Godrevy Lighthouse with walkers ,seals and fishing boats.

Not able to get out today. Lorraine had to use the Automatic and I struggle with the manual at the moment. So I have been preparing and finishing. Ive started three oils . Here's a piece I started just after my dip. I`ve had it sitting in my studio and occasionally glance at it to see if I can work some more on it and just picked it up again. Will work on the Lillie's a bit Want to keep it simple as I like the overall impact.

Well. Ive become stuck again. Firstly I finished off two of the smaller paintings then set about this larger one.First it went well and I liked the colour. Then it became manicured and lifeless and now I need more information about how to paint these darker images. So, I am going to Carbis bay tomorrow to do some drawing. Its supposed to be windy and rainy tomorrow so perfect.I`ll be able to understand a little better then fingers crossed.

Godrevy Lighthouse

We all went to Godrevy yesterday. The family went in the sea and walked along the cliff to see the seals and I found a sheltered place to sit and draw the Lighthouse.This is where my wife Lorraine grew up on the farm here at Godrevy.She knows all the little rocks and the currents of the sea which is treacherous for the unknowing with a strong undercurrent pulling you through the gap between the land and the Lighthouse.

Thankyou Amanda for introducing the darker colours into my psyche. Really changed This Morocan painting to fit with my immediate environment. It just didn`t seem relevant.It needs time for me to see were to take it from here but I am pleased with this so far .

a little more work on this

Winter day .Saltdean nr Brighton

showing lots of unfinished work it seems at the moment. Here is another.Ive been enjoying mixing with Paynes Grey to subdue the colour.This is an interesting development.

I have finished this St Ives piece. I`m not going to say any more about it because I have mixed feelings about it.

I have also been playing. But unsure where I am going. Lost my way a little and just have to find my way out.

An un Naive Style St Ives. A few more sessions might finish it. This is a Commission from a London Gallery to do a less Naive style piece for a customer who collects my work. Its great to be able to paint like this . Its far less stressful than having to pull rabbits out of Hats.

Feeling much better today. Thanks to everyone for all your kind comments and encouragement and especially Lorraine my wife who I typically like a man forget to mention. Thanks Lorraine. I`ve put the crutches away now and have much more balance. I walk rather more wonky . Need to keep on working on my leg muscles now and watch my weight so I am not carrying around too much. The steroids have implications too! so have to keep on top of that.

Working on this interesting Moroccan painting.

Getting a little control back today. Feeling a little stronger. Tried a big canvas. Hopeless. So have been tinkering with small oils. This is my Moroccan painting. Very dark isn`t it.Just putting in diagonals and lines yesterday was shaky. So my arms are steadying.

Feeling better today.The inflammation has stopped and I feel stronger. thanks to Methylprednisolone, a powerful steroid. Been on these for the last 4 days my last one tonight then regular dose steroids for a few months. The good news is I went in the studio and did an hour. Very pleased this nasty disease has been stopped. I went for a swim with Lorraine today. Walked in with crutches dragging myself in. We bought a toggle to keep me afloat and went for it. I was concerned the Toggle woudn`t support me. Its like a buoyant snake shaped thing or if I let go I would sink could I save myself. Tentatively I got in with Lorraine and the lifeguard watching me keenly it was fine . I went into the deep area and let go and managed to swim on my back and I could keep my self afloat with my arms giving my arms exercise .Cant kick my legs to well but enough to propel me. I have to say I felt wonderful I love swimming for me it is the elixir of life even before I got ill I have always been a keen morning swimmer.

Well I`m quite proud of myself. I`ve finished my calender.
click on the link and see it .Drop the size down to 25% to see it. I know what your therinking ,how can he work when he`s ill. Well what else am I supposed to do!!!
Calender opps! that calendar with an A

left leg now very nearly no sensation. right leg worse to. numbness spreading up toward buttocks and middle area. yikes!! how will I cope. .I`ve done it before so I know what to expect and to look out for. Lets see what happens in the morning. Going upstairs to bed tonight .Can just about make it going up backwards. I expect to be sleeping downstairs tomorrow night . I like to laugh at my situation sometimes that helps. I have three Galleries wanting work for Christmas. they all want 6 paintings.two are in London. I only have 5 good paintings . if i cant paint for a while proper they will have to share them out.Really pleased with the last painting of Newlyn that sits on my wall. That will go to The British Naive Association show in St Ives . Please no sympathy.

relapse

Well I am home and going to get through this hopefully in my own home.Maybe with the odd glitch in hosp. What a good job the adaptions and bedroom have been completed just in time and what grace ,only last week I was swimming in the warm Mediterranean sea. If I had this relapse there it would have been worse. My left leg is very lame and my right slightly better. It may get worse before it gets better and it may take a few months to get through.The weelchair has come out of the cubby hole. I`ll be taking steroids for up to 6 months to stop the inflammation . Typically with `Devics` syndrome you get one major attack which I`v had four and a half years ago and then lots of little ones. Its such a rare condition I hope that's the case right now. I painted loads when I first got ill and fully expect to paint now. My upper half is fine.I am currently doing a Calender for 2011 which I will publish soon.As you can tell work helps in situations like this and I have a positive mindset.

Im going away for a couple of days. Im having a relapse and have to go to hospital. Hopefully I`ll be out soon. They have to pump me full of steroids.My left leg and balance is all skew wiff. Waiting to be carted off.

Here is my best of all spots in Spain .A little place called Calella. I spoke to this artist who told me times were hard and the tourists didn`t buy his paintings as often as they used to since the recession . The one he was doing was a commission. We talked about the views we had both painted in the area him selling in Spain and me in London. He was really nice and said he used to work in the City in London although he was Spanish and had been painting this area now for 16 yrs. I have come back to piles of e mails , forum responses and print enquiries. Oh! back to reality...

Been away on holiday to Palafrugell which is 40 mins east of Girona to our favourite caravan and campsite. Here we all are enjoying the Spanish morning air.Its called Kings camping and is set in a pine forest with the beach a short walk away.