Rigby Taylor
Chapter One Exposing oneself in public is not for the faint-hearted. En masse and expertly illuminated the paintings gave viewers rather more insight into the private spaces of my mind than I’d bargained for. The fact that the gallery’s patrons were also baring their souls with every critical utterance and every painting bought was scant consolation – especially as no one was buying! After an hour of eavesdropping among the usual crush of wine-sipping social scramblers, I wished I hadn’t. Stepping back, I collided with an elderly, shapeless little woman loosely wrapped in a sari decorated with mirrors. ‘Young man!’ she demanded as though I’d been caught spraying graffiti, ‘Are you the artist?’ How to respond? People who call themselves artists remind me of Napoleon seizing the jewelled cap, crowning himself and living to rue the day. Such accolades are for others to bestow. If, as frequently happens, a painter’s efforts delight no one but himself, then the labour has been little but therapy. Only those whose works impose order on the chaos of existence and reinvigorate flagging spirits by giving the viewer a glimpse of a less imperfect world, are worthy of the title “artist”. Not being entirely confident I deserved the appellation, I responded cautiously. ‘I made the paintings, if that’s what you mean.’ With an impatient toss of the head that set hoop earrings and several loose chins swaying, she declared, ‘Everything’s too expensive!’ I smiled, bowed graciously and left her squinting myopically at a couple of frolicking nudes. ‘What about this one?’ demanded a businesslike young woman, jabbing her fingernail at a tree-fringed lake. ‘Oh c'mon Jazmyn, we’ve already spent a fortune on the lounge.’ ‘Hope it’s still here tomorrow.’ ‘It will be. No one’s buying anything. You can get a recliner for what they’re asking for this thing.’ He peered into his glass. ‘I haven’t a thirst for art, but I’ve an artistic thirst.’ They elbowed their way to the bar. Before films and te
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