‘my thoughts/my work’

I know, its been a long time… but with the best will in the world, sometimes life takes you by the scruff of the neck and commands that you spend more time with everyday life! I have been very busy with both work and home life, writing a specialsist bid has meant that most of my working day is spent number crunching (not my kettle of fish or even a pond I would normally dip my toe into!!), writing and then re-drafting, drafting again etc. still not completed – 12th March is deadline day!!! As for the day to day teaching that has gone out of the window – I prepare a days worth of lessons which somebody else delivers – things have to be so explicty laid down that this takes on massive amounts of research, planning and setting out lesson timings (those who teach may have some idea of the implications of this!)
home front – had an outbreak of white spot – a parasistic nasty that kills tropical fish, before we managed to control it we lost over 35 fish – just watching JJ come home and look into any of the tanks and say ‘there’s another dead one’ broke my heart. He lost all of his specialist fish including his favourites – a black ghost knife fish, talking catfish and his clown loaches. After many hours researching, water changes purchasing UV sterilisers etc and four weeks down the road we have managed to to get everything on an even keel. (added to that there was also the cost of another tank – a quarantine tank!!)
Set myself a couple of new challenges – one to lose some weight! going ok at present 1 stone in three weeks, eating and cooking sensibly, also, getting my bike back on the road – ended up purchasing a bike store (another cost both financially and time!), one advantage…. cleared up the back of the studio now have so much space!! Whilst clearing out old stuff came across a load of baby items – brought back fond memories- first shoes, bibs, all in ones etc-didn’t throw them away, sealed box marked for JJ in later years!!!
On the art front……. have managed to work ideas in sketchbook and finished off a painting I started some time ago. Started mapping out new piece to go in the ‘bollocks’ series using nails….. I’ll post a clue but me thinks its gonna take some time to complete it, well Rome wasn’t built in a day

Wow – what’s that old saying …’time flies when you are having fun’
Well, looking at the date of my last post time has certainly flown past, not to sure about the having fun part.
My recent dash to hospital has take its toll – I still am having a lot of trouble with keeping my balance and standing for long amounts of time is difficult – considering I spend a lot of time standing when painting this has hindered progress. I have been working out lots of new ideas for work and have been gathering materials and resources and researching for the next instalments!
Also, domestic life and work have been recent priorities – currently writing a sports bid for school, off timetable for two months; hoping to complete by early March, up to 30,000 words so far and only quarter way there!!
I have enjoyed relaxing with Jo and JJ – hours of playing Othello and Frustration

plus other things; reading and seeing friends etc
Other developments: JJ for his 7th birthday requested an aquarium rather than a playstation!!
Well, that was over a year ago and now we have 5 tanks, containing freshwater tropical fish. Latest additions are two new tanks – 360 litre and a small nano tank for his greatest desire – puffer fish, well, we now have three Indian dwarf puffers who are basically as cute as fish can be!!! They only grow to under an inch and we have spent hours watching them!

Anyhow, tryin not to spend too much time sat at the computer (not a new years resolution)
But aim to back as often as last year, oh yes, happy new year to you all and hope the stitches came out ok Oz

Follwing some comments left on my other site http://paultalbotart.blogspot.com/� and past posts I have located an old drawing that I produced in the late 80′s. Roughly 20cm x 12 cm, mixed media. The series of work was based on conflict of relationships and a number of large canvases were produced (sadly lost over time!). Some of the influences of the F post maybe be seen and possible Moore, I still like to produce quick studies in this style although looking at my recent paintings this would not appear so! I think of them more as doodles.

Eeeeezzzzyyyy!!

I’m working on the series of just three words I thought as I was sketching and writing ideas down I would embark on a picture association. Aim, each day to find an image that reflects the series; these images are not going to be the starting point of my own work but just interludes!Number 1:

a little obvious to start off with!

DAMIEN HIRST DONATES PICKLED COW AND OTHER MAJOR WORK TO TATE
Damien Hirst’s cow in formaldehyde is now part of the permanent collection at Tate.

Damien Hirst has donated four major works of art, including his infamous pickled cow, to the Tate collection.
The gift includes an early vitrine, The Acquired Inability to Escape (1991), the sculpture Life Without You (1991), one of the first in Hirst’s series of fly paintings Who is Afraid of the Dark? (2002), and the exhibition copy of Mother and Child Divided (2007) which is on display in Turner Prize: A Retrospective at Tate Britain until January 6 2008.
It is the first phase of a major gift of works from Damien Hirst’s personal collection that he has committed to Tate.
“It means a lot to me to have works in the Tate,” said the 42-year-old artist. “I would have never thought it possible when I was a student. I’ve been in negotiations with the Tate for a few years to make sure they get the right pieces to represent me properly.”
“I think giving works from my collection is a small thing if it means millions of people get to see the work displayed in a great space.”
Works already in the Collection by the artist include the major installation Pharmacy (1992), the shell cabinet piece Forms Without Life (1991), a suite of 13 prints from The Last Supper (1999) and a print from the series London, Untitled (1992).
This latest donation will, according to Tate Director, Nicholas Serota transform the representation of his work in Tate’s Collection. “Tate is indebted to international contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst for working with us on building the collection,” he said.

source: Isla Harvey 24hour museum staff

STUFFED tea-drinking kittens and smoking and gambling squirrels could land an international auction house in court.
The former owner of a museum of Victorian curiosities is suing the auction house that sold it for turning down a £1 million offer from the artist Damien Hirst.
The collection of more than 6,000 stuffed animals fetched £336,000 when it was sold at auction in 2003.
Now John Watts, who had owned Mr Potter’s Museum of Curiosities for nearly 20 years, is to bring a claim in the High Court against Bonhams for allegedly failing to alert him to an offer from Hirst. He is demanding that Bonhams make up the £572,000 difference between the sale price and the offer from Hirst, who said that he wanted the collection to stay in this country.
The collection was created by Walter Potter, a self-taught taxidermist, and appealed to Victorian sentimentality with its scenes featuring squirrels taking tea and baby rabbits learning the alphabet. For decades it was on display in Sussex but as tastes changed it came to be regarded as macabre and was sold to Mr Watt, who moved it to Jamaica Inn, in Bolventor, Cornwall.
The collection was sold in hundreds of lots, some of which fetched many times their guide price.
Mr Watts said that he had desperately hoped to keep the collection together and was completely unaware of the offer from Hirst. He said: “It was stated in the contract that Bonhams would consider every serious offer from potential clients to acquire the whole collection and keep us informed of such interest. This did not happen.”
An article by Hirst that appeared on the day of the sale claimed that his offer had been turned down because it was made after the deadline had expired. Mr Watts said: “It should have been obvious to Bonhams that this was a serious inquiry. We are bitterly disappointed with the approach and attitude adopted by Bonhams.
“We have tried to discuss this amicably but with no joy. They leave us with no option but to pursue our complaint in the courts.”
In his article, Hirst said that he wanted to “reopen Mr Potter’s, adding my own pieces, perhaps, and even some artwork”, and described how his children were overcome by “a sense of wonderment” when they saw the animals.
He wrote: “I have always wanted a museum like this. But now the collection will go to auction to be sold in separate pieces. I have offered £1 million and to pay for the costs of the auctioneers’ catalogues, just for them to take it off the market and keep the collection intact but apparently the auction has to go ahead. It is a tragedy.”

source: simon de bruxelles timesonline