tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44490623938004735612024-03-13T07:08:16.094-07:00Journeys made in haste by nightOccasional notes from a painter.Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-63897755617495309022009-05-03T14:46:00.000-07:002009-05-03T14:51:03.523-07:00Moving onHello, hello. Been a while...<br /><br />Things have been changing and so, in ever perpetetic fashion I have now moved to...<br /><a href="http://jakespicer.tumblr.com/">http://jakespicer.tumblr.com/</a> which will be accessible via my shiny new website, coming online at the end of this very week.<br /><br />I wont be making any more posts here so for anyone stumbeling upon this page, check out <a href="http://www.jakespicerart.co.uk/">www.jakespicerart.co.uk</a> instead!<br /><br />Tata.<br /><br />J.Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-64714631980209147162008-12-14T14:01:00.000-08:002008-12-14T14:02:57.630-08:00These two only<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SUWCh-a1sFI/AAAAAAAAAEM/ioI0cjZvfpQ/s1600-h/DSC_1853+edit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279769658364637266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SUWCh-a1sFI/AAAAAAAAAEM/ioI0cjZvfpQ/s320/DSC_1853+edit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-39730537578091114942008-12-12T16:13:00.000-08:002008-12-12T16:48:36.758-08:00Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SUL_MRWp93I/AAAAAAAAAD8/_pZFExqLlVA/s1600-h/edit2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279062299513583474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SUL_MRWp93I/AAAAAAAAAD8/_pZFExqLlVA/s320/edit2.jpg" border="0" /></a> To the left you see an easel, below a sketch of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chom</span></span>, the officer's mess at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cranwell</span></span> where I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">recently</span> partied late into the night (bearing in mind of course my perpetual sobriety). As is often the case I have been to busy to write about what have been doing and so all the exciting events of the past week or so will remain an exciting mystery, after a fortnight of public <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">arguments</span> up and down the North <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Laine</span></span>, hasty journeys by night <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">across</span> the coast, nights spent in wild self doubt and days basking in the cold light of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">financial</span> reality I have emerged looking forward to a change of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">circumstance</span>. Keep your eyes peeled for photos of the new studio and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">importantly</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">collaborative</span> project with the Megan Cooke, previously presented in previous paintings-in-progress. I shall be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">attempting</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">convince</span> the manager of the <a href="http://www.drellagallery.co.uk/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Drella</span> Gallery </a>that my our work is worth a show...</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Amongst numerous other activities I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">recently</span> enjoyed visiting the Sparks evening of short stories at Three and Ten in Brighton, <a href="http://www.orbific.com/weblog">James Burt's </a>live reading of his short story 'A Bad place to stick your hand' was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">particularly</span> enjoyable. I am sadly missing the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Saatchi</span></span> Gallery viewing of the new show of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">contemporary</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Chineese</span></span> art due to every penny in my bank account being ear marked for the deposit on my new studio which I will also be neither able to heat <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">effectively</span> nor furnish until the new year. So its rice with onion and carrot for the next couple of weeks... I have no one but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">myself</span> to blame seeing as I spent last weeks food money on a pot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Gesso</span></span> primer. Enough of my chatter. </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279068496672967042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SUME0_klyYI/AAAAAAAAAEE/ctB8rpDLqjA/s320/sketch.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-73061242835022977322008-11-30T16:39:00.000-08:002008-11-30T16:51:36.412-08:00Almost as good as a rest.The 100 artists for aids day event that I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">exhibtibited</span> 'Impressions' (Megan's beautiful feet) at today proved rather a rewarding few hours.<br /><br />Check out:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/amyamity">http://www.myspace.com/amyamity</a> the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">myspace</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doesn't</span> do her justice, pick an event that shes playing at, go along, support her with much cheering and whooping. It'll be well worth the trek.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.treefrogillustration.co.uk/">http://www.treefrogillustration.co.uk/</a> really rather beautiful and funny wee things.