I was delighted to be able to go along to the RSW opening last night, and see my Summer Clouds, Eastbourne Pier painting in all its glory in one of the main rooms at the Royal Scottish Academy.
Here it is along with (l-r at bottom) David Smith, Joe Hargan and Glen Scouller's paintings.
It's always odd to come into a public place and see the paintings that you've made privately in your studio. You know exactly how they're made and put together, so they have no secrets from you...and then to see them all framed up and looking great, and on the wall in a fine, grand institution...it's very strange.
Also, I normally only see my paintings at fairly close quarters in the studio. Bizarrely, I found last night that, when you can stand so far back from your work, and it's properly lit, it looks completely different. Colours blend, contrasts and patterns are more obvious.
When your own work is chosen to be hung in a gallery, having been endorsed by a committee, and curated with other work, it suddenly becomes transformed into something else - something you can view objectively rather than subjectively.
Having whoffled about my own modest contribution, can I just add that the RSW show is fantastic - lots of great paintings, well hung, beautifully lit, in a wonderful space.
You couldn't ask for more on a dreich January day. So if you're in Edinburgh, please do go and see it.
