Goodbye to all that.........

Since we last spoke things have happened.

Actually, I made something happen. I applied for a place on a masters degree course. I got a place. I started last October.

Having got through the first term, and passed the first unit I have decided to try and write again.

I think this blog was suffering from many of the same issues as my work; going round in circles not totally sure of  direction.

The problem with things that are really important is their propensity to ambush your thoughts. When I am not painting enough, the muse bites me in the supermarket, or in the shower, or when I am supposed to be engaged in some form of proper employment.

Not writing here has become another insistent pirate of my occasionally becalmed mind.

With that thought, it is time to bid farewell to Knifepainter. It may be that this will be a temporary, and this time planned leave of absence. It may be the end of the road for this particular variety of my ramblings.

In any case, I would like to extend fond thanks for your support, dear reader, and invite you to come over and see what happens here;

http://artslashnudity.blogspot.com

I suspect that the M.A. and it's challenges will probably form a good proportion of the content.
If that sounds a little dull, bear in mind that there will certainly be some images that your boss/mum/partner/carer, may find a little racy........and that, my friend, is never a bad thing.


Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

coming drawing tomorrow ???

Another week flashes past, lots of creativity going on all around.
My eldest had the Private View for her end of course show at Paston College last night......it was fabulous.
Heaps of  bright, shiny, creative young people, accompanied by an even larger number of astonished parents and other visitors.
Congratulations are most certainly due to all the students, and to Matt and his staff.
I strongly urge you to go and have a look, the range and quality of the work is a testament to the young artists of our area. I need to smarten my act up before they all start selling their work !

Oh.....and another thing.......Life Drawing tomorrow at North Walsham High School. We start at 12.00, end at 2.00pm. Bring £12.50, paper and something to make marks with........see you there !

in the pink

Busy times.......

The work is progressing, with three small paintings finished and half a dozen decent drawings pointing the way towards more complete things in the near future.

There are more than a few balls in the air in other areas. The new life drawing class started last Saturday, with two new students. I have the promise of at least four for this coming Saturday.
If you are local and fancy two hours of drawing between 12.00 and 2.00pm, feel free to get in touch.
samrobbins@talktalk.net

In other news, The Atrium, a new community partnership building on the North Walsham High School site is nearing completion. Exciting plans are afoot to make it the centre of new endevours for our local area. Music, drama, visual arts, cinema and dance are just the obvious starting points. I will try and keep you all posted as things develop.

Back soon................

life drawing alive shock.......

Just to say, there is a new life drawing class starting next Saturday, 11th of June, at North Walsham High School.
Start time is 12.00pm, finish time is 2.00pm. I will be guiding for some, teaching others, and leaving some alone if that suits them best !
The price for the two hour session is £12.50, and I am running them for the next six consecutive Saturdays. If enough participants show up, we will be starting them again in September. (The Saturday Arts Programme at North Walsham High School runs term time only).
Bring your pad and some pencils !!

more vigour

The beach painting at the top was the result of a fabulously sunny day hereabouts yesterday.
The main reason for painting it, other than the weather, was to test out a new additive to my paint. It is an impasto medium, which allows me to slap the paint on thicker.
On balance, I am happy with the result and will be experimenting further with it on a larger scale with the nudes.

Below are two swiftly executed sketches from the studio last wekend. More today I hope !!

sunny days........

are meant for this.........

on the easel.......

The arrival of Spring, and a determined approach, have meant an upturn in production.

As ever, trying to strike the balance between vigour and fussiness is taxing me. Passion, not polish is my aim and although my head is hurting a little, I am happy with this stuff.