Now it might have come across in some point that for the past four years I have actively been ignoring and avoiding painting, or in fact artistic anything of any kind. I even went to university and got myself a degree in sciences, mainly to show I can do something else than paint, for god's sake. But I've probably mentioned that before that I studied visual arts for several years and I have in the past painted quite a bit, although I've never gone for being prolific, I just don't hold with that kinds of things...

Now, in the past, when I still used to paint, I quite often had my work framed, usually in the same little shop that purely does art framing and sells some stuff as well. I never thought anything much of the place, I can't remember the people who work there, I just went there because it was convenient and they always did what you asked them to do and didn't charge the earth for it.

Well, they apparently remember me. My mother had gone over there to have some of my old things re-framed (why?!) and apparently the owner of the shop has said that she would be "more than delighted" to take any of my work in display in her shop, to be sold without a commision to them. (I smell my mother's meddling paws in here somewhere...)

Now my mother is threatening that if I do not produce anything new, she will put my early teenage art in display. Oh, the cruelty and the humility... Sometimes I think the times before all this technological communications and cheap flights does not sound that bad. When the only way to get across the sea was by a steam boat, moving to the other end of the continent at least meant that your parents stopped meddling in your affairs, and you could be a miserable, uncreative failure in peace, if that was what you wanted.

Don't let my ranting fool you. I'm actually really pleased and excited...


before & after