Annual Review 2023

 

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Annual Review 2023

Parque Estadual do Rio Vermelho, trees, August, watercolour, A2

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 Travels

 In 2023 I travelled to Ecuador. I went to the UK and to Andalucia, Spain. I didn`t do any painting in Spain. 

 

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Social Media

 

Flickr

 I have 946 followers. 

Blogger

 There are 86 followers, no increase. There were 94,800 visitors tracked. Some of these must be bots. Singapore the USA and Germany are most visiting locations.

 

Instagram 

That with landscape paintings - tadeusz_deregowski - has 392  followers, up from 365. The one with photography - modestphotographybytderegowski- has 116 followers. 

These numbers, in Instagram terms, are very low.

Saachi

I didn't sell anything here. I suspended the account as I am re-cataloguing everything, and will relaunch when I return to the UK

 

Facebook

 I continue to post here and receive good feedback. It is very good to have a page to post work and maintain a dialogue with the public.

 

 Photography 

 

Three tomatoes in a bowl on a table:

 also a ketchup bottle, a paper bag,

 a patterned plate and a ring pull seal from a milk carton

 I took photos from the neighbourhood and of the things I find interesting. Sometimes I wrote texts to accompany these. I am attempting to work with an idea called modest photography. This is about taking photographs which are reserved in tone, and which depict commonplace items.

I also take photographs of things in the neighborhood. Again, my intention is to look at the ordinary in a cool-tempered way.

Painting

 

  I continued to work in watercolour, moving up to A2.

 I don`t know if I`m falling out of love with watercolour. I do miss the chunkiness and texture of oils. I also miss mixing the colours.

 

Writing

 

I  produce several short stories, and a novella. I wrote texts to accompany photos and autobiographical sketches.

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Next year: 2024

 

I really only have one plan- to return to the UK. I'm not sure where I'll live. I need to get back, then I can orientate myself.

Why return? I thought- I have done what I can here, I`ve crossed over the arc. If I stay on here it will be because of laziness or cowardice. Also, I thought, I don`t belong here. It  just  isn`t  mine. I thought about this stuff a lot over the last few years. Then something just clicked in my brain and I resolved to return.

I want to reassert my belonging to the UK. Even if there are a  lot of things I don`t like there, at least I understand it.

There are many benefits to living here in Brazil- it`s cheap and the weather is pleasant. Moving back to the UK will have challenges.

I imagine that it might be nice to paint Aberdeen in all its myriad grays. 

Exhibitions and Sales

Sales were surprisingly good, about fifteen sales in total. No exhibitions. 

Also...

  I went through the portfolio and have removed a lot of items - a sustained critical action which caused me a little pain but also definite relief. 

In removal is an  affirmation of specific critical criteria. 

 

 

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Annual Review 2022

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 Annual Review 2022

 

Bare trees,Praia Moçambique, oil on card, 27.5 x 29.5 cm

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 Travels

 

I travelled to  Scotland in May, to Rio Grande do Sul and inside Santa Catarina. I should have travelled more, I feel- I was unimaginative, or lazy or both. Since mid-December I`ve been in Colombia, however, working hard.

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Social Media

 

Flickr

 I have 667 followers, down from 945.  I no longer subscribe to this site and I guess others also stopped.

Blogger

 There are 86 followers, up by two from last year. There were 17.8000 visitors tracked - up from 40, 300. This figure seems to me to be too high to be credible.

  The most popular countries appear to be USA 46%, Germany 26%, Brazil 6%, Russia 4% and the UK at 3%.

 

Instagram 

 I started using this site again. It is a very nice site with clean graphics and is easy to use. I use two accounts: one for photos and the other for landscape paintings.

That with landscape paintings - tadeusz_deregowski - has 356 followers. The one with photography - tderegowskiphotos - has 98 followers. 

These numbers, in Instagram terms, are very low.

Saachi

I didn't sell anything here.

 

Facebook

 I continue to post here and receive good feedback. It is very good to have a page to post work and maintain a dialogue with the public.

 

 Photography

 

Canasvieiras, roots, wall

 

 

Modest photography

 I took photos from the neighbourhood and of the things I find interesting. Sometimes I wrote texts to accompany these. I am attempting to work with an idea called modest photography. This is about taking photographs which are reserved in tone, not showy or melodramatic and which depict commonplace items.

I also take photographs of things in the neighborhood. Again, my intention is to look at the ordinary in a cool-tempered way.

Painting

 

 

Parque Estadual do Rio Vermelho, December 6, trees

 watercolour on paper, 28 x 38.2 cm

 

I worked on a larger size in oils, moving up to a little under A3.

Then, I began to work in watercolour after a hiatus of over twenty years.

 I am not entirely happy with the progress I made with this, and feel I have a few hurdles to overcome: the weightlessness of the medium troubles me.

