Friday 22nd May
I’ve finally finished going through my studio. It’s only taken me 4 weeks!
It’s been a horrible, dirty job in many ways but the occasional find has cheered me up. I have been fairly ruthless in many ways and finally took all my “Artist & Illustrator“ magazines to the tip which did sadden me a bit but they were taking up space and had to go.
I did come across a couple of items that I won’t be throwing away. One was my University Dissertation on Pentrich Roman Fortlet in Derbyshire. It is only visible as faint earthworks on a hill at Pentrich and the slight ramparts are clearer when it has snowed. There was little about it anywhere although it had been crudely excavated in the past and small amounts of pottery found. I managed to set it in context of the Romans movements Northwards and illustrated it with my own drawings. My Aunty typed it all up for me double spaced and on her old typewriter and said she enjoyed doing it bless her. It must have been ok as I got a first for it. Chesterfield Library has the only other copy.
When I took my Art “A” level we had to study Architecture as part of the course. As well as an exam we had to pick an architecture project. Whilst clearing things I found my project on Elizabethan architect Robert Smythson whose main contributions were Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire and Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire. Unlike my dissertation this was hand written (in a handwriting I don’t recognise anymore but did use for a while) and illustrated with my own pen and ink drawings. These were done with a Rotring Art pen which my art teacher, Bob Widgery, recommended we all buy specifically to do our architectural drawings. They were relatively expensive and a bit temperamental. The tubular metal nibs came in different sizes and the pens all took Rotring ink cartridges and nothing else. I ended up with several of different sizes. I still have them although I don’t use them anymore. I also took my own photos, of dubious quality, as my camera at that time wasn’t great. The titles were done with “Letraset” (remember that) where letters were rubbed onto the page from a large sheet of letters. There was no room for errors!
This project involved visiting both Hardwick and Wollaton for which I got special access including getting on the roof to photograph the chimneys. My dad drove me as I hadn’t yet passed my test. We visited Hardwick on a cloudy but fine day but the Wollaton trip was a whole different story.
It was in December and very cold. For some reason I had taken my girlfriend at the time, who, as was her style, had come with a lightweight coat and stilletto heels! Whilst photographing the chimneys on the roof it began to snow. It was getting really bad when we set off home and the journey became a nightmare with snow drifts, ice abandoned cars, cars stuck in the road. It all got pretty scary and several times I had to get out of the car and help push other cars whilst my girlfriend shivered in the back. It took us 5 hours to get home freezing and wet through and then after she’d warmed up, we had to drive her 2 miles home as she didn’t want to stay at mum and dads. Sometimes my dad was a real Saint and I’m not sure I always gave him the credit he deserved.
Seeing my hand written project reminded me of this adventure. Again it must have been ok as I got an A. I have come across many things that have jogged my memory back in time. I have a box full of 4ft long posters advertising my appearances in galleries during my Washington Green days. I did hang them up in my studio briefly before I needed the space. The posters are in tubes and I am trying to decide whether or not to keep them. Some things I’ve kept for sentimental reasons, things that have marked a specific time in my life. In the grand scheme of things most don’t take up much room, unlike my magazines and even with a big clear out you can’t get rid of everything from your past. I know I’d regret it if I did.
Looking on the bright side, after not selling anything at Beckstones Gallery for a while I sold 4 paintings in a week! 2 large oils and 2 watercolours. I also managed to find a good home for some School paint and glitter paint from my studio clear out by taking them down to Chesterfield last weekend, for my Grand daughter Lily-Jean who seemed to enjoy them as we painted together.
With my studio now sorted I might be able to do some painting next week. It will give you all a break from my blogging about clearing stuff. Having said that there’s plenty more stuff to clear over the coming months. Other than the watercolours for Jetty Gallery and the cards I’ve not done any real painting for 2 months now. That’s probably the longest break I’ve had for 14 years. It would be nice to get covered in a bit of paint instead of mouse crap for a change!