Luke 23:34

 I had the idea of doing a crucifixion earlier this year, but the drawings weren't working so I put it aside.

But now, but now. 

As I mentioned in the last post, I worked through the initial shock and grief of Charlie's assassination. Worked through it not only in the hours spent cutting some recalcitrant blocks, but also absorbing myself in all the chores that I could find. Having done that, I felt I was in a place to try this again. And it has come out okay. Some bits are better than others, but there's plenty in it to make the effort worthwhile.

I think its worth tackling a biblical subject. It's a kind of test. It asks the question, "Is the Age of Postmodern Irony over?" I certainly think it's weakened. We might see some major art coming up, sneaking in at the edges, that actually means it. 

Girl with Cat (I think)

 Haven't finally decided title yest, but simple seems best. 

This one started out as one of last month's life drawings, but I felt she needed something extra. Hence the cat. A focus for her attention. The two colour blocks are wood. As usual rubbish from the shed. It was hard and splintery, so my hands are suffering for it now. But I've needed the pain over the past few days. And the single-minded focus to help me process the tragic deatth of Charlie Kirk. The print may seem a bit anodyne, but all my grief for Charlie is in it.

Busman's holiday

 Just did five solid days of life drawing at the Oxford Arts and Crafts Summer Scool. Run by Laura Degenhardt with Anthony, Peter and Naomi as models. I've come away groaning under tthe weight of who knows how many drawings. I feel there are plenty of things in there that will emerge in future work, and also got to try out a number of things, many of which I already have in my posession. I feel energised and ready to attack some of the ideas I've felt too jaded to even look at recently. Anyway here are a few of the drawings...

 

Lette Matrimoniale

 This one came together over the second half of Warwickshire Open Studios. I've been thinking about doing bed pictures since the exhibition in Mala Beds. I remembered that Lette Matrimoniale is what they say for double bed in Italy. Or at least they used to. The bed is very vaguely based on one we bought at an auction when we were newly together. 

I like the idea of her hiding behind the blanket. It could be she's being cheekily seductive, or maybe she's just woken from a scary dream. Make up your own story.

Fallen from Olympus VIII

 I think this really is the last one, now. It's been good to have some obsessions to follow though. I'm pleased with how the pinstripe trousers have worked out. I spent some time yesterday staring at the back of some guy's trousers yesterday to try and work out how the shadows go. Making them pinstripe worke out well too. This is another drawing (the guy's head anyway) thatt dates back some years - around 2021, I think. Then I constructed the body out of other random passers by over the last day or two. A bit like Dr Frankenstein, really.

Fallen from Olympus VII

 Slight variation in the position of the viewer here, with our party-goer on the left hand side of the picture. It's a slight nod to the teary drunks who used to say "it was a great pub..." Maybe they still do.

It look me a while to find someone suitable for tthis one. Ended up plumping for a life-drawing from back in 2017 or tthereabouts. 

Fallen from Olympus VI

 Just when you thought it was all over... A little idea occured to me and it grew and grew to become this.

I certainly felt I had no defense here. The print insisted that I make it. It took a little while to shape up, but it was relentless in its will to be said. I'm not entirely sure what I'm gettig at here. It's got something to do with the fact that neither figure is looking the way they "should" be. And there's something about actions and consequences here, too. But I'm not going to delve too deeply. I'll just leave it up to the viewer.