My exhibition continues in the Rope Store at Quay Arts and today I witnessed a sudden influx of visitors, much to my delight. Firstly, youngsters with behavioural and medical problems were having a session with one of the gallery educators. They were then joined by a group of adults with learning difficulties who were guiding one another around the gallery. I looked on in wonder and await further feedback from those who were there. It would be gratifying to find that some profound learning was taking place for these most marginalised of groups. Bar the Private View, for which quite a lot of planning took place and was well attended, this has to be the next best thing – a public viewing en masse!

Art Book: Portraits of the mind

About this time last year I was producing ‘Artist’s books’ as one of my creative outlets and feature one here, continuing with the theme portraiture, both of myself and others. The image on the right is of me in the characteristic head gear. Again, it was a cold time of year and I was permanently attached to my hat or so it seemed! The middle image is of a client I was working with in the community. At that time I was also watching too much X-Factor and drew a spontaneous image of Cheryl Cole (see left hand edge). It’s a case of drawing on the many and varied influences that impinge on everyday life, which then find their way into my work – not rocket science, more like learning to drive a car. Confused? Feel free to leave a comment.

In Death as in Life

Re-visiting some earlier canvases I have taken to painting in earnest today with the result causing me to think about dark themes such as euthanasia and a head that could be more dead than alive. How cheerie is that! Wasn’t feeling particularly downcast but this was an emotional response nonetheless. Will try to be a little more upbeat next time.