It was just the right sort of day to visit a brush museum. Nothing much else going on. A crisp, sunny day at last, and a trip to Mere – home of Hillbrush, seemed the right choice. I’ve been thinking of visiting Mere for ages but it’s a long way to go just to see… Read More A clean sweep
The Portrait Sculpture course is drawing to a close. I shall miss it. I’m no Jacob Epstein but I am quite proud of the second head I completed this term, which is near life size, and actually bears some resemblance to the model. Last session, we spent the two and a half hours just getting… Read More The eyes have it
Sunday afternoon, 1958. Between Life with the Lyons and Sing Something Simple on the Home Service, my father is in the kitchen making his special treacle toffee. Clattering and tut-tutting, he lays out everything with military precision on the daffodil yellow Formica table. In crisp blue and white striped apron, he looks like a butcher but… Read More Sweet Heaven
Put down everything that comes into your head and then you’re a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff’s worth, without pity, and destroy most of it. Colette, Casual Chance, 1964 The art of editing is as important as the art and craft of writing. And editing your own work… Read More Putting your stamp on style
It’s the 100th anniversary of the birth of Muriel Spark this year but I wasn’t aware of this when I tuned into Radio 4 this morning to hear Book of the Week . When I heard the title of the latest choice- Appointment in Arezzo by Alan Taylor I was so excited to hear the… Read More Crème de la Crème in Tuscany
When Soak Becomes Spill, the monumental stainless steel sculpture by Subodh Gupta, greets you at the entrance to Hauser & Wirth Gallery in Bruton, Somerset. The huge elongated bucket, brimming over with hundreds of cooking pots, tiffin tins and small vessels, dominates the forecourt of the site, and prepares the visitor for an unusual and… Read More Tiffin Tins and Cooking Pots
