Another hospital visit today, this time taking a relative to the phlebotomy department for blood tests. That’s three relatives in hospital for some reason over the past 2 weeks. Thank goodness for the NHS. This is free apart from the costs of getting there. Of course, we pay through our taxes and national insurance, but it’s when things like this happen that you realise how lucky we are. I had a quick scribble in the waiting room, drawing into my little spotty A6 sketchbook with Faber Castell Pitt drawing pens, sizes S, F and B and a graphite pencil (B).
The Grand Dude Rocks
13 DecIt’s been a tiring week but after tomorrow I’ll be able to have a bit of a break from arty stuff and enjoy some time off. On Wednesday evening I was at the opening of a group show I’m in at The Brunswick. It’s been a long haul as I have work in 2 other exhibitions at the moment and it’s been a lot of effort to get all the pieces finished and framed. But it’s all done now.
This is one of the pieces in the show, ‘The Grand Dude Rocks’, a transfer print overlaid with an original drawing based on a sketchbook scribble. I saw this chap when I was visiting at the hospital last year. He was rocking on his headphones. Brilliant. 😀
Talking Heads
17 SepDad-in-law almost got out of hospital today, but a last minute cough foiled his escape bid, so I get to keep on drawing patients and visitors for a little while yet. These two chatting away in the corner had quiffs and may have been Teddy Boys when they were younger – they’re about the right age. Drawn with a Pilot V5 pen [0.5mm] into my new-ish purple silk, embroidered and recycled sari A5 sketchbook with a tassle and a little tiny bell.
Visible Elders
16 AugBack to the hospital visiting routine, keeping an elder relative company. The elderly man in the next bed, although very ill and frail, was having an animated conversation with his visitors, thoroughly enjoying their company. It’s so easy to see elders in a negative way and forget that they have a voice that should be heard; that they have as much right to be visible as younger people. Our media are obsessed with youth. It’s so fake. We shouldn’t have a society that turns away from our elders and shuts them up in homes and hospitals and doesn’t represent them in the media, except through thoroughly patronising images. Look at the self-portraits of Rembrandt as he got older. So much more interesting, more powerful, extraordinary.