Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Letter to Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley (24 April, 1981)

Letter to Beryl Whiteley from Brett Whiteley (24 April, 1981)

Manuscript and ink wash on paper

ML 1234

Presented by Mrs Beryl Whiteley, 1999

Courtesy Wendy Whiteley

The artist Brett Whiteley had a very close relationship with his mother Beryl Whiteley, and their correspondence (at this period Beryl lived in London) is frank and open. His letters are often illustrated with drawings; this one shows a small bird on a nest, perhaps referring to a mother watching over her eggs. It is rendered in ink wash using the thick, Japanese calligraphy brushes he favoured. Whiteley was also fond of nicknames; his mother’s was ‘Sning’ which his daughter, Arkie Whitely later shortened to 'Ning'.

Transcription

By Brett Whiteley

8 Reiby Place, 

Circular Quay,  

24/4/1981


Dear Ning,

Just a note to let you know that everything is going wonderfully well here in Sydney. As you can see from this note I have interupted my series on the nude to make some quick three day visits to the countryside to paint 3 largish canvasses in exchange for ‘Alchemy’. But as usually happens when I paint something as horse trade, they have worked out so fresh & original as landscapes Am now reluctant to part with them – which is absurd as ‘Alchemy’ also looks very impressive to me. Its just that it is so long since I worked directly in front of nature with large wood panels incorporating sticks and stones that come to hand while I am working in a dry river bed, the sudden quick revelation a mornings work can reveal to more exciting than labouring in the studio for days from memory. 

Anyway we are still swimming nearly everyday for two hours at Bondi. When & if the cold weather does arrive there is talk of making a short visit (3 weeks- no more than a month) to Europe a fortnight in Paris to/see Uggho & a week in London. Will keep you informed on this proposition. I am very keen. Arkie has moved out to a ($120 week) apartment at the Cross which has unnerved Wendy too but there is nothing one can do to stop her & she just can’t be persuaded to live in Double Bay or Point Piper or Balmain or anywhere else. (She has also bought a little puppy. Idiot!) The demand for paintings is incredible 20 people on the waiting list, dealers phoning every day looking for prints…anything! Wendy is getting less interested in the fashion idea. She did a great job dressing Robin Nevin for the TV Loggies...but the hassle & too many involved in bringing it off has brought the two of them down to earth somewhat. We are going for a week to a health farm in the Blue Mountains just to tune up & hopefully try & give up smoking. Have a new TV now that they are sending the waves out from a booster station on top the Hyatt Hotel. Perfect reception. Just can’t believe it! News of London looks as dismal as one expected but I think you are enormously hopefully believing real estate will do anything but get worse.  Everyone sends their love to you & Beth & Sara 

x brett.