New hair

 I am looking for honest opinions.

I went to the London Hair Clinic a couple of weeks ago. It's where Trendco has moved to, just behind the bustle of Oxford Street and its vast stores. In the 2010s I used to visit the old Trendco shop in Kensington every few months as I was experimenting with my hairstyle, and also living most of my time as female, so I got through a lot of wigs. I got to know Michael and the staff there quite well.

People who need wigs are people who can be quite self-conscious and upset as to why they are in such a clinic. The staff are therefore very considerate and professional. Many thanks, therefore, to Annie and the friendly team on reception and to my consultant Fabrice for a good experience.

This machine-made wig by Noriko in a style called Carrie has been my favourite option these past 15 years and I have always worn it in dark browns similar to my natural hair. The "cappuccino" colour below has been a good shade, but I have preferred a slightly lighter "coffee latte" in recent years. This style frames my face well, has a natural look, a good length and playful flicks and curls. Maintenance is not too difficult either.

 

Although Carrie is still made, it's no longer available in these shades . Fabrice therefore suggested "ginger brown" as being quite close, and that is what I settled for. Here it is in the lighting at home. 

 

It does have a slightly reddish tinge to it. I'll have to see what it looks like in natural light in due course.

I'd value your honest opinions on this and on the other options below. I have been wanting to try something new, as I expressed earlier this year, something that contemporary women of my age prefer to opt for; or something more usual in the Mediterranean where I now live.

Fabrice suggested the following shorter and more layered style as being among the "contemporary women of my age" choices. It's also by Noriko and the style is called Briar.

 

As for the "Mediterranean option", I explained that I was looking for a much darker, much longer and more free-flowing style as you see in, say, Southern Italy or Spain (the sort of hair you dance a tarantella or clash castanets to! Music optional, of course.) You can see how tanned I am and we're only half way through the summer. At home now I've put the right shade of tights on, a much darker "suntan" than the shade I wore in London, and this is my current skin tone, as you can see by comparing it to my arms. I've had to go a shade darker in my foundation makeup, too. So I think I'd like a shade and style of hair that's found more often in my new location. (In a similar way to shoes: these are the cute, soft pink trainers I bought in London. Every London woman seems to be wearing something like this right now. But they're less visible in the Med where women still seem to prefer more traditional leather styles in winter and open styles in summer.)

 

So here is Fabrice's recommendation, Noriko's Angelica in the shade "espresso", the darkest brown, almost black. 

 

Fabrice felt this wig was too long and could do with trimming. I think the length is fine. 

So, my personal views on the three styles are these. The advantage of my current Carrie style is that it makes me look feminine, hiding more masculine features that I don't like. It's my "safe" style, dependable and appropriate. I am unsure of the shorter, layered Briar as it exposes too much of my not-so-feminine face, although the colour and style are right for women of my age in the 2020s. The long, dark Angelica is, in my view, just what I am looking for for that change to South European more natural free-at-heart femininity. 

These latter two have been noted by the hair salon but I am not going to buy them without being sure I want either, hence my asking opinions. Two female friends I showed these pictures to had some good advice but I'd appreciate honest views from you readers on all three styles, even negative ones.

Thank you.

Sue x 

"Are you being served, Miss?": a day shopping

 I am home now after a trip to London. I didn't have time to say much about it last week but I thought I'd share the lovely day out I had.

I had hoped friends would join me but last-minute babysitting duties, work and other inconveniences put paid to that. Well, it was midweek, so it's to be expected. I spent a day shopping in the city centre and had a positive day with a lot of wonderful interactions with people.

The only full-length photo I have from that day was taken in the hotel. 

 

You've seen this outfit many times before but the pretty skirt is fabulously versatile and the pink top has always been my favourite. As I have a tan I wore some foundation a shade darker than my usual one. I failed to do the same for the sheer tights, an unusual error for me, so they are too light. I also wore my new lilac nail polish on fingers and toes. I really like it.

The pink shoes were supposed to be comfortable flats but were actually a disaster as the rigid backs took the skin off my ankles straight away and the first thing I did on arriving in Oxford Street was to buy some very soft cute pink trainers that were a total contrast in terms of comfort. They're like wearing pink bunnies on your feet! 

