Blog

Nose back to the grindstone!

Well it’s back to normal, or as close to, after a fantastic Christmas in Radicondoli.

We had very good weather for two weeks, and with just two afternoons of rain, I got lots of photos of the landscape at this beautiful time of year. The bare trees are almost more remarkable now than when they are in full leaf. The lightning struck chestnut tree which overhangs the terrace is at it’s best. But it may be the last year we have it, as it is due to be pruned back to encourage new growth in the next few months. Our neighbour is also in the process

Squeak insists she's the only house-cat

Suddenly it’s the looney season and things are begining to ramp up!!!

First it was the Botanic Gardens / Graphic Studio “A Natural Selection” Exhibition, which is selling like hot cakes as you read. Yesterday, I was delivering some work to the Cavehill Gallery for their C******** Show, and as I passed Banbridge there was a dusting of snow in the fields and I found myself humming “Let it snow” and “Santa Baby”!!! Scary! Later when I went shopping I inexplicably found some C******** decorations, various pressies, as well as new red sprinkly collars for Squeak and Missy in my basket. They must have magiced themselves there!

The After Blog

Wondering about the odd title of this blog entry? What else could I call it with the week I’ve had?

The weekend before last saw me finishing up some very large drawings; then, gathering all the work together; next, driving both Leo (long suffering framer) and Marcus, LSH almost insane; getting clamped while buying fancy bulldog clips for hanging drawings; losing car keys; attending a wonderful artist bookmaking course at the National Print Museum; hanging the show over two days; and eventually putting on the posh frock and warpaint for the opening last Sunday 3rd Nov. Enjoy the pic's below, they are of preparation for the show and also the opening, where more of Petr Holecek's work was on display.

Botanics - A Natural Selection

Good News at last!

Well the past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind.

We were in Radicondoli for just a few days, but we managed to pack lots in. Although the locals were wrapped up in coats, hats and scarves, announcing the arrival of Autumn, we were of a different opinion and were loathe to take off the summer gear. This led to some peculiar looks and calls of “Che follia?”, “Matti!”,“Gli Irlandesi?!” and the like. Things really came to a head when we said we went to the beach and had been swimming, I thought they were about to call in the men in white coats for us. But, it was 28 degrees, and like lizards, we were determined to get the very last of the sun. The only other people on the beach were Germans - so what does that say for them or us?