Through to the semi finals - WOW!

As I watched Andy Murray and Juan Carolos-Ferrero play at Wimbledon yesterday, I was fascinated by the level of focus displayed by both players.

I am not normally a sports enthusiast, but in this case with the possibility of the UK having the first male Wimbledon finalist in 73 years, I am completely caught up in it all.

For those following my blog you will know that as an artist, I am always talking about 'warming up' before starting to paint. I use the analogy that the stretching and warming up process is as important for visual artists as it is for atheletes and dancers.

In yesterday's water colour demonstration post, I suggest that it's far better to do a fifteen minute a day warm up execise, than to paint for five hours every two or three weeks.

Fifteen minutes a day brings consistency and rhythm into ones work and life. Five hours every three weeks, means that we spend at least three hours of that time switching our minds from the logical world over to our creative side. Had we just warmed up every day, then an occasional long session would stand much more of a chance of really flowing.

No matter what the discipline it's all about achieving a level of 'focus' which allows us to be totally present for each and every moment. This of course takes dedication and practise. We need to establish rhythms in our lives that feed our ability to focus rather than sabotage it.

Clearly someone like Murray who has trained from a very early age, and is completely dedicated to his sport has learned that he has to live in a mental/emotional 'tunnel' safe from outside would be saboteurs.

As the match drew to its conclusion yesterday, it was very clear to me that Ferrero was losing his focus....which only strengthened Murrays. Amazing stuff.

Friday will be interesting viewing. However, I am sure that Murray is only focused on the moment at hand!

On a different note, yesterday I received a long e mail from the artist Suzy Davidson in S. Africa. It reminded me that during the last two summers I spent some of my happiest hours with Suzy and her animals, painting in her studio outside of Brussells.

Happy moments indeed - so many of which I recorded in my sketch books.

The back of little Jessie and Raisin

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sketches of Spuggy and Raisin, 'The Angel Pups'

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Iccle - totally deaf and quite fascinating

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Wonderful memories, all the more brought alive by keeping a sketch book.

Another very hot and gloriously sunny day here in London.

A Bientot