Greetings from the studio. It’s been some time since I updated what’s been going on . When I last wrote I’d just been diagnosed with Light chain Multiple Myeloma. Following that I underwent courses of chemotherapy and just recently a stem cell transplant under the team at Southampton General Hospital led by Kim Orchard.
During this time, due to the side effects of my medication and assorted procedures, my work rate shrunk somewhat. One painting done during this time I’m particularly proud of was a portrait of Sir Ian McKellan which is being auctioned on the 8th of November by himself in aid of the Albert Kennedy trust, a charity close to my heart. Next year there will be available a print based on this portrait.
What’s ‘on the easel’ now are a couple of paintings of Kenneth Stevenson the recently retired Bishop of Portsmouth. These paintings will be posted on this site as soon as I’ve finished them.
As you can see from the photograph on the home page, my situation has changed somewhat.
For some months I’ve been suffering from rib and shoulder pains along with assorted other aches and pains. Eventually I saw a consultant, Mr Smallwood, for suspected gallstones. On hearing my symptoms, about halfway into the consultation, I realised something more serious was up when he started being very nice to me! He rapidly called for a series of tests and phoned me a couple of days later to tell me that I have Myeloma, a treatable cancer, and he was passing me on to another consultant, Dr Smith. I saw Dr Smith three weeks later upon his return from holiday. The photograph on the home page, taken by Nigel, is of Dr Smith scooping out some bone marrow. (As an artist no subject is off limits, and as a person hiding from reality is not an option I‘ve ever taken).
Thankfully I put a lot of work into those three weeks, as I am now undergoing chemotherapy prior to a stem cell transplant early next year. Until then I have to be very careful about getting infected so whilst I’m still working, albeit in a different way and at a less frenetic pace, I’ve not gone away and don’t intend to do so in the immediate future . (There will be a link to myeloma UK for those of you who are interested). My daughter, the author and journalist Sara Lawrence, will be writing some pieces for the newspapers about myeloma. When they come out I’ll let you know.
And so to the work:
Dante still looms large. I’m continuing the studies for the Damned Demoiselles and as soon as I’m up to it will start the main Dyptich. I have been working on this for three years and am going to finish it. I even planted a bamboo garden for part of the background earlier this year which is yielding some interesting studies. Current state of play on TDD is many studies in various media - all of which are looking interesting to say the least.
At my last exhibition I showed the second of a Triptych, ‘In the middle of the journey’. I’ve also painted Young Dante in the near future am having the first sitting with the most perfect model for old Dante… Sir Ian McKellen! As well as the Dante painting I’m doing another portrait of Sir Ian to support a great charity: The Albert Kennedy Trust. (Again please see the link). Not only will they be auctioning this work but I’m also doing a very special limited edition print for them next year. On this one, watch this space.
New work:
As an artist my working life has been spent cataloguing my journey, emotional, intellectual and aesthetic. It would be remiss of me, whist continuing my other investigations, to ignore this upheaval along the way. Those of you who’ve been following my work over the years will be aware that the gestation period for my major works can take years. Dante first reared its head when I was still at Oxford. With the new works there will not be the luxury of such contemplation. They will be less measured and more immediate. Having said that, I am also revisiting old themes and bringing them back into the cannon. Maybe that’s not so strange although I’ve always believed that all artists do is paint the same thing in different ways. Some of these works will relate directly to my cancer and others - well I’ll let you make up your own minds.
In the gap between consultants I had some great days out in Town. Lesley, my wife, is being absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t do what I’m doing without her love and support. I saw Mannon at the ROH courtesy of the Sun no less. This followed the best Burger in London from Joe Allen’s. My friend Stuart Errington took me to a super livery dinner and another chum Anthony Cardew gave me a super lunch at the Reform.
The highlight had to be seeing Steven stills at the Shepherds Bush Empire. I took an old chum, Tony Poole, who I was at school with and used to play music with back in the day. He was the perfect companion. This last treat has led to a watercolour I’m currently working on. Whilst at college I bunked off to join his band on the road for a few days, (Starry Eyed and Laughing). I told my tutor that I was taking photos to use in a body of work. An excuse of course but a series of paintings did ensue. Quite good ones actually. At the gig I tried to take some photographs of the great man but all I succeeded in doing was catching the audience. These now form the basis of some of the new stuff. I’ll post the first of these studies here before too long.
The business bit:
As I have to be very careful about getting infection I’ll have to change the way my work is sold. For the time being it will be through this site. I’ll most likely set up pay pal or something similar and arrange delivery/collection through a secure carrier. A bridge to cross when we come to it.
I’m also intending to set up a blog, when one of the kids tells me how to do it of course! Until then keep an eye out here for developments.
Enough doom and gloom.
Back to work and, as I always say,
EVERY PROBLEM IS A GIFT
The Damned Demoiselles is a new body of work I’m currently engaged on that will lead to a major painting. The Damned Demoiselles is a reinterpretation of Picassos “Les Demoiselles D’Avignon”. I’m doing this in my own way for my own time.
For this picture, and the related works I’m using guys as models, rather than the females that Picasso used.
I didn’t realise how important these pictures could be until, when in Church earlier this year I heard the vicars sermon. Following on from a recent sectarian atrocity, I forget which, he stated that as Christians we should all declare war on Muslims, Catholics and Homosexuals. Up until then I thought that sexual equality , except amongst a few bigoted individuals, was a war that had been won with just a few mopping up up operations needed to put it to bed.
At the very least I hope that these pictures will make people look again at themselves and be more tolerant of others.
A close friend of mine, Dr Denis Flannery, has helped me with the models and geed me up on the journey. We’re both documenting the whole thing as well.
The way I work is to have a concept in mind and create a body of work that leads up to the final piece.
Along with the prints I envisage that there will be around 30 to 40 supporting oils as well as many drawings and watercolours. And of course The Damned Demoiselles.