Writing

 

I wrote several short stories, and a novella. I wrote texts to accompany photos and autobiographical sketches.

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Next year: 2023

 

I will begin t023 in Colombia then proceed to Ecuador. Other than this 2023 has nothing planned. I  wonder if I should set something up? It seems rather bleak to have nothing for June or July? 

Exhibitions and Sales

Sales were slow partly because I did no exhibit except for at the SSA 130 years Annual, in Edinburgh. 

Parting thoughts

Surely it was not just me? 2022 was an odd year, unhappy, filled with neuroses. It felt somehow stagnant, lacking in inspiration, very much one foot in front of the other.

 

But not every day can bring grand victories and I can perhaps take some satisfaction in the steady progress I made in watercolour painting.

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Urussanga, R. Pref. Jacinto de Brida, oil on card, 29.7 x 27.5 cm 

 

 

 

 

 

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Annual Review 2021

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 Annual Review 2021

 

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 Travels

 

 

Brusque, from Monthez Hotel, oil on card, 24 x 26 cm

 

There were a couple of little trips within Brazil, but rather few, and looking back I regret this as it seems lazy of me, though much of my time was taken with buying and arranging an apartment.

For a 6-month period, instead of painting, I took photos, and wrote stories and little essays. I posted a lot of monotypes from years back which had never appeared in this blog.

I did trips within Santa Catarina, to Brusque, to São Bento do Sul, to Videira. All were successful with some nice new paintings.

 

Social Media

 

Flickr

 I have 945 followers, a decrease from 952. I no longer subscribe to this site and I guess a lot of former followers likewise also stopped being members because the terms of free membership changed.

Blogger

 There are 86 followers, up by two from last year. There were 40,300 visitors up from 20,700. The most popular countries appear to be Sweden 47%, Russia 21%, US 8%, Italy 8% and Brazil 4%, but these figures seem likely to be enormously distorted by bots, given the blog is in English and of these only the USA is English speaking.

 

Instagram 

 I made no effort with this site but my followers rose from 287 to 317.

 I decided not to because I have started to develop an aversion to social media, specifically the way that it makes one want to do nothing else except click on one's phone constantly. This is one of the sites that I pulled back from.

Saachi

I didn't sell anything here. There have always been issues with Brazilian customs making it a hassle.

 

Facebook

 I continue to post here and receive good feedback. It is very good to have a page to post work and maintain a dialogue with the public.

 Stories

  I went through all my old stories and added new ones. I sent some out to magazines but only got one published- The Hairy Dog.

 

Photos

I worked on taking photos of a variety of objects and occasionally writing short texts to accompany them

 

Painting

 

Rua Rid Silva, Canasvieiras, 14.5 x 21.3 cm

 

 

I moved steadily up in scale, often tackling larger views. I like that I can add more variety of brushstrokes. I worked more with drying mediums- alkyds. The oils dry more quickly and transporting stuff is less of a headache. 

And I bought with different paints such as Lefranc and Bourgeois- it's impossible to get other imported paints here without paying the earth. I have dozens of tubes waiting for me in Aberdeen to pick up, when I am next there...one day!

 

 

Next year: 2022

 

 As you might have sensed, 2021 was a rather uneventful year for me. I made no sales, but I worked steadily.

The unpredictability of Covid is such that it makes planning difficult. I'd hoped to go to Spain in March 2022, but I think it better to sit tight than find myself facing, all of a sudden, a week-long quarantine in a costly hotel somewhere.

I shall perhaps instead go on some motor trips. Perhaps to Bento Gonçalves? Driving tires me but it would be a pity not to have some sort of break.

 

 

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Annual Review 2020

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2020

Pale tree

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Travels

There was one long trip to central Chile.

The Chile trip was a bit strange. I was mostly unhappy for mysterious reasons. Perhaps, because of that I didn`t miss the travel restrictions that Corona virus brought (though as I type I feel a sudden strong melancholy urge to be in New York, where you feel quite free in a way I don't sense anywhere else).

Anyway, I did a few good paintings, including these:

Melipueco, Chile, with itinerant, oil on card 25 x 22 cm

Gardens, Villarrica, Chile, oil on card, 20 x 22 cm

I had intended to do Patagonian Chile in January coming, but that is not possible. 

I had an exhibition at UDESC, the state university, but it was closed after the first few days due to COVID. The exhibition itself was badly managed by CEART, who did everything at the last minute in a a slapdash, even contemptuous fashion. There is a lot of fuss being made about cuts to arts in Brazil, but if this agency is typical, and I fear it might be, then they do not deserve to receive public funds.  

With COVID, the automatic clamouring for public funds among artists was incredible. It seemed inconceivable to  many artists, who eagerly signed ´petitions demanding state assistance, that they might work doing whatever was required to pay rent. Many appeared to believe that society should treat them as essential labour in the same level as police or medical workers.

