Traffic Cone by an Old House

Houses live and die: there is a time for building

And a time for living and for generation

And a time for the wind to break the loosened pane.

T S Eliot

Last week, I painted As it is now and, though I like its darkness with rich seams running through it, it wasn't what I wanted. So, I came back this week to have another go, using a slightly different view on a photograph. I wanted to show the grandeur of the old building, now left empty. The plan was/still is to turn it into a nursery, building luxury apartments on the adjacent land. Nothing much has happened for nearly two years now. Though today, I did notice a few people looking round. Rumour is, it might be used as a film set. I envision it as a community resource centre, but more of that next week.

I started with a pencil sketch. Actually, that's not true. I started with 5 minutes' peace, just looking at the photograph, waiting to see what it reveals. Which were flowing darker patterns on the ground and brickwork. Then, I did a pencil sketch, helping me to identify the proportions (and I nearly cocked it up!). But it is pretty much bang on. I had to keep going, ignoring the voice telling me it's worse than last week's! I'm glad I did. Oh, I remembered to use my new metallic acrylic paints my partner gave to me for Valentine's day.

The best part of painting for me is when you leave the photograph and start to paint with feeling. I hope I have painted the energy and experience of this old house with a traffic cone at the ready for whatever is to come. I hope it will be kind.

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