I was staying in Teddington in the far south west of London, a town well-known for its comedic celebrities like Noël Coward and Benny Hill (and to this day the locals all sing amusing songs and chase each other round the town at high speed). I took the train up to Waterloo and changed to the sweaty, greasy, dirty Underground to Leicester Square in the heart of the West End.

 

The lady behind me on the slow local train has the right idea! And my pretty skirt really doesn't deserve to sit on a grimy Underground seat and once back at the hotel it went straight into the laundry bag. 

I had an appointment at the London Hair Clinic which went very well and they were very nice to me but I will tell you about that next time as I want your opinion on my purchase and potential future purchases. This is also why I kept my makeup and jewellery to a minimum, so nothing would distract from observing my hair or get tangled in it. 

I went for lunch at an old favourite, Bistro One, in the heart of LGBT-friendly Soho.

 

It was a hot day so I had the chicken caesar salad and their really good bannoffee pie (yes, their menu is still of a former era, but reliable). The owner asked me if I was enjoying my meal and I said it was nice to be back after all these years and, incredibly, he recognised me and said so many kind things and wished me well in my new life in the Mediterranean (he's from Turkey). Well, we girls went to his establishment many times, e.g. Easter 2014 when he took this photo of us.

 

Given the fact that some maniac drove into Berlin Pride - and Berlin has always been a relaxed place for LGBT culture - I took some photos of the local LGBT venues in this area. Notably the Admiral Duncan pub that was targeted in the 1999 nail bombings by a neo-Nazi thug who is now serving six consecutive life sentences for his attacks on black, Bengali and LGBT communities in London. Real evildoers are few but not few enough.

Anyway, the Admiral Duncan in Old Compton Street and the other LGBT pubs and venues here continue to thrive despite everything. 

I pottered around town, visiting places I used to frequent when I lived in London, like the Jubilee Market in Covent Garden 

 

I was less excited by the Carnaby area that was famously the heart of the Swinging Sixties, then reinvented itself around the Millennium as a place of interesting shops but is now just endless, soulless chain shops and fast food joints. Everyone's looking for that bit of quirkiness, bohemia, something different, and when they find it word gets round and everyone loves it but then the developers move in and make it the same as everywhere else that was once quirky and unique. 

In Oxford Street I went to the big stores but didn't really find anything I wanted. Until I went to Selfridges. The perfume galleries have always been amazing. I think my pink outfit blended in to the general décor. I can't say if the smell did, though!

 

I decided to go to Selfridge's beautiful Food Hall and get something nice for my dinner and there I had a lovely experience. An old staff member on the cake counter asked me, in a voice very like that of Parker the chauffeur from Thunderbirds, "Are you being served, Miss?" I have never, ever been referred to as Miss before and I have to say it has left me with a warm glow ever since. I was being served, as it happened, and that cake lady addressed me as "Darling". More familiar and safely unisex but I will not complain, not me. Wow! I am so chuffed about that. I mean, I love being referred to as "Madam" but this was special. Thank you, Selfridges, for your outstanding staff. And the carrot cake was delicious, too!

So apart from the footwear issue, that was a very nice day out. I had planned more Sue days on this trip but, sadly, I was unable to fulfil those plans. Anyway, I got what I came for: new hair, new underwear, a change of scene and to test my new beard cover and foundation that stood up well to the rigours of a warm day in the big city.

Sue x 

Postcard from London

 A quick post - a postcard if you will - as time and WiFi are limited. 

I made it to London and had a lovely day out on Wednesday, doing lots of shopping in the West End. Here’s me waiting for the Underground. 

I had a hair appointment that went really well and I will ask your opinion about my choices in due course.

I was unfailingly addressed as female in shops and other outlets and that really made my day even more than the cute new shoes, makeup and lingerie.

Sadly, my other plans have been curtailed by a bit of a disaster. I’m OK; my property is not. More on that another time. Thankfully, I have friends cheering me up. And Mr Insurance Man will, I am sure, be happy to help.

Have a good weekend. 

Sue x

England and France (not football)

 I'm packing my bags to go away for a few days. Much as I like it where I live, I am tired of the current stagnant weather system and, although it's been worse in other parts of Western Europe, I'm really looking forward to a change. 

As I've grumbled before, for weeks it's been the same heat everywhere, in the sun, in the shade, by day, by night, on land, in the water, outdoors or indoors, it's always the same. I've just come back from the swimming pool. I might as well have taken a warm bath! In short, I'm not so much boiled as bored! Oh, and there's another forest fire, this one closer to home.

