This week... I am painting Jerusalem

However, I could alternatively have called this post: a week of firsts.

- I suggested to Chris I should cut a bit out of painting. He said no. But subsequently agreed it was the right thing to have done. Yes!

- I told Chris the painting was finished. He agreed. Another high fist: yes! 

I'm quite pleased with it actually. I was a bit resistant about painting it via a projected acetate copy of the original painting as it seemed rather like cheating. However I was assured it wasn't and that lots of professional artists do that kind of thing. (And to think. I've spent all this time trying to learn to draw...)

 It looks ok here, but I thought at this stage it was looking a bit wishy washy.

 I decided against gold leaf as it seemed to separate from the rest of the painting - even though this is obviously just a piece of card!

 But using gold oil paint, rugged on with my finger worked well. Chris suggested I distress it and let drips from above run over it. However, the two paints resisted each other, so that didn't really work.

So this is the finished painting. Re-projected with the foreground a bit more worked on.

And this is sort of how it will look in the installation.

So, a good week.

I painted Jerusalem. Chris agreed with me (twice). And I hopefully bought a house.

(And to think Duncan accused me of not being in because I was sunbathing...)

A Eulogy

Or does something have to be dead for one of those?

Well, polyester organza is hardly known for its beating heart, so it'll do.

This is a short post to say that I love, one and the same, polyester organza.

I've cut it. I've torn it. I've pinned it. I've drawn on it. I've stitched it. I've re-stitched it to buggery. I've submerged it in water. I've scrubbed it. I've hung it. I've picked at it. I've even ironed it. (Directly; with a pretty hot iron). And still it survives. Intact and shining.

Which, for such a delicate fabric is, I think, pretty amazing.

Silk organza would probably have been prettier. But, I'm wondering, would it really have stayed the course.

So, here's my little hats off to polyester organza. (Grey, not white, as I thought that would be too stark).

I am in awe.

Not very good photos, taken against the lamp as I was ironing, but you get the point. Loving the panels with the paper removed. So much more effective...

pS:  And my other favourite comment of the week. Pete asked me if I could do various things on Monday, to which I responded I was still quite busy. 'Oh, I thought you'd finished all your course work,' he said. 'No. I've got to paint Jerusalem,' I said.  Not something you say every day.

And I did paint it. Today. With the help of Chris. But it's a bit wishy washy at present. So I'll post it when it has more punch. (And some gold leaf. If Duncan remembers).