There's posh in Taiwan!

Olympic grumble and goldfinches

Alas and alack and much woe. Despite the Olympics not even due to start for another 10 days, it is increasingly difficult to get to the studio. Being right on the park boundary doesn't help. Carpenters Road use to be home to the largest hub of artists studios in Europe, sadly almost all are under the stadium now and my space is just one of the very few left. Being so close I have been subjected to ghastly wailing noises and loud music which presumably are all part of the rehearsal for the games. The traffic has been really grim for the last couple of weeks and will be worse as we are now restricted with games lanes (£130 fine for going even onto the white line apparently) and the tube has been heaving for the last fortnight so I have no intention of trying to brave the crowds at Stratford unless I absolutely have too. Last night I collected some stone and some tools to work at home. I have a lot of finishing off to do, a lot of unbelievably dull sanding so future blogs will probably précis all the radio 4 and world service programmes that keep me sane while I have been sanding away. I had a brilliant time at the studio, I think I was the only person there for most of the afternoon and started filling a workbench that has drawers with tools, before carrying on with finishing another piece in the Mossom series, Mossom is still in the RA. It is taking ages to thread the wire through but the results are well worth it. I gave in when there were helicopters hovering overhead for nearly half an hour.  
As I write there are goldfinches on the bird feeder and they are becoming regular visitors along with a flock of sparrows. I shall try not to disturb them too much while I am working outside over the next couple of months. 

sunshine and colour

Well the sun shone on me yesterday! Somehow I managed to pick the only rain free day to walk miles carrying a brolly and jacket when I popped down to Kew Gardens and see the David Nash residency/show. This is highly recommended,-the show, I mean, not the bit about looking like a pack horse!-huge lumps of wood in different configurations. Some like the eucalyptus really was just a huge lump, a trunk on its side, 8' high and 20' long, I think that would keep me going for the rest of my days!
The best bit was hearing a cheery laugh and coming face to face with Fred and Jelka Pollock out celebrating 37 years of marriage! Well done both, that it a real achievement. 

The big bit of eucalyptus!

I went off to see Fred's show at Delphina in Bermondsey St, SE1 this morning and it is brilliant, full of vibrant, sumptuous colour and so embracing, it just pulls you in. I have always been a fan and his work gets better every time I see it. 
http://www.poussin-gallery.com/site.php?artist=8 

sociable

A sociable life this week with two separate visitors at the studio making helpful and very positive comments. I am usually on my own and there is often no one else in the building, though there can be some interesting people in cars in the road outside. Thankfully my nudists did not put in an appearance this week. I spent Friday night at APT in Greenwich for their regular open studios,  an amazing hub of artists who have been working  alongside each other for years and making outstanding work. I knew Lou Smith from my Foundation course, Richard Lawrence and Anthony Daley from Wimbledon School of Art. Sheila Vollmer, Steven Lewis, Mali Morris and Geoff Rigden amongst several others as well, are all showing at the RA Summer Show. A vibrant mix of excellent work and extraordinary to think that they have been such an important part of my sculptural life for so long.  Nose to the grindstone now that a fresh batch of clay has been fired....photos later when I start assembling out all

Nudes but no drawing

Having spent much of the day in front of the computer updating handouts for students, a worthy pursuit and one which did need doing,  I made sure that I did get to the studio. I needed to collect some clay to be fired and have another go at splitting a green ash log. The clay is part of a series, one of which 'Mossom' is still on show at the Royal Academy.   The log is proving remarkably resistant to any working and there will be cheers when the split happens. I gave up eventually as it was getting late but  despite the reluctant ash, it was a productive evening. 
My studio is down a dead end road and there is a short turning, away from prying eyes there always seems to be someone 'waiting' in a car. This time a car was parked right in the middle of the road in front of my gates. As I was going to be loading boxes of clay I needed them to move though I was clearly interrupting a private moment.  The young couple were really lovely, she re-arranged her garb and moved the car. 4 hours later the private moment was still ongoing but they obliged my request to move again. I only realised they were naked when they opened the totally steamed up window to be able to see where they were driving. Driving home, I notice a man using crutches  trying to walk with his jeans literally round his knees.  I decided that none of them would appreciate me asking them if I could do some life drawing.

Poussin gallery

A weekend in glorious Devon avoiding the jubilee as far as possible meant dashing back to London in the pouring rain last night. I just, but only just, managed to see Jeff Rigden's paintings and constructions at the Poussin Gallery. www.poussin-gallery.com It was well worth the effort and lots of good people there too, a great evening. 
I am now back in the hurly burly of applications, more exhibitions required. Taiwan and the Royal Academy are great but I can't rest on my laurels. 

The Royal Academy

I would like to show some photos but despite taking my camera I made a serious omission of forgetting fresh batteries. If others send me photos I shall rectify the situation so meanwhile you will just have to take my word for it and believe me when I tell you it was a glorious day to parade down Piccadilly following the Rector of St James church, a Reverend from St Pauls and a steel pan group playing 'When the Saints'. With the sun shining, the traffic at a standstill, surrounded by more artists than I thought possible, we walked to the church for a beautiful church service where I was able to stare at the Grinling Gibbons carvings. Back to the RA to catch up with friends and find my sculpture. I was so happy to see so many people I knew, especially Kate Wilson and Sheila Vollmer, as well as ex and current students and John Carter who taught me. I was very restrained, only one glass of champers and even then I waited until I had had some nibbles. My work 'Mossom' is resplendent in room VII hung by Alison Wilding.  The room is busy with a huge variety of different works, an eclectic mix. More to follow as I take it all in and wait for photos.