It's just as well I've planted a whole bunch of cactuses this year so I don't have to fret about getting the plants watered while I'm gone. This tiny thing, just an inch across, has just pushed out it's third gorgeous pink flower this summer. It's obviously enjoying it's ultra sunny position.

 

I'll be going by train to London and stopping in Paris both ways. Slow but pleasant journeys. Flying is quicker but it's more stressful, especially in the summer holiday season. The weather forecast suggests a much better temperature range in Paris and London next week than there's been there of late: pleasantly warm and not oppressive. London in such weather is actually delightful and when I lived there I often stayed put in summer. Just me and the tourists, but not so many of those as I know all the quiet locations in side streets away from the crowds ... 

In London I've booked a consultation with a wig shop just behind Oxford Street and I hope to get some new hair. I can't find my preferred make and style in Italy so it makes sense to take advantage of this holiday to get tried and trusted advice. And while I'm there I'll see if they can suggest any worthwhile alternatives. I'm taking my "coffee latte" shade Noriko "Carrie" style wig that readers approved a few weeks ago, duly washed, conditioned, prepped and primed. 

 

After that, I hope to spend that afternoon shopping en femme in London's West End, just like old times. Maybe the day after I'll do some sightseeing and visit old haunts. I'll post my adventures in due course.

I will be seeing some friends during my time there, too. Sadly, I had word today that someone I know passed away this week. Another loss to grieve. The Grim Reaper seems to have been working overtime in the field of my acquaintances these last few years.

France should be quiet next week. July 11th was Nice Pride that seems to have been popular and well-attended. Bastille Day (July 14th) was marked this side of the border too as, frankly, so many Italians work in France and so many French come here to enjoy cheaper shopping and dining that the whole border is fluid. There were French flags in Sanremo high street to mark the occasion (but, unlike the French, we didn't get the day off!)

Sadly, we also commemorated Nice's Bastille Day Attack ten years ago when a religious fundamentalist drove a truck through hundreds of holidaymakers in Nice. It's why the high street above is now cordoned off to traffic with big concrete blocks.

As for the World Cup match tonight, all I will say is that I used to live in Twickenham and we don't play footie there! In the tradition of British debating clubs, this blog believes that rugby is a much better game! 

Have a nice weekend and I'll be back here when I can.

Sue x 

Beat the heat with miniskirts

 We enter Phase 3 of the 2026 European Heat Dome. It's not actually that hot where I live and it's been consistently in the low 30s centigrade for a month. But the problem is that for the last month there has been no variation between day and night temperatures, between air, land and sea temperatures, between being indoors and outdoors, between being in the shade or in the sun. It's all the same. 

Sleeping has been difficult and last week I was starting to feel unwell as a result. Sure, you can cool a room down with air conditioning but the moment you leave you notice the difference. The other problem is that buildings are now not dissipating heat at night since there's nowhere cooler to give heat off to other than into your air conditioned room, the systems are straining and, with the fuel crisis, it's not cheap.

I've just been tidying up some photos and found one a trans friend sent of her sitting on a big lump of ice in Greenland and I thought, "That looks really refreshing!"

Anyway, according to the old adage that horses sweat, gentlemen perspire but ladies merely glow, I am well aware that I was glowing a lot in my photos last week. So I thought it was time to try out some even cooler items. Two jersey miniskirts I haven't worn in years seemed like a good choice. 

The blue patterned one I paired with a silver-grey sleeveless top with lace detail and wedge sandals, with toeless gossamer-thin summer tights. Yes, I should really have painted toenails but I didn't have time. 

It was very bright outdoors so most of the photos were taken indoors, but here's one on the terrace that wasn't too swamped with light.

 

 

 

Nice to revive this old mini. And I'm beginning to see those old curves again. 

I tried one black jersey miniskirt next (I have three!) with a near sleeveless black shirt and high heels. Again, I was pleased to see my curves enhanced by the slimming I have done, by the clinging skirt, by a little bit of padding in my bra and by the high heels. This could be officewear, I reckon. Maybe it'd be worth my working in an office again if this was part of the dress code?

 

These are the new heels I bought at the end of last year for no good reason other than I loved them. Here they break the all-over black and match my necklace.

