'With studio painting I have a tendency to work on several artworks at the same time. All at various stages of completion. By sharing something of the process of how these watercolour's and drawings develop I hope you will gain a better understanding of my art.'

This began as a doodle which has progressed into this rather odd fellow. I intend to let the drawing and my imagination run and see where the image ends up.

Stage 2  soon

The image now has a working title.

'The last of summer'

The title came into my head as the colour's were warmed up by a stronger use of the yellows and reds. Plus the bird seems to feel a little like a scare crow helped along by the patch now on its side. The stripes of the field also seem to enforce this idea hinting at the perspective of a ploughed field. I am still unsure as to where the picture is quite going yet. Half the fun is not knowing what the end result will be.

Next stage loaded soon.

Adding a little light and sparkle into the painting now with some gentle irritation of the surface. Shapes are also beginning to be pulled out a little darker.

Details are provided below to give a better idea of how the image is progressing.

Details of stage shown above.

added 24th Sept.

Detail of stage shown above.

added 24th Sept.

Still life

Started as a demonstration watercolour at 'Art in action' promoting the use of the Keba Artmate paper stretcher it attracted considerable attention. It further explores the still life theme I have been working on in other images, bending and distorting forms.

Last stages of detail to be added soon.

Keeping you posted as to progress on this picture. There has been work done on several areas which are beginning to look a little more precise. Still a good few hours work to go.

 next stage soon.

'Kept'

I recently visited the Alhambra on a walking trip to Spain. After spending a considerable time in the stark but beautiful landscape of the Sierra Nevada, the decadent splendor of the palace seemed amplified. Its calming beauty was the perfect location to spend a day recuperating after our exertions.

Whilst I was sitting enjoying my surroundings, I could not help thinking about the women who were 'kept' within the walls, away from the prying eyes of other men. Did the beauty that surrounded them become tarnished with time spent 'trapped' within its walls.

This painting is attempting to reflect a little on my thoughts.

The watercolour is about half way through.

'Bedtime stories

It has often occurred to me that a child's imagination is a potent thing. I can distinctly remember the intensity of some experiences imagined and real as a child. In an attempt to put this over I have played with the idea that the child in the drawing visualizes the characters read to him with such clarity they begin to encroach on his sense of reality. Its an uncomfortable idea that as adults we might associate with to madness or hallucination. It therefore has the potential to be an intense image of childhood reflection.

Stage two soon

Greater detail has been added to the foreground figure. the hat is more tortured, twisted. he seems to be closing in on the bed. I have also played with the light a little and also the shape of the eyes of the owl.

It is nearly finished......but not quite.

I liked the idea of spotty 'jim jams' on the jumping figure. It seemed more playful.

The stained glass window above the door reminded me of my Grandma Skills house in Nottingham which had a similar feature.

'Party Animals'

Party animals is my present working title for this image. Having done a series of digital drawings of figures with 'odd heads' I thought it was about time I tried this idea into a finished watercolour. I find it interesting how we make assumptions about a persons character depending on the cloths they dress in. Their outward appearance giving off signals we think we can read. By placing costume heads on the figures it is hard not to read each character to represent the animal. With much of my present work it is playing on the theme of 'all is not what it seems.' The tables are in the shape of a child's play bat [ the kind a rubber ball would be attached with elastic to] and a surf board. also the fruit, glasses and bottle are deliberately out of scale.

There is still a considerable amount of work yet to be completed on this picture.

'The night cap'

I have been working on this image on and off for about a year. Usually with long gaps in between sessions. It began life as an abstract image with a figure that was at first intended to be a Wee Wily Winky type character. Then after deciding to turn tea total I began to play with the idea of a figure tempted in the wee small hours by the 'demon drink'.

I have yet to clarify the hand. Once this is done it should be complete.

New larger images of this painting will be loaded soon.