I did the pencil stage of two new landscapes.  Both are entitled THIS IS THE GARDEN WHERE MY FUTURE MET MY PAST.  Later in the day I went over the pencil with paynes grey acrylic on one of the works.

Early in the day I went over the pencil lines of the second THIS IS THE GARDEN WHERE MY FUTURE MET MY PAST with acrylic paint.  I then went over both pictures with a strong wash of manganese blue.

Using the paper towels I  spread the wash on the above works I dabbed a patchy layer of acrylic colour across the entire canvas on FOUR CHAPTERS FROM A BOOK I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN (THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A COMPUTER SCREEN) and A SYMPHONIC PRESCRIPTION OF SIX TABLETS - BASED ON AN INSTALLATION COMPRISING FIFTEEN MANNEQUINS WATCHING FIVE COLOURED BALLOONS SLOWLY DEFLATING (FILMED BY A MAN IN A LOWLAND GORILLA SUIT).  I started painting over the pencil lines of the latter but didn't get very far.

I completed the repainting of the lines on FOUR CHAPTERS FROM A BOOK I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN (THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A COMPUTER SCREEN) and then repainted the lines on A SYMPHONIC PRESCRIPTION OF SIX TABLETS - BASED ON AN INSTALLATION COMPRISING FIFTEEN MANNEQUINS WATCHING FIVE COLOURED BALLOONS SLOWLY DEFLATING (FILMED BY A MAN IN A LOWLAND GORILLA SUIT).

I am having a long weekend off (unless something crops up).  All I did today was some "portrait" drawings in a small sketch book.

I started painting THIS IS THE GARDEN WHERE MY FUTURE MET MY PAST version one (In oils, even though the initial stages where done in acrylic).  I hope to more or less finish these works this week - although I have an exhibition looming.

I completed the initial painting stage of THIS IS THE GARDEN WHERE MY FUTURE MET MY PAST version one.  I will had to add symbols and detailing - only in a modest degree for this small work.

I started painting (in oils again) the second THIS IS THE GARDEN WHERE MY FUTURE MET MY PAST.  Unfortunately I had to go out early in the afternoon.

Belatedly getting every thing ready for tomorrow's show (typical this!).

I finished the main painting stage of the second version of THIS IS THE GARDEN WHERE MY FUTURE MET MY PAST.

I went across to Chatham to hang the four person show at The Nucleus Gallery - the Private View was held in the evening (I had a late night!).  I am now having a weekend off - apart from doing things like this!

I completed both versions of THIS IS THE GARDEN WHERE MY FUTURE MET MY PAST, adding symbols, redefining some of the lines and adding other detailing.

I spent most of my artistic day cutting and priming hardboard and MDF panels.  I finished the priming quite late in the evening.

I started the preliminary work on the 14 recently prepared panels.  I got farthest on one of the MDF works entitled MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS.

I also returned to the first version of THIS IS THE GARDEN WHERE MY FUTURE MET MY PAST; repainting one small element of the work.

I completed the pencil stage - including the image sequence - of a new variant of MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS.  The original oil painting was completed in 1986.  Stupidly I cut this version down to fit into a frame so I thought it deserved a reincarnation.

I did the initial drawing of six relatively small landscapes.  Namely: MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (Versions ONE & TWO), SYMBOL IN A GARDEN (Versions ONE & TWO), STRANGE EVENT IN A YESTERDAY GARDEN and STRANGE EVENT IN A TOMORROW GARDEN.

I did a little more pencil work on other pictures before having to take the dog to see the diet nurse!

I did the pencil drawing stage of two smallish "Project Isis Landscapes": TINKERS BARN - I MET A MAN WITH BIG FEET and BRIAN'S HILL - I MET A MAN WITH BIG HANDS.

I did rough initial sketches (stage one) for two other slightly larger "Meditative Landscapes" (based on photos of the Welsh landscape taken from a moving coach).  They are provisionally entitled FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE (ONE & TWO).

I refined the drawing of FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE (ONE & TWO) but nothing else - Dental and other appointments!

I painted over the pencil lines (with thin acrylic paint) on MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (Versions ONE & TWO) and one version of SYMBOL IN A GARDEN.  This was after taking other animals to the vets!

I painted the lines of the second SYMBOL IN A GARDEN and STRANGE EVENT IN A YESTERDAY GARDEN and STRANGE EVENT IN A TOMORROW GARDEN.  Then went out - but not to see a vet!

I started painting both versions of MESSAGE IN A GARDEN - often using the same colours in each work.

I completed the main painting stage of MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (Versions ONE & TWO).  Didn't do anything else and feeling depressed!

I had to go to Chatham to collect paintings from the joint show I organised.  The only art work completed was a handful of drawings.

