I drew in (using oil paint) a sequence of figurative images in the painted strand on TIM - EXTRUDED PORTRAIT.   The secondary images will have to been done tomorrow (if I don't brave the bitter cold and do some gardening!).

I didn't brave the cold weather (which was even worse!) and spent this Sunday afternoon in my studio - domestic duties in the morning.  I completed adding all the images (this time shape variations) to TIM - EXTRUDED PORTRAIT.  Wrote things in the evening.

I started to add figurative imagery to FACE (playful and fairly loose variations on facial features).  I got on quite well despite having to go out half way in sub zero temperatures!

I finished the facial feature variations on FACE (also went out again in sub zero temperatures!).

I started to work out image sequences for ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERD (HEY BABY BY JIMI HENDRIX) but didn't get that far.  I then started to stretch canvases in a rather dilatory way (not really that well). 

I painted in all the small figurative/symbol images on TIM - EXTRUDED PORTRAIT, thus completing the work.

I then did like wise on THE TIM MACHINE, however I am not convinced I have finished the painting.

I finished THE TIM(E) MACHINE to my satisfaction, altering slightly and touching up.

I then painted in all the imagery on FACE using an extremely reduced palette, completing the work by late afternoon.

I decided to photograph some of the paintings I have completed recently - perversely I then altered THE TIM(E) MACHINE: adding some more background elements.

I then started working again on INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE.  I added symbols to one of the secondary strands in the work.

I carried on working on INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE: adding symbols to another secondary strand and then beginning to add them on the main block.

I finished painting symbols on the main area in INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE.  Apart from writing and a little drawing the rest of the day was spent doing Sunday things.

Out in the morning (a wasted trip as it turned out) but painted all afternoon.  I added symbols to the horizontal strips on INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE.

Out all morning again but continued to add symbols to INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE during the afternoon (I didn't do a huge amount after the daylight had gone as the easel lamp was right next to my face because of the large size of the canvas).

I finished painting in the symbols on the horizontal strands of INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE.  This took all day, although I did do a number of unrelated sketch book drawings as well.

I started to paint in the symbols in the main (vertical) section of INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE - painting off and on during the day (for a variety of domestic reasons) I finished the part I was working on late at night.

I completed the process of painting in the symbols on the main section of INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE.  I then painted in one of the other strands.  The drawings in the remaining strands needed another day to dry.  I am planning D.I.Y. and wildlife conservation work over the weekend (rather reluctantly as regards the former!) so may not do much more until Monday.

As suspected odd jobs and writing etc. over the weekend.  Today I returned to INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE: adding additional images to the bridge strand and beginning the process of filling in the symbols in the horizontal banding.

I finished INTRODUCING THE WESSEX MAN CONCEPT: SELF PORTRAIT ON A BRIDGE.  All the images in the horizontal banding were filled in with paint and then tidied up - I may actually do a little more of the latter tomorrow.

I started work again on AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES).  The thematic material starts in the centre of the circle and works out in concentric bands.  I added images (in thinned paint) which gradually evolve from abstracted shapes to figurative scenes.

Out most of the day; when I was in my studio I continued adding figurative fantasy images to AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES).

Most of the day in my studio, I finished adding images to the central area of AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES) - although I considered a minute ago extending this area.  I also did a bit of additional detailing, I hope to do a bit more tomorrow before I start the dreaded weekend D.I.Y.!

I made some additions to the main composition of AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES) - as considered yesterday this included extending the concentric circles across the canvas.  For some reason this took all day - although I did interrupt myself continuously with typical Saturday tasks.

On a whim I partially repainted the background on MITZI IN BED (a cat June had when we first met) which has been hanging on our wall since 1999.

After this I made a few more amendments to AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES) and then, unusually for me, I watched a film (I know it is Sunday but I am tiling the kitchen tomorrow so only expect to be creative for microseconds).

I added symbols/figurative imagery to the next concentric band on AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES); I will probably continue adding images until the perimeter is reached but not fill in the outer bands with paint.  Family day out tomorrow so no painting again until Thursday midday.

Late start but I continued working on AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES).  I am now adding images to the outer bands which are more problematic as it is difficult gauging the size of the individual images.

