The month running up to it was pretty eventful. First all that house mess- which has since been resolved. I have to admit though, it has thrown me regarding my place with the project in Brighton. I find the instructions or pressure regarding my life rather alarming. Rich and myself are moving out, to another shared house on the outskirts of Brighton. There's a large garden which will be used to grow veg and flowers which is something Rich really wants to be a part of. We have been assured that because we aren't actually living in the temple ashram, there won't be further demands to get engaged/married. We'll see. In any case, myself and Rich want to live with each other to see how things go and perhaps this house (set to be much much more peaceful than the busy temple street) will be a better place to let our relationship develop. It's also more space than we would ever be able to afford by ourselves in central Brighton... let the 6 months trial commence!
Moving on- myself, Annabel and Mike escaped for four days of madness in Amsterdam mid-December.
The Brinker Hotel hosts an international painting competition each December, where fine art students from England and Holland show their work, which is voted for by all the guests of the party. The prize is €5000... pretty substantial amount to a third year student! I won it myself in 2002, and back then it included a 3 month residency. It was during those three months I formed good relations with the management and staff, which is why I'm invited back each year. I love going to the 'dam! It's a city I feel good in- things flow well. And going to the Brinker really is like visiting family.
Our only source of nutrition whilst in the 'dam.We threw ourselves into the drinking, partying, shits and giggles with my friends from the hotel, old tutors, old friends I studied with and young floppy haired art students. It was a welcome relief from the hassles of Brighton, and so good to spend quality time with Mike and Annabel (esp as Mike is leaving this fair land for sunnier pastures). I made some nice connections, and reestablished relationships with tutors- a couple of exhibition opportunities have emerged for next year which is exciting. I had inspiring visits to the Van Gogh Museum and The Rijks which, together with all the art talk flying round the hotel, renewed/strengthened the desire to get focused with my work.
On return myself and Rich went to Dorset to visit his family- lovely long country walks, mooching round old picturesque towns, t.v. watching and sleeping in. Can't complain. Then on to Margate for Christmas, which included the usual- relaxing, laughing, over-eating, drinking, gaming, unwrapping, etc etc. New Years was with the Hare's in Brighton- 24hr kirtan. Some amazing musicians came along- one Israeli woman played the guitar and sang a really cool bhajan... Trippy, psychedelic, doors inspired tune verging on the dark... could imagine something like that played at a drug fuelled orgy. I was well into it! We sang, danced and made merry into the early hours, some stayed the course and kept going til 12pm the next day- the mad ones who don't mind feeling jet lagged for three days after. To top off the new years celebrations I went ice skating with Camilla in Somerset house.
Aims for the 2009?
- Paint like I've never painted before!!!
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