A sort of normal day (I was out all day yesterday) but I was a bit late getting in my studio and then finished early.  I did the pencil drawing stage of a new work entitled MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX.  I actually got the canvas board for another projected work called THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX.  I now need to get another board - even more important I need to start some more serious work.

Late start because I had a huge number of e-mails, phone calls and other catching up to do: I went over the pencil lines of MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX and then painted all the background elements.  After this I had to go out again - although I did buy a board to start work on THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX (hopefully tomorrow although I must remember the last sentence of yesterday’s entry!).

Not a late start (for once) and I did the pencil drawing stage THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX and then painted over the lines.  This work is more complex that its pendant and this process took most of the day.  I did a bit of fiddling around on the computers (updating websites etc.) from late afternoon - it got dark very early today.

I completed the main painting stage of MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX and started on THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX - I only did about a fifth of the latter.  Characteristically I played around in my head with ideas for other works while painting (most of which I have now forgotten - characteristically again!).

I was out in the morning but then had a long stretch in my studio, completing the main painting stage of THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX.  As is normal I wrote a little bit in the evening.

I worked in a nature reserve on Saturday and today was primarily a family day although I did some work on the computers and even gave a cursory glance at some of my unfinished paintings (but never reached for a pencil!).

I completed the work CHEESBOARD PORTRAIT; roughing in the drawing, refining the lines in oil paint, painting everything and then scratching in the symbols.

After this I repainted the lines and then added additional linear elements to THE ARTIST’S WIFE and also painted in symbols (in a fairly spontaneous way) in the centre section.  I also repainted the lines on MOTHER AND CHILD.

I added symbols to BROKEN TREE, finishing the work; I actually added one series, of images, didn’t like them so I partially removed them and then added a new set.  the theme of the work is mortality but the starting point for the symbols is actually bark patterns.

I then added all the symbols to BONFIRE IN A WOOD.  These may need further painting.  I used fire (and its resonances) as the starting motif.

After this I added a further set of images to THE ARTIST’S WIFE.  A further set needs to be added, hopefully tomorrow.

I finished adding the images to THE ARTIST’S WIFE although some will need filling in with colour.

I also added all the symbols to MOTHER AND CHILD - again some of the images will need filling in.

After this I had to go out, although I did take a sketch book (not to sketch but to make small drawings on the theme of “figure in a landscape”).

I added fairly simple facial variations to CLIPBOARD PORTRAIT not realising initially that the paint was still wet.  I may have to retouch parts of this work although it is provisionally finished.

I then started work again on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR, adding more background structures plus some experimental detailing.

I was out in the morning (in the glorious countryside) and when I came back I decided to spent the day sorting out photographs of paintings into separate years for a new facebook page and possibly other web sites.

No painting or drawing done today although I did create the new facebook page (The Modern Painter) and uploaded all the images.  It will probably be a family day tomorrow.

I started the working day by sawing thin sheets of wood and then cutting slots to make a free standing picture with panels at right angles.  This one is quite small and entitled STUDY FOR A THREE DIMENSIONAL LANDSCAPE.

I then painted in the images and consequently finished BONFIRE IN A WOOD, MOTHER AND CHILD and THE ARTIST’S WIFE.

I did likewise to CLIPBOARD PORTRAIT but I am not sure if I need to do more.  However I called the work provisionally complete at the end of the day.

June is not very well which is a bit worrying.

I started adding background symbols to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR but did not finish - there were quite a few to do and I also went out a number of times during the day.  I am mainly working on large works over the next few weeks - twenty years ago this would have been quite normal but now I find it a little daunting.

June is feeling a bit better - so touch wood....

My wife didn’t sleep all night so nor did I!  Consequently I found work somewhat difficult today!  I finished adding all the background symbols to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR and went on to a little more work on the painting: squaring up the centre section and other detailing.  Not much else was done.

I added all images (using thin acrylic which isn’t really suitable for the surface but I may paint over it with oil or even rub it off) to the small sculpture/painting, STUDY FOR A THREE DIMENSIONAL LANDSCAPE.  There are eight painted sides but they separate into two double sided panels for painting.

After this I started adding the image stream to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR but didn’t get so far as I would have liked.

An unbelievably domesticated day!  I was out visiting in the morning and my wife got me doing jobs in the afternoon (she is off work sick this week - hopefully she will be back next!!).  Not a great deal of work done on the computers in the evening either.

