Kay by Russell
MELDREW SEES THE LIGHT by Russell Lumb
Yesterday I arrived at Redbrick dog tired from days of concentrated activity, ticking off urgent items from a seemingly endless list; family, housekeeping, business and artistic demands, no different in nature to everyone else’s agenda for a typical week, but I forget too easily the advancing years and the medical repair work which require careful husbanding of my resources. I had also, against my best intentions, attended Redbrick on Friday for printing, and the lengthy journeys, to and from the east coast, are, in themselves quite tiring. They are also currently infuriating, as the promise of Spring growth is soured by the depressing indictment of litter, from Batley to Snainton. The comic self- aggrandisement of we Yorkshire folk throughout last Summer’s cycling frenzy does not appear to include either the spreading of, or the collection of litter from our trunk road verges. You may be able to assess my mood from the above, and understand why I was happy to find a quiet corner in the life room, hidden behind Tom’s substantial canvas, but it cannot excuse my intemperate reaction to Dick’s innocent lunchtime observation that eating food in a cinema is a legitimate activity in a civilised society. I do not withdraw my remarks, but regret having been quite so beastly to Dick, and offer my sincere apology.
I tell you this, not to salve my conscience, but to illustrate that part of life drawing which struck me most forcibly yesterday; there are numerous influences on a lfe session, many of which can be anticipated and engineered for best results, and many more over which we have no control. The latter influences were weighing heavily as Kay belatedly took her position, and my prospects for a productive day were minimal. The initial pose provided no more than a rear, three quarter view which seemed appropriate to my dark mood, but no, wait a minute. Kay was not comfortable, shifting her position to offer a typical, uplifted profile, whilst draping right shoulder and arm over her chair back. What a transformation; whilst I did not skip around the studio in excitement, I was shocked to find that I had the sort of model, pose, lighting, and proximity which I always envy when viewing great paintings in galleries. If only I had that degree of control, my work would be so much better.
Well, my acrylic and charcoal painting does not quite prove this theory, but, considering the negative portents which had to be overcome, I am surprised to have made a painting which I did not expect at the start. Of course, it isn’t a painting in the sense of Tom’s work and was made too quickly to acquire any intellectual weight, nor did this change in fortune prevent my immoderate outburst at lunch, but the physical tiredness could not be erased, and so I am content, this time, with the “sketch” quality of this piece.
For the most part, the ten paintings produced were typically of the Saturday timescale; well-composed and resolved, although strangely dark considering the bright Spring sunshine which moved the shadows around so that one constantly felt to have misjudged the modelling. Sandra, Jackie and Gerry made the loosest, most expressive images, with Gerry showing again that he is making serious progress in parts. Sue appears to have felt as tired as me but had not had my location advantage and had not really got into her painting, whilst Hadyn transports us to another continent with his enigmatic ladyboy in chiffon colours; an odd view of Kay but a strangely satisfying image. Tony made another intricate and precise pattern of colour and tone, pinning those fleeting shadows across Kay’s features like a CGI still, whilst Dick and Isi made powerful, painterly portraits of the same tough broad from a Damon Runyon novel. Tom complained that he was struggling with gender all afternoon, but his incessant nattering about football and power tools appeared to place him firmly on the boys’ side of the studio. Anyway, tolerance is my new watchword.
Paintings and drawings by Dick, Gerry, Hadyn, Isi, Jackie, Sandra, Sue D-Y, Tom, Tony and featured artist Russell.










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