The Blog

The blogging has slowed down but the painting has been happening. I have less than one month left, well less really because we have Xmas and our group exhibition, the mostra, which starts on Dec 12th. Then I need to ship my work back to the UK and on the 29th I fly back.  I am already aware that this … Read More

Luckily I was with Em and Dan, or I may have been locked in! As I didn’t hear the warden – going round with a whistle, so it was a quick finish and dash to the gates, when they called me.

Just a short train ride outside Rome is the ancient town of Ostia Antica, dating back to the 4th Century BC. The old port of Rome, the town was buried in silt as the river changed its path. Digs have gone on since the 1950 – 1970’s but many discoveries are quite recent. Somehow this ongoing discovery gives these ancient … Read More

These paintings – done underground and using whatever found light there is, are now an interesting group to think about back in the studio. My plan was always to divide my time between making on site and working in my BSR studio, which has great even light. Somehow the subject of each of the paintings shifts around, this one it … Read More

Tufa blocks are used as building materials in many of the underground spaces I have visited. Made from compressed volcanic ash and mined close to Rome, they are dense with history and texture. For me they hold a whole world of fascination. Later today I will go to the underground space of the Basilica S. Lorenze in Lucina, only open … Read More

A change of location, this is under the Basilica Dei Santi Cosma E Damiano, situated right in the centre of ancient Rome. The Franciscan Monk who takes care of the church and cloister gave me a guided tour and gave me access to the otherwise closed lower basilica. Besides all this underground painting, I have also been visiting lots of … Read More

Yes the sky is very blue but underground the light is either from randomly placed lights or small holes where daylight finds it way through, usually at pavement level. So I know it is strange to seek out these dark, cool and still spaces. I have been back three times now to the same space and it strangely is feeling … Read More

Back to S. Nicola in Carcere to paint under the temples, again I was happy that a chirpy Buon giorno got me easy access to this seriously thought provoking space. Also right now it is very hot and very humid so actually being in a cool and calm space is rather nice. While up above ( I can hear the … Read More

This is underneath the church of S. Nicola in Carcere, dating back to 250B.C these are very old stones. You can see the pillars of 3 temples that have been on this spot. I get permission to spend a few hours down in this space yesterday and made my first 2 underground paintings, which are just a starting point. For … Read More

So I have to admit I was very happy to find eight Roman holes, from the time of Augustus, probably grain stores. I could get close and the ticket guy seemed to be cool with me painting them…..well that is if he had any idea what my mime was all about. Me down in the crypt with paint, gesture of … Read More