 

The late afternoon sun was impossibly bright so by now I had to don sunglasses and the only thing properly visible is my sunlit legs. But I think they're looking good.

 

I wondered about a summer evening style and came up with this using my very old light three-quarter length floral skirt, the same shirt and black suede kitten heels. 

 

The skirt has an elasticated waist so it's always made regular appearances no matter my size.

I'm not sure if the shirt is best left out or tucked into the waist?

 

Anyway, that was a continuation of my try-on sessions with items that I haven't worn for a while or haven't combined with new items before.

The neighbours are back now and one stuck his head round the partition yesterday evening to say hi (I wish he wouldn't do that but it's normal enough behaviour here). This means I won't be outdoors in my skirts again for a while.

The slimming continues apace and the one good thing about the heat is that it's killed my appetite. I have big plans for next week and I intend to look good. More on that next time ...

Have a good week. Stay cool.

Sue x 

Being a model: a family tradition

 I've been taking advantage of a bit of peace and quiet this week to try out some old items that I couldn't get into when I was overweight. Monday's post was about my black daisy dress outdoors, and Tuesday's about styling a short denim skirt indoors. 

Yesterday was hot and sticky outdoors but I was determined to take advantage of the ongoing privacy to try out various combinations of miniskirts, tops, shoes and one or two other items for summer, like this summery skirt and kitten heel combination, which would make a good summer evening outfit, I think. 

But I propose to sort through the photos and post about the combinations I came up with next week. Today I want to talk about my trip to Nice's art shops as a followup to my post the other week about My Transgender Artworks 

So last Saturday I took the train across the border to France and had a day in Nice. It was hot but it's never too oppressive here by the sea. I tend to go to Nice about once a month as it's a big city full of big shops that sell things you can't get locally in my smaller town, and there's food that's different, especially a lot of ethnic restaurants that are not really a thing in Italy. I mean, Italian food is lovely, but sometimes you need a change. For lunch, therefore, I enjoyed a curry in an Indian restaurant. And I was happy to reward myself at the end of a successful day with a huge ice-cream sundae. I've been so good with the slimming that I've earned it!

Mainly, though, I went to the big art materials shops and got some fancy oil paints, a top quality canvas and some new hogshair brushes. I went for the most expensive brands because I think that if you're going to do something creative with your own hands, do it properly. For everything else, there's AI! I wanted Michael Harding paints which I know well and which that shop claims to stock but not in its Nice branch, so I went for Old Holland paints which are costly but loaded with pigment and should last years. I see it as an investment. You don't really need more than white, black, red, blue, umber and sienna to create virtually any colour yourself but I treated myself to a bright yellow and a flesh pink to make life easier. The canvas has already been sized and gessoed because I can't be bothered with all that preparation (rabbit-skin size is gelatin made from animal skin and, frankly, you don't want to know what you have to do to a bunny to get it! Kidding, rabbit is just a description of the consistency. Like cat gut or orange pekoe tea or Bombay duck, it's not what you'd expect.)

Let's see what sort of self-portrait I can come up with as part of this new trans art project. One of the reasons for taking quite a few photos this week was to use one as the basis for a painting. My face isn't so photogenic as my clothes, though, but this is the advantage of paint. The camera never lies, they say, but paint can flatter a less attractive subject. Given that one of my grandmothers was a fashion model when young in the 1930s and my mother has always been strikingly chic, especially as a young woman in the 1960s, I have an impossible act to follow, in any case. 

A painting will emerge in due course. If I like it, I'll try a full-length picture after that.

 

Pro-LGBT celebs news

I'm sad to hear of the passing the other day of singer-songwriter Bonnie Tyler. You'll find ample tribute to her in the music press and general media. I mention her not only because she was very pro-LGBT, a genuine ally, but also because it was dancing to her Holding out for a Hero that The Great Drag Race I took part in in 2010 set the world record for the largest number of dancing drag queens. That was a memorable occasion and I described it here: A trip down Memory Card Lane: The Great Drag Race. Thank you, Bonnie, for your support. Rest in peace.