I worked all day, adding further images to the outer bands of AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES.  I got on quite well, for some reason I have returned to my artistic philosophy and outlook of the middle Nineties.  I am also standing up to paint which nonplusses the cats no end as they normally sit on my lap.

Another reasonably good day, adding further images (a combination of figurative and abstracted) to AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES.  Tiling the bathroom tomorrow, ditto some days next week.

I completed adding the figurative and semi-figurative images to the background strands of AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES.  I can now devote a day tomorrow to D.I.Y. Without worrying too much about it.

I have now started adding symbols to the foreground structures on AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES.  Unfortunately I had to go to the dentist today so didn't do as much as hoped.

Out in the morning; when back in my studio I continued adding symbols to, and almost finishing this stage of, AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES. The sheer complexity of this painting is a little off putting but, there you go, every work is an experiment.

I added more images to AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES during the morning and then decided to return to tiling the bathroom - I suspect the weekend will be taken up with this and similar.

I finished adding imagery to AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES - after spending all morning finishing off the grouting in the bathroom!

I started to fill in the images on AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES.  I started with the inner rings - it does have a concentric development after all!

I painted in all the symbols in the outer strands of AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES.  I don't think this painting works on a conventionally aesthetic sense (not that it is supposed to of course).  I may change the colours of the sections I painted today and I may even do some other works based on this one!

Late start but once in my studio I started adding images again to BACKGROUND SCENERY TO A PAINTING CALLED SELF PORTRAIT AS A WINDMILL.  I almost finished it; hopefully I will do so tomorrow although I want to make some amendments to the images in the orbiting strands on AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES if I can.

I completed BACKGROUND SCENERY TO A PAINTING CALLED SELF PORTRAIT AS A WINDMILL.  The symbols in this work are of the spontaneous rather than more considered type - as I said above: every work is an experiment!

I also repainted some of the symbols (hopefully enough) on AVEBURY: APOTHEOSIS OF A STONE CIRCLE (FROM THE EVOLUTION IN A TOP HAT SERIES).

I stretched three canvases and cut the wood to make a fourth stretcher before dinner and then returned to bathroom decorating (I made a new sub floor out of hardboard to be precise).  Tomorrow I am laying a new floor so very little chance of creative work.

I spent all morning cutting stretchers out of old wood from the shed - I also cut up some old canvases (circa 1975) to fit these - I will prime and paint on the back of these.  After this I started the preliminary drawing (using charcoal) for three new canvases: PAUL THE SAILOR, BOAT ON A HILL and STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE.

Out in the morning.  In the afternoon I added amendments and then painted over the charcoal lines on STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE.

I started painting the lines on BOAT ON A HILL but never completed this before having to catch up with paper work.

I finished the job of repainting the lines on BOAT ON A HILL.

I also painted over the charcoal lines on PAUL THE SAILOR.  All three of the new canvases will need cleaning up before I start painting them.

After this I made a simple sketch (based on some graffiti I spied up the road) for the main structure of a new portrait.

And finally I laid out the main lines of an acrylic on paper painting entitled PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST BEFORE A MIRROR.  The main images will be based on some scribbles I made well over thirty years ago on a back of a painting.

I added symbols to PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST BEFORE A MIRROR (which I titled on painting 1&2 OR THE ARTIST BEFORE A MIRROR) completing this work.

I also did the drawing stage (in charcoal and then oil) of another new work entitled PORTRAIT X.

I stretched a small canvas and then did the preliminary structural drawing, first in charcoal and then in oil, for another new work entitled RECLINING NUDE.  I also glued some other stretchers but most of the day was spent on the computer writing.

I did the main painting stage (i.e. I covered the canvas board with paint!) of PORTRAIT X.  All the other work done was in my head.

Out in the morning; in the afternoon I almost completed the main painting stage of STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE (i.e. I didn't completely cover the canvas with paint).

I finished the first stage of STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE and then made some amendments (more to be done I suspect.  After this I redid some of the lines.  I also repainted some of the lines on PORTRAIT X.

After this I started painting BOAT ON TOP OF A HILL, but didn't get very far.

I added detailing and some amendments to STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE first thing and then went and painted the windows in the kitchen!

I completed the first and main painting stage of PAUL THE SAILOR.  This took all day and many of the lines will still need redefining

I completed the main painting stage of BOAT ON TOP OF A HILL, perhaps too conventionally.