<br /><br />On returning I got on with sanding down plastered <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MDF</span> (an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">experiment</span>, stay posted; though if it fails this will be the last you hear of this mysterious activity...) and working on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bedham</span> pieces, pics wont upload, keep your eyes peeled... So much has gone on over the last few days that I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">shan't</span> even start to relay it. That be all.Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-84314143397779884412008-11-23T14:14:00.000-08:002008-11-23T15:16:07.275-08:00Night on night, from floor to floor<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271993999135629282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSninCh4X-I/AAAAAAAAAD0/Ihw39Z_4nLg/s320/DSC_1783.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>The last week has passed with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">unnecessary</span> speed, and as such <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> glad that in these last failing hours I have managed to take a massive step forward in the work <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">I'm</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">currently</span> faffing about with. My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bedham</span> pieces are progressing slowly in a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">physical</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sense</span> but the lessons <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">I'm</span> learning from <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">approaching</span> the brick work, plays of light and smooth skin <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">tones</span> of the model are many... </div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSnhKampyRI/AAAAAAAAADs/qVGaX4VfxEs/s1600-h/DSC_1760.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271992407870261522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSnhKampyRI/AAAAAAAAADs/qVGaX4VfxEs/s320/DSC_1760.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>To <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">distract</span> myself from getting overly fussy with the painting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">I'm</span> listening to an audio book of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Dawkins</span>' The God Delusion; I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">don't</span> have much time to read at the mo and so having things <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">read to</span> me is preferable to repeating my own over played music collection to myself. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">I'm</span> also musing on the way in which <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">squirrels</span> run after seeing a neat row of footprints in the snow this morning (I was at the RAF base in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Cranwell</span>; I think Brighton endured cold rain in place of the light snowflakes I enjoyed this morning). </div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-23243564720950844712008-11-21T03:08:00.000-08:002008-11-21T03:16:31.655-08:00Priorities<div align="justify">A message of personal castigation...I made the decision to spend most of this weeks food budget on fifteen quids worth of beautiful paper, then I left it at Brighton station. This is a public appeal for the return of said paper...I hope it's being used well <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">where ever</span> it is.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">C'est</span> la vie eh?</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271067858516810562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 252px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSaYSj3fm0I/AAAAAAAAADk/ZIb3sSpD3Cw/s320/rosy+portraitsmall+copy.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center">Miss Rosy Carrick (<a href="http://www.rosycarrick.co.uk/">http://www.rosycarrick.co.uk/</a>), from last weekend</div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-52552248401706269792008-11-20T18:18:00.000-08:002008-11-20T18:37:04.264-08:00Today I cannot even speak<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSYctcHBy9I/AAAAAAAAADc/7GWaj9ujM4E/s1600-h/DSC_1759.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270931980849105874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSYctcHBy9I/AAAAAAAAADc/7GWaj9ujM4E/s320/DSC_1759.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div>Thought I saw someone I know well in the street today and it struck me a mighty ole mental blow hence the title. Im particularly ineloquent today. Paint is going on well. Messing about with different priming. Landscapes may be in the pipeline. </div><div> </div><div>link: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/zoecello">http://www.myspace.com/zoecello</a> if you havent listened already.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270931180350414002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSYb-2BRHLI/AAAAAAAAADU/riBUq0-uGVc/s320/DSC_1757.JPG" border="0" /></div></div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-10029635481914297012008-11-17T17:17:00.000-08:002008-11-17T17:24:28.186-08:00A stroke of good fortune<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSIZCijW5hI/AAAAAAAAADA/_DUMQLDNrkw/s1600-h/DSC_1751+levels.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269802045402441234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSIZCijW5hI/AAAAAAAAADA/_DUMQLDNrkw/s320/DSC_1751+levels.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">The excitement of making a well placed brushstroke defies adequate words. Honestly.