Blog

UPDATE:

I forgot to include on image of the print I finally made after returning to etching, so here it is. It’s called “Angel”.
It’s printed on one of my favourite papers to work on, Fabriano Avorio. It is a soft, off white colour and black ink looks particularly velvety on it, and, I think, perfect for this image. So, below you can see the plate on the left (with thumb-marks for added authenticity) and the proof on the right.

After an absolutely dreadful two months of “work” which inevitably ended up as firelighters or in the recycling bin, things began to go right on Tuesday. And about time too! Up until then it seemed everything I touched in the studio was doomed. To compound the problem, the the arrival of the R.H.A entry form with it’s deadline at the end of March was now like a runaway train hurtling down the track to my studio door.

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I cannot believe that I am talking of Campbell in the past, he has always been there for all of us... please honour my friend and read on.

I am writing this on the eve of the funeral of an old friend, Campbell Bruce. Nothing unusual in this you may think, the elderly must pass; but, this is different; there was never anything elderly in the usual senses about Campbell.

I have known both he and his wife, Jackie for over thirty years. I met them first when I was hoping to get into Fine Art at N.C.A.D in the 1970’s. I had luckily taken the advice of Charlie Brady, and ditched some paintings I had thought were good, for two etchings I had made in Kildare Street, and I remember encountering Jackie at THE interview and being both terrified and fascinated by her in equal parts. Soon I was to meet Campbell, who was head of Fine Art. He was always very fair in his opinions, never cruel, and I can still hear his softly spoken advice.

There was always something different about Campbell and Jackie. When we finished college, they kept in touch with their students. They kept newspaper cuttings about them, went to their exhibition openings, or sent cards wishing them good luck if they couldn’t be there in person. They have been tireless in their support. “The Decade Show” held in the Guinness Hop Store proved this. Campbell and Jackie were still always there for us for advice. They are our friends.

One of the most memorable images I have of Jackie and Campbell is from last summer. We arrived to an almost deserted Roscarberry for an exhibition, which included some of Jackie’s work. Just as I was beginning to think I’d made a mistake about the date, the familiar gold estate car rolled up the main street and the pair of them emerged like two Hollywood film stars! They had STYLE! They ignited the fuse, and the party began!

God bless you Campbell, we'll look after Jackie.

You may be wondering what Squeak, the very destructive cat, has been up to these last few months. We have (almost) got used to her taste for fur, cashmere and the other finer things in life. Her ability to spot these when they come into the house, and while the unsuspecting guests are otherwise engaged, ferret them out, and drag the items away to either rip them to shreds or eat enormous holes in them, no longer surprises us. We now warn guests either not to wear such luxurious garments, or if they do – hopefully before the gimlet eye of Squeak spots them – we lock them away. READ ON...

I know this isn’t directly connected to “ART” exactly, but I thought last night’s Film Night deserved a mention of some sort.

On one Friday night every month, until it’s too bright to do so, we hold a Film Night in my studio. There are about 8 of us, and all the names go into a hat and each month one of us picks a film and another cooks dinner. We only find out on the night what film is selected. Sometimes we get a hint, and last night was no different. We were told it was from 1969, and to dress appropriately. So yesterday I decided to have a hunt through the wardrobe for ideas.

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