A SMALL INTERLUDE

Moving to a ‘new’ house (260 year old stone cottage) has enabled me to complete a purpose built studio. One thing that was quickly apparent was how much better the 3 LED ceiling lights are compared to a single bulb I used to use in my previous studio (dining room). This has been very important in faithfully reproducing my paintings when photographed.

Today I was repainting a few areas of a painting I did in 2020 and I could never get an accurate photo of it. The two are below, the one titled ‘Robin’ was photographed today and it records the painting fairly accurately.

Robin

Bird in a tree 16

OBSERVATION, NOT MAGIC

When I sit down in front of a painting in progress the first feeling I have is disappointment. The next, a lack of enthusiasm to continue. Then I put on my objective head and ask, ok, what’s not working. The truth is, most of the time you haven’t put enough time and thought into it. That’s where painting still trumps the Instagram generation. Its the passage of time, craft and thought that goes into painting that makes it much more powerful on many different levels. Progressed well today, Beethoven symphonies 3 and 4 on repeat all afternoon.

Coquetdale Valley, Northumberland. Day 3.

Where's the magic?

Although this is no banal translation of the subject there hopefully comes a moment in most paintings where the focus moves away from your original source material to how the painting is actually operating, in terms of colour, space, rhythm and forms. I am looking at this painting to see if this is happening, not quite yet but I hope that next time it will start talking to me. Happy with where it is at for now.

Coquetdale Valley, Northumberland. Day 2.

The start of something .........

That’s where all the potential and hope lies, in the start, after that its a tight rope walk between success and disaster. First painting in the new studio and to open proceedings Sviatoslav Richter playing live at the Carnegie Hall, 1960. I am hoping to ride this wave of enthusiasm for as long as possible. Its a promising start, and it doesn’t feel like I have been away from painting for 11 months. Only a shortish session today, I had forgotten how mentally exhausting such a ‘simple’ activity could be.

Coquetdale Valley, Northumberland. Day 1

Studio is finished

The journey to get to this point started last March when we decided to move out to the countryside. It was a slightly tortuous period with much uncertainty but finally I am at a significant moment, at least for myself. A purpose built studio, no more worrying about keeping the carpet clean, no wife complaining about the smell of solvents and oil paint. The studio was a project started by the previous owner, to which I am grateful, it was a significant factor in us choosing this house. It is built onto the exterior of a stone garage. My final modification will be to completely seal off the windows from the garage side before the winter arrives. Happy days.

NORMAL SERVICE WILL RESUME SHORTLY

New studio is rapidly moving towards completion. By the 20th of this month it will have lighting and power. Space is now fully insulated and water tight and despite a lengthy absence the enthusiasm for painting has not diminished. My biggest studio space by far, I am at a loss at how to fully utilize it, hopefully this larger space will encourage a larger ambition and freedom.

RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON

Views to this site are at a historical low and its no wonder. The good news is that after an eternity I have finally arrived to my beloved countryside location after 6 months of agony and uncertainty. The enthusiasm to continue painting is certainly there although the logistics of setting up the studio mean more delays. The studio is currently full of our household contents. There is also a damp issue that needs sorting and there is no electrics or lighting. There is also the small inconvenience of a 4 month trip to Mexico starting mid November. However, all the elements of a full return to painting are there and hopefully I will be running through the cornfields with easel in hand by next summer.

THE FINAL PAINTING

No more paintings to come out of this current studio. Things have ended with a whimper rather than a bang, but its a minor miracle that I have been able to maintain any kind of normal routine over the last few weeks. Everything goes into storage and god only knows when it all comes out again. This has turned into a gloomy painting, an authentic reflection of my current mood. I am pleased with the outcome, and knowing the landscape I am moving to I am optimistic there is better to come.

Evening, Northumberland

AN UNSURE APPROACH

I have been debating with myself for the last 30 years whether I should be painting grass in an illustrative style. I had this conversation today, and again I fought against it. I may have to relent and get my Andrew Wyeth books out to see how it is done properly. It has always seemed such a tedious exercise, blade after blade, maybe there is an easier way to do it.

Evening, Northumberland. Day 7

A WILLINGNESS TO STRUGGLE

This has always been an essential element of my painting. Not being able to get it right first time has ruled out any chance of being a great fresco painter. A willingness to struggle and the return of some enthusiasm has come to the rescue. There is an odd quality to this Northumberland landscape, at least the kind that appeals to me. Its almost if the undulating hills and oddly placed clumps of trees are trying to communicate something. Maybe its me?

Evening, Northumberland. Day 6

CHAOS REIGNS

These titles aren’t very positive are they? Due to a house move my life and state of mind is being determined by others, if only they were rational and competent I wouldn’t have any problems. Unfortunately they are not. This painting was almost abandoned but I have turned myself around, momentarily, and have moved it forward a little more.

Evening, Northumberland Day 5

A FRAGMENTED MIND

This is not a film title about my life but my current state of mind dealing with a house move. It should only prove to be a temporary state but I am also offering it as an excuse for my unusually poor output. A couple of hours painting this morning has averted me from moving into a permanent vegetative state and I am expecting a full recovery once relocated. Hopefully then, the focus will be where it should be, on the painting.

Evening, Northumberland. Day 4

INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

This painting is at a stage where it promises much. It can either ascend towards mastery or descend into an oily sludge. I suspect it will end up somewhere in the middle. Still I must push on with optimism and hope that my modest efforts will be disproportionately rewarded.

Evening, Northumberland Day 3

TIME DOES NOT DRAG

I had packed my studio away ready for the move to our next location. Problem is its still 3 months away, unpacked the studio and started painting again. Now time does not drag, I’m doing the calculations to see how many paintings I can make before the move. This is an encouraging start.

Evening, Northumberland. Day 2

A LIFE WITHOUT STRUGGLE

I was hoping that my enforced absence from art would enable me to build a new life without struggle and disappointment. I mean artistic struggle.

As you can see I have not been successful. The struggle continues, and my life is all the richer for it. It seems when I am painting I engage more strongly with life and life seems more vital. An afternoons painting whilst listening to Scarlatti, is this suffering?

Evening, Northumberland. Day 1

A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT

My first drawings in the landscape for around 25 years. I don't want to contemplate the reasons as to why. My intention was to see if I still had a genuine engagement with the subject and try to reignite the enthusiasm I use to have. Thankfully the answer is yes. The results from this day are almost irrelevant, it was the start that mattered. My curiosity will now carry me forward, knowing that the subject will be on my doorstep.

FARM DEBRIS

FALLEN TREES

Trees in the river

AN UPDATE

Not sure why I’m writing this, maybe to confirm my own thoughts. Truth is I thought this 4 months in Mexico without any desire to paint would confirm that I had finally packed the whole notion of painting in. It has confirmed that although my passion for art has greatly diminished (the fire may reignite) I still like to be engaged in it. I have accepted that nothing will ever come of it but I enjoy the process of painting and the eternal challenge of making tiny incremental improvements.

Anyway the August return looks realistic, however the location has shifted a few miles east. The original house fell through but a delightful stone cottage in the countryside awaits. A large wooden workshop attached to the garage looks the most likely destination for my next studio. Having come to terms with the idea of a return I may start to scout this new location. Life seems to be in limbo at the moment. Landscape will remain the primary subject and I am right in the middle of it this time.