Thursday 1.1.09

Start the New Year quietly working in my studio which always seems to make me feel that all is well though sadly it's not; the situation in Gaza is horrendous with Hammas firing rockets into Israel but Israel bombing retaliation is out of all proportion. Hammas have killed four Israelis but the Israeli bombings have annihilated over 300 including many children. The tragedy is that force never begets peace it just makes further enemies and unless something positive is done about making two separate states, one for the Palestinians, it will go on for ever.

Friday 2.1.09

Having said I rarely watch television, at 2am Richard is tempting me with a programme on Progressive Rock in which of course The Great Roberto and King Crimson played a major part. When they appeared with the Stones at Hyde Park, Bill Bruford who was then playing drums with Yes and later became a member of KC said they were terrifying so good was their musical talent and wizardry. They still had that amazing power when we saw them playing in concert a few years ago. It's not hard to understand why they have such a huge following all over the world.

Saturday 3.1.09

Wallace arrives mid afternoon on his way back from Devon where he has spent Christmas with his sister Madge and family. We exchange Christmas presents, he bringing a book (Light on Snow by Anita Shreve) and we give him a copy of ART ed. Andrew Graham Dixon. We sit over bowls of soup and exchange our Christmas stories. Both he and Richard had managed to watch Nick Park's Christmas special film 'A Matter of Loaf and Death' which they had both enjoyed immensely this makes me rather envious. Wallace was also here for supper when Nick Park, Martin Kiszko, Robert and Toyah came. Richard says the humour was wonderful, often fleeting and understated it added to the brilliance of this animated masterpiece. I'd heard Nick being interviewed on the radio shortly before Christmas - he felt that the seven months it took him and the many animators to complete it was relatively short compared with the seven years it took him to complete 'A Grand Day Out'. That wonderful dedication, craftsmanship and sincerity even comes across in a radio interview; the obvious joy he takes in the humour of the characters he makes.

Wallace is also collecting his commission which we had kept to have photographed as he had wanted a card made of it but the printers proof was such a bad colour reproduction that we thought it might be better for him to see if there's one in his region - a couple of his friends are graphic designers so probably have some experience of who is good in the area.

Sunday 4.1.09

Call from Nadine to say Happy New Year and also that her gallery/consultancy Park Place Fine Art is up and running from January 1st and has a client coming to see one of my paintings. Although Nadine is quite young and not yet very experienced, her mother has been a dealer and collector for many years.

Monday 5.1.09

When wake, the world outside is white with a downy covering of snow; a beautiful icing over the garden and Lane. I watch the children running and sliding as they progress up or down the Lane with parents who always move with rather more caution.

Catalogue arrives from the Loch Gallery in Toronto for their exhibition 'Best of the Contemporaries' which I think opens this month.

Nice encouraging call from Sue Stack sweetly saying that it doesn't matter if I don't get their commission finished by the end of the month but I am now moving towards completion and it was encouraging to get Wallace's reaction to it on Saturday.

Tuesday 6.1.09

The world is still white and slippery.

Call from Michelle Blondel late morning. Paris too is covered in snow.

Wednesday 7.1.09

Phone call from Theo Waddington in Ireland.

Continue working the Stack's painting.

Thursday 8.1.09

An exciting post today as I receive a cheque from the Royal West of England Academy, a purchase order from Longleat and an invitation from dear Margus (the Estonian ambassador) to the ballet at Sadlers Wells and dinner afterwards. The two stars are both Estonian, Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur, principal dancers with the English National Ballet.

Friday 9.1.09

Oh dear, why do invitations, like buses come all for the same day and time? One from the Art Gallery & Museum to a private view of a glass exhibition and the other from the National Star College to a reception to celebrate their recent beacon Award for Lifelong Learning. Both are for the same time on the same friday evening as the ballet and dinner with Margus, which we enthusiastically accepted yesterday.

Saturday 10.1.09

Take an interlude from the studio early evening to attend a drinks party at Ronald and Lyn's new home in Winchcombe. Lyn shows us Ronald's new studio which looks rather tidier than mine! The house has been completely renovated and accommodates a most sumptuous 4 oven Aga which of course is essential to Lyn who is a cookery expert who had her own cookery school, writes and runs courses. Her office is in the heart of the kitchen.

Sunday 11.1.09

Continue on the Stack's commission. R has today primed the second frame and canvas for Amer's commission so that I have a choice.

Call from the Great Roberto discussing possible project.

Monday 12.1.09

Working on all fronts.

