told Henrietta and Nathan not to try and make it. It would be awful for Henrietta to be stranded away from her two little boys and Nathan who is a freelance art director has a big job starting tomorrow.
Tuesday 30.11.10
The short drive doesn’t really take much longer than usual and there is glorious sunshine. We can see excited students and parents making their way to the entrance to the Centaur. The reception area is absolutely full of students, all gowned and wearing their mortar boards. We are directed upstairs where we are warmly greeted by Helen Pearson the Alumni and Development officer then I’m delighted when Ben Calvert the Dean of the Arts Faculty makes his way forward to greet me. When I’m gowned and capped ready for photographs - I’m asked by the Echo and the University’s photographers if I will go outside and pose against the racecourse with its backdrop of the snow covered Cleeve Hill; it’s quite windy so my hair is blowing wildly. They ask me to stretch my arms right out with the cap held high against the skyline. It’s pretty nippy so I’m pleased to go back in. Then I pose with the vice chancellor Paul Hartley and the pro chancellor Bishop Michael. Am introduced to Patricia Wiltshire-Hawksworth, an eminent scientist who has made major breakthroughs in forensic science particularly in cases like the Soham murders and I feel rather humbled to be receiving an award at the same ceremony. Soon we are assembled as a procession at the bottom of the stairs ready to enter the Centaur; I realise I’m still carrying my bag but am able to pass it over to Richard who is sitting just behind me. It’s awe inspiring to witness just how many students are receiving their degrees, a culmination of at least three years work in the University but probably with the preparation of related A levels or similar in advance. Patricia is busy writing notes. There are many categories within each discipline, much broader that when I was a student. Patricia is presented with her award and speaks with interest on how she was channelled into her area of specialisation and expertise through circumstance and how surprised she was to recieve the letter telling her that was to be awarded an honorary doctorate of science. Now Ben Calvert, Dean of the art faculty is reading my citation which is very generous and covers not only my career as an artist but also my work in the community particularly my connection with the Star College (which means so much to me). Then up on the stage where the pro chancellor, Bishop Michael, confers the degree of honorary Doctor of Arts on me is which is overwhelmingly humbling.
My response: Pro chancellor, distinguished guests, graduates, ladies and gentlemen and learned staff, I am truly humbled, hugely honoured and exceedingly happy to accept this generous award from the University of Gloucetershire, for which I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And if in turn there is anything I can do to help the University then it will be my pleasure. I owe much to the then Gloucestershire College of Art and Design, it transformed my life. With the help of the then Principal Reggie Dent, who interviewed me, taught us drawing and followed our progress with great interest throughout his life. he was the first person I met when I started to exhibit over a decade later. There he stood, arms outstretched to greet me as a fellow exhibitor at the Royal Academy. And thanks to another man too, who taught us to experiment and explore ideas, Michael Shinn, who is one of my guests here today. Michael also went on to become head of the art school and he still supports me now. He was one of the first through the door of my recent London exhibition.
The staff may have changed but their dedication and generosity of spirit has not. At your recent sensational degree show they were bursting with pride for your achievements and I too was in awe. But this is your new beginning and in a time of government cuts and recession it will not be easy. But HEY, the arts always thrive in times of adversity. And you are the creative thinkers, the innovators, the explorers of ideas of the future. So practice your talents well; the more you give the more you’ll get and if you’re as fortunate as I, they will sustain you right through your life. An eminent entrepreneur recently told me that although we perceive this to be a rather grim era, history will record it to have been a golden age. So I bid you go out, be inspired, be dedicated, be determined, make your own golden opportunities and careers. You can do it I know you can, because you’ve got a degree from the University of Gloucestershire. Bravo! Well done! and many congratulations.”
I’m so touched as Bishop Michael stands up again to greet me as I leave the stage, saying “...and all without a note..” which he later confirms with Richard, who tells him that I never use notes as I like to be as spontaneous as possible so prefer to memorise what I would like to say. Bishop Michael then gives his slightly longer speech as pro Chancellor - words of encouragement and congratulation, It’s then time to process out. I smile at all the beautiful young graduates on the brink of their new lives who will be celebrating with friends and family their achievements. I’m joined on the way up by Bob Davison head of painting and Nick Sargent head of photography. I thank them all for visiting the National Star College earlier in the year and Nick for opening the photography exhibition there in the summer. They are a small and dedicated group of staff who help and encourage their student achieve their full potential.
I’m delighted to see Michael Shinn with his lovely daughter Catherine. It’s a delightful luncheon and we are accompanied on our table by Scott Harvey one the University Council and Ben Calvert and the young man who had so charmingly looked after us. Just after the dessert I’m presented with programme and University badge bearing its coat of arms and I present the Vice Chancellor with a copy of Martin and Nick’s book Green Poems for a Blue Planet, inscribed to ‘the greenest university’.
I’m really touched as when we are making our way to the car park a mother and her graduate son call out “ good the speech” was and this is echoed later that evening in Gloucester when I meet Dame Janet Trotter, who was responsible for turning the College of Higher Education into a university and is now Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, who says she had heard it during the afternoon. We were in Gloucester for an Honourable Company talk by Mr Justice Royce, senior presiding judge of the Western Circuit. Very informative and witty. Over supper we sit with Mark and Julia where Richard shows them the little paintings I have been working on for them. The food is excellent; made and served charmingly by the students of Gloucestershire College’s wonderful Catering Academy.