Had a very hectic time at work this week, so much so by Wednesday I was convinced it was Thursday. This happens with me from time to time, I’m told it’s not life threatening.

Anyway, having decided it was Thursday, I was weighing up whether to be responsible and work late, or go to a private view, drink champagne, and deal with the consequences later. The private view won hands down. I headed off into the West End to Rollo Contemporary to see “Paint” a group show featuring an old friend of mine, with whom I used to share a studio- Andrew Hollis- who isn’t currently based in London, and so I rarely get to see. Also in the show is Margot Sanders, who I haven’t met, but was in a show with in Vienna last year (which I couldn’t afford to actually go to myself- it still seems odd paying for paintings to travel somewhere when you can’t then go yourself). I thought it would also be a good chance to actually meet her.

However, it was a Wednesday, not Thursday- the opening night- and so when I arrived the gallery was decidedly closed to the public; Simon Gillespie- the gallery director was still making the final tweaks to the lighting of the show. Luckily he saw me loitering outside, realised my mistake, and very kindly offered to let me have a sneak preview. It’s a killer show, I think I liked everything in it- very much one for painters to check out (perhaps not altogether unsuprisingly with a show called “Paint”).

I was particularly impressed with Andrew’s new work- a series of paintings taken from an encyclopedia from 1967 (before the upheavals of 1968 and the impact this had on philosophy and art which continues to this day). Fantastically painted, and slightly overworldly, like most of his recent work dealing with ideas around realism. Well worth checking out if you’re in the West End.

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Was out around shoreditch last night checking out a few shows that were opening. First stop was Studio 1.1- an artist run space on Redchurch st. Pranab Basu’s second London show was opening (his first for a few years). I arrived early and had a chance to speak with Pranab, who’s come over from Delhi where he was based, and one of the brain’s behind the space Michael Keenan, who had arranged the show. Pranab’s work is a kind of take on Modernism, and constructivism, and it’s well worth checking out the show if you’re in the area and interested in seeing a contemporary take on early modernist pioneers such as Malevich.
Round the corner, just next to the TEA building on Shoreditch High St, New York based Martin Wilner’s first London Solo show- “Making History” was opening in Hales Gallery. He showed a series of drawings produced at a rate of one a month, based on what was being reported in the papers each day. They read as a kind of weird diary or callender, with images on the front, and text on the back. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone in the area.
Tonight ‘Palette’ featuring paintings by David Fletcher and Paul Savage is opening at Madame Lillies in Stoke Newington. My next show will be there, so am hoping to get down to see the space (and the paintings).
Also just opened is “Wall of light” at Standpoint, which has some great video artists showing including Richard Bevan, whose last show at the Jerwood space was fantastic. Hoping to see tomorrow…

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I will giving a talk about my work as part of the current exhibition “Beast” at Standpoint Gallery, tonight at 18.45. Address is 45 Coronet St London (round the corner from the hoxton White Cube). Nearest Tube- Old St. Details below:

http://www.standpointlondon.co.uk/spgallery.html

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I wake up at 8am as my girlfriend is getting ready for work.  I’m not working today – I work part time in an architect’s office – which means I’m automatically in a good mood. I make tea and toast while my girlfriend dries her hair, and I wait for our archaic lap top to grumpily boot up. It seems very much to have its own personality – a deeply unpleasant one – and refuses to do anything without a great deal of patience and gentle coaxing.

I’d very much like to be in my studio today, working on some new paintings, but like most artists, I’ve found since leaving art school that most of my time is spent on administration or promotion. I’m desperately trying to finish a funding application for an arts event I’m organising later in the year. The application is already slightly longer than my MA thesis, and has the same ability to invoke dread whenever I think about it. I want to complete the budget section today, before I have a meeting at 2 with a curator who wants to see some of my work. She’s hoping to show several paintings in the entrance foyer of a city company, which could lead to other things. At least gets it out of my studio for a few months (storage is a problem for every painter I know).

At 4 I’m meeting someone from the Jerwood Foundation – a great organisation within the arts – to try and get them to support the event I’m planning. This needs to go well. I’m already debating how to dress. I decide I a suit would be over the top. After that I’ll get to my studio for a few hours.

But first – funding; my laptop is finally awake, and I begin.

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