Tuesday 13.1.09

Travel up to London for Samuel's birthday. It's hard to believe that he's already one year old; although seeing him standing next to Isaac playing with the train track or the dolls house we have got them, it does seem amazing how much he's grown and how many things he can now do. Already words are beginning to form. He has had three birthday cakes made for him, two hedgehogs by Henrietta and a more traditional chocolate one by R. On our return at 2.30am there's a message on the answering machine from the assistant head of Cleeve School saying that the head would particularly like me to open their beautiful new buildings. I feel so lucky and honoured to be given this opportunity; from passing it looks stunning and when R searches the web site there are good shots of the interior, it looks wonderful - full of vibrant colour. It is so important for young people learn in environments that are stimulating and inspirational.

Wednesday 14.1.09

Call from Jessica at ACS wishing a happy new year but also saying she's had a request from a magazine Multimedia Information & Technology to ask if they can reproduce my painting Leonardo on the cover. It will include an article written by Jessica and ACS. She also mentions that Harriet is hoping to organise another Trustees / Directors meeting soon. When I enquire about further developments at ACS she says the government have just extended the derogation of the levying of resale rights for deceased artists until 2012, probably because of the current financial climate.

Letter from Bishop Michael inviting me to a hunger lunch of bread and water at the Cathedral to launch the Lent fast ; this is of course a lot more than some of the world's poor get, to whom moneys saved during Lent will go to help. It's to reinforce the importance of people in the affluent west not allowing an economic crisis to deflect us from the goal of alleviating world hunger by 2015.

Thursday 15.1.09

Unfortunately I have come down with the virus that Samuel had; so Richard attends Rose's lovely mother, Ina West's funeral and the tea afterwards at the Charlton Kings Hotel on his own.

Friday 16.1.09

Brian Sinfield's new catalogue arrives which shows three of my recent works.

I heard an interesting little news item sometime this week on Radio 4 about the Tokyo Fish Market which apparently has just started letting tourists back in they had been banned as some would pose for photographs picking up, poking or licking the fish, which seems a terrible insult to this scrupulously clean fish market. When we were there in 2005 I suspect tourists weren't allowed in as we didn't see any and we were warned that we probably wouldn't be allowed into the auction rooms. We did try to be as discrete and inconspicuous as possible in our observations and even though I was taking some photographs as reference material all the people who worked there were very courteous. The painting I did was part of the large commission I made for Mohammed Jameel but a reproduction of it has been used on the cover and the end papers of the book in Japanese on the Tsukiji Fish Market.

Saturday 17.1.09

Call from Richard Storey of the RWA Magazine who points out I hadn't mentioned my exhibition with Brian Sinfield in July in my forthcoming events e mail to him for the Magazine. I say that I thought perhaps it was too far away but he seems keen to include it. The magazine is always very well edited and produced.

On Weekend Woman's Hour the programme starts with an item on the three British musicians who are forecast to be at the top in 2009 by the BBC's panel of over 100 music industry insiders. One is La Roux for whom Nathan had yesterday been creating sets for her latest music video, the second that he and Ruth have recently made for her. When I mention the three names to him he also says he knows Little Boots who used to go out with one of his friends. Nathan is also currently working flat out on finishing work for an Exhibition/Performance and Installation at FormContent in London on Friday next (23th Jan) 7 till 9.30

Sunday 18.1.09

Call from the Great Roberto re proposed performance at St Michael & All Angels on 22 May. There is also another church who are keen to have him there on that date so say I am 95% sure but will confirm. Lo and behold within a couple of hours have heard from Bob Sims (Deanery treasurer and our man at the hub) to say that the new Rector has welcomed the idea and Bob asks us to convey their gratitude to Robert. So I'm able to phone the GR back and he and we are delighted. The performance he gave of his Soundscapes at St Michael's in 2006 was stunning; this time he's going to be playing with Theo Travis the flautist and saxophonist. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/3whj/

Monday 19.1.09

I've returned to the studio having now partially beaten off the virus. It always feels wonderful to be back on the job. So do a little to three different paintings. It's been a busy day on the communication front exchanging e mails and receiving prompt replies - so many exciting projects happening at the moment, including painting a quartet of stringed instruments commemorating the 200th anniversary of Haydn's death, which is being organised by the Art Gallery & Museum and the Cheltenham Music Festival. Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen and Cath Kidson are amongst others painting instruments.

Next week I'm going to have physical alterations (doorways made bigger etc) made to my studio over the road to accommodate the big commission for Gloucestershire College; in the meantime Richard's been learning how to incorporate moving images, speech and a podcast to the website for the students and others to follow the creative progress of this huge painting.

Tuesday 20.1.09

I sit working in the upstairs studio listening to the inauguration of Barak Obamah. I imagine many a tear will be shed across the world and much jubilation felt during this momentous event. In his speech he mentions bringing the war in Iraq to an end and in a low key way it  condemns much that took place during the previous administration.