 I worked very steadily and efficiently in Florianopolis, on the island, increasing the size of paintings, the brightness of their colours, and, I feel, using social isolation constructively.

On the way to Cacupe, settlement

 oil on card, 24.3 x 29.7 cm

The dunes, a rise, oil on card, 20 x 25 cm

I am very happy with this one (above).

Trees by a lake, Winter, Lagoa, oil on card, 28 x 25.8 cm

Above Lagoa, early July, 2020, oil on card 26 x 28 cm

I started to visit the rocky coastline on the south of the island. It's fairly quick to get to on the new road:

Rocks, sea, sky Armacao, oil on card, 26 x 28 cm

I also occupied my time with taking photographs, and writing short essays.

 Thus, the year passed.

 I like being alone and did not suffer as much as I usually do. I found the empty streets pleasing and the silence calming. I don't like shopping or crowds so their absence made me happier. I enjoy thinking and I resolved some things about where to live and what to do with the next bit of my life.

I am 51 and it seems that I am entering some other life phase, one characterised by greater self assurance and settlement. I also realised something very obvious, which is that much of what happens to us is arbitrary, and we have only some control over how much and how we interact with this. Ergo, there is little sense in getting too worked up about anything much, though it is wise, of course,  to take precautions.

You will quite possibly think how platitudinous and I daresay you might have a point, but personally speaking, until recently such banal truths were never as obvious to me as they ought to have been and they do therefore have some consequence for me.  

And, slightly wiser, I advance into 2021.

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Social Media

Flickr

I'm not a member any more and I can't post new images as I have reached their non-member limit. 2.3 million all time views. I have 952 followers: a slight decrease from 959.

Blogger

There are 84 people listed: the same as ever. Why does this never increase? Presumably because my Blog can be tracked in other ways, and it isn't necessary for followers to declare themselves. 

Looking at the statistics page with its graphs, for the last 12 months I see: 25,700 visitors, with a peak day on 7 August with 426 views. 

Top countries in terms of percentages are Italy (32%) USA (32%); Russia (4%); UK (4%); Turkmenistan (4%). In absolute numbers: Italy (8.18K); USA (8.15K); Russia (1.16K); UK (1.07K); Turkmenistan (930);

It is surprising how low the UK is, and how high Italy.   

Instagram

There are 287 followers, up from 221. This site is very good for introducing people to your work. It is very easy to use, with excellent editing functions and keywording so you can link your work to that of others. 

I also have an Instagram Account dedicated to photography. It has 46 followers: tderegowskiphotos

Twitter

I have 238 followers. Down a little from 247. I never use this site as I find it dominated by an unpleasant style of discourse. In any case, it isn't really for showing pictures.

Saachi and other sales

There were no sales with Saachi. There was one sale this year, of a Moroccan painting.

A lane, Marrakech, oil on card, 16 x 15.5 cm   SOLD

Facebook

I continue to use this excellent site to talk about art and photography. It is a very good site for artists to use, as through it's "pages" you can create bridges between your personal and creative existences. 

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The future

I move house shortly and, that resolved, and the vaccine available, normal life can perhaps resume. For me that means going at some point to the UK, most likely in late Spring. Then, if at all possible, a visit to Andalucia. But that is in the hands of the Gods.

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Annual Review 2017: Flickr, Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, Saachi

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For believe me! - the secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is: to live dangerously! Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius! Send your ships into uncharted seas! Live at war with your peers and yourselves! Be robbers and conquerors as long as you cannot be rulers and possessors, you seekers of knowledge! Soon the age will be past when you could be content to live hidden in forests like shy deer! At long last the search for knowledge will reach out for its due: - it will want to rule and possess, and you with it!  possess, and you with it! 

Nietszche, The Joyous Science (1882). Sec. 283

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Travels

A view from Jefferson Avenue, Brooklyn, oil on card, 16.5 x 18 cm

I went to New York and painted a few fine pictures plus a few duller ones. It was especially nice to work on the big art deco buildings in Chinatown or nearby. But I was unsurprised by New York, this itself unsurprising as I had been there just a year before. 

 Street before Carnival, Banos del Inca, Cajamarca, oil on card, 14 x 16 cm

I went to Peru and loved it again, that one of the most strange and alluring places. So I will go again in January 2018. At very least it is cool unlike here where one rots over the summer months becoming progressively more and more irritated with everything.

Homestead, late afternoon, between Urussanga and Orleans

 oil on card, 18 x 16.5 cm  SOLD

There were a few little trips within Santa Catarina- always a delight too. Above is one of my happier paintings.

Near Berwick-upon-Tweed, fields, oil on card, 16 x 15.8 cm  SOLD

I also went to the UK which was, as ever, a bit thin for painting, though Berwick and Melrose were fine.

