Figs and fur

Thinking about going down to visit 'Number Four' gallery in St Abbs, who are showing my work in their Christmas show. One of the things I really believe in is establishing a personal relationship with people who you are working with in the arts as it is such a personal area to deal with. I can't imagine sending work around the country to exhibitons without involvement on a face-to-face basis; maybe that will change but I don't imagine so. I am not commercially minded in that way; even the greetings card thing works best for me at a local level where I can visit the studio and have a connection and a communication with those in charge of my artwork. Sadly I seem to be having a bit of a breakdown in talking with the company who published my cards in August; haven't heard how it went or how it may progress, which is frustrating and slightly worrying. I have heard so many horror stories of artists losing control of who is publishing and reproducing images and having to chase for acknowledgement and rights; so much is done on trust and that is not necessarily a bad thing, but communication needs to happen.

Started sketching away last night for things to produce on my Sundays at the gallery; I am very much hoping to use the time to create smaller works that will hopefully sell easier than the big ones and will also give me a chance to enjoy myself and experiment with different scale, media, subject etc. I love all the little ones Ritchie churns out while he's in the gallery and hope I can start to work a little looser away from the studio and the constraints that I put on myself there. It is hard not to work on one of the 'big' pieces when I am at home as they are sitting looking at me waiting to be finished or started and going off on a tangent with smaller sketches always seems frivolous somehow. The only good thing about Stu being (temporarily, hopefully) back on his evil late nights is that I have to occupy myself of an evening and have got into quite a nice little routine of painting and working in my sketchbook, then having a wee snooze before he creeps in at gone midnight...and then we try and have some quality time before crashing at 2am.

Just noticed a show at the Edinburgh Printmakers that I want to see, so have to add that to my list of things to visit when I get a day off to do so; opted for a six day week at cashmoneyjob so I have kind of shot myself in the foot in that I am now lamenting the lack of time to spend on gallery visiting and actually cleaning the house!! It's all very well being creative but when your paint keeps getting covered in cat hair you know the hoovering is overdue. Apologies to all the cat intolerant people who are now going *ewwwwww cat hair* but it does get everywhere and there is no getting away from it in a household where two of the occupants have fur and tails.

Realised that I have lost the note I wrote with my hours on it, a shopping list, a quote from Fingers and a drawing of a fig with wings. At least it may give someone pause for thought if they find it around, although I am gutted to have lost Finger's words of wisdom for the day. The fig drawing I can fix, although I have AGAIN forgotten to purchase one of the little blighters for studying and drawing purposes. The fig is set to haunt me for a while longer... must go and look up some figgy facts to keep me amused in the meantime.

And.. found the note. Words of wisdom were (and I like this one) 'Well, it's another day today.'

It sure is, and worth noting sometimes, rather than speeding on through it.