I also did the first stage of RECLINING NUDE (background is too light but then the background of PAUL THE SAILOR may be too dark! - remembering that images have to be laid over the top).

I made some changes to PORTRAIT X and also did a little repainting of the lines.

After this I did more extensive redefining of lines on PAUL THE SAILOR and BOAT ON TOP OF A HILL.  STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE didn't require much touched up.

I almost always paint sitting down - I keep making an effort to work standing up but it never seems quite appropriate.  One consequence of painting quite close to the work is the compositional balance shifts when viewed farther away.  The drawing also looks clumsy when viewed from a distance.

Out a large part of the day.  I started adding figurative images to STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE when finally settled in my studio.

I spent as much time as I could (which wasn't as much as I wanted) adding more images to STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE.  A lot of other things were done during the day, sadly very few were of an artistic nature.

I finished adding all the images in the concentric banding of STILL LIFE IN FRONT OF A PAINTING ENTITLED SELF PORTRAIT WITH COIL OF ROPE.  I also did a bit of writing - and multifarious domestic things (as it was Saturday!).

I added the figurative fantasy imagery to RECLINING NUDE using thinned oil paint (possibly not thinned enough) - finishing this stage.  Then I had to go to the vets with dog and rabbit!

I added symbols and imagery to PORTRAIT X - completing this stage.  I might change some of these though as the image sequence looks rather clumsy.

Out with my wife all day and I even forgot to take a sketch book!  Writing as usual in the evening.

Not happy with the images in one strand of PORTRAIT X I made some serious amendments today; I will do further repainting when these are dry.

After this I added the thematic imagery in the centre of PAUL THE SAILOR - from this all the other images will be derived.

And then I started adding images to the first band of BOAT ON TOP OF A HILL (this is the band immediately under the yacht theme).

I ended the day by ruining my laptop (by experimenting with partitioning the hard drive).  I have had to purchase a utility software package which may or may not solve the problem - if not I will install linux!

I continued adding predominantly figurative images to BOAT ON TOP OF A HILL.  I got on quite well despite deciding to partially rearrange my studio mid afternoon.

After a busy weekend building things I started work again on BOAT ON TOP OF A HILL.  I continued with the time consuming process of adding relatively small images (not as small as I used to use though) to landscape strata.

I carried on with BOAT ON TOP OF A HILL, almost finishing the task of adding images to the horizontal bands or zones.  As is normal for me the evolving images are a mix of figurative scenes and symbols, in this case interacting vertically and horizontally.

I finished adding the imagery to BOAT ON A HILL TOP - CAN YOU SEE THE CRYING TRIANGLE? (BOAT ON TOP OF A HILL).  I didn't start anything else though - should have done!

Out in the morning, on the computer all afternoon attempting a modicum of self promotion.  Although a huge number of sites show my work my overall presence still teeters on the edge of complete invisibility.

I decided to spend the day on the Mac uploading photos and blog entries etc.  This is a very protracted and labour intensive process in my experience.  Going out for the day with June tomorrow.

I didn't do any painting over the weekend although I did a bit of other art related work.  Today I made a start on adding imagery to PAUL THE SAILOR.  Like the other works in this group the predominately figurative images interact and evolve within concentric bands.

Had to go shopping, god damn it!  However  I still did a fair bit of work on PAUL THE SAILOR: adding further images.

I had a reasonably good day.  I am still working on PAUL THE SAILOR and completed the adding of images to another band today.  I am hoping to finish this stage this week.  Next week I plan to move my studio (and library) to another room in the house.

I did another band of images on PAUL THE SAILOR this was despite a late start.  I hope to complete this stage tomorrow and add imagery to another three small works if I get the time.

I finished adding all the images to PAUL THE SAILOR.  If I had done the main structures from a distance the composition would have been more successful - this is true of all my larger works (and many of the smaller ones!).

I then added the main blocks (which will contains symbols and other imagery) to three relatively small works - two are amended landscapes and one an amended animal portrait.  The two former are entitled MORE THAN HALF WAY DOWN THIS PATH and REMEMBERING THE PAST.  The third work is called KITTEN ON A CUSHION - IN MEMORY OF THE ARTIST'S MOTHER. 

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