The Self-Isolation Residency 13th April 2020: Day 15

The Texture of Water

Well today has been a very different day for me, yesterday was the last day of my 14 day self imposed quarantine and I'm glad to say that I'm symptom free. However just because I'm no longer in quarantine  doesn't mean that my residency here is over, the residency is about self isolation not quarantine, the residency will continue until self isolation and social distancing are a thing of the past and I am free to move, travel and work where I like.

The real significance of today for me was that I could start to leave the house for the first time, even if it is just for limited times to buy groceries and to exercise. As I was ready to do both of these things it does mean that my time in the studio today was rather limited so once again. I chose not to work on my painting today and to give it another day to dry some more. So with the opportunity to go out I took my camera for a long walk along the shoreline.

The decision to take this opportunity has worked out well for me, as I said it has lead to a very different kind of day, but a difference that I was on reflection very much in need of. being confined to the house for 2 weeks hasn't been a real hardship for me, I have an extensive library and plenty of work to keep myself occupied but I was in need of fresh air and exercise. I am very lucky to live in a place where I have both the coast and the mountains right on my doorstep. As I hadn't done any serious walking for a while I decided to begin gently with a 5 mile walk along the coast to get some fresh air and to watch the water.

The movement of water is fascinating, even on a clear calm day like today it has so many textures and moods. The photo at the top of today's post is the one that says the most to me, it's very much the way I think of the water here, 'liquid lead'. It almost feels like the movement of mercury, quicksilver. Whenever I come across on the ferry home I' malways struck by this leaden water.

At another angle the water once again becomes clear and I can see the combinations of textures both above and below. And at the best of times we get highlights, shadows reflections, retractions and transparencies. These words seem to describe the way an artist looks at everything, perhaps that's why I love water so much.