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-7218561111790237652008-11-16T15:49:00.000-08:002008-11-16T16:13:53.575-08:00Phil Colins and the sewing machine.The title is not the name of a pitch for a particularly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">disappointing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">children's</span> book but the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">motley</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">medley</span> of musical <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">accompaniment</span> to this evenings creative melee in the studio.<br /><br />With the revelation that someone, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">in fact</span> up to three someones, maybe even four have read my blog I really should improve the quality of the written content but seeing as that would detract from doing the work Id otherwise be writing about I shall leave it at images today. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Of course</span> I could have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">followed</span> that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">philospohy</span> to its logical conclusion and just not written this blog but we live in an age of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">instant</span> communication where we feel the need to instantly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">communicate</span> whether we need to say something or not. We feel that even our silence should be commented on, just so people know that we're too busy to let them know what we're doing. So I thought Id pen the comment anyway as an ironic way of presenting a little piece of social <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">commentary</span> for you to dwell upon. Pretencious you say? Im a painter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269407101520716370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SSCx1x8QIlI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Cf8SQs5CW7Q/s320/DSC_1747edit.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p>"Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact." George Eliot</p><p></p>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-60715011024806083242008-11-15T15:34:00.000-08:002008-11-15T15:52:20.006-08:00Soup and Turpentine<div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">That's</span> the unique olfactory <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">signature</span> of my studio at the moment not, I must stress, a serving suggestion. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Something to do with your Sunday: </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><strong>Jake and Rosy in the Lanes</strong> </em></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Sunday 16<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> November 11:00am – 4:00pm</em><br /><br />To celebrate its first anniversary the Brighton Art gallery Art@ Taylor Made will be hosting a drawing session in which Jake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Spicer</span> (me...) will be painting a portrait of Brighton Poet Rosy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Carrick</span> (www.rosycarrick.co.uk) live in the gallery. Everybody and anybody is welcome to drop by!<br /><em><br />Art @ Taylor Made Brighton Square The Lanes Brighton <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BN</span>1 1<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">HD</span></em><br /><a href="http://www.artattaylormade.co.uk/">http://www.artattaylormade.co.uk/</a> </span></div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269036003797888626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SR9gVDMd7nI/AAAAAAAAACw/iYixtKdElS4/s320/DSC_1744.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Here's</span> last nights work, not very exciting yet, but just you wait...</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-39417029439339537312008-11-12T13:56:00.000-08:002008-11-12T14:02:54.000-08:00Scratches in the sky<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SRtRlmHSTiI/AAAAAAAAACY/2kyaxeWh5vs/s1600-h/DSC_1666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267893895468043810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SRtRlmHSTiI/AAAAAAAAACY/2kyaxeWh5vs/s320/DSC_1666.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>not too exciting yet, but keep eyes peeled...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This Sunday (16th) I'll be painting Rossy Carrick in Art @ Taylor Made in Brighton, heres a wee sketch to whet the appetite.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267894732869888770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SRtSWVrcawI/AAAAAAAAACg/m4pafXzGQVA/s320/sketch+1.jpg" border="0" /></div></div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-40603870357911377372008-11-01T18:13:00.000-07:002008-11-01T18:32:42.437-07:00What All The Rabbit Are Doing...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SQ0CpzWqPII/AAAAAAAAACQ/Ho3ikj1xJ6Q/s1600-h/DSC01610.JPG"></a><br /><div><div><div>New post format, primarily to avoid unessesaryly prologed prosaic pratteling. </div><br /><div>I'm just going to note things I have seen today, things that Id recomend, and things that I created. </div><br /><div>Today:</div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SQ0Au7T1fII/AAAAAAAAAB4/aBWMQBZn_9A/s1600-h/poster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263864345660849282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SQ0Au7T1fII/AAAAAAAAAB4/aBWMQBZn_9A/s320/poster.