studio

The place where I work. This photograph was taken during the late morning of a breezy day at the end of April. On the drawing board lies an unfinished supernova drawing. Coffee to hand, cats present but invisible; very often they sit on my drawing board and I needs must edge over to find an unoccupied corner there to work. Drawing practice suffering something of a hiatus at present; after having made several small drawings of solar flares, I founder and need to take a rest.We are allowed one hour's exercise a day, so I go out for a walk in the blossom scented afternoon. I order further supplies of paper on my return, take photographs of the solar flare drawings made over the last few days.

remnants II

Further drawings in the series of supernovae remnant drawings. I have spent the greater part of the morning and afternoon photographing drawings and adding them to this online diary; the process has been supremely satisfying. Later, I shall return to the series of solar eclipse drawings that I am making on creamy white Lokta paper, in the cool of the sitting room. However, it would be a pity not to experience the Spring glory of our little wild garden, so I shall repair outside and sit on the step of the patio, where I can breathe the Lily of the Valley scented air. These beautiful plants came from the lodge; when I knew we were to move, I dug up some of each of the plants growing in the garden there, and transplanted them in this Somerset garden. The transplantees have taken to the new soil, and the lovely Lily of the Valley have naturalised beautifully. I would that I were able to pick a posy of them for my mother, but the advice from the Government is to remain at home and avoid meeting with family and friends, particularly if they are members of the vulnerable groups. My mother is vulnerable, and although she craves our company, we are obliged to withold it for the present, however painful that may be.

remnants

Supernovae remnant drawings, as before made on black Lokta paper; this time on half a sheet, so the drawings are larger. They were made by sprinkling pencil sharpenings over the paper, then easing the coloured dust into the surface with my fingers before adding the stars. A return to a technique used before in making the drawings of clouds, so there is a definite affinity with  the earlier drawings. These drawings were made at the tail end of 2019, and the beginning of 2020, so that they are relatively new.

As I write, it is a perfect April day, full of birdsong. It is difficult to believe that we are in the middle of a pandemic which has obviously impacted hugely upon our lives. At this time, work is a solace; I find comfort in revisiting this online diary, and in taking photographs of work made during the four years in which this diary was silent, and, to all intents and purposes, abandoned. I have come to realise, over the course of the quiet, restricted time in which we live at present, that I, too, need periods of silence, of withdrawal; time in order to let ideas settle in my mind, to evaluate work made and find the straightforward path once more; the path upon which I now tread.