Sad also to hear of the passing of Victor Willis of the Village People who turned American macho aesthetics on its head through his camp disco hits. This did so much to make LGBT culture popular, mainstream and unthreatening. Hell, even Donald Trump liked him enough to create a nice contradiction in his gay-bashing. Phobics always present specific types of minority people as a dangerous threat to a properly ordered society; Willis may have done more to neutralise that false notion of threat than anyone else in the Seventies. Right-wing homophobia now is not making as much progress as it once could, precisely because of the infectious, harmless, open-to-all exuberance of artistry like this. May he rest in peace, also.

Mel Brooks has celebrated his 100th birthday and he's been a good ally to the LGBT community. In fact, his cheeky rendering of many gay and crossdressing characters and insistence that their scenes not be cut or toned down actually made it clear to producers of stage and screen that there are more LGBT people in the performing arts that almost any other industry. Hollywood and Broadway still have a way to go to be fully inclusive but its thanks to efforts like these that they've made progress at all. Humour is a powerful weapon in that it presents seriousness and tragedy in that non-threatening way that brings a wider audience. Thanks for the laughs and the allyship.

 

Wildlife news

I have a round concrete planter that wasn't being used for anything so I threw old garden sweepings and vegetable scraps in it and created a sort of compost heap. But plants are nothing if not resilient and it's now a thriving bowl of succulents, onions, parsley, grasses and other vegetation. I was impressed by the assortment of stuff that refused to die so I started watering it regularly. A few weeks ago I was squirting the hose at it and a tiny young grasshopper popped out. Harry Hopper is his name and he is now quite a bit bigger so I squirt a few warning drops first so he can get out of the way of the water jet. 

I think he's just a grasshopper not a locust, but I live on the 6th floor so I wonder how he got up here. OK, he might have flown even as a tiny youngster, or maybe he was dropped by a bird. Could he even have been born here from an egg in old soil? He's welcome, though, just as Laura the Lizard was in 2022 when she lived in my vegetable pots, visibly growing over the summer, and Genghis and Guinevere the geckos before that. If Harry was born in this mixed plant heap then it's the only world he's ever known. Anyway, I'll keep making this random collection of plants green for him so he's got plenty to munch on.

Harry Hopper's home. Untidy but edible!

We have some cicadas in the trees in the garden who make plenty of noise, which I love as it's so characteristic of summer. If Harry's male, maybe he'll start chirping, which would be nice. Female grasshoppers don't tend to chirp, or nothing like as loudly. I may have to change 'his' name to Henrietta Hopper depending on what I can work out about this little creature.

Sue x 

... the mouse will play! (plus: forest fire)

 To continue the theme of Monday's post, I have been trying out old items that I haven't been able to wear for some years through having been a bit too keen on pizza and not keen enough on the gym. To coin a cliché.

After my evening foray in a daisy motif black cotton dress (with pockets!), I tried a 20-year-old denim skirt and it fit perfectly. Now it's definitely been a while since that button and zip could be done up properly so that's really pleasing as denim skirts are such easy items to combine with things. I went for a pink tee that I bought years ago but have never worn before, and two types of pink shoes, flats and heels. The colour of the heels matched the top a bit better than the coral pink flats. 

 

I chose some pale nude fishnet tights, very cheap ones from Primark these, but they do the job of adding a bit of cuteness and fun to the outfit. And open knit tights are way better in hot weather. 

 

I still need a bit off the tummy as it shows when I sit down but I think this is a nice casual summer look. 

 

A correspondent said I should post more photos so I hope they're satisfied now!

 

I hope to manage more try-ons this week.

 

Forest fires

I'm sorry to say, we've had our first forest fire of the season. It started last night not far from Triora, the village of witches I wrote about at Hallowe'en a few years ago (link: Cackle Cackle). 

Normally the forest rangers and fire brigade can handle these but this morning they called in a helicopter to drop water and later we had a couple of Canadair tankers circle home a few times as they scooped up water from the sea to dump it. I'm pleased to hear that the fire's now under control. 

 

Wave at the pilot as he flies past!

 

Scoop the juice. Let's just hope there are no dinghies and surfboarders ahead!

A dip in the archives

It's worrying to have a fire this early in the season. Not as spectacular as the one that burnt for almost a week on the mountainside nearby that filled the air with woodsmoke and red flames by night. 

That one was in August 2023 and, as I haven't had a dip in the archives for a while, see my post from that time, Superheroine costume ready to don. It also has photos of my trip to the Cutty Sark in London ten years earlier in my favourite summer dress and leggings. These are some of my favourite pictures. 

