Week 39, Monday 25th September 2017.

This is patron only content. For a couple weeks I'm making it free access for everyone to let you guys see what's available to patrons of my work. Go here to become a patron for as little as €1.

Welcome patrons and subscribers to week 39. This is the first Monday patron only article. In this weekly article, I will share with you some of my deepest thoughts and ideas related to my work and art.

Here I will get right down into the gory details of what lies behind and underneath some of the questions I find I'm asking myself on many subjects.

I'll share with you my plans and my strategy for work and art, my wins and failures and everything in between.

I'll share with you why I wrote Kill Your Fucking Heroes. What inspired me to write The Washerwoman and what I was really thinking when I wrote it.

I'll share with you my process for drawing large format photorealistic charcoal art, why I choose to draw the people I draw and how my mind works during the process of drawing.

I'll do all of this because I know, in your own way, you are managing the same struggles as I am.

Some things I try work. Some things I try don't work. No matter, I'll share them all.

This Coming Week

This week I plan to complete #Imelda, the large format charcoal drawing of singer-songwriter Imelda May. I'm also spending time on my book, Janey Mack, from which I will share an extract with you on Wednesday.

Janey Mack is the story of Mary Jane McCarthy, a drug addict and prostitute from inner city Dublin.

I told a friend about the book and he said, “I wouldn't bother writing that, it's been done before”.

What do you think, should I listen to his opinion?

Without even telling you anything further about her story, I think you already know the answer to that question.

Funny, he knew as much as you do about the story before he came to that conclusion. I think therefore it only serves to reinforce the idea that others really know fuck all about what it means to for you and me to make something.

Wednesday

Like I said above, on Wednesday I'll share a short story with you. It will be about Mary Jane or some other short story. In this story Janey wakes up in a pool of urine and blood, not knowing where she is or how she got there.

It's familiar territory for Janey who has been lost in the pain and suffering of innercity lifefor quite some time. She's a victim of abuse and a drug addict which she funds through prostitution.

Thursday

Thursday is Podcast day where you can grab the latest episode of The Larb. The show is about 20 mins long, but that's edited down from the full-length recording.

For patrons, I'll post the entire recording or extracts that you may find good. I'll be in conversation with writer Derek Landy in the coming weeks so definitely subscribe to The Larb to make sure you don't miss that.

Sunday

Sunday Letters will go out as normal on Sunday with a summary of the weeks activity. If you're a patron you'll be able to access all the content. If you're not then you'll get the Sunday Letters article only.

So, that's it for the present. See you tomorrow,

Larry