The Jeni Barnett Afternoon Show on LBC

I had about a days notice that I might be asked to contribute to the Jeni Barnett Show. She is an excellent presenter on LBC and I often have her on in the background when I need the radio when I'm working. I like the programme because it's always fresh and spontaneous often fascinating and entertaining. With that flavour and underlying sense of London running through which I love.
So I knew they were interested in discussing How Cancer Saved My Life in the context of Art and its therapeutic value in the healing process. As often happens you get the call from the programme producer and your expecting to be researched with a chat about what your going to be talking about. Instead it was
"hello John, are you happy to talk to Jenni? She has some questions for you"
"Yes"
"just putting you through" And then your on live radio. You think your talking to London but within five minutes I had an email from a nurse working in Saudi Arabia who had been listening on the internet.
Anyway, it was the usual thing where I thought the interview was about 3 minutes when it must have been nearer 20. It was very enjoyable and Jeni is so enthusiastic, apprecative and flattering about anything that offers hope and inspiration to us all. And I enjoyed being told how "inspirational" I was.......... several times.

Super Sunshine Friday

Been working since dawn and as the sun came up my studio was filled with light, you could almost touch it, felt like velvet. So then I turn on the radio and there's a well known presenter talking about someone "battling with cancer" etc. etc. It will be wonderful when you hear such high profile people talking about living with cancer, living with illness, because surely this is the reality the acceptance of which can be liberating and bring healing to the spirit.

New Paintings.

These new paintings are different. They are landscapes but more like internal landscapes. Rich in colour although I am using more of the earth colours. They are vibrant with no sign of cancer.

New Season!

So it's back to work on book related stuff now everyone's getting back from their summer holidays.
Meanwhile the new paintings continue even though I haven't any idea where I'm going with them. Just trying to paint freely, without preconceptions. Having fun searching to find what's going on in the deep subconscious!
I continue to get consistently moving messages through the HCSML website from people affected by cancer which I respond too as best as I can. I'm not a proffessional and I may not have many answers but being able to identify seems to be what helps and what people are looking for.

Late Summer Update

I'm back blogging after a couple of weeks of playing with my paints.
For the last year I've been working on paintings and images inspired by The Book.
Their are now two groups of paintings touring the country for the next five years.
It's been great to relax, experiment and see what happens. I will be keeping you informed on all developments with the paintings, exhibitions and The Book.
There's that "back to school" feel in the air and I am looking forward to seeing how the painting develops and where The Book is going to take me over the next few months!

More Exhibition News

I will be showing a small group of paintings and copies of The Book will be available at The Hampstead Garden Suburb Exhibition at The Main Hall, Central Square, NW11 7BN and Joseph's Book Store, 1257 Finchley Road, NW11 OAD.

The exhibition opens with Private Views at both venues on Sunday 27th July 12noon-5pm and continues 28th July-10th August. RSVP info@artsandcraftsonline.org

The event is presented in association with:-
The Odette Gibert Gallery- http://www.odettefineart.com/
Arts and Crafts Online- http://www.artsandcraftsonline.org/
Joseph's Bookstore - http://www.josephbookstore.com/

Paintings in Hospitals

For more exhibition info and Paintings in Hospitals go to http://www.paintingsinhospitals.org.uk/

"In Search of Beauty and Wellbeing"

So now there is a second group of ten paintings on show at The Menier Gallery, Menier Chocolate Factory, 51 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU. The paintings are part of Paintings in Hospitals Annual Summer Exhibition a showcase particularly for all their clients to see what's available. The exhibition runs from 23rd July-14th August with private views 30th July, 7-8.30pm and Tuesday 5th, 12-2pm. Check their site for daily opening times. You are very welcome.

The exhibition is called "In Search of Beauty and Well Being" and I shall be giving one of my talks at 6.30.pm on the 30th just before the private view.

Like the first group of paintings now showing at The Great Western Hospital Gallery, Swindon, this group will be touring the U.K. for the next five years, organised and curated by Beth Moseley and Paintings in Hospitals.

The Great Western Hospital (Swindon General)

I've been busy in my studio working on the second group of paintings that will be touring (UK) hospital galleries and associated public spaces for the next five years. This group will be on show from the 23rd of July at The Menier Gallery, London Bridge.
Check out www.paintingsinhospitals.org.uk for more information.

Meanwhile the show is already on the road with a group of 10 paintings, selected from the exhibition at The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Gallery Show, which was showing January to March, earlier this year.
The first exhibition of this group of paintings opened last week on the 25th June at The Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire. In the new designated space with new lighting the paintings look great and are on show through to November. The Hospital Gallery is in the heart of this vast vibrant, brimming with people, brand new, gleaming, 21st Century Hospital and in the short time I was in the exhibition several people were stopping and contemplating the paintings.
I had been invited to celebrate the opening of the exhibition with a presentation on The Book and the paintings that been informed and inspired by my experience of cancer.
I gave my talk accompanied by my slide show of the 36 paintings in the book in a lecture room to an audience of what must have been about 50, who came from everywhere. Nurses, patients, The Chaplin, art therapists, cancer care group representatives, administrators were all there.
I'm really enjoying these talks and unlike the radio and television you are there with the reaction and you can feel the laughter and see the tears, a wonderful shared experience. And I leave them to go back and look at the paintings maybe in a more personal and informed light and encourage others to go enjoy them too. (I sold a stack of books too).
As with The Chelsea and Westminster I've had extraordinary feedback already. I always seem to impress The Priests and The Chaplins .The Chaplin at The Hospital sent a lovely appreciative email and I've received messages from patients and nurses and care workers.
I had a long talk with the lovely Sarah from The Thames Valley Cancer Network and we are going to work together on some presentations for her groups in the South West. Her job title is "Macmillan Facilitator for User Involvement and Patient Information", some job title?

It is amazing that after all these years of living, working and showing in the rarified atmosphere of The London/"Bond Street"/ Internatinional/Art Fair World to be recieving such an exciting and moving direct public reaction to my work.
There is so much more to report on just in this last week but when it comes down to it I am a painter and I need to get back to slaving over a hot studio! (more like , playing with my paints) I must remember to say more about Trinny and Susannah. More soon!

Surviving Trinny and Susannah

So I went through the whole proccess of being filmed and researched and interviewd in "The Body Booth" and I have to say I was a little nervous when I watched the first few minutes of "The Great British Body"! As I realised what the programme was all about and where it was going it was back to looking at the telly through my hands and those half closed eyes where you don't want to look and try and see at the same time.

As it unfolded I felt safe and confident that my contribution wasn't any where near freaky or "jumping up and down, look at me" enough to be included. I got away with a brief two second face shot but I was still amazed to hear how many people had spottted me. I'm not complaining though, it was good to be involved and was pleased I had the courage to do it. I also realise that I need to research the programme makers as much as they research me. Another insight on the road of discovery as the HCSML phenomenon grows and prospers and finds its way out into the world.