Palaces and Pavilions

Thank you to everyone who came to the Mile End show at the Art Pavillion. It was a great pleasure to see you all.

This last month has been full of activity, preparing for and then enjoying the Essential School of Painting end of year show. As I was studying online this year there was no expectation that we would have a show but a gap became available at the very lovely Art Pavilion in Mile End Park and everything fell into place. I had two large paintings, one complete and a second nearing completion, but I also had a compelling idea for a third and recklessly decided to try and complete it in the two weeks available.

I was painting in Italy which felt appropriate for the subject matter, and the hot weather dried the canvas fast enough to roll it up and take it home in a builders 10 centimetre drainpipe.

Here I am at the private view with my tutor, Rosanna Dean, who after encouraging me online, was delighted to see the painting for the first time in real life.

We recently collected some family from Verona airport, stopping en route at the city of Mantova. Encircled by artificial lakes and consequently often shrouded in a romantic fog there is a lot to see here. Top of our list is the Mannerist masterpiece of Guilio Romano, the Palazzo Te. The highlight of the palace is the room of the giants.

Where there was an installation by Isaac Julien: “All That Changes You. Metamorphosis”.

I hope you’re having a great summer.