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.

Lorraine doesn`t like the way my new Venice painting is coming along,deep despair.. and she`s usually right . So.. Ho Hum...heres a picture of me done on the Wacom tablet by my daughter Alana.

Still working on Venice . And still worried it looks amateurish. This is how it is when you paint . Still making big changes.

rough

Started a new Venice picture today.Its rather badly drawn and crude and even amateur and needs alot of change but there is something about it I like so I will continue with a mind to re-draw the buildings so they look more believable yet still Naive and simple.

work

Sometimes when work is going well its not a good idea to stop except for tea. I`ve noticed this .Today was one of those days when I had to keep pushing and not take large breaks. If my frame of mind is good and the work is going well finish at least almost all . Its very easy to say I`ll finish later or I`m tired and do the rest tomorrow but tomorrow your head is somewhere else.Take the opportunity while it is there.

more

Kids are home .Its heavy snow. My feet are cold in the studio and I`m still working. I have MS as most people know so I won`t be going sledging but it does look great. Anyway progressing with Venice.

Pink

I worked on this after my last post. I like the people being smaller and on white. Now I see the arches look badly drawn and although my wife likes the pink . And of course I love pink but white and pink does make it cool in temperature and a little empty although the people give it colour. So will continue today and see where it goes.

I have a show with the `British Association of Naive Artists` coming up at a local gallery called `the Rainyday gallery` .It isn`t exactly Cork St but is on my local patch so I have started this one of the Scillonian Ferry which leaves Penzance Docks for the Scillies twice a day in the warmer months.I have painted this before so it asn`t new but it is different in the characters.

sold

Sold this lovely painting today to a couple who walked into the gallery in Padstow `www.beyondthesea.co.uk. I will go to Padstow to do some drawing and get some new ideas for paintings. Also I have a show in London and they have asked me to do some pictures of Venice. That will be interesting as it will be Venice a la Naive styly.