Another over normal domestic Saturday.  I meant to do an hour or two painting and then work on the computers catching up.  Nothing of the former was done although I did manage a little bit of the latter.  I have now started a proper art blog (previous blogs have been centred on my curious writings) which I hope to develop.

Another day without painting, although it was Sunday and I did a fair bit of work on the computers.

Back to work!  I carried on adding images to the long strand in GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - this was after cleaning the turtle filter and watering all the greenhouses!  Hopefully I will do more tomorrow and may get this stage finished by the end of the week.

I worked for most of the day on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR, continuing to add evolving figurative and semi-figurative imagery.  I also added another spontaneous (and running) stain - more as a statement than anything else.

I finished adding the small images in the folded thematic strand on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR.  The images evolved from a surreal variation on a girl sitting on a wicker chair (surprise surprise!), each image prompting the next.  I also did a bit of detailing; mainly trying to improve what I did yesterday.  I now have to add the background organic figure variations and some writing and should finish the work next week.

I added, the fairly simple, background images to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR.  There is still detailing, annotations and further symbols to be done.  But I probably wont be pleased with it so additional changes may have to be made after that!

I was out in the morning; when I returned I added further elements, including another set of variations, to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR.  Unfortunately I got distracted by work on the computer and didn’t quite finish as much as I planned.  Hopefully I will have time next week.

I never heard much of the cricket commentary either!

Five minutes drawing but the rest of the time working on the computers or out with my wife (yesterday I was out on a wildlife conservation task).  I am going to have to do other versions of GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR as it has evolved perhaps too far from the original conception.

I started the day by adding detailing to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR and then decided to make some major changes: I reinforced the colours in some areas and tightened the looser areas.  I plan to continue tomorrow (despite the fact that my wife wants me to do some jobs around the house!).

I eventually got round to working on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR.  I finished detailing the amendments from yesterday and then started painting in the images.  I worked until the light faded and then went onto the computers for a large part of the evening.

I worked on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR again (I really don’t like this work - it has evolved too much from the original structure; which admittedly I sketched in too quickly).  I finished filling in one set of images and then I decided to actually add another set to the right of the figure - to match the set on the left.  I also did more detailing.

I plan to start two simplified versions of this work plus a couple of very small spin-offs.

I finally started filling in the images in the long strand on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR (fancifully representing the girl although really just a theme and extended development).  This process is going to take three days if not more, especially if I continue to make changes to the composition.

I was out part of the day and when I got back I suddenly decided to make some colour amendments to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR plus other detailing.  I didn’t return to painting the main images until much later.  Consequently a lot more needs to be done.

I was home all of this Saturday.  I added more symbols to the background of GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR (this work has an extremely active background as compared to the restrained or blank backgrounds of late) and then worked on the computers the rest of the day.  

I have started another two blogs; one of which is a recreation of the ION EXCHANGE newsletter.

A bit under the weather today.  Apart form going out for dinner with my wife June I spent the day working on my new blogs on the computer.  I have started another one entitled AN ARTIST WHO HELPS ANIMALS (ARTIST FOR ANIMALS) about my fund raising and campaigning activities - primarily in the Nineties but I intend to begin again (time allowing).

I finished filling in (with colour) the images in the main developmental strand in GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - logically completing the work, although I will look again in the morning.

Yet more alterations to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR!  I obliterated and repainted an area which I had obliterated and repainted two or three times before.  I am going to stop myself from returning to this work - it is now classified as finished (I think!).

I restretched and primed a canvas to start a simplified version of the above work - I have decided against doing two such works.

I also partially repainted the lines of THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX and hope to do likewise to MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX tomorrow.

I repainted the lines on MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX as planned.

After this I did the initial charcoal sketch for the new simplified GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR and then went over the charcoal lines with paint brush applied acrylic medium.

I started (but didn’t finish) the main painting stage of GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SIMPLIFIED VERSION using acrylic jar and tube colour.  I painted in the girl’s thematic strand in yellow oxide, put a wash in the same colour over the entire work and then began to paint over this, initially using pinks and purples.

I completed the main painting stage of GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SIMPLIFIED VERSION - i.e. I covered the entire canvas with paint - and then decided to repaint substantial areas.  After I had done this I pretty much decided to do it again!  The only other work done during the day was on the computers.

I was out all morning and decided to work on the computer rather than paint when I got home.  I updated my Ionist Art Blog - plus other blogs - and also miscellaneous facebook pages among many other things.

A typical Sunday!  I spent a moment in my studio looking at the paintings I am working on, wrote a bit on the computer, went out in the garden and then just went out.

