đź“– 7 Books in 16 languages đź“š including: How To Change The World A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech.
Night before the big day | JPF Daily
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If you hate stuff about religion, skip this one. Hello Reader Whatever else Easter may be, to you or to me, it's certainly a time of great drama - if you know where to find it. Over the last week, I've seen plenty, and missed some too. A week ago, I watched professional musicians perform Bach's St John Passion (on its 300th anniversary). There's something deceptively simple about the effect of the piece: one singer takes the part of St John (the "author"), while others provide the voices of Jesus, Pilate, Peter, and others. Even if you don't care for this particular story - as I do - just imagine what it would be like to have a part of your own life performed in that way. (On that note: I'll be running Impro for Storytellers sessions in Hampstead, north London, soon.) ​ On Thursday, disappointingly, I missed the chance to watch a vicar washing people's feet. Again, leaving aside whatever else the service means, that sight alone is incredibly dramatic. I'm sure you can imagine how vividly it conveys humility on the vicar's part. I wonder if you can imagine how awkward it feels for the foot-owner too: It's a shame British monarchs gave up washing feet, in favour of the more dignified (and therefore pointless) dishing out of Maundy money. ​ Last night, on the eve of Easter Sunday, I attended the Easter vigil. The service begins outside, with a blazing fire from which candles are lit, and carried slowly (so they don't blow out) into the dark church. By candlelight, I read a passage from Hebrew scripture about Passover. Happy Easter. ​ This is the DAILY edition of my newsletter​ ​ ​ ​ |
John-Paul Flintoff
đź“– 7 Books in 16 languages đź“š including: How To Change The World A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech.
Did you read yesterday’s email As well as drawing her - in her office in Wiltshire on Sunday - I took photos to use as reference as I continue to work on her portrait. “Her”? The former very senior editor at The Times, author and presenter of various flagship BBC radio programmes. The woman I mentioned in yesterday’s email. I hope you got that email. My intention is to send THIS email, which you’re reading now, only to people who received yesterday’s, and actively opted in to receive more in...
On Sunday I drove from London to Wiltshire. Just after Stonehenge I turned off the A303 and continued for a short distance until I came into a village. (Hello Reader. This is my newsletter.) There was scaffolding on the front of the first house and a cattle grid at the gates. I drove across, then along the driveway. I had come to start work on a new portrait. (I call this series Portraits of Interesting People in their Offices, or Poipitos.) The Interesting Person in question is a woman,...
Today’s date: 25 March 2025 Hello Reader This is the January newsletter for Special Projects members. Thank you for being one. Here’s a drawing of my friends Jo and Steve, at the gallery where I showed my magnolia prints and original paintings in Feb. I asked them to pose in echo of a well known Hockney painting, Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy. Various reasons: I wanted to make a picture while my magnolia pictures were on the gallery walls, as a kind of reminder to myself in years to come of how...