I did background spontaneous symbols (using charcoal) on three new works which will accompany THE CREATION OF COMPLEX PATHS FOLLOWING RECOGNISED SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES  (YOU HAVE TO BE AN ATHEIST TO FIND GOD).  I will have to paint over these lines with acrylic medium before drawing in the next stage.

I then started painting STRANGE EVENT IN A YESTERDAY GARDEN and STRANGE EVENT IN A TOMORROW GARDEN; almost finishing one.  I am probably going out tomorrow with my wife - and also out Thursday - but will aim to complete the main stage of these works this week.

I finished the main painting stage of both STRANGE EVENT IN A YESTERDAY GARDEN and STRANGE EVENT IN A TOMORROW GARDEN.

I then tentatively started this stage on both versions of SYMBOL IN A GARDEN.

I had an hour or two to paint and carried working on SYMBOL IN A GARDEN (Versions ONE & TWO).

I completed the primary painting stage of both versions of SYMBOL IN A GARDEN.  I also painted the margin area on all six works in this series.

Thinking about a new large scale work entitled DEAR JOHN in memory of a late friend.

I am spending the holiday weekend in the garden (hopefully) and all I have done today is drawing.

I painted the perimeters of TINKERS BARN - I MET A MAN WITH BIG FEET, BRIAN'S HILL - I MET A MAN WITH BIG HANDS and FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE (ONE & TWO).

I did the pencil stage (fairly roughly) of the main structures of two works to accompany MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS.  They are probably entitled THE WORKS OF LAST YEAR'S MAN (EVOLUTIONARY TREATISE WITH AN ANDROID AS THE SEMINAL RELIGIOUS FIGURE) and AN ARTIST ALONE IN A ROOM ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERS A PAINTING (A RANDOM ARRANGEMENT OF BOXES EACH STATING THAT TIME IS SPURIOUS).

Not a particularly busy day but I did most of the pencil drawing structure phase of TRIPTYCH: WHEN I LOOK IN A MIRROR I SEE ALL OF MY DEAD ANCESTORS - A MULTIPLE OF SELVES; NOT ALL EXISTING AT THE SAME TIME - SOME TIME AFTER MY DEATH I STARTED THINKING AGAIN.

I completed the initial pencil stage of TRIPTYCH: WHEN I LOOK IN A MIRROR I SEE ALL OF MY DEAD ANCESTORS - A MULTIPLE OF SELVES; NOT ALL EXISTING AT THE SAME TIME - SOME TIME AFTER MY DEATH I STARTED THINKING AGAIN.

I then worked on TINKERS BARN - I MET A MAN WITH BIG FEET; painting over the pencil line with acrylic paint.

I repainted the pencil lines of BRIAN'S HILL - I MET A MAN WITH BIG HANDS.  I thought about starting another work but decided to get my pictures ready for taking to the ArtShed in New Milton on Monday.

Out all day at a children's birthday party!  I did more figure/landscape invention drawings during the odd quiet spell.  Gardening tomorrow.

I spent the day painting over the lines on  FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE (both versions).  These titles may prove provisional.

I varnished the pictures for New Milton in the evening.  Delivery on Wednesday now - change of plan.

Out today.  All I did was sketch book drawings.  Ditto tomorrow.

I delivered my pictures to the Artshed gallery.  No other work done except pencil sketches.  Paddled in the sea!

I started painting FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE ONE.  I got half way before having to go out.

I finished the main painting stage of FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE ONE and did over half of FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE TWO.

I completed the main stage of FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE ONE and then went out into the garden.

This is hopefully a chill out week.  I started work on TINKERS BARN - I MET A MAN WITH BIG FEET and BRIAN'S HILL - I MET A MAN WITH BIG HANDS.  Making good progress despite gardening and concentrating too much on the Test Match on the radio.

I finished the main painting stage of TINKERS BARN - I MET A MAN WITH BIG FEET and BRIAN'S HILL - I MET A MAN WITH BIG HANDS.  Bought some more canvas boards for landscapes or portraits.

I went over most of the acrylic lines with blue black oil paint on TINKERS BARN - I MET A MAN WITH BIG FEET, BRIAN'S HILL - I MET A MAN WITH BIG HANDS and one of the versions of FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE.  I probably chilled out too much today.

I was out all morning and evening.  In between I went over the acrylic lines on the second FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE.  This version is far more complex than the previous one.  It has the subtitle: ALL PAST SUMMERS MERGED INTO ONE.  The other version will probably be subtitled: TIME LOOP TO CHILDHOOD.

