June 2024 Retrospective
In fairest June, my being came to bloom.
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. It’s a self-contained retrospective so you don’t get distracted on social media. It’s also somewhat of a diary for me, so I can look back and laugh in the future. I thought it might be interesting to a reader to hear about an artist’s life, as I would have loved to hear more about what Tracey Emin got up to day-to-day, the meals she ate and the mundane things she did.
June, what can I say about June?
Let’s go…
June 1
We had a little night out with friends, starting at a very loud sports bar. God, I sound old. By 10:30pm I was done and decided to go home before it got too messy.
and…
June 2
It’s my birthday today. I am now 42 years of age. We had a lovely day out, my good friend Mark bought us lunch and we went to a local park and listened to live music with our families.
A gift from my 26-year-old brother 😂 it had jelly beans in it.
June 3
The highlight of today!
loving my note! 😂
June 4
Screenshotted this for inspiration:
and…
June 5
I joked with
about painting her on the side of a building. But I’d seriously do it if the opportunity arose!
and…
June 6
So true, so so true!
Also, we filmed the Dyson summer art exhibition today:
June 7
This quote pops up a lot as it’s so apt!
June 8
My little family went to Pizza Express for an impromptu lunch. I love watching my daughter interact with people and the world. She’s so wise.
and…
June 9
My good friend and I went up The Shard, then for a lovely cream tea afterwards. There’s nothing like being high up to put life into perspective.
June 10
Not much happened today, but I’ve noticed that I no longer dread Mondays. Which is unheard of for me!
June 11
Most of this book went over my head, but it was certainly entertaining! Inspired by Mills Baker.
June 12
Mucking around with Canva!
and…
June 13
A little plaque that’s a reminder to myself.
June 14
Hanging out with my little love.
June 15
I exhibited my work locally today, it’s on for the next 2 weeks!
I also took my niece to a local farm today, we all had the best time!
and…
June 16
Father’s Day in the UK. I got spoiled by my baby daughter. Today marks my late dad’s birthday as well. His birthday very often fell on Father’s Day. Miss you, Dad!
The weather was gorgeous today so we went to a National Trust place for the day.
June 17
I made a start on my Phantom painting.
June 18
Don’t ask… some old content that I shared to Instagram today.
June 19
The Outsider Art Fair replied so my curator will support me in getting a place for 2025:
and…
June 20
Went to the gym today, it’s helping my energy levels!
Bless Donald Sutherland, he passed today. I drew this in 2019.
June 21
Gym again ✅
June 22
I feel nude without a beard, I don’t like my face. My beard is like a mask of sorts.
and…
June 23
True?
June 24
I went on a sculpture trail with a friend, his son and my daughter. Oh boy, it really was a trail in the hiking sense of the word, very hilly and gravelly. We got a great workout pushing the baby’s pushchairs today!
June 25
Katsu chicken at work, was the highlight at work today.
June 26
I quite like the way this photo is framed, a true reflection of a tired father trying to juggle a lot and get fit! It may become a painting.
and…
June 27
I came across Stefan Simchowitz today, he’s a self-confessed art world bad boy 😂
He’s got an open door policy so I will send him my portfolio at some point.
It’s my sister’s birthday today, as well as my friend’s kid’s 3rd birthday and my mate Richard’s 9th wedding anniversary.
I’m considering paying for this once my new website is up. At the very least, I’ll get some footage of the ad to share.
June 28
Ergh, posting on TikTok again. I don’t know if this will last.
June 29
I don’t know if it’ll be any good, but I have made this into a boosted post on Instagram. At just $1 per day, I might as well give it 1 month to see how it goes. I tend to panic and cancel ads early but I can spare 30 dollars. I can write about it afterwards.
Also, this out of Magnus Resch's book, stood out…
June 30
Our car broke down on the motorway today, and we felt like “Please give us a break, not another thing to go wrong” but my wife and automatically looked at the bright side.
Here’s what we said:
We are all safe.
We had AA breakdown cover.
We were not too far from home.
It could’ve been worse.
We have the car booked in for a service tomorrow, the AA man got us there.
It could’ve cost more.
Maybe it is a reminder to buy a bigger family car (a decision we’d been putting off).
I hope you’ve had a wonderful June too.
Love to you all,
P.S. Please share for positive karma.
There's so much to love in this latest retrospective - but I'm still shaking with laughter at that packet of 'Oldgitamol' and can't get past that to comment further!
Save, of course, to say Happy Birthday for last month! 🥳