It’s me. I’m writing a blog. This will be a good outlet for me I’m sure because goodness knows I need another one of those.

After a bit of a break since ‘Fodders’ (more vegetable appreciation and my first YouTube video!) I returned back to the canvas to create my latest piece ‘Shank’. I love a funny name. I had been in the full grip of a knitting and spinning hyper fixation and was lacking inspiration for art and a few unfinished pieces were sitting in the corner of the living room being judgemental.

Sometimes I start a painting get as far with it as I can and have to accept that I’m simply too autistic to power through and finish it when I’m not connected to the reference image. There are no requirements for said connection—it’s completely random and at times very frustrating but in the end I do come out of it with art I am very happy with. The older I get the more in tune I am with the way my brain works and the more willing I am to do what it wants.

I am mad with power.

This one came from a two hour foraging trip I went on that was supposed to be a short walk. I was looking for lichen (natural dyeing nonsense) and found some jelly ear mushrooms, a pile of discarded old pottery which was thrilling and these wild enoki mushrooms. There was also some giant dried out dogweed that made me feel like a borrower and some equally giant hares that burst out of a bush and gave me some considerable palpitations. Buffy (tiny dog, lots of personality) was good enough not to chase the uber rabbits.

Anyway. I took a lot of very delicious photos some of which will become paintings—which ones I could not tell you. This one however made it. I was all in and with the help of T.Rex’ s Electric Warrior I created this very edible piece of work. You may applaud me at this time if you feel so inclined. It doesn’t matter if I’m not there to hear it. The gesture is enough.

Soon I will make prints available on here. Be grateful for that.

I’m seriously considering doing some life drawing studies. Expect some naked people. I am not restricted to any one theme and I will be taking advantage of that. Having photographed the unfinished paintings haunting the studio I am now ready to paint over them and move on with my life.

I have some ideas of what I might go for. I’ve been inspired lately by details of the East Neuk I see on my walks. It could be genital mushrooms or I might be painting old cigarettes. Like I said I simply do not know.

Otherwise I’ve been stocking my studio cupboard with natural dye jars. Some oak moss lichen is currently undergoing a chemical reaction in a jar of my piss. No I’m not in the midst of a psychotic episode! It’s just a very traditional method of creating ammonia and eventually some beautiful pink and purple lichen dyes! I’m sure my ancestors were doing such things and that’s partly why I’m so enthused. Fascination with weird niches of nature does run in the family. See ‘Insect Collecting in the Tropics’ by Donald Noel McNutt.

I was spinning on the antique wheel I recklessly gifted myself at Christmas but I am having issues with the whorl and so haven’t been able to. Just know there a yarn collection coming at some point and you will like it. In the meantime I am spinning a fleece on the drop spindle.

This is all incredibly fascinating I’m sure. I will get better at being more captivating.

Whatever.

Bye bye!

Juggling Inspirations

What the freak is art?