Slowing down to speed up again

Talking to a good friend from foreign shores yesterday, he mentioned in passing that when he first started reading my blog a couple of years ago,  that it seemed that everytime I wrote there was a new drawing or painting of mine to view and comment on.

And he was right, there was.

But there hasn't been for a while now, and that's because of the circumstances of my private life. This last year has been very very challenging on many levels, and I've had to make some very difficult decisions, a lot of them full of high emotion. But, that has in turn, over the months, gently flowed into something more settled, leading on to me being able to move on, physically and mentally. Hence, my finding a new house after a remarkably short time of searching! A place to paint, and create. A place full of light for an artist. Full of inspiration and hope.

So, when Stuart rang yesterday for a chat, he said, with some surprise in his voice, that I sounded more lively than I have of recent times. And I laughed and said "More perky you mean!" and he smiled and agreed at my choice of word. I smiled too, and explained to him that it was because I have purpose again after a year of inactivity and frustration. I have the thought of a wonderful new house to go to, one that will encourage me to paint new pictures and market the existing ones, perhaps find new galleries, new collectors of my work, new friends, and new beginnings. And I'm excited at the thought.......................

Man or mouse?

I had a nice chat with a newish aquaitance yesterday who has just found out I'm an Erotic Artist (I do love the way people react to that title!) and after the ribald laughing and bawdy comments that seem to follow on from that announcement I could see he was actually considering me painting him, but although the exhibitionist part of him wanted to, the "what will people think?" part was pulling him back. Because he's a teacher he's convinced that his pupils will find out and he'll be ribbed about it for evermore and his credibility will be zero, and he's also convinced that the minute I've painted him in the nude I'll post the image to my website with his name blazoned all over it for the world to see. He obviously doesn't know me. I never advertise any of my artwork on my website, or anywhere else for that matter, without checking that the person portrayed in it is happy with me doing so. Some people like their images to be seen, some are private, and don't. We all have parts of our lives we wish to keep private (its what makes life more interesting!) and I respect that. If anyone wants me to paint them, then its an arrangement between them and me - whosoever they wish to tell or show it to after that is up to them. I won't tell anyone. Unless they wish it. I told the guy I'd paint his fantasy of himself. I hope I get the opportunity.