noneofthisisreal

‘It’s my pretend reality’ … Anders Fernstedt, a former journalist who has lived outside the property for three years.

There may not be anyone inside, but there is someone outside – just outside – and I’m afraid I’ve woken him up. On the porch is a makeshift tent, made mostly from umbrellas. A bearded head emerges, a little bleary, but cheerful. The porch is filled with stuff, which spills out along the railings: baskets, books and newspapers, pictures, teddy bears, games, a couple of bicycles, lots of flowers in vases, pots and bins.

He is comfortable enough – he shows me the mattress he sleeps on, plus additional squishy things, such as a fluffy octopus toy someone won at the Winter Wonderland fair in Hyde Park and gave to him. “I’m like the princess and the pea,” he says. On top, he has a Hungarian goose down duvet that keeps him warm in winter, but isn’t too hot in summer. He generally sleeps well, although sometimes he’s woken by a loud Lamborghini.

Dragon's Blood is a natural, resin, mentioned by Pliny in his Natural History. It has a weak tinting strength, and its rich red colour can be fugitive in direct sunlight. It is fully soluble in alcohol, and can be used to add a warm, transparent tone to spirit varnishes. Also available in powdered form.

(via Dragon's Blood Pieces - Gums and Resins - Pigments, Gums, Resins)

We always had to have 50 boxes of a Daler Rowney oil colour called Naples yellow for Lucian Freud