Possibly a bit of a late start but I spent most of the day working on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SIMPLIFIED VERSION.  I started by redefining the lines with another coat of paint and then began to add ascending figurative fantasy variations to the thematic strand.

I am still not happy with GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR (first version), maybe I will put a coat of yellow oxide on the thematic strand of this work.

In my studio most of the day.  I continued adding small figurative images to the figure strand of GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SIMPLIFIED VERSION.  This work is far less problematic than its larger namesake!

I had to go to town first thing, where I spent far too much.  I then had a spell in my studio working on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SIMPLIFIED VERSION: I finished adding the evolving figurative images in the strand representing the character and after this I started to add the simple (but still evolving) images to the background squares.  I then went out for the evening; where I spent too much again!

I finished adding the background symbols to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SIMPLIFIED VERSION.  I also did some detailing on the “quiet” area of the background which I have left on this work - unlike the larger version!

I was out visiting a very important person in the morning and in the afternoon I painted/coloured in the simple background images of GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SIMPLIFIED VERSION.  This took the remainder of the painting day.  I worked on the computer in the evening.

I went out on a wildlife conservation task yesterday and spent much of today on the computer typing out an essay for June.  Just a tiny amount of my work on the machine in the latter part of the day for me - no art work all weekend.

I painted/coloured in the main images on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SIMPLIFIED VERSION and then tidied up some of the lines.  This completed the work.  As It was very late afternoon and I had to go out, nothing much else was done.

I added the main images to THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX.  These were ascending (and evolving) figurative fantasy images based on anatomical features.  There remains some secondary symbols to be drawn in.

I started to add the main figurative imagery to MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX and also did some of the secondary images on THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX.

I finished all the other images on THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX.  All the images have to be coloured in of course.

I then returned to MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX; adding more figurative fantasy images.

Out both ends of the day.  In between I finished adding symbols to MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX.  These remaining symbols were mainly semi-figurative unlike the main group.  I also did some extra detailing to the work.

I completed MEDUSA AND PEGASUS - BLOOD STAIN ON A POST BOX by colouring in all the images despite having a very late start because of my need to catch up on my writing and a bit of gardening first thing in the morning.

I coloured in (this phrase makes me sound like a child - probably true!) the main images of THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX but didn’t finish the other symbols as I had to leave off to do something for June on the computer.

I spent the evening working on the computer making a presentation.

I finished my childish colouring in of secondary symbols on THREE AND A HALF GRACES - PATCHES OF LICHEN ON A LETTER BOX, completing the work.

I then started painting STUDY FOR A LANDSCAPE IN THREE DIMENSIONS.  This work comprises two small double sided panels which slot together.  The aim is to paint one side of both panels, wait for the paint to dry and then paint the other.

I carried on with my painting of STUDY FOR A LANDSCAPE IN THREE DIMENSIONS; I finished one side of both panels and then, contrary to what I said yesterday, managed to turn them over and start the other.  I finished the main painting stage of one panel and did a bit of the other one.  With luck I will finish this tomorrow.

I wasn’t in my studio much today but still managed to finish the main stage of the last panel of STUDY FOR A LANDSCAPE IN THREE DIMENSIONS.  I am not sure what I am doing over the weekend.

Out with my wife much of yesterday and , as it has rained most of the time, doing odd jobs on the computers today.  Not sure what I will do tomorrow.

A rather hopeless day today.  All I seemed to have done was add symbols and detailing on one side of both panels of STUDY FOR A LANDSCAPE IN THREE DIMENSIONS and a bit of work on the computer.

Not much of a better day today (and I have to go to a funeral tomorrow, and I’ve got toothache, and...).  I added the symbols and detailing to the other side of the two panels, completing this work.

I then got, cut and primed some MDF in readiness for painting on.  At least two of the paintings will be linked in some way to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR.

To make the day even worse I have suddenly got a naff internet connection.

No time to work today for the saddest of reasons.  All I did was some preliminary drawing on the panels I primed yesterday and some work on the computer in the evening.

Another really hopeless day.  I wasted a lot of time fiddling with the computer as the internet connection is playing up.  An engineer arrived twice today and it still isn’t fixed!

I did the pencil drawing stage of two tiny variations on the GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR theme.  Hardly anything else!

I did the pencil drawing stage of yet another GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR.  In keeping with the original version I couldn’t get it how I wanted it so kept rubbing out and redoing.  A bit of a wasted day really.

