Jan 2012 - found these great 1960s posters while looking up dates for libraries
I had some great ideas. Reluctant to completely let them die a death - I'll give you two great titles: The State of Art in Schools or Picasso's statement: Every child is an artist - the problem is how to remain an artist: an Investigation into Retaining and Enncouraging Creativity
Anyway - too broad, so painfully moving on to ... A Case Study of Quentin Blake. A safer option but I have yet to find the 'polemic discussion' - any ideas, anyone?!!
This week, going to hear QB talk about Andre Francois. A gift for me! I should write to him - not sure what to say.
26th - 27th November
On the way back I made an honest freudian slip of getting off at Knightsbridge; and consequently finding my way to Harrods. That's the last time in life ... my bank account can't cope any more! I was enchanted by the opera singer on the third floor and spent a happy few minutes circulating the up/down escalators to hear her. Needless to say, when I arrived at the BL, I had run out of time for the day.
Saturday morning, another early start making up for the lost time of yesterday, and I spent a pleasurable few hours at the BL working through my 4 books. 'Humanities 1' was a huge room filled with (40?) wide oak desks, each with its own reading lamp - full of people by the time I left, but totally quiet. I'd love to have known what everyone else was so preoccupied about - it didn't feel like the place to initiate conversation!
From the BL I rushed over to The Unicorn Theatre to see QB's murals, a last minute decision and well worth the effort. Finally, the original reason for the trip ... the French Institute to hear QB talk about the influence of Andre Francois. I found a single front row seat, and recorded the talk. After a quick chat with Mr Blake and signing my first edition of 'Sad', I couldn't resist a stop to QB's favourite art shop - after all, it's my birthday on Monday!Tuesday 6th December
Loved the Compton Verney trip. True to form, QB pushed the boundaries of illustration right off the page. However, a totally different aspect of his work hit me this time – his intelligent response to a variety of situations. As good as the prints were, (and they were excellent) the fluid QB line didn’t have the same impact as seeing originals on my previous London trip. Also, I felt the viewer missed out on the experience of seeing the prints in situ. There is a larger exhibition of his work at the Chris Beetles Gallery, but it finishes in January – I had planned to go up to London over the reading week in February, too late. (By the way, I'm now converted to pen and ink!)
