It's been a week of dragons at work, William Kentridge/Monteverdi at Glyndebourne, Zurbarán at the National Gallery, Simon Schama and @lachlangoudie.bsky.social discussing great art @thamesandhudson.bsky.social, and the first figs in my Sussex garden. (Oh, and a new book deal.)

A wild birthday week, during which I had Dover Sole with a Knight, enjoyed a London nocturne, the Brighton Gay Men's Choir sang Happy Birthday for me in the Royal Pavilion, and Kiki Dee treated me to Amoureuse. Also: the gift of lemons and a raku pot (oh, and a new book in the pipeline).

And here we are, clearly colour-conscious:

Dr Alexandra Loske@colourwoman.bsky.social · 2mo ago

London-bound for this @thamesandhudson.bsky.social mash-up at the Mountstreet Neighbourhood festival at 6pm: The Artist's Palette meets @lachlangoudie.bsky.social's The Secrets of Painting. Should be colourful!

London-bound for this @thamesandhudson.bsky.social mash-up at the Mountstreet Neighbourhood festival at 6pm: The Artist's Palette meets @lachlangoudie.bsky.social's The Secrets of Painting. Should be colourful!

Es werde (Neon)licht. For most of the last 90 years there has been some form of Persil sign atop the Wilhelm-Marx-Haus (Düsseldorf’s first high-rise, built in 1924).

Free colour talks this weekend and next at Brighton's Artists' Open Houses.

Art Herstory has begun the 2026 edition of our annual post about exhibitions of art by women of the 16th to c. mid-20th centuries! Museum Exhibitions about Historic Women Artists: 2026 artherstory.net/museum-exhib... We'll continue to add entries to this list as art museums announce new shows.

So very proud of my friend Simon Schama. Saw him between shoots for this film, and remember how hard it was for him, and how dedicated he was. Bravo!

Farrukh@implausibleblog.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz, wins the BAFTA for Specialist Factual, "It's very hard actually to think, to describe what is correctly and rightly thought to be, the indescribable, the amount of slaughter human beings can inflict on others"

When a friend puts you up in a hotel by a lake - as a surprise. Good morning, Griebnitzsee. Near Potsdam.

Blue things are coming: brightonmuseums.org.uk/into-the-blue/

Recent shoot in the Pavilion for an upcoming gala with The Adelaide Salon. Sumptuous pictures by Joe March.

We're at the @forarthistory.org.uk conference again today! Visit our stand at the book fair to say hello, browse our recent titles, and make the most of our conference offers.

Into the Blue! A new display, curated by me, with works on paper from Brighton & Hove Museums' collections in many shades of blue. Opens 2 May Edmund Dulac's Ice-Maiden, 1915 Small landscape by Frank Brangwyn, undated South Galleries, Royal Pavilion, 1826 brightonmuseums.org.uk/into-the-blue/

Finding the grave, name and last will of a Georgian woman: Life Writing research by our Associate Director Alexandra Loske @colourwoman.bsky.social published in the April 2026 issue of The Burlington Magazine: Finding Miss Gartside: www.burlington.org.uk/current-issue

After a magical 'Owl Sunday', which involved long discussions about writing inks, I sourced a rare bottle of Diamine 'Writer's Blood' (now sadly renamed 'Ox Blood'). Also Teal and Sapphire Blue. Because you need different colours for different lines of thought. #amwriting #tothinkinink

A bibliophile's dream come true. Was gifted life membership of THE London Library and converted my reader's card today. I have been dreaming of libraries (Borges-style) for pretty much all my life, and have used and visited many. This one is very special indeed. #Silenceisrequested

Been taming dragons for several days now. Fierce beasts. Exhibition opening soon at the Royal Pavilion. brightonmuseums.org.uk/event/dragons/

Preston Manor will reopen on 14 March and I am just carrying a ghost up the stairs in preparation. The picture, taken by David McHugh, made it into The Times. brightonmuseums.org.uk/preston-mano...

Jamie Dornan, Jessica Gunning, but most importantly: my super successful friend Jacquie at the Artios casting awards in London last night. Note the matching gold shoes.

Good night, all.

Unusual to see A Cultural History of Color in the Age of Industry (Bloomsbury Academic) alongside The Artist's Palette (@thamesandhudson.bsky.social) in a bookshop. Still love both cover images. Kandinsky's Palette and George Field's colour wheel. Thank you, @waterstones.bsky.social Lewes.

Saw this and wondered if @colourwoman.bsky.social was aware (or indeed involved!) www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-...

Exploring Colour: Books on Display

Viewing the collection reveals a vibrant journey through colour theory, history, psychology, art and design.

eventbrite.co.uk

I'm sorry, but I am in love with this pendant, for several reasons. Sorry to be a touch materialistic for once, but there is more to it. Also, it's Valentine's Day, so here's a heart for all of you out there.

It's been a good day, with vintage colour, and vintage jewellery from a vintage ex-boyf. #Colourmania

Delighted to have been interviewed by the German magazine Die Mappe (first published in 1881!) about the colour pink. Special edition on COLOR (2026). #Farbgeschichte #Rosa #Pink #colourhistory

Quite a day at the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museum yesterday: Sir Stephen Fry, sunflowers (Aesthetic movement and Regency), and a very well-dressed audience. Banyan by Zack Pinsent.

Bus(wo)man's holiday: taking my mother's favourite paintings to her new care home in Solingen. (I know, no gloves 🙄. None to be found.)

Goodnight from my little monk's cell in Düsseldorf. Been a taxing few days, but now reading about Matisse's blacks.

Also preparing something very yellow, for @roundtable92ny.bsky.social ##colorhistory #colourhistory #sunflowers

Working on a small but exciting filming project. #hotreds #colourtemperature #EdgarDegas