I found this old lino print as I was tiding up a bookshelf in my room. I made it when I was on my foundation course, which is a mad year where you try out a bunch of different stuff, see what works best for you, and have a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it, not only because I really enjoed the work I was doing, but because I was around a bunch of people. Prior to the course I’d been working in a really dull job, so it was great to get back to socialising with people.
Of course, people come in two genders, and I was still at that age when young men are completely unused to being around women. I made a fool of myself a few times, but the worst time – one of those times when you still kick yourself, years later, for what you did – was working in the print room. Possibly even on the print above, but I can’t be sure.
What I do remember was that there was a girl on the course with me whom I managed to say the most crass and sexist thing to. I meant it to be funny and flirty, but it just came out totally wrong, and left me looking like a complete spanner. Doh!
Cut to earlier this year, at the Digswell Trust Open Studios. I was wandering around, taking a look at the studios, when the same girl I insulted turned up. She looked exactly the same, which is how I managed to recognise her. I would have gone up and said hello if our only memorable interaction hadn’t been me, ramming my foot hard into my mouth whilst at the same time manifesting a giant penis on my forehead.
Oh, the print? Yeah, it’s totally different from what I do now. If I had to tie the two things together I’d make some parable about change, but it’s probably best if you do it. These days I don’t spend too much time beating myself up over old stuff, and just try and push out new stuff. Hence, perhaps, this paragraph.
