– In The Heat of the Morning, 2014 –
Turpentine (sometimes known colloquially as turps), is a volatile liquid distilled from resin obtained from live conifers (especially pine trees). It is used as a solvent, as paint thinner and also medicinally (for cuts, abrasions, and the treatment of lice). It’s a very useful substance. As with everything, there are downsides: it can irritate the skin and eyes, damage the lungs and central nervous system when inhaled, and cause renal failure when ingested. It’s also combustible. Along with the promise of sex and drugs, it is also the reason I went to art college – I love the smell. It reminds me of the wonder I experienced on realising it was possible to spend the whole day making art.
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Map of part of my journey to art college
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In The Heat of the Morning is the opening track on David Bowie’s album, Bowie At The Beeb (2000). This version wipes the floor with all others – less mannered, freer, more yearning. Unfortunately, I can’t find an online version of it. But I did find a rather fine cover version by Last Shadow Puppets. You can listen to it here.
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It is a basic art-world orthodoxy, echoed just about everywhere, that contemporary art is ungraspably complex and diverse. The variety of contemporary forms, techniques, and subject-matter in art is indeed bewildering. The conventional media of painting, sculpture and print-making have been overlaid with installation and ‘new media’, which can encompass anything from online art to computer-controlled sound environments. Artists cultivate for themselves images that range from traditional guru or shaman roles to beady-eyed, tongue-in-cheek chancer and careerist, and personas that include starstruck adolescent girls and engorged, axe-wielding psychotics. Art’s concerns are also various, touching upon feminism, identity politics, mass culture, shopping and trauma. Perhaps art’s fundamental condition is to be unknowable (that concepts embodied in visual form can encompass contradiction), or perhaps those that hold to this view are helping to conceal a different uniformity.
(excerpt from Contemporary Art: A Very Short Introduction (2006) by Julian Stallabrass)
The Future Is Papier Mâché 
i love that smell also 😉 like the smell over photo developer and fixative
Yes, that’s a great one too. Darkrooms and studios! Thanks, Inge!
Turps and cow gum… I remember them fondly from my art college years too! 🙂
Ha, yes, at school there were kids who tried to sniff cow gum, but it’s not that kind of glue. 🙂
I think you guys were sniffing glue… Chuckle… I like this with the “church” reflection, the steamy window with the wonderful vertical drips. The music. An altogether warm post, Richard!
Ha, ha – for some reason the idea of putting my head in a plastic bag full of adhesive never appealed. Thanks very much, George – that’s lovely to read!
I’m liking the new format, Richard! These are really interesting posts. I admit I’m not a fan of turps, and I’ve a feeling you shouldn’t be either, if that’s your route to college! 😉
Thanks, Richard! Ha,ha, yes!
Hi Richard, Now I know why I like to visit your blog. A great image and great words to give it company. As always, I marvel at your range and finesse.
Take care!
Thanks so much, MJ! That’s so nice of you to say! You too.
Great composition of your post. Absolutely not common… …and new for me. Inspiring!
Thanks very much, Markus – that’s a big compliment coming from you!
Loving the new feel to your blog. Loved reading and looking at it. Like the map, too. With me, it’s linseed oil, my favourite smell in the world, hands down. Really looking forward to your next post now!
Ah, yes, linseed is a lovely smell too. Thanks very much, Alison – I’m really glad you like it. Hopefully I can keep the momentum going.
🙂
SO good to see you back! Love this image – the absolute heaviness in the lightness of rain!
Thanks so much, Cath! It’s nice to be back.
Words and visuals together make your posts interesting. But now that smell of turpentine just took it to another level. I smell turpentine! Or maybe I’m having a stroke. Lol.
Great job, Richard.
Ps somehow your blog was removed from my reading list. I realized it finally and made sure to follow you again. Thankfully, for me. 🙂
God, I hope not! Thanks very much, Olga!
I’m really glad you found me again!
I feel the same way when I get a whiff of marine fuel. Its intoxicating, makes me think of sea adventures, and it leaves behind a colorful smear of rainbow on the water.
I’m not familiar with the smell, but it sounds great – very romantic.
Excellent post, Richard, from top to bottom. I like that image very much, the composition and especially the colours. Beautiful!
Thanks so much, Ashley – that’s great to hear! Lovely compliment.
I like this… collage effect… in your post. So many tangents, angles… like the map of part of your journey to art college but it comes together beautifully.
Thanks so much, EllaDee. I’ve decided to play with formats a bit this year…
Fun reading, and remembering turpentine, oil paint, dark rooms, blow torches and art history slides. I really like your new format – so clean. I especially like your small signature on your photographs. It doesn’t take away from your photo but does the job. How did you do that, if I may ask?
Thanks very much, Carla. The signature is copied from Word and pasted into the pic, which is then saved as a separate copy – it can’t be removed.
Haha! I have always liked the smell of gasoline. Great image and I enjoyed the post as well!
Oh, me too! I must be one of the only people I know who enjoyed working in a petrol station. Thanks very much, Jennifer!
“Along with the promise of sex and drugs, it is also the reason I went to art college” Haha, fantastic!! 😀
Great photo too.
Ha, ha, thanks very much, Cardinal!
This is a gorgeous photo! I love the fogged up window and everything about it! It’s truly wonderful.
Thanks very much, Dani! I like it that it was taken really local to where I live – there are always surprises around the corner.
Oh yes! Even though I use turpenoid today, that unadulterated aroma gets me going. Another fine post and photo Richard!
Ha, ha, thanks very much, Elena!
ciao! sounds and scents have such a transporting and as well romantic effect…i so like how you combined your memories with the photos. i am transported and i did not go to art school 🙂
thebestdressup
Ha, ha, that’s great! Thanks very much!
Turpentine here is used primarily to clean the brushes…how may I ask is it used medicinally unless you just want to hear screaming? ( I still love the smell too)
Ha, ha, well according to Wikipedia you can use turps to clean abrasions (ouch!) and it can be combined with fat to make a decongestant rub.
O U C H Y !!!! Not to mention the smell !