Everyone has to start somewhere, I entered the Summer exhibition for the first time this year, at £25 submission fee and a little journey to London by train, I only entered one piece. The process of delivery was very smooth, you enter via the red carpet at the rear of the building on Burlington Gardens, past the BBC film crew and your picture is swiftly taken once you remove the packaging. The brief said they were interested in smaller works this year so I submitted this picture which is 51 x 61cm. The deep ultramarine blues sing in my soul and I hope I captured the movement of the wash of the waves. I can never get enough of the sea and the ruggedness of the Cornish coastline is breathtaking. The literature says we’ll be informed of selection by the end of May 2012. So here it is Lizard Basin Cornwall.

After delivering my piece I excitedly visited one of my favourite artists shows, Mimmo Paladino at Alan Cristea Gallery in Cork Street. What is it about seeing things in the flesh? No internet page can do justice to the subtleties of paint on a canvas or the texture of watercolour on paper and the unexpected scale of the picture. Some large, some small. One day when I am rich and famous, I will buy a piece, for now the catalogue will have to suffice. What I particularly enjoy is the integration of a spiritual aspect to his work. There is usually symbolism and reference in some form to his spiritual interests. He also has some outdoor sculptures at one of my favourite places in all the world, yep its up there with New York and Paris, YSP Sculpture Park in Wakefield, Yorkshire.
While I am on the subject of visiting galleries in Cork Street, I have to admit to being intimidated in the past, a lot like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman entering the world of Fashion Houses. This visit however, I went from one gallery to the other and was warmly welcomed in each. The importance of Artist Dates just cannot be underestimated. That subject is for another blog one day…
For now I will conclude this one with the highlight of the weekend Cherrell’s residency at the V and A. On the last Friday of every month the V and A puts on a themed late night opening untill 10pm. It was Persian New Year on this particular occasion, however principally it was to visit my dear Pal in her 6 month studio. Read all about Cherrell Avery here. Her website is here.