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://rosycarrick.blogspot.com/">http://rosycarrick.blogspot.com/</a> well worth a nose, dark and rich and beautiful. </div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SQ0BCxrbtqI/AAAAAAAAACA/aPxB3ceUHE8/s1600-h/picture5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263864686672852642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SQ0BCxrbtqI/AAAAAAAAACA/aPxB3ceUHE8/s320/picture5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.thejoycollective.co.uk/sabotage/forthcoming.html">http://www.thejoycollective.co.uk/sabotage/forthcoming.html</a> saw this last night, the last performance (ever I am told), watch out for anything else from Zoe Hincks in future.</div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div>A little 007 to as light relief and finaly, from me...</div><br /><br /><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263866184308638514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SQ0CZ8zoQzI/AAAAAAAAACI/J5GN65oCWn4/s320/DSC01610.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-63637268736156023472008-09-15T13:14:00.000-07:002008-09-15T13:15:27.248-07:00A little perspective<blockquote><br />Blimey, what a week, and what a day. Ive just got back to my studio after a jaunt into the countryside; primarily to visit a portrait client but I also took the opportunity to scrump a huge bag of apples and pick the last of the blackberries on the way(its apple and blackberry crumble for me tomorrow...!). Seeing as I had nothing to transport, bar the apples, I took my rickety little bicycle rode up over my beloved South Downs, down the other side at breakneck speed and on the way back managed to break my bike chain with 5 miles to go so had to freewheel the last five miles down to the sea. One the positive side it highlighted that Im not as unfit as id thought (a 30mile round trip, half uphill is a good test) and best of all I enjoyed a moment of joyus perspective, standing on Devils Dyke (one of the hills of the downs) looking out over the Weald (big flat bit between the South and North downs), surrounded by the busy, living quiet of a hillside copse and everything bathed in the hot pastel shades of a dying sun, backed by the hazy gold of an almost autumnal moon. The perspective being that no matter how tricky life can feel in the center of a busy city, tennis balled back and forth from house to studio, bank to gallery, how startlingly important the minor grievances of tumultuous relationships or gradual depletion of a dwindling bank account may seem, the world goes on. The grass continues to grow, rabbits go on eating the grass, foxes go on eating rabbits. The sun rises, the sun sets; the world continues to turn. In our urban hives of industrious existence, where everything is designed, everything is placed so carefully, observed by so many and worried about perpetually its kind of comforting to think that outside of ourselves the living world en mass just...continues. </blockquote>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-4245483268959961792008-09-07T01:08:00.000-07:002008-09-07T01:21:09.514-07:00The trouble with dreams...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SMOO4QWOs9I/AAAAAAAAABM/Nlf02vq5f7Y/s1600-h/phonecameraDSC01475.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243191488301413330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SMOO4QWOs9I/AAAAAAAAABM/Nlf02vq5f7Y/s320/phonecameraDSC01475.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I had a horrific day of confusion and irrational upset yesterday, my work seemed trivial and shallow and I felt utterly lost and directionless, a long way down a road that Id never meant to start on in the first place. So I watched scrubs for 4hours, read for another 2 and resiststed the urge spend money I dont have on burger and chips. I then went to sleep for a good 10 hours 16 hours not working was a blow but I feel better for it and most interestingly everything that felt that it was missing in daily life was provided in the glorious technicolour or my lucid dreams. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyway. I'll press on as I have before, heres a work in progress of a painting that I didnt want to do but couldn't afford not to. Its coming out ok. I'll leave a proper post at some point soon.tata.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>NB if when the large hadron collider i turned on it does happen to create a black hole that destroys life as we know it none of this will matter. What a cop out that would be...</div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-48811971001745282822008-06-18T14:11:00.000-07:002008-06-18T15:16:42.147-07:00Usualy a combination of love and fear<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SFl_RF980gI/AAAAAAAAAAk/A8hNxLA7lc0/s1600-h/DSC00053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213337975294579202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SFl_RF980gI/AAAAAAAAAAk/A8hNxLA7lc0/s320/DSC00053.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Profundity that can only come from the BBC. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It has been a trying day but I have to admit these things are minor enough to suck up pretty easily. The problem I have with trying to confront the little problems before me, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">following</span> my passions is it leaves very little right to complain. Largely I am able to by enough paint to paint with, enough food to give me the energy to paint, I have the support of friends and family without suffocation and even at the worst of times in the last two years I have never wanted to be anyone but myself. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The Gallery project, Calico, appears to be in deep water. Or shallow, you can drown in both. Some times it can be tricky to juggle lots of balls when people keep throwing flaming torches in...