The studio is almost obscured from view behind foliage.   The plants have shot up over the rainy weeks and I have decided to let it go and do it's thing.  every year I get a variety of stray imports (things that I haven't planted) that have arrived from the area via bird or wind.  This year plenty of buttercups and wild geranium.  i have to get back into the studio next week.  I have had a few weeks sorting out my home, planning Christmas projects (and starting them).  One of my cats has adopted the studio as a hang out.  He was in there this morning, apparently waiting for a sitting to be painted. Having had a few weeks away, I can approach the work in progress with fresh eyes and enthusiasm (this is how it seems to work) Having had some distance i can see possibilities, and where to begin (again)

SO we have had a lot of rain. Today I spotted hundreds of rabbits eating lush grass and the following flora: Gorse, hawthorn, chive, ceanothus, apple blossom, strawberry, cowslip, wild orchid, bluebell, evening primrose, buttercups, daisies, laburnum, lilac and thrift.  Rain has it's advantages.

I continue on my quest to lighten the load.  I have organised three 'making boxes' sewing, haberdashery and fabric.  People are buying my unwanted wares and my willow withies arrive from Somerset tomorrow.  I have plans to start making my traditional and rustic winter crafts for the season (which is only months off)

Project de-clutter takes time and dedication.  Already the new decor is playing it's part in the quest for tidy and simple surroundings.  I am drawn the the ideals of the Shakers and Quakers and the Arts and Craft movement of the late 1800's.  nothing surplus and nothing decadent.  Simple furnishings, simple clothing all very clean without embellishment.  And natural materials (of course) My hatred for plastic and all things synthetic is pushing me to rid my home of them. Soon I will start on my first Liberty cotton garment and my willow crafts.  Colour is disappearing from my wardrobe and I can only make concessions for the basics (black, white, tan, beige, khaki, ivory or stone, grey and navy) how very grown up and discerning. It isn't much to do with grown up, it's more to do with simpification and a longing for the most basic.  Of course, i can't be this orthodox and I will notice spatterings of red (cos I like it) and some very delicate florals (cos I like flowers).

Feels good, to pare down and decide what I really like and need and what I have only been used to having around because it is there!!

So......... a part of my new project to streamline my life includes the dissection of bags of clothing stored in the loft that I know I will never wear again (even if I like the item in question)  Steve Jobs only ever wore jeans and a dark polo neck sweater, Einstein wore the same suit (of which he owned seven) Coco Channel never rose before midday.  These things I understand and appreciate fully. it's about time and energy saving.  What a waste of time wondering what to wear because there is too much choice!!  What a long and drawn out day it would be to get up so early in order to go to bed so late.  I am an owl.  Always have been always will be.  My most creative times of day happen after 2pm and especially at midnight for brainstorming ideas.

This week I have made money selling things of no use to me.  It's cathartic. I have less 'stuff' and more space.  Lighter of mind and of material presence.  The job will continue until I have the basics.  It is a phenomena that when you have kids you seem to accumulate, accumulate and continue until they reach a certain age, at which point the desire is to dis-accumulate.  Before I had my daughter I could carry my entire possessions inside a 20 litre rucksack.  If the truth be told; I didn't ever want anything, I wasn't interested in owning anything or having anything or interested in the responsibility attached to this process of 'ownership'.  Having accumulated a decade and a half of stuff, I am amazed and feel as if I need to purge myself.  Detox myself of 'stuff'.  I am enjoying the fact that detoxication of stuff also results in payment for my troubles.  Double bonus really, get rid of stuff=payment.  

My new mantra: Don't buy unless you have sold.  Buy only for useful and creative purposes.

And a little thing from Coco Channel: “Those who create are rare; those who cannot are numerous. Therefore, the latter are stronger.” 
― Coco Chanel

......... drought warnings!!  i am sure that the majority of the world including & especially UK and USA, has actually gone completely crackers.  I had a series of dreams last night about this country in an apocalyptic state which was the result of bureaucrats with computers having taken us there!  The thing is this, when you put power in the hands of the none-too-clever (ie bureaucrats) you are putting everything at risk (especially when power corrupts those of average intelligence and limited talents) I suppose that dreams can often be fears and projections of the future.  It appears that our world-as-we-know-it is falling apart, and through the misuse of all things electronically advanced and the power being in the hands of bureaucrats, we are nothing short of buggered!  It's just a matter of time.