Late start.  I went over the charcoal lines with acrylic paint on three new works destined to accompany THE CREATION OF COMPLEX PATHS FOLLOWING RECOGNISED SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES  (YOU HAVE TO BE AN ATHEIST TO FIND GOD).  Early finish.

I was out yesterday, kept a drawing book on me all the time but did not open it once!  Today I put a thin red wash on the above three works but nothing else - holiday weekend!!

I started the second phase of work on the three Peter Panic pictures but I am still in holiday mode.  I drew out the main structures which will hold the progression of images and control the narrative.

I also did a little more work on the small "landscapes" I have been involved with of late.

I did the primary painting stage (using acrylic paint) of FOUR CHAPTERS FROM A BOOK I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN (THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A COMPUTER SCREEN) and A SYMPHONIC PRESCRIPTION OF SIX TABLETS - BASED ON AN INSTALLATION COMPRISING FIFTEEN MANNEQUINS WATCHING FIVE COLOURED BALLOONS SLOWLY DEFLATING (FILMED BY A MAN IN A LOWLAND GORILLA SUIT).

I finished painting in the structural blocks of the three Peter Panic works.  However, I didn't have time to progress any further with them.

I added all the images and other detailing to TINKERS BARN - I MET A MAN WITH BIG FEET and BRIAN'S HILL - I MET A MAN WITH BIG HANDS.  Some of the imagery will have to be filled in at some point.

I did a little more work on the other "landscapes" in this series.  I did a little of various other things too.

A dedicated domestic day and only time for a few minutes painting.  Titles of several new works have evolved: MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (THE HISTORICAL GARDEN) and MESSAGE IN A GARDEN ( THE KNOT GARDEN), SYMBOL IN A GARDEN - THE HAPPENING ONE and SYMBOL IN A GARDEN - THE HAPPENING TWO.

I am still in ordinary person mode (while my wife convalesces from an operation) and only had the afternoon in my studio.  I repainted the original lines on SYMBOL IN A GARDEN - THE HAPPENING ONE and SYMBOL IN A GARDEN - THE HAPPENING TWO.

I spent more time in my studio (most of the time with a cat on my lap).  I repainted the lines on MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (THE HISTORICAL GARDEN) and MESSAGE IN A GARDEN.  I also repainted the lines and then finished - by adding symbols and other detailing - STRANGE EVENT IN A YESTERDAY GARDEN and STRANGE EVENT IN A TOMORROW GARDEN.

After this I painted in the symbols on TINKERS BARN - I MET A MAN WITH BIG FEET and BRIAN'S HILL - I MET A MAN WITH BIG HANDS; finishing the works.

The evening was spent wasting time on the computer.

I completed SYMBOL IN A GARDEN - THE HAPPENING ONE and SYMBOL IN A GARDEN - THE HAPPENING TWO.  I added (and then continually readded!) spontaneous symbols derived from the main imagery.

I added all the symbols to MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (THE HISTORICAL GARDEN) and MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (THE KNOT GARDEN).  However, some of these will need additional painting.  Also added other detailing (and listened to the cricket commentary!).

I completed MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (THE HISTORICAL GARDEN) and MESSAGE IN A GARDEN (THE KNOT GARDEN).  Painting in all the symbols and tweaking some of the detailing. 

I then started work again on FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE ONE - ALL PAST SUMMERS MERGED INTO ONE and FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE - TIME LOOP TO CHILDHOOD.  I added images, shapes and symbols resonant with memories of my childhood.

I continued to work on FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE ONE - ALL PAST SUMMERS MERGED INTO ONE and FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE - TIME LOOP TO CHILDHOOD.  I have almost finished adding all the symbols and other imagery - some of which will filling in with colour.

I intend to spend tomorrow in the garden and June and I are going out for the day on Monday.

I finished FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE ONE - ALL PAST SUMMERS MERGED INTO ONE and FAST MOVING LANDSCAPE - TIME LOOP TO CHILDHOOD.  I added more detailing and simple symbols and also filled in the larger image shapes.

Later in the day I started work on the previously unnamed Peter Panic acrylics.  They now have the (long!) titles of: I WOKE UP AND SAW HUNDREDS OF BIG FISH BURROWING HEAD FIRST INTO THE SOFT SOIL OF THE CEMETERY, I OPENED THE BEACH HUT DOOR AND SAW A FLOCK OF SEA PEOPLE HOLDING HANDS AND CHANTING IN THE EMBRACE OF AN ANCESTRAL DAWN and I DESCENDED THE STAIRS NAKED AND SAW A MULTITUDE OF HOLES IN THE BARE WALL.

More work on I WOKE UP AND SAW HUNDREDS OF BIG FISH BURROWING HEAD FIRST INTO THE SOFT SOIL OF THE CEMETERY not much though.

