Deserted Island

It’s not always easy to paint or do a quick sketch every day. Even those five minutes don’t always work out. At the moment, it’s not just a lack of time that’s an issue, but also the small space I’ve carved out for myself. Working outdoors didn’t work out. It was too hot and I couldn’t see much. What’s more, I find it a bit of a faff having to lug all my stuff about all the time.

A desert island would be a lot more peaceful, but I suspect there aren’t many of them left. I’d be quite happy to share such an island with a few other artistic types, the sort of people who don’t talk non-stop or take up all my time. So family is my first choice, or those I consider family.
Incidentally, you really wouldn’t want to be stuck on an island like that with my former family, unless you want to commit a crime with impunity.

It turns out that a desert island is a dream shared by many I know. So if there is one, there’ll be a fight on if everyone wants to be there on their own. Cuba seems unsuitable to me, given certain narcissistic neighbours with delusions of grandeur (who knows what they’d paint).

Last Saturday’s art market was cancelled due to the weather. It’s now taking place this coming Saturday, and I’m thinking of popping into an art shop in Den Bosch next week. It’s not just round the corner, but it’s good to see it in person rather than just online. This shop is in ’s-Hertogenbosch and is called ‘De Kwast’ (the paintbrush), and it’s not the cheapest. But you’ve got to get out and about sometimes, especially when the weather’s nice, and who knows, the dragon fountain might even be switched on by now. Besides, I prefer to pay in cash. I’m not keen on Google tracking and feeding databases and centres wasting electricity while selling your data and keeping a close eye on me.

While I’m on the subject of shops: I spoke to the painting teacher who once was about setting up a shop like that. I spotted a lovely building in the neighbourhood. It used to house a boring clothes shop, one of those expensive ones selling clothes nobody wants or can afford. It could also accommodate a lovely studio, and workshops could be held there. I’ve also got my eye on another property for that purpose, and I mentioned it straight away during the meeting with the council last Friday. That old pet shop has two floors, a large car park and a lockable gate. It’s ideal for the giveaway shop, workshops, the Repair Café, the painting club and a seating, drinking and play area, whether or not for visitors and young people. It would be absolutely brilliant if the council could make a few more walls available for murals, graffiti and paint brushing. Then we could do away with those neighbourhood coaches too.
I was the last to speak, which is always good. A note was taken of what I said. Let’s see whether this project actually gets funding or whether the whole area will soon end up as a run-down slum or a wasteland.

I still need to limit my time to get into the swing. My 5 minutes are closer to 15 if not one hour. As soon as I see a spot bothering me I start getting into detail, which I shouldn't (no need to for an underpainting).

Materials used: Rembrandt soft pastels (how come those colours I need are never in the box?), A4 paper (white and light brown - I will use these for quick paintings and will no longer use hairspray or another fixation), soft pastel sponges (I shouldn't since there's no need to of it comes to those five minute art works.

_{Prompt: deserted island
29-6-2026}