Art, self-defence, and red shirts.

 OK, we have a ton of catching up to do, however, as there was an impromptu piss up at the studio last night, I’ve got a hangover from hell and I would much rather be in bed. So, don’t expect any inspirational prose, alright. It’s just not going to happen.

Right…moving on.

From 23rd - 27th March, Attic held an Impressionist painting foundation course led by artist Alan Scott-Moncrieff who is now a regular fixture at the studio and the only man on staff. Not that him being a man is of any particular importance. I mean, people come here to learn the fundamentals of painting not perv on the new guy. Right?

 So, that’s Alan there on the right (just in case you were curious) painting up a storm while his eager students look on with intense concentration. That almost never happens. Joking!

The five day foundation course began with a nude on Monday, followed by still-life, landscape, cityscape and portraiture. I have to admit the class produced some pretty decent stuff throughout the week and learned a hell of a lot. As an often anal painter, I found the  course pretty challenging and there were days when I wanted to hurl a brush at Alan’s head…but I didn’t.

The intermediate course saw all the same faces back for more torture. One day they actually left the studio to paint on location. A first for Attic but field trips will become a more regular occurrence in future. Exciting stuff! Unfortunately, everyone arrived back at the studio that evening with heat stroke. It just so happened to be the hottest day of the year so far…ouch.

The advanced course will be held on the 25th – 29th May. I have no idea what’s going to happen, except that there’s glazing involved! Glazing!

On the 8th March, Attic abused the skills of our resident couch potato, Aaron Le Boutillier, who does little in the studio but read our newspaper and drink our coffee. I do believe that Susanne actually picked him up off the street one day. Turns out that Aaron is an author, wrestler, police translator and travels all over the place teaching self-defense to company employees. One Wednesday evening he held a free women’s self-defence class in the studio. It was so successful that he has agreed to do it again in future, without cost, asking only that those who take part buy his book – the proceeds of which are donated to an orphanage in Phuket. Not a bad deal.

On a more current affairs note, a couple of weeks ago during the whole “red-shirt” rampage, Soi 31 was taken over by police and truck loads of red clad folk shouting “Abihisit get out” at the top of their lungs. If you didn’t already know, the Prime Minister’s house is on the corner of the intersection just up the road from the studio. So we now have round the clock security from our local boys in brown and a few soldiers and firemen thrown in for good measure. The demonstration was completely tame  and the red shirts did little but bring a bit of excitement down our way.