Well, I'm finally here in Cyprus. The weather is beautiful and I can see the Mediterranean from the college accommodation. The other students are still gathering although we are still four students down. No-one quite seems to know where they are, and to be honest the college staff don't seem too bothered! Ringing them to find out their whereabouts doesn't seem to be an option...
The other students have varied talents, from stone carving to traditional painting, from conceptual art to botanical art (the latter will be me), and I'm happy to know I'm not the only one worried about how I'm going to fit in. I don't know very many modern artists and I have never followed an art course structure like they obviously have, but some have never done any actual drawing which makes me feel better!
The college struggles to live up the to expectations you would have of an establishment giving itself the title of a college. The accommodation is based in renovated traditional Cypriot stone houses which are all a little rickety to say the least! We are all making ourselves as comfortable as possible using items left by previous students. My room contains a ceramic tiled library shelf complete with books! The previous occupant also left me a radio which was very kind as that was one of the luxuries I decided I could carry in my well over the weight limit suitcases. There are new toilets and showers (due to the full cesspit of the old ones) and I'm actually quite fond of my little room...
The studios are held together with er....umm...actually I'm not sure what they're held together with! I have bagged myself a space under a part of the roof that lets in the light. I'm hoping it doesn't let in the rain also. There are rickety tables, broken chairs and about 2 easels between 14 of us. It does however, have Wi-fi so everyone is connected up to the internet on their laptops. What is the world coming to when an artists must have tool is a computer and not an easel?
The studios are surrounded by a rather amazing wall (see picture) made up from previous students work. It seems to attract in tourists although once through the entrance they seem more interested in the stray baby cats gambolling around than they do in buying a piece of art. We have been told not to feed the cats. The strongest catch the lizards, the weakest don't survive. If we interrupt this equilibrium the college becomes overrun with well fed cats and lizards. Cute as they may be (the cats that is) this doesn't sound like an ideal situation.
The studios are surrounded by a rather amazing wall (see picture) made up from previous students work. It seems to attract in tourists although once through the entrance they seem more interested in the stray baby cats gambolling around than they do in buying a piece of art. We have been told not to feed the cats. The strongest catch the lizards, the weakest don't survive. If we interrupt this equilibrium the college becomes overrun with well fed cats and lizards. Cute as they may be (the cats that is) this doesn't sound like an ideal situation.
Spent half a day today trying to find the art shop which wasn't the easiest of tasks. The tourists maps of Paphos are actually rubbish and nothing is where it is marked! My studio space is piled high with art stuff, now all I need to do is get cracking and paint something!
Bye for now...
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