Sue x 

When the cats are away...

 I noticed that all my immediate neighbours are away today. This means I can take a few photos outdoors in the evening light without questions being asked. Although people are not especially nosey or lean over the wall to chat much, most of the partition between properties is glass and so there's no proper privacy ... unless they're out. 

I'm wearing a summer dress that I've not been able to get into properly as a dress for quite some while, although it's doubled as a tunic with leggings on occasion. I tried it with an enhancer bra but I realised I'm still not quite slim enough for that and couldn't fasten the buttons at the front of the dress without gaps showing between them so I've just got a normal underwired bra and my natural bust. My tummy is almost flat now; just a few more kilos / pounds to lose and I'll be seeing more of an hourglass figure again at last. I have to thank the hot weather for killing my appetite ... although ice cream does feature quite regularly!

I don't do bare legs even if it is 32°C (90°F) so my soft micronet tights in a dark natural shade (these ones by Jonathan Aston) are doing good service in shaping my legs, matching my tan and keeping me cool. I thought some black ballet flats would match the look best.

Here's me just now with Arnold the Olive (and the little palm tree that some bird seeded last year and which is also coming along). 

It is lovely being a woman. And being outdoors in a little dress in the warm is the cherry (or three cherries) on that particular cake.

Sue x 

Public and personal Pride

 I'm not sure how many people made it to Milano Pride at the weekend. According to the organisers, it was 350,000 like last year but the newspapers estimated it as a lot lower as temperatures of 40°C put people off. I tolerate heat well, but 40°C with a wig on is no joke and I wouldn't attempt it. All praise therefore to those who did venture out.

I'm pleased to hear that Budapest Pride in Hungary took place in an altogether less threatening atmosphere than last year following the change of government. Ironically, last year's ban brought 200,000 people onto the streets; now it's down to a more normal 35,000, but the point's been made.

Apart from that, my conclusions are much the same as I posted this time last year. I don't think LGBT bashing is making the headway its promoters want despite all their noise. Most people are more concerned about jobs, the cost of living, war and corruption to have much time for fretting that there are LGBT people in the world. I say most; I have finally had about enough altogether with my bigoted family who seem to have infinite time to hate people. More on strategy to deal with that another day, though.

So that was Pride Month. For those who live with a different sexuality or another gender, it doesn't last a month but for ever, though. 

 

Heatwave

It's been a week of high though not intolerable temperatures and, as above, I've not really wanted to get fully made up and bewigged. Loose tops, shorts or short skirts and flipflops are the order of the day. 

We keep being promised thunderstorms but they don't come and it doesn't look like it'll drop much from the current 34-37C for the foreseeable future.

Although I have easy access to an open-air pool and the sea is just below home, I'm thinking of investing in an inflatable pool for the terrace. Lots of my neighbours have one and it'd enable me to cool off in a swimsuit or bikini in greater privacy. 

Continuing weight loss

Hot weather dampens my appetite altogether and I'm eating little more than salad and fruit at the moment. Oh, and ice cream. But I have dropped lots this week and am now just over 70 kg (11 stone) so maybe another month at this rate and I'll be back in my healthy weight range. I'm excited at the prospect of getting to wear those pretty clothes I've been unable to fit into for so long, especially those adorable floaty summer dresses and those black evening numbers.

 

 

 

Garden

I have about 60 cactuses and succulents now, and they are enjoying the hot weather. My latest cactus has put out another pink flower for me. 

I was asked for photos of Arnold the Olive laden with fruit. Arnold is only five years old so I'm impressed with his efforts. The olives are green now but they will turn black when ripe.

 

Broken phone

My UK mobile phone is broken and I need to get a new handset. Please be patient if you are trying to call or text me from the UK this week. I had this phone for just three years so I'm not impressed with the durability.

 

Have a good week.

Sue x  

My transgender artworks

 I've had a number of comments and other communications over the last week relating to art. 

I used to do quite a lot of painting, drawing and some illustrating of books. A few items of mine have been published and I have taken part in various exhibitions, open days and so on. But I'm not going to 'out' myself by referring to those because I used my male name. Instead I'm going to recall the time when I started to do art in my female name and to sign off items with my female initials, SVR.