That was depressing.  It's based on the things I see everywhere.  In the 1970's we had punk to help shake it all up and prevent us from sinking into the blandness of homogenization........ today we have little to nothing.  Nothing powerful nothing to challenge the way things are now.  We have become a gutless generation (or just victims of the big brother state, blinded and drugged into submission by the forces at constant work).

Painting is not on my mind today.  It's a crying shame that those in positions of power are not the most intelligent among us and usually have the worst reasons for being where they are.

The interior designing of abode is an ongoing project, and until it feels completed I cannot leave it.  it is similar to making art, a process that has a continuum until you decide it is finished and until you make that decision it is forever on your mind.  I am enjoying it in the same way I enjoy making art.  It is inventive and imaginative, but requires more elbow grease and is more physically demanding.  
I popped by at the Dark Horse Gallery, Mayfield on Saturday (as I hadn't made it to the previous night's PV) and was impressed with the 2-man show.  My work goes up in two weeks.  The proprietor, Lesley, got "Tea Mugs' out from storage to show one of the exhibitors, Alastair Creamer,  I was attempting to explain my work (without success) She described my work as "really beautiful" (you can't get more complimentary than that!!) When she produced it I was quite surprised at how good it looked, all framed up beautifully.  

i look forward to seeing the work up on the walls, and with red dots!

................. tired.  Eight hours in the studio and I am  tired and agitated that I have still not resoved any of these six in progress.  One of them is 'outsize' (1m sq) and seems to have a Bloomsbury flavour about it.  The 50x50cm ones are proving to be a battle and the little ones (20x20) on linen panel are nearly there....... using a new medium (water based oils) has changed the technique and I am getting to grips with how it works eg dilutants, consistency mixing them with acrylic and all that.  Still, I will push on with them tomorrow and hope that I can resolve at least one of them.  
Unwind time.  No pics (still waiting for phone replacement) 

I have finally accepted the contradiction of water-based oil paints...... and discovered that they work!  I am using a limited palette of just four colours and white, working on a 50x50cm scale on the subject of interiors.  Seemingly the interiors (decoration) work that has recently taken precedence must have influenced this new work.  The great thing about 'Artisan' paint is that it's water soluble - yet has the same consistency and vibrancy of oil.  Fast drying, like acrylic, and great for layering colour.  I don't think I will be going back to traditional oils  (the white spirit hassle and cleaning up, waiting for layers to dry really isn't something I miss) 

The best thing about delivering work in Sussex (by car) is that, if you are lucky, you get to travel a journey through green countryside with fabulous views and some of the best blossom trees you are likely to ever see.  That is, if you are traveling in Spring.  As I traveled north from Brighton and entered lush green scenery I began to unwind to the sound of birdsong and the green-ness that hits the retina and induces immediate relaxation.  I was so chilled that I took a wrong turn and ended up on a pleasant detour around Ringmer.  Still seems odd to be delivering work to the village I went to school in!!  It really hasn't changed.  After a lengthy chat with Sue (in the gallery) mainly about expedition plans etc and the dark fears of becoming that old lady who intrepidly braves the winter months, hunched with cold, and a shopping trolley slowly dragging behind her as she trawls the London Road for food shop bargains, cat food and writing paper.  

I was compelled to go into the high street shop "Four Winds", which is a hippy-dippy dark shop full of the most random merchandise (and of course plenty of incence).  The shop has been there forever.  Since before I was at school, and I wonder how the hell it survives.  Seemingly (changing the subject completey) I will have a few PV's over the next few weeks.  I haven't been to one of my PV's for a while (I went off them after a bout of PV overkill)  Looking forward to it (having taken a couple of years out of the social PV circuit - it can get monotonous)

No pics today....... 

My daughter said our house is 'trampy', the last time we came back from somewhere....... upsetting really (although she meant that it was looking a bit dog-eared) She wants to go into interior design so I try to encourage this by supplying regular interiors magazines and books etc.  Already she has designed and created her bedroom.  This Easter holiday I thought it would be a good plan to move onto the bathroom and ........ these projects evolve.  A newly decorated room always shows up the others and before you know it you are involved in a major house makeover.  It's been three weeks of revamping and is still in progress.  Doing this in combination with my own work equals very tired hands and other aches and pains!  So bathroom, landing and hallway are done (apart from the woodwork painting) and my room has had a lick of paint.

Today I had another d/line for work to deliver tomorrow.  Last week I sent work to Portugal.  I am exhibiting five new pieces from the still life series in the Mayfield festival with the Dark Horse Gallery (www.darkhorsegallery.co.uk) They have changed again since I last posted them.......