Details from the works of Barry and Roger depicting last night's model, Mike.
Mike is a big man, a substantial figure of Falstaffian proportions who sits handsomely and purposefully not unlike Monsieur Ingre's, Monsieur Bertin. They both sit alert in repose exuding a quiet air of authority, not threatening merely there, a large presence of fascinating proportions. Nearly everyone was drawn to the head and used it almost as a metaphor for the absent rest. Here were the curves and folds, the sculpted edges and unruly arabesques of hair and flesh, all to explore, analyze and process.
Not for the first time Russell has found his inner Bishop popping out, only this time Mike has been elevated to Cardinal and his rich red Zucchetto hovers mysteriously above his head. Could this strange hovering be the resultant shock of once more being overlooked for the Papacy. Whilst we know there is white smoke, we didn't know the Papal Conclave made their selection Nordic fashion, Sauna Style. Mike's red cheeks and bare shoulders are a dead giveaway as one more secret of this ancient ritual is revealed. Is it any wonder that the Sistine Chapel appears to need endless restoration if those curious cardinals are using it as a Sauna!
Above are two details going head to head, Smith and Jones fashion. They appear to me, like a marvellous diagram of my mind as I ponder how the evening's work might progress. Mr Right Side says be loose, elusive, expressive, allow forms to slip and slide, don't worry about detail just allow the pastel to scamper across the forms. Meanwhile Herr Left Side says, Rubbish, look for the forms, eliminate all unnecessary detail, focus on the essentials, reduce edges to lines and contain, contain, contain, no wayward straying across clearly defined boundaries. And so the argument rages, if only I could be as loose, free and relaxed as Roger than the drawing would flow, but then again if only I would stop being distracted and just focus on what matters maybe I could get a wonderful taut drawing like Barry. When I look at these two fine drawings both different but in my eyes equally good I realize Mongrels won't do, it's the pure Pedigree that wins every time. As Francis Bacon said, 'Only extremes are interesting', and I don't suppose it matters what those extremes are just so long as they really are extreme.
by Tom Wood
Paintings and drawings by Barry, Dick, Hadyn, Ian, Ivan, Roger, Russell, Sandra, Sue D-Y, Tom and Tony.
