Back to Dolly Henry and a 121 with Ian Brown, discussing photos and patriarchal conversations

Had my 121 with Ian and we discussed the submission for the Out Loud exhibition.  I explained the personal context, the relationship with my dad and the alcoholic label, that I'm not able to access information about him since he left when I was young, and that my sister and I found his death certificate and then his pauper grave last year. I'd been angry about what had happened to him and the painting was the only way I could respond - I wanted to try and do it quite quickly and easily and move on.

Ian suggested that the impact of patriarchy on men is pertinent to my practice and I know that it is and have looked at books that explore this (What about men- Caitlin Moran) The impact and consequences have been huge; I'm unsure how to address this in my practice because its difficult but as I further investigate maybe I'll find the right way to tackle it. 

Research to explore: 

• River of Shadows, Rebecca Solnit
• Annika Larsson -Pick up sticks; business men in suits being childish
• Listen to the cardigans lyrics

Ian suggested that I look at the entire witch photo that I'm working from rather than editing and reconstructing because the photograph itself is interesting:

• adult leaning in to pass on the witches hat to the child- passing something on
• costumes and children (inc another modern interpretation of the witch) in the background
• the window with another set of people looking through

Suggested ways of redacting and focusing in without changing the entire photo - I explained that I didn't want to reproduce the photo but had tried to re present it in a new way - Ian explains that different people will see and notice different things that are all important; suggested that I approach it in the way that I painted Jack where I was blurred and he was focused.

Referenced our relationship with the witch as being akin to our relationship with guy Fawkes whose death and the effigies of him were used to celebrate the failure of his political plan and to deter others from taking similar action.

I'd taken the same idea of deconstructing a photo to a Dolly Henry painting and where I was going to focus in on the 3 figures and reorder them . I was thinking about "The witch" - how would this read now if we took a victim of domestic violence and labelled them the perpetrator. Considering a painting of Dolly Henry with a new title; Dolly, the Perpetrator and the complicit friend.  I'd like this to be curated in the PMAG next to the painting of the witch. Currently its curated next to another painting by the same artist of her titled "Head of a girl"

I thought it needed something to suggest that Dolly is the witch in the title without calling her a witch... am I being too prescriptive in what I'm trying to say

Again - Ian suggested that this photo is interesting - the donkey and the beach hut, who commisoned it, that it was in a studio - were all important things to consider, they reference the victorian holiday and they raise questions about class.

Started a small painting on linen textured oil paper to test how I'd approach the photo in a new way- I've enjoyed doing this and think I'll leave it here and go bigger. I have a canvas to finish making thats a good size - I just need to find where I've put my canvas pliers.