fish in the nest

Long long ago, Ampersand Duck tagged me for a meme  in which I had to write seven things about my art Practice and I have been very slow in doing it.

I mostly use oils, because I always have and I prefer the longer drying time. I desperately need a new palette, which is a laminate off-cut from the kitchen factory on the next corner. I don't want to waste any paint though, so I'll continue with this one. In the heat the paint is drying much too quickly. 





I use all different kinds of brushes, but cheap ones leave hairs all over the canvas. I usually underpaint with a colout, and I use a tile grouter for this. In the blue paintings I have not used an undercolour because I need the white underneath to make the light show through.



Sometims I use watercolour brushes at present, even though I tell my students never to use watercolour brushes with anything other than watercolours or ink.




I am known for putting glazes over the top and letting them run, I love the way pigment is suspended, and the layers evolve. I used to make all my own glazes and media, including Damar Varnish and beeswax paste but I don't any more. I also always used surgeons gloves, but if I did in this heat I would faint. Truly.



I have an ongoing obsession with resurrecting fragments from renaissance and Baroque paintings: usually drapery, and bits of the sky. Last year in the heat I played Allegri's Miserere endlessly, till midnight, and started a series which recently seemed to reappear underwater.
I used to make brooches with miniature oil paintings of Renaissance women, which took hours, so I know many of Titian's women quite intimately. Also many hands, and dresses.



I have pictures of special and beloved things around me.




The largest piece I am working on is 2000x1600 and the smallest is 30x30. The big one above is completely dementing me, the canvas keeps getting loose, and it has also absorbed a long distracting conversation which seems to have completely derailed the picture. I am going to have to rest it and go on with something else.



I often put words in my pictures. I love the aesthetic of writing. I write in layers so you can only half interpret the meaning.




the writing is usually fragments of poetry, since I believe painting and poetry are sort of the same thing.
The above is Dylan Thomas. 



There are piles of books around me, some albatross bones, and all sorts of objects.  I swear it wasn't me drank that gin, but the bottle is nice.





I also draw a lot. Mostly in charcoal, often with indigo pigment and pastel.

and pencil, for when I need to work out something, like this upside-down-lady.



and here is Miss Cranky, guardian goddess of the Tap Of Doom, watching over proceedings.
I think that must be seven things now. I'm off to the sea before I do anything today: it promises to be as hot as ever.