The tyranny of optics
A photo of the retina – the white blob is where the optic nerve attaches, it’s called the blind spot. One of the advantages of having bright and fleshy beings in the studio again is that casual conversations about drawing […]
Why you are the true Alchemists
Detail of The Alchemist – Joseph Wright of Derby Why you are the true Alchemists On a perfect day with a pristine blue sky, un-etched by con-trails (why do they disappear some days and not others?), I found myself in […]
Discipline
Discipline is not a popular word these days. It carries with it a sense of obligation and duty connected with institutions and punishment and unless that is a bit kinky, not really much fun at all. The word comes from disciple, […]
It’s a new term, but it’s a strange one
We are getting back to studio based sessions but there is clearly a certain amount of ‘social hesitancy’ which means that we still have studio spaces left. We also have a certain amount of ‘organiser’s hesitancy’ too in that we […]
Doing as we are told
Degas breaking the rules of composition and framing – The dance lesson We’ve worked with lots of artists over the years who want clear instructions about how to draw or paint. At one level this is easy to answer, if you […]
Football’s going Rome…
Detail of Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci, who was rubbish at football. On Sunday a group of plucky lads narrowly escaped becoming national heroes. I know nothing of football but I imagine they were a bit disappointed. To […]
Oily fish and oil paint
Black Scabbard Fish – if it’s not oily, it should be. Reviewing the many health benefits of eating oily fish I was encouraged to read that “Among people who abuse alcohol, fish oil may offer protection from dementia” which is lucky, because I may […]
Mothing to See Here
Mothing to see here We had a visitor in the studio this week, an exceedingly elegant lady who it transpires was a lime hawk moth. She was huge and plump with a seductively velvety belly. Most noticeably she was wearing […]
Talking and Pictures
You may know the feeling. Notwithstanding a world class arts education, forty years of diligent practice, many sales and peer reviewed accolades, you discover that you haven’t a clue how to paint. On top of that you’re useless at drawing […]
Casual sex and Sunday painters
Casual sex and Sunday painters Trees near Breccles – Winston Churchill I know we’re not allowed to go on holiday but is anyone clear about the government regulations around casual sex? I’m asking for a friend. My grasp of the […]
