Ive been mucking about with this little dark painting just to see where it goes. I`m adding black gesso to the colours in an attempt to reflect how padstow really is on a winters day in January.Painting to deadlines is a part of my Job. So it is a nice relief to just paint and see where it goes and of course keeps the creative mind alive and exploring.I had a call from another Gallery today in Alderburgh. The Thompson Gallery . They would like 6 paintings for there summer show. Two for the brochure and to arrive first then the other four to follow. Thompsons are an excellent Gallery . One of the best in the Country and there Summer brochure is a grand affair with Artists like Mary Fedden . Edward Seago. Terry Frost Alberto Morroco to name just a few. So an important commitment.I also have the entry form for the Royal Acadamy in London. I`ve never exhibited there before as I`ve always thought my work isn`t serious enough. Which to some extent is true . I am very serious about not being serious. Life is to short.I would like to exhibit something though. Am I ready for it ?

I think I have finished this now. I`ve made the Gondolas Black ,changed the sky ,added more cobalt blue to the Lagoon and added a Yellow Ochre Lemon. Oh1! and changed the flowers to pure white. Its romantic. I like that and the colours are strong.

I have a commitment to paint Venice for Blackheath Gallery in London so I am still hard at it. This is a revised picture from an earlier version.

You sometimes cant predict what you paint.

Venice Venice Venice.!!! How about Cornwall . Heres a picture done this morning out of desperation of not really connecting to Venice.I`ve done one good one and that had lots of people in .The still lifes are a struggle. This is St Michaels Mount of the bay in Penzance where I live..

The last picture simply didn`t do it for me so I abandoned it .I`ve started and hopefully nearly finished a small square Venice instead.Its still a little bare .Maybe a couple of facing coffee cups or something so show a human touch might do it. Not sure yet.Although to me the Lemon looks good visually I cant really see its placde in Venice. Its not really a fishing port were there would be a lot of fish or is it?? What would you put in there??

Started a new Venice today. I really don`t want to do a cliche Venice and this is what is coming out. I do remember being constantly on a bridge with Japanese tourists the last time I went to Venice. This is at the sketchy phase and I may continue or try something different if it doesn`t work.I am enjoying painting it.

Ive been working on another Padstow today. Its very cold today and I feel a little down and cold so its hard for me to get excited. I would like to curl up in front of a good film but I have work to do.

I like this now. I`ve added little bits and most importantly the Cafe Banner which gives it `place`. So good. I really can now move on. Its funny how a bit of time separation can alter your feelings about something.I am however faced with a dilemma. The sea was actually a muddy green colour, more mud than green. and I am tempted to paint it that colour but when I do it doesn`t have the vibrance of a interpreted colour like blue or turquoise. Even a silvery white would be good for Sea.What am I to do.I`ll try them both and the answer will be visual and direct as usual.Let`s see...

fidly

Well I`m really stuck with this now. Its become fidly and anal and not really exciting. So I`ll leave it and come back to it. In the meanwhile I`ll try something different.

Padstow

Went to Padstow yesterday. Thats Rick Stein country. Have started a new picture today.

Hospital

Firstly let me say how tragic the Haiti stuation is. The pictures coming through are truly heartbreaking.

Today though, I went to have my 6 monthly review with my Consultant. There are 4 people in Cornwall with Devics and I am one of them. `Devics` which is like MS but different and treated differently. There are about 60 people in the whole country with this so the chances of getting it are 1 in a million. I had my first catastrophic episode 3 yrs ago which left me paralyzed for 4 months. Anyway I am doing fine and have to keep taking the immune suppressants . We cant tell the future so I am pleased to live a relatively normal life.I didn`t work today but have an idea for another Venice which has bubbled up. I`ll keep you posted.

Also I sold a picture yesterday in London. a large one at Blackheath Gallery so I am in the money.Some of which I sent to the appeal.

done

Finished at last. I can now move on. I`ve wanted to do this very very Naive picture of St Marks Square at this angle. its been a real struggle and I have learn`t from this so well worth the effort. Whether I`ll sell this is another matter. Naive painting is less popular here in the UK than it is in Europe and other places and this is particularly true Naive. Lets see.