Flickr

This marvellous site continues brings me new followers and many are quite serious and thoughtful artists. I went from 917 to 939 followers.

Blogger followers

I continue to publish here though with less frequency. That`s partly because I have less and less that is new to say, a trend which is likely to continue. Also I have been working slightly larger and with less frequency.

 There are 84 followers, and 26 Google+ followers.

Facebook

I started, on the advice of n art sales expert, to create my own page. He argues that the regular profile is insufficient as people who don`t know artists feel uneasy approaching them through their regular profiles. So I have set up a [page which contains enough to get an idea of what I am about. It has one, solitary, follower.

Fruit, paper flowers, oil on card, 12.5 x 14.5 cm

Twitter

I tried using this from time to time, but have never managed to get beyond 260 followers and few of them are really interested. It is a pretty awful site for image sharing, and it seems users use it mainly to insult and threaten each other. This time last year there were 256 followers.

Saachi

I maintain this site, going through all the work removing some and updating it. But I don`t sell that much work, perhaps I sold one painting in 2017. I think the market isn`t that big.

Tumblr

This pointless site brought me nothing.

Thoughts

I find my self in a satisfactory place with my work. I didn't sell that much but the quality is there. I went through a lot of old work making sure it is properly stored and if it wassn`t good enough, discarding it. Often some time has to pass before you can really see that a piece is mediocre.

Overall 2017 wasn`t a bad year but it wasn`t a great one either. I rarely surprised myself, which is perhaps like saying I never took risks. So the moral is to follow Nietzsche, at least some of the way as, of course, he went completely coocoo in the end

Red and yellow and white flowers, oil on card, 17.5 x 15 cm

Plans

I will go back to Peru in January. Ecuador flights were so high that I couldn't go there.  I suppose I should think about how to get to Europa. Perhaps this time I bite the bullet and fly to Athens or Corfu. But when I did the research it didn't seem quite right. In June, the cost of flights to Ecuador seems lower. Then there is New York, again. But perhaps it would be good to wait a little before returning there? We shall see.

Thanks

Thanks John, Lady Alison and Fred in London, to my parents in Scotland and to Mark and Jane and various others who helped and encouraged me.



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Annual Review: 2015: Flickr, Blogger, Facebook, Twitter

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Above Rio Vermelho, oil on card, 12 x 15 cm

I traveled well and happily, visiting Paris, London and Scotland on one trip, and New York on the another. I very much enjoyed my time in Glasgow, a beguiling place.

New York was also a success, I was blessed with near perfect weather and I painted steadily and pleasurably. Glasgow and New York seem to me to share an up-front directness, that translates well into painting. I intend to re-visit each. It is something to do with the nineteenth century and a certain boldness. I like the people in both cities. They are straightforward and take one as they find one. In both, the architecture is often grand, even self-important. 

Parade of shops seen from Flushing and Thompkins, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

 oil oncard, 16 x 18 cm    SOLD

Otherwise, I continued to explore Santa Catarina, specifically the parts close to the island, largely trying to capture much larger expanses than I had previously, usually from a height. I increased the size of the pochades to do this. 

Antonio Carlos, landscape, oil on card, 16 x 18 cm

I used the following sites to show work:

Flickr

Now I have 880 Followers, up from last year's 838, a modest increase.

Blogger

The number of followers went down from  83 to 82. I had expected an increase, But It could be that people follow without becoming a  registered follower.

Facebook

This remains a good place to make contact and show work: add me there if you wish.

Twitter

There are now 314 followers on Twitter from 42 in 2012.  This is because I made a specific effort to "follow" other members and hey rewarded me in return. But it is difficult to believe that this means anything much, as I have little sense of an increased engagement with my work from these followers.

Saachi

I sold nothing through this site this year. 

Plans, thoughts.

Travel, having become tiring appeals to me less and less. But, of course one has to do something. Spending all year on the island would be extremely dull. There is little season variation and, as each year passes, less and less novelty. I have an idea about going to Peru, but feel daunted by the prospect. The guidebooks enjoy emphasizing the risk of crime. Valparaiso again might be better, Chile being that bit more advanced and given that I already know the city, at least a little. 

I want to spend more time in the mountains here in the year to come than I did in the last.

 Painting remains a good, perhaps even  the best, instrument for exploring one's visual and subjective experience of the world, and a justification for travel. The logistics of this are the matter. Lugging the painting things around is a bore, but it does give one a certain Boys Own Paper sense of ones own heroism at the same time. .."vanity has played a part is every heroes downfall". 

 Paris, oil on card, 16 x 18.5 cm

Thanks

Many thanks to those who put me up and helped me in London - Lise, Felix, John, Alison and Fred; kind Frédéric in Paris and my parents for helping with exhibitions and J. Heald for his company in New York.

Forest, Canasvieiras, oil on card, 18 x 22 cm

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