</div><div> </div><div>The painting requires a little more work on the fabric and the progress of that is throwing into perspective the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">inadequacy</span> of the rest of the work. I also need to talk to the model more, I miss her whilst painting it (she is living in Canada and the work is being finished from photos). </div><div> </div><div>Right. Nose back to the grindstone. </div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-36902253002596415462008-06-13T02:56:00.000-07:002008-06-13T03:04:56.581-07:00Letter to GodHere's something worth listening to, and thinking about: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KnGNOiFll4&feature=PlayList&p=AE14B7B3D9481ED3&index=0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KnGNOiFll4&feature=<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">PlayList</span>&p=<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">AE</span>14B7B3D9481ED3&index=0</a><br /><br />aaand...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN6XfyQsr4&feature=PlayList&p=AE14B7B3D9481ED3&index=3">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN6XfyQsr4&feature=PlayList&p=AE14B7B3D9481ED3&index=3</a><br /><br />When I began working on the painting of Delaney (shown in my first post) I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">painting</span> loosely, with expression. Ive found myself getting all tight and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">niggly</span> again. It was partly a result of being distracted yesterday by company, its easy to become afraid of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">risks</span> when you're under scrutiny. My own hang up there, but something I shall have to overcome. Isolation <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">isn't</span> always a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">luxury</span> I'll be afforded.<br /><br />I'll be meeting a new studio-mate today, to join Emma Mia and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">meself</span> in the new studio at New <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Engalnd</span> House, after which I'll be sorting out the next Calico <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">exhibition</span>. Forgot about that until 12.30am. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Oopps</span>.<br /><br />Paintings to do...accounts to mess about with...biog to write...tataJake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-39877237822425365362008-06-08T13:23:00.000-07:002008-06-08T13:32:21.636-07:00Black coffee, Red wine, A day in wordsCoffee, red wine and brocoli (raw, in a little tuperware tub), paint, an image appearing, running low on flake white, St Bartholemew's looming over recovering junkies out the window. French rap, the smell of turps and a discarded cork.<br /><br />Two visiting brunettes, beans on toast and an impassioned debate on temparance, a little more red wine, some carrots...Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449062393800473561.post-70782656879139451752008-06-07T16:39:00.000-07:002008-06-07T17:14:20.260-07:00Anglo-welsh terrane erotica<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SEskSe1_4KI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/-FPDfbhvQ2g/s1600-h/delaney+wip.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209297293919903906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_peeUfAgSZZ4/SEskSe1_4KI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/-FPDfbhvQ2g/s320/delaney+wip.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Reading <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">someone's</span> diary; that little journal stashed beneath the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mattress</span> or secreted away in a hidden drawer, is so often accompanied by that dizzy little fish-hook tug of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">excitement</span> in the gut.<br /><br />Reading a blog can often seem more like a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">secondary</span> school comprehension task. Censored as it is for the public eye a blog requires no guilty <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">fumblings</span> in the dark crannies of the authors private quarters; readily published for all to see there is no stolen moment, left alone, in which to snatch <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">brief</span> morsels of thought from private pages. More's the shame.<br /><br /><strong>Thought for yesterday...</strong><br /><br />I was walking up a hill in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Brighton</span> last night listening to an Anglo-Welsh poem about having sex with a mountain. It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">occurred</span> to me how surreal some pretty mundane things can sound when you write them down. Now I have.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Right now...</strong><br /><br />There are people in the corridor outside <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">recycling</span> bottles. Its 1-bloody-am on a Sunday morning.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Something important...</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />I was sitting at a table eating a hasty dinner at 11pm before returning to my studio and thought... In the last three days I have found my drive once again, I knew it just needed a little time to come to terms with the upheval and now all I need is my work, food and sleep are physical neccesities that facilitate creation. How can people up in the morning with something like this to drag them? I admire their blind tenacity.<br /><br /><br /><br />Tata.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Jake Spicerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942838102772431784noreply@blogger.com0