New works in progress

The top piece starts easily, working from the get-go, hence the white space. The second work is difficult. Repeating marks similar to the first painting leads, of course, to a dead end. Stalled. Fumbling. Decisive pink, and a change of brush – now we’re moving.

One freshly stretched canvas sits on my painting table. In front of me, on my non-painting table, are a set of stretcher bars, a roll of primed canvas, a blue staple gun, scissors, canvas pliers, an old bike tool doubling as a makeshift pair of pliers and a staple remover. The sandpaper and sanding block are in the other room with a second set of bars.

It’s been an age since I’ve stretched my own canvases and while my skills certainly need refining through practice (and the occasional YouTube video), it’s nice to be doing it again. That “making something with your own hands” type feeling.

Sunshine, coffee and canvases – not a bad way to end the week and start the long weekend.

Sketchbook studies made while half watching tv.

A take-it-easy-it’s-Friday kind of post – 17 images that caught my eye this week including a Morandi at Frieze, some Keep Busy Book puzzle pages, and a Victor Willing.

And yes, it’s been a positive week in the studio, with good conversations around my paintings. I’m feeling the benefits of stepping back, am excited about where next and am itching to start on the next body of work.

Two pencil studies

Reusing an old sketchbook.
Each square is the size of a regular post-it note