I'd had one art studio in South West London near an office where I worked. It was almost a break-out space for me, somewhere I could go and have my lunch or go to after work and wait for the evening rush hour to quieten down. Sometimes I painted pictures, too! I managed to sell quite a number of them and got various commissions. Not enough to earn a living - you'll never earn a living from creative stuff - but it was pleasant to find that the public liked my work.

I changed careers and then got another studio, a much bigger one nearer the centre with fantastic views across London. That one I shared with two very good and serious professional artists. They accepted I was trans without quibble. The art world is very accepting and alternative; after all, every artist is expressing themselves in their own way.

There I started a series of portraits of celebrities and then of trans women. My style for these was partly inspired by Julian Opie who has a very simple, almost cartoonish, yet unbelievably expressive portrait style. His website is here. I wanted more detail in my portraits, but the same sort of plain coloured background. 

Here is a portrait in this style of model/actress Elizabeth Hurley on an oval canvas which I did in 2008. 

 

I wondered if there was any scope for portraits of trans women which could be displayed at trans events like Sparkle or as part of a general art exhibition. I was a bit disappointed by the response of trans organisations to that idea, to be honest. But I asked for volunteers for this experiment anyway. My first was Andrea.

 

Then I did various other girls and the self-portrait you've seen. In the end, two of my portraits were selected for the Diffractions exhibition in Southwark, just south of the city centre, in the autumn of 2012. One was the selfie, the other was this portrait of Maddie.

I think Maddie was the best one in this style. Well, Maddie liked it enough to buy it off me. Andrea above had a distressing time with her picture. Not because it wasn't a good likeness but because when I emailed her a photo of it, the email distorted the portrait at her end to make the oval seem round. This made her seem incredibly fat. I'm glad I managed to sort that one out, but this is one of the many reasons I don't trust electronics to do the right thing.

Anyway, there were some amazing artists at the Diffractions exhibition - I am not in their league at all - but it was good to be on the list, and as Sue.

I described the show in my post On public view. Here is a photo of me and my guests for the private view, including Petra (far left) who is a good artist herself and Ange (far right) who is a professional photographer (and who had taken the pictures of me at the Great Drag Race two years before this). 

 

After that, the increasing demands of my new business made me lay down my brushes. You have to prioritise what brings the money in, after all, and, as I said, creative stuff, no matter how popular, just doesn't pay.

Now I have more time again, I'm thinking of maybe reviving that old dream of a trans woman portrait show. We've had plenty of trans photo exhibitions, including touring shows like the one on trans workers by my friend Stella, and more historic ones like Lisetta Carmi's 1960s trans ghetto photos, but trans women in traditional media - like oil on canvas - seem like a novelty.

I have a huge box of acrylic paints at the moment but for portraits you really need oils, in my view. Others disagree, but oil is infinitely workable, more vibrant, more alive, whereas acrylics often result in a flatter, duller finish and have to be worked with fast as they dry very quickly. We also don't know how long they last in historic terms. Rubens' natural oils are still vibrant after 400 years; petroleum substances seem to break down after a few decades. Not that I flatter myself I'm anything like Rubens! I shall therefore get some quality oils and start with a new self-portrait. 

We do have a specialist art shop near me with a really beautiful window display of all their overpriced goodies but, when you go inside, the shop is bloody chaos ... I mean, the shop is arranged in an 'artistic' manner by a truly 'creative' mind. I think I'll get some quality oils the next time I'm in a big city. If you really want old-style paint-making, you can't beat Cornelissen's in London who have been supplying artists' materials for 200+ years and who will still sell you traditional ingredients that are illegal now - including things like arsenic or urine - provided you agree to sign the Poisons Register!

This Pride Month has made me feel I need to do more to promote trans rights. Trans art seems like a good way to engage the public as the politicians are a bit mad and unhelpful these days. If I feel up to the task of reviving this TGirl portrait show idea, I may ask for more volunteers. I may also take commissions if you'd like your own pretty picture done. I usually work from photos as people find it hard to sit still for hours these days. Mona Lisa looks good because she didn't have a smartphone to fiddle with down at Leo's studio. Let's see how we go first.

 

By way of postscript, these two Julian Opie lenticular print bookmarks are two of my favourite things. One is of people walking and the other is of women dancing, and both series move as the light catches the marker in different ways. As with all photos on Blogger, just click to enlarge.

 

Have a good weekend. Don't melt. 

Sue x