I then put a thin wash on MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS, THE WORKS OF LAST YEAR'S MAN (EVOLUTIONARY TREATISE WITH AN ANDROID AS THE SEMINAL RELIGIOUS FIGURE) TRIPTYCH: WHEN I LOOK IN A MIRROR I SEE ALL OF MY DEAD ANCESTORS - A MULTIPLE OF SELVES; NOT ALL EXISTING AT THE SAME TIME - SOME TIME AFTER MY DEATH I STARTED THINKING AGAIN and AN ARTIST ALONE IN A ROOM ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERS A PAINTING (A RANDOM ARRANGEMENT OF BOXES EACH STATING THAT TIME IS SPURIOUS).

I also varnished the "Alison" Portraits and three "Wiltshire Transformations".

I started painting the main colour areas of THE WORKS OF LAST YEAR'S MAN (EVOLUTIONARY TREATISE WITH AN ANDROID AS THE SEMINAL RELIGIOUS FIGURE) and AN ARTIST ALONE IN A ROOM ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERS A PAINTING (A RANDOM ARRANGEMENT OF BOXES EACH STATING THAT TIME IS SPURIOUS).  Progress was slow with a lot of distractions.

I started painting in the background and images of MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS.  I didn't finish it as I had to go out - hopefully tomorrow.

I completed the painting stage of MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS.  The rest of my time was spent on a multitude of unrelated tasks.

I painted over the pencil lines of MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS and also added extra detailing and patterning.  I declared the work finished after dinner.

I finished the main painting stage of FIVE PRESENTATIONS OF SUPERREALITY - SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT THE FICTIONAL CHARACTER (EVOLUTIONARY TREATISE WITH AN ANDROID AS THE SEMINAL RELIGIOUS FIGURE) - amended title!

I painted over the pencil lines and added detailing to FIVE PRESENTATIONS OF SUPERREALITY - SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT THE FICTIONAL CHARACTER (EVOLUTIONARY TREATISE WITH AN ANDROID AS THE SEMINAL RELIGIOUS FIGURE).

I then returned to MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS; repainting the outer areas.  I declared the painting finished again!

I painted clear acrylic medium over the predominantly pencil areas of MACBETH AND HIS THREE SISTERS: CAESAR, POMPEY AND CRASSUS.  I then did likewise to A FISH DREAMS OF DRY LAND.  Both works will have a proper coat of medium/varnish in due course.

I then started painting the main areas of AN ARTIST ALONE IN A ROOM ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERS A PAINTING (A RANDOM ARRANGEMENT OF BOXES EACH STATING THAT TIME IS SPURIOUS) and likewise of I DESCENDED THE STAIRS NAKED AND SAW A MULTITUDE OF HOLES IN THE BARE WALL.
 

I painted all of the first layer (save the margin) of TRIPTYCH: WHEN I LOOK IN A MIRROR I SEE ALL OF MY DEAD ANCESTORS - A MULTIPLE OF SELVES; NOT ALL EXISTING AT THE SAME TIME - SOME TIME AFTER MY DEATH I STARTED THINKING AGAIN.

I also worked out most of the imagery for FIVE PRESENTATIONS OF SUPERREALITY - SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT THE FICTIONAL CHARACTER (EVOLUTIONARY TREATISE WITH AN ANDROID AS THE SEMINAL RELIGIOUS FIGURE).

I painted the complete first layer of  AN ARTIST ALONE IN A ROOM ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERS A PAINTING (A RANDOM ARRANGEMENT OF BOXES EACH STATING THAT TIME IS SPURIOUS) in between Saturday odd jobs and gardening.

Wimbledon Week!  I started repainting the lines of PICTURES IN STONES - A work I actually originally completed in 1997.  During the next fortnight I also plan to repaint the lines of IMAGES BEHIND TREES, which is a painting of comparable vintage.

I had to collect the unsold paintings from my show in New Milton today.  As I took the opportunity to walk to the beach from the gallery this took all day.  I started one sketch book drawing but didn't finish it.

When I got back I repainted the margin of PICTURES IN STONES and did some minor repairs to the margin of IMAGES BEHIND TREES.

I was out a lot today, visiting the exhibition of a young friend and other things, but I did a little more work on PICTURES IN STONES.

More repainting of lines in PICTURES IN STONES - still a lot to do though.

I completed the repainting of the lines of PICTURES IN STONES quite late in the evening so little time for anything else.

Wedding Anniversary - out with my wife.  The only work done was some sketch book drawings.

I repainted most of the lines of IMAGES BEHIND TREES.  Various other artistic odds and ends.  The first half of the year has been reasonably successful but I am hoping the second half is more productive.