Awaken within

Today was going to be reasonably quiet, with me working on the new painting later on - probably about sixish. But, as is sometimes the case, things didn't go quite to plan........

It turned out that I had to make a journey today I wasn't expecting, a car journey to deepest darkest Essex. Well, actually that's not correct, its a very pretty part of rural Essex even in the middle of bleak winter. But the journey had to be made, to help another out, to collect something that isn't mine, from someone who wasn't there (are you following this?). So, although the journey took over two and a half hours, I was only at the venue less than five minutes, and then headed straight back again, with a short stop on the way down, and way back, for a coffee and loo break. So, seven hours more or less, of travelling, and not doing what I had planned to do, today.

But, it meant I could do one thing. One very important thing.

I could think.

And I like thinking, especially when its about an exciting new painting I want to do......

By the time, I'd finished off the other chores for the day, its gone 9pm. Well past 9pm. But, that doesn't matter either, because when I'm fired up, time disappears, and I'll happily stay up til well past midnight getting on with the art and working on a painting.

I'm still in the design process though at the moment. The part when I put some inspiring music on, and get a pencil out, and some pieces of paper, and start playing with shapes, and lines, and tones.

But, when I start work on it, I can feel the excitement build in me. The way it catches my breath as I realise that the lines are flowing. Particularly when its an erotic abstract, one depicting more than one person.....



This is going to be a good one......

Not infront of the children

Discussing the subject matter of the painting with the person who has to live with it is always hugely important. I always ask questions to make sure that I am in total understanding of what they want, and why they want it. This conversation started with various questions from me - and one of them was whether she wanted the painting to be erotic? The answer came back that she would really LOVVVVVE it to be erotic, but because she had youngish children living in the house with her, she couldn't possibly consider it as an idea. I thought about that, and realised that the basis of an idea was forming. I suggested that it may be possible to make it erotic, but keeping it innocent too. She replied "That'd be a challenge!" "Yep," I happily replied, "And I lurve a challenge!" - let me have a think about it, and I'll come back to you with some ideas.

I spent the night ruminating (as you do!) :)

And the next day rang her to discuss my idea.

She had already provided me with some photos for me to work from. I spent some time going through them searching for the ones that would let me put my idea into practice. And I had found a couple that were ideal for my purposes.......

I explained what I had in mind. She listened at the other end of the phone, and agreed that it should work, and would achieve exactly what I described to her. And she happily gave me the go ahead to do it! YAY!
The idea of it excites me. And better still, it excites her. I'm totally fired up with it, and can't wait to get started on it!!!! I just had to ask her if there were any colours she particularly wanted in it - and she said her bedroom colours of cream and brown. Because this is definitely a bedroom picture! And I think it will look great in her bedroom, and asked if she wanted to add any more colours to it - suggesting red may be good? She agreed, caught up in the idea "Yes, red would be good, it's the right colour for it!" And then went on to suggest two other colours she likes - purple, and silver. "Was silver going to be a problem?" She wondered, and I said "No, I've got some silver acrylic paint, it'll work well with it!". And said that I might incorporate some black in it too, to balance it with depth of colour, which she said was quite acceptable. And we agreed that adding the extra colours to the cream and brown meant that if she changes her colour scheme at some point in the future that it would still go with various other decors.

So, as far as her children are concerned, it will be an abstract painting. There will be lines, and blocks of colour, shapes, and tones. It won't look like anything but an abstract.

But, to those who know what it is, it will be far more than that. It will be lines, and blocks of colour, shapes, and tones. But they will definitely mean something. Something very special.

Because it will be personal. Because she will be be in the picture. But, more than that............

There are actually three people in the picture. And they are all naked. And they certainly aren't being innocent.

Truly erotic. And yet, at the same time, not.

The sort of picture I love to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And as an example of what it will look a little similar to - here is my "Tarse and Queynte in gold" painting - a simple abstract in creams and gold...................

The Artists House

When my new friend the muse visited my house over Christmas, she wasn't sure what to expect she informed me after the visit. She hasn't known me long, and didn't come to my previous house, so she only knew what she had seen of ME, and of the conversations we had had....like when you pick up from people that they have a strange unexplained phobia over the colour of duck eggs, or they casually mention that they have a desire for a chandelier in the downstairs loo, or that they really really love barbie pink zebra stripes in the bedroom.

So, she came to my house, blind.

But, she did have one idea of what it would be....

It would be an Artists House. Because that is what I am.

But, when she visited, she told me a few days afterwards, it wasn't what she was expecting......entirely.

The house was exactly as I had described it to her, she said, but it was what was within the rooms that was the unexpected. For instance, one thing in particular surprised her.....and that was that I am TIDY. I think she was expecting an eclectic mix of mess scattered on every flat surface, perhaps dried up paint brushes mixed in with the dirty laundry, and congealed marmalade on the telephone lost behind the toilet in the bathroom. Because, that's how all artists are, right!! Er, well SOME of them are, but I'm not one of them! I'm tidy. I try not to clutter my self up, because I know that I won't work productively if I haven't got a clean(ish) space around me - and that includes my house as well as my studio.

And she was expecting half finished canvas's drying on every available space. And that would normally be the case, but I haven't been doing any art recently due to all the other problems in my life that I've had to deal with. So, next time she comes, that should be part of the set up. She will smell the turpentine, oil paint  and linseed oil as she walks through the door. It will be a  tangible thing that assails her.  

She was expecting more colour within the colour schemes of the house. I am an artist after all. But, I've only just bought the house and have taken on one that was painted in soft creams by the previous owners. I have learnt to live with the innocuous colours, but to start with it was a little strange for me. I left behind (my choice of) strong colour schemes at my last house and like colours around me, so I'm certain that when the rooms are redecorated, there will be more depths of brighter colour put on the walls in some of the rooms if not all. At least none of them are brown, or grey, both colours I find depressing.

She was expecting more arty ornaments and nick-nacks in the house, and I know that they will appear when I find them in the many boxes which are still awaiting being opened. That's a definite!

She was expecting more pictures on the walls too, I think. And although I have finally got some pictures up, there are still more to hang, and more wall space to fill - so that will happen too.

But, since she has said that she was expecting more, I have been looking at the house and seeing what she means. But, I also know that there are signs within the house of who it belongs to......... the studio has a work board out, with various paints and brushes around it, work in progress ideas sketched on pieces of paper, and a "Jackie Adshead  member of the Guild of Erotic Artists" framed certificate on the wall (That's a huge clue, isn't it?!).  In the room I'm using as an office there is a couple of large book cases full of books on art, erotic art, travel, and an ever growing  pile of International Artist magazines. In the lounge there are more art books, and some small erotic sculptures of naked women, and one of an erotic couple. And in my bedroom, there is erotic art on the walls - and will soon be another one as the large centrepiece of the room, when I have painted it - at the moment its just an idea.

So, the clues are there.

But, I want to make it more than just subtle perceived clues. I want it to be screamingly obvious, to all visitors alike! ! !