For years and years(2 in fact, it just seemed longer) I sat on the floor of my very cold bedroom at 139 kents hill road, north Thundersley, Benfeet, Essex, England (sorry about the long address but it felt good writing it after so long) and thought of very strange things to draw and paint. I was after all 6 years old ,and even then, I couldn't remember a day I didn't draw or paint something. Well dear reader nothing has really changed.Its not cold anymore and I have a few more tubes of paints, and yes even more than one paintbrush.I loved that paintbrush, I wore the poor thing down to one very sad hair...I still have it.
So when I came across my earliest work this morning, I selected this one (above) It seemed the most finished and happiest. I remember painting it, I almost remember every stroke. A little like we all remember learning to ride a bicycle or learning to swim for the first time.I remember thinking I was a clever boy (I didn't really think that out aloud, I was too shy for that) but people said 'aren't you clever' or 'who does he take after?' this seem to worry adults around me a lot. It was then that I first heard the name Picasso... 'He's a right little Picasso isn't he'. Five years later I would actually go to the Tate gallery my see my first Picasso.It was the portrait of Dora Marr 'The Weeping Woman' I went home and stayed up very very late painting my version 'The weeping man' (I will find it and post it here)
So after all these years I still have the same routine.I get up early, I paint, I draw, I work on my films and illustrations, I design furniture, I take photographs. Today instead of creating a painting called 'The weeping man' deep inside I've turned into one.
Well its time to go back to my studio......
Philip Brooker age 53
