ISOLATION ARTIST BLOG - Day 47

Today is a momentous day. There are two reasons, I'm donating blood for the first time in at least 12 years and I'm painting on canvas for the first time in ages. I realise it is time for a change and this is very challenging as I could easily continue working on paper, albeit up to well over a metre in size. I could easily stay in my comfortable comfort zone - not that I'm in control but I'm used to it. I have resisted canvas since I was 18. Yesterday I remembered that when Sam was born, 24 years ago I set my mind to mastering watercolour. Watercolour is extremely difficult. I'd used it with minimal success for 15 years and never felt satisfied with the results. It took a long time, a great deal of practice and slowing down to learn watercolour properly. I was very patient with myself. So the time has come to slow down and be very  patient again.

I'll be donating blood at 5pm. I feel very scared about this. Not because of the Corona virus but just the idea of being hooked up lying on a trolley makes me feel nervous. Last time I donated blood was in the Great Hall at the Maltings, in Farnham. I remember feeling quite disturbed at all these people lying on trolleys for a very good cause. The Great Hall holds fond memories as the first day I lived in Farnham, September 1990 I visited the Maltings. I loved the place and wished then and there that I could have an art studio there.(I'm pleased to say that this wish came true.) That evening Nigel Kennedy was performing in the Great Hall. I was allowed to watch him practice that afternoon. I was over whelmed  watching a genius at work. He stopped every few minutes when he heard something wasn't quite right. His ear was tuned to things that I don't hear. I greatly admired the precision and attention to detail - perhaps this is something I could apply to working on canvas.

Todays painting is 'Sandbank'