August 2024 Retrospective
August we must. We must August.
This post may be too long for email, you can read the entire post here on Substack or download the wonderful app.
I have been doing a retrospective since October 2023 as a way to reflect on the month, and for you to get insight into my life in a calmer, gentler way than looking at reels of me walking the dog, or of every meal I’ve eaten posted on Instagram. This is a self-contained retrospective, designed to keep distractions from social media at bay. It doubles as a personal diary, allowing me to reflect and perhaps find amusement in retrospect. I think readers might find it intriguing to explore the daily life of an artist. I would love insights into Tracey Emin’s daily routines, the meals she enjoys, and her everyday activities.
August, let’s go…
Aug 1
I met with a couple of friends for a drink at our local Brazilian café. We love it here!
Aug 2
This needs no words, A friend sent it today:
Aug 3
Sunflower picking on a stunning summer’s day in the English countryside. What more do I need to say?
I published this Substack today…
The Art of Focus
Author’s Note: Every Saturday, I share my art practice over the past 7 days. I'm fascinated by artistic practice – it's not just about creating art but the entire process. From influences and ideas to materials and skills, each artist's unique approach shapes their work, making it more than a finished piece.
Aug 4
A cold can of Guinness on a warm, summer’s day wearing my Christmas pyjamas. I’m not weird.
Aug 5
If you missed it…
and…
I drew a friend about 3 years ago and he’s finally got it hung on his wall.
Aug 6
Opened the Snoop Dog wine today. It’s pretty good! You can also video message him, I might just do that after drinking my next bottle. *HIC!*
Aug 7
Go on, give yourself the permission that you’ve been waiting for someone else to give you!
Give yourself permission and you'll find the way
In 2021, I emailed the legendary Swindon muralist, Ken White, to ask, "How do I start painting murals?"
Aug 8
My new Crocs.
Aug 9
We had the best time at Messy Monkeys today. The lava was made from passata. Passata lava.
Aug 10
I wrote about having new Crocs 🥱
Crypt Cruising in Cool Crocsâ„¢
Author’s Note: Every Saturday, I share my art practice over the past 7 days. I'm fascinated by artistic practice – it's not just about creating art but the entire process. From influences and ideas to materials and skills, each artist's unique approach shapes their work, making it more than a finished piece.
Aug 11
My neighbour’s cat is so cute. We would have cats but my wife is allergic.
Aug 12
Homemade Gyros. No words are needed.
Aug 13
I told an old friend that he looked like Max Headroom today (A blast from the past, remember him?)
Aug 14
I have been reflecting on my mother’s last day.
Parched, cracked lips
10 November 2018: She was too frail to drink much water. As I sat beside her, I found myself staring into her weary blue eyes. I dipped a black sponge attached to a stick into a small plastic bowl filled with water, then gently dabbed at her parched, cracked lips. Like arid desert soil thirsting for the season's first rain, her lips thirstily absorbed each droplet.
Aug 15
Updating my website, here are some of the pieces I added.
Aug 16
I have been updating my website again with all of the latest work. I came across this painting of my late mum which I have grown fond of. Someone bought it back in 2021.
Aug 17
Weekly art practice of said week…
Write it down, make it so
Author’s Note: Every Saturday, I share my art practice over the past 7 days. I'm fascinated by artistic practice – it's not just about creating art but the entire process. From influences and ideas to materials and skills, each artist's unique approach shapes their work, making it more than a finished piece.
Aug 18
Down in Kent visiting family! We ordered a huge Chinese takeaway, I sat with my toddler as she threw chicken balls at me.
Aug 19
Down in Kent visiting family part 2! I would love a holiday home down there, UNIVERSE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!!!
Aug 20
Today, a new whistle and flute was ordered for my skin and blister’s upcoming wedding! I have put on A LOT of weight!
Aug 21
I posted this Substack today…
Iconic 80s Movies Reimagined: Two Art Pieces That Will Instantly Take You Back
SLART NOTE: I painted these pieces in 2020 and they didn’t feature in my portfolio when I first built my website around the same time. I didn’t think they were very good, not worthy to share publicly. Now it’s a different story, these paintings are very much part of my artistic journey and as I look back at them, they bring me joy.
Aug 22
We visited the in-laws today and had some lovely food. The fan belt fell off the car about 20 minutes away from their house, making an almighty racket! I thought the car was done for! Thankfully, the AA were fantastic and fitted it quickly after my father-in-law managed to find a new belt just in time. Thank you!
Aug 23
Happy Friday. A friend posted this on our WhatsApp group. I designed the t-shirts for his Stag do back in 2011. It feels like such a long time ago now, oh how life has changed in 13 years!
Aug 24
I took my 19-month-old daughter to an open swimming session yesterday. It’s the first time I’ve let her go with armbands on. She loved it! The swimming pool is in a big glass dome so it’s always lovely and warm!
I’ve been taking her swimming since she was 1 partially driven by my dislike fear of water as a child. I only taught myself to swim at 26!
Aug 25
On a sunny Sunday, we met friends for a pub lunch. I had a delicious Southern fried chicken burger and chips. Sorry, no photos of food here.
Aug 26
Bank holiday Monday in the UK. T’was a relaxing one with the family.
Aug 27
On my first day back in ‘Le travail quotidien’ after a few hours, it feels like I’ve not been off work. Whether that is a good thing or not, I do not know.
Aug 28
A photo from the bank holiday lunch :-D
Aug 29
My ‘For no good reasonable’ DVD has arrived.
recommended that I watch it, and I couldn’t find it on any streaming services! So, I am bringing back the DVD. I've bought a new DVD player and I'm going to start building a collection of especially 80s and 90s films!
Aug 30
1/2 day at work today, then went for a BBQ with one of my oldest friends Lee. I’ve known him for 38 years! and I am only 42.
Aug 31
Set up my SLART shop at Swindon Hub today, check it out!
I hope you’ve had a wonderful August too.
Love to you all,
P.S. Please share for positive vibes that’ll come back to you instantly.
Brilliant retrospective! Had to do a double-take of '....a new whistle and flute was ordered for my skin and blister’s upcoming wedding....' but once I'd engaged my Cockney rhyming slang gear I was golden!
SLART, I loved this month's retrospective. Thoughts: when you refer to your website, link to your website! So we can see the changes. I love the homey photos. I wanted one of Harmony swimming with armbands. I hope you love the Steadman movie. More: I hope you understand why I recommended it! (What if you get to the end and think: wtf?) I actually understood the bit about you buying a new suit for your sister's wedding. How do you figure out what words to use? Is there a dictionary? Does one make them up? So many syllables for a short word. Totally fascinating to this language egghead. I do remember Max Headroom. Your photo of that cat is cuter than having the cat. (I say this as a non-cat person, awaiting rotten vegetables to be thrown at me by other of your readers.)