I was out with the family on Saturday and then spent all day in the garden on Sunday.  Consequently I had to catch up with paperwork today and little art work was done.  I did the graphite pencil drawing stage of a very small landscape entitled SPECTACLES IN A LANDSCAPE but practically nothing else.

Back in my studio for a full day!  However I spent the day amending the original GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR: painting around the right hand side block of symbols with thin white paint.  The plan is to paint over all the left hand block of symbols and see what I get.

Another full day in my studio (more or less - had to go to town mid-afternoon; then a period of sadly necessary D.I.Y.).  I painted out all the left hand symbols on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR with fairly thin white paint.

I had to do some essential work online first thing in the morning (relatively speaking as I have to feed all the animals and walk the dog actually first thing!) and then worked again on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR.  I roughly repainted (in lighter paint) the left hand symbols and then added and extra area of paint at the bottom.

I redrew the pencil stage of the new GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - although I notice I have got a bit more to do.

I then painted over the lines with brown jar colour on the two small GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR variations and SPECTACLES IN A LANDSCAPE.

I went out with my wife, did a tiny bit of gardening, a reasonable amount of work on the computer and five minutes painting!

Not out with my wife but did quite a lot of gardening.  Consequently no painting although I did some writing from four o clock onwards when I came in knackered!

I altered and added to the pencil drawing of the work now called ADDITIONS TO GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR (at the moment any way).  I thought I would leave it a day or two before painting the lines and tidying up the drawing.

I then, fairly hastily, did the pencil drawing stage of two landscapes, both entitled SHADOWS FROM STONES.  I started the drawing of the first work without a clear idea of what I wanted to do but the second was a variation on the theme.

Too much computer fiddling and not enough computer writing in the evening.

I got on quite well today.  I did the pencil drawing stage of two new landscapes entitled: ADDITIONS TO A LANDSCAPE - FIGURATIVE VERSION and ADDITIONS TO A LANDSCAPE - ABSTRACT VERSION.  I had an early start for the first time in ages which made all the difference.

Not too bad a day.  I finished SPECTACLES IN A LANDSCAPE: completing the picture in one go using oil paint.

I then did most of the first stage painting of both versions of GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - SMALL VARIATION.

Not such a smooth start to the day but I still finished GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - EXTRACTION ONE (new title): I painted in all the symbols, added detailing and then repainted most of the lines.

I then added symbols to the blank areas on GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - VARIATION ONE (modest title change) and did a bit more painting/detailing; however I will look again tomorrow before pronouncing the work finished.

I was out in the morning and did a bit of detailing to GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - VARIATION ONE (actually quite a bit of detailing).

I then, on the spur of the moment (although I had been thinking about it off and on for some time) repainted the background of MITZI IN BED - this must be the fourth or fifth time of doing it!  June has the painting hanging in our bedroom which means I have plenty of opportunity to see its faults.

I plan to spend this weekend in the garden so wont be in my studio too much.  I had another look at GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR - VARIATION ONE and did some writing and that was it.

Cricket commentary on the radio!  I went over the pencil lines on ADDITIONS TO GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR with acrylic jar colour (raw umber to be precise) and then left the work for the moment.

I then started to paint over the lines on ADDITIONS TO A LANDSCAPE - ABSTRACT VERSION: same paint, same colour!

Earlier than normal start (cricket commentary still on radio).  I finished repainting the lines on ADDITIONS TO A LANDSCAPE - ABSTRACT VERSION and then did the same to ADDITIONS TO A LANDSCAPE - FIGURATIVE VERSION.

June was working late so I had no mid/late afternoon distractions and managed to almost complete the line painting on the first version of SHADOWS FROM STONES before having to walk the dog.

A later start today; largely because I had to bath the rabbit of all things!  I finished painting the lines on the first version of SHADOWS FROM STONES and then did likewise to the other version.

After this I started painting the main layer (background layer; call it what you want) on ADDITIONS TO GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR using acrylic paint.  As with the other versions I am experimenting with the colours - mainly because I am using paint I bought cheap when an art shop closed down!

Rather than carry on painting sections of ADDITIONS TO GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR (which can be a bit boring!) I started to add images to the pink strand representing the person.  The images were figurative (more or less) and continually generated each other.

I had to go out in the morning.  In the afternoon I continued to add the evolving images to the personality strand on ADDITIONS TO GIRL ON A WICKER CHAIR.  Gallingly I didn’t quite finish it before have to walk the dog and then do my evening tasks and then work on the computers and then eat and then finally go to bed.