On the same day I hear UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon report after his observations of the Gaza Strip and the devastation wrought there, including bombings of UN schools and 1300 people killed, a third of whom were children. President Obamah has taken on his mantle at a time of great unrest but he is going to open dialogue with Hamas which sounds to me like a hopeful beginning.

Towards the evening Richard notices that the Loch Gallery in Canada must have sold The Punter.

Wednesday 21.1.09

R’s very exited as he’s spotted an online review in The Guardian of  Nathan’s exhibition / performance / installation on Friday.

Call from Brian Sinfield re. prices of paintings they had requested to put on their web site.

Thursday 22.1.09

R’s currently battling with creating the new website.

Friday 23.1.09

Am pleased as now feel the Stack’s commission is almost there; another week or two on the refining should finish it.

Saturday 24.1.09

All day and evening in the studio.

Sunday 25.1.09

ditto.

Monday 26.1.09

ditto.

Tuesday 27.1.09

R collects the prints of The Beautiful Game and Armchair Supporters which he packs in readiness to despatch tomorrow by Fedex to the Jewish Sports Museum in New York.

Wednesday 28.1.09

Write a brief report on the art market and charitable giving to send to the Bishop’s Breakfast meeting as I won’t be there on Friday morning.

Busy day in the studio.

Thursday 29 .1.09

E mail from Greg to say he had passed on my enquiry about commissioning the Catering Academy to make a large cake for 120 to celebrate the Friends of Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum’s 25th anniversary. Also confirming that the scale of the big painting has now been given the go ahead (by the estates people) for the new reception area at Gloucestershire College. Then a very rapid and enthusiastic response from Keyth, the director of the Catering Academy.

Friday 30.1.09

Drive up to London. It’s a good day culminating in the evening at Sadler’s Wells where we have been invited to meet on the mezzanine for pre performance drinks and rather delicious nibbles. Richard spots Robert and Toyah - it’s a lovely surprise as neither of us had known the other pair would be there. So a lot of catching up on news. Margus arrives shortly afterwards with his charming son Michael who is in his final year at university studying Ancient History; he’s very like his father. Margus introduces us to the Vice President of the European Commission Siim Kallas and his wife and says we can all chat later as we on the same table for the dinner.

It is difficult to imagine how much strength and energy must be required to make their exquisite movements look so effortless. There are times when you feel they become the music itself; this was particularly so in Wayne McGregor’s 2 Human, a duet set to Bach ‘cello suite; where the movements are more aggressive and modern contrasting with the refined classical steps and postures of Sleeping Beauty or the neo classical style of Apollo choreographed by Georges Balanchine with music by Stravinsky (who promised the premier of this string orchestration to Diaghilev). They also dance Impromptu choreographed by Derek Deane to music by Schubert. Other leading members of the English National Ballet company also entertain us  with superb performances of Three Preludes, Duet and Who Cares. During before and after the dinner, there are a lot of speeches and a further bouquet for Agnes Oaks

I sit between Margus and Sir Peter Ricketts who is Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Toyah’s on the other side of him and they discover they each come from Birmingham. Toyah says she’s wanting to see the Oscar nominated The Incredible Story of Benjamin Button (a film about a man who ages in reverse). Sir Peter says he’s recently been to see Slum dog Millionaire which he had not enjoyed due to the extreme violence in it. I say that I can imagine it would be as having heard the book serialised on Radio 4 a year or two ago I remembered that most of the sequences that form flash back memories in the contestant’s mind do end very violently. These sequences are triggers to his memory that enable him to answer the question each time.

Robert’s on the other side of Margus, sitting next to the wife of Siim; she worked as a doctor for thirty years in Estonia; she and her husband are currently based in Brussels. He tells Richard that he is an economist (who happens also to be the former Prime Minister of Estonia, finance minister and foreign minister). They are a most amiable pair with lovely smiles. He also told Richard that like many other Estonians, his wife had been sent at the age of six months with her family to Siberia - one can only imagine what a terrible beginning that must have been; it makes her becoming a doctor caring for others all the more meaningful and remarkable. He was involved in the negotiations with Yeltsin and Gorbachov as the Soviet Union collapsed and Estonia regained its independence.

Robert tells me he’s been working on  something that will make his music and my images more compatible, saying he had noticed in the Gloucester Museum show they had turned the volume of his soundscapes down so as not to get in the way of the pictures. Whatever it is he’s creating sounds quite extraordinary and exciting; he called it sound sculpture.

At one point during the dinner and speeches, Margus brings Thomas Edur over and introduces him to me. In reality this beautiful young man looks smaller and slighter than during his performances where his overwhelming talent and physical strength fill the stage and auditorium with the presence of the character he is dancing.

We don’t leave until after midnight, arriving home about 3.15.