work in progress

ink, oil and emulsion on paper 180x120cm

oil on canvas. 100x80cm

oil on canvas. 100x80cm

In the making of a painting which refers to landscape, it is the marks and the overlaying of them and of colour which builds another landscape, that of the painting itself. For me this is the goal: a surface which can be read for its own sake but can be a surface/space which reads also as a collection of experiences translated into paint or drawing, both of which are cyphers to be interpreted as clues to a shared imaginative response to thinking about and experiencing surroundings.
There are many underlying layers and the final surface is the result of a journey which might continue after the painting is physically halted. by the observer interacting with it and being prompted to renew their relation to the visual and mental world.

Mixed bag - three paintings of the land and two maps of my face.

 It is a while since I let work on my visage surface. I use myself a lot because I am always available. The landscape is similarly at hand.  I have this idea that I could marry the approaches but it seems beyond me at the moment and indeed whilst working on the self portraits I know in the back of my mind that they are not like the drawings I make either. Nowhere near as daring. However there is a change. I keep turning my head and it seems that this does bring about or allow a fuller picture. Its early days I guess . I just need to go back and try again.

Paintings x 4 .End of summer.

I have made these paintings in recent weeks: the view from my windows changing all the time now. The influence of the season strong but the paintings themselves intuitive. We live in interesting times. The world is turning; my father has died along with summer. Painting is a good thing to do.