Spent the day working on my web site and painting in THE BOTANIC GARDEN.  Still a lot to do on both.

I have divided my Web Gallery into four categories which the represent the four main divisions of my art.  These are further divided into "Trends" and "Styles" - or pseudo-people in the case of Category Four!

A second day split between working on my web site and painting THE BOTANIC GARDEN.  I finished the latter but need to do another version or versions!

I was out yesterday so no work was done.  Today, hours devoted to painting were also somewhat reduced.  However, I did the drawing stage - in charcoal and subsequently in oil - of another version of the landscape I have just finished.  This is called unsurprisingly, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN: REVISION ONE.  This work addresses some of my concerns related to the composition of the original work.  Although I did then tweak the previous work and eliminated a lot of its perceived shortcomings.

Another rather truncated day.  All the time available I worked on the painting stage of THE BOTANICAL GARDEN: REVISION ONE.  I may do a couple hours painting on Sunday - if not I will hopefully finish this work early next week.

I didn't paint on Sunday (I spent what free time was available out in the garden!) but I finished off THE BOTANICAL GARDEN: REVISION ONE today.

I then started the drawing stage of another of these smaller landscapes.  This one entitled THE FOUNTAIN. There may well be a revised version - even though I haven't completed the original!

I plan to prepare a new series of MDF panels for some ultra complex works under the general title of "Grand Improvisational Treatises" - GIT's for short.

I have also invented an imaginary Rock Group called DUCK - I will soon start work on their first album cover called DUCK OFF.

I continued working on THE FOUNTAIN and started work on another called THE FOUNTAIN: VARIATION ONE.  I drew in the linear framework with charcoal and then overpained this with raw umber oil paint.

Spent most of the day painting in THE FOUNTAIN: VARIATION ONE.  It is always best to complete the variation before the original!!! 

Finished THE FOUNTAIN - VARIATION ONE and almost finished THE FOUNTAIN.  I am out most of tomorrow but I hope to find the time to finish it.  Next week and the week after I am managing the art shop where I normally just work on a very occasional basis - In consequence I will be a "Sunday Painter" for a couple of weeks.

I also have to get some pictures framed tomorrow as I am having a selection collected next week for a show the week after - no pressure!

Managed to finish THE FOUNTAIN - no time for anything else.

Managed two or three hours in my studio today.  I first tweaked THE FOUNTAIN.

I then did the drawing stage of two further small "Meditative Landscapes" - this time using charcoal pencil.  Both works are based on photographs taken at Stourhead and are entitled 30-06-1997 VARIANT ONE and 30-06-1997 VARIANT TWO (The date of the photographs).

I spent Sunday morning in the garden but I did a couple of hours painting in the afternoon.  I redefined the charcoal pencil lines in oil paint on the two small "Meditative Landscapes" I started on Wednesday.

Like last Wednesday I painted for almost three hours in the afternoon.  I started painting in both 30-06-1997 VARIANT ONE and 30-06-1997 VARIANT TWO.  The light was bad and I need to get more paint but it is nice to be painting again.

I managed half an hour of not very intense painting tonight (it all helps!) - which is what I should have tried to do every night.  I continued painting 30-06-1997 VARIANT TWO.  The most conventional of the two works.

Spent a couple of hours of this Sunday painting. I finished off 30-06-1997 VARIANT TWO but didn't have time for anything else.

Back to my normal routine and I was able to paint all day.  I did the drawing stage (in charcoal pencil followed by oils) of two new "Meditative Landscapes".  At only 10x12 inches, these are particularly small works.  They do not have any working titles at the moment.

During the latter part of the day I started painting 30-06-1997 VARIANT ONE.  I should finish it tomorrow morning.  These are "Category Two" works (Even categories tend to be accessible works while odd numbers are more complex or experimental).

As planned, I finished  30-06-1997 VARIANT ONE.  These works are extremely spontaneous and I probably need to do some more considered versions on a larger scale to balance this.

I started and completed the painting of one of the smaller works now entitled 30-06-97: CONDENSATION ONE.  Hopefully I will finish the other one tomorrow.

I finished 30-06-97: CONDENSATION ONE, although it took me all day.

Simple Simon wants to finish some of his works tomorrow; after that I will have to decide whether to go back to some more serious work or produce a few more of these small "Meditative Landscapes" - or indeed, do some larger scale versions.

Briefly tweaked both of the small versions of 30-06-97.

Simple Simon then had free rein to start some new works.  He did the drawing stage of four works in charcoal - two of which he redefined in acrylic medium (this darkens and fixes the charcoal marks).  These latter two works are both entitled HEAD OF A WOMAN and the other two are both called SUNFLOWER HEAD.  All these titles may have prefixes or suffixes added in due course.

Some initial laying out was done for a further four works.

A damp over cast Sunday morning: Simple Simon redefined the charcoal lines of the two SUNFLOWER HEAD works with acrylic medium.

After a spell in the garden and, very uncharacteristically, watching TV on the sofa I/Simple Simon returned to working on more charcoal preparatory drawings.  Both are based on some early "GS" works of sequences of animal markings.  One is called IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE MASQUERADING AS A PORTRAIT OF JUNE SHEPHERD and the other IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE PRETENDING TO BE A TABLE.

A funny day: Simple Simon did the initial structures for yet two more works.  One will probably be called ANIMAL STUDIES and the other CAMOUFLAGE STUDIES.

In the afternoon he painted in (using acrylic paint) both versions of HEAD OF A WOMAN.  This will be followed by thematic detailing.

I am out tomorrow.

Simple Simon finished both versions of HEAD OF A WOMAN,  although this took him all day - I don't know why! - nor does he!!

Simple Simon had a reasonably busy day while Gerald spent too much money!  Simon finished AFRICAN SHIELD VARIATION, BUILDING AS PORTRAIT and RIBBON WORK ONE: AERODYNAMICS ON AMORPHOUS SHAPE.  In all cases he added spontaneous symbol streams to the colour blocks which were configured to contain them.

Another Simple Simon day (Gerald helped look after Poppy Dog, who had been spayed on Wednesday).  Simon all but finished both versions of SUNFLOWER HEAD.  He painted in all the colour blocks and background and added symbols where it was appropriate to do so.  All that remains to be done is the perimeter bands.

Simple Simon finished the two SUNFLOWER HEAD paintings.  I spent the rest of the day in the garden and writing letters etc.

During last week, today and probably the coming week, I have continued working on the series of SEATED WOMAN pencil drawings in an A5 hardback sketch book.

Simple Simon had, for him, a relatively busy day. He did the drawing stage (in charcoal) of TELEVISION HEAD, A DOG PORTRAYED AS A PERSON, ROBED SHAPE and FIGURE ON A PEDESTAL plus (in charcoal pencil) TWO PEOPLE COMMUNICATING and MAN AND CHILD.  Six new works in all, which end the series of 24 works on plastic backed canvas.  He hopes the substrate proves to be permanent and stable. 

Most of these are explained by their title, only the "Dog Portrayal" has a new departure in terms of it's format: it combines the flow chart type of controlling structure of my "Ionist Drawings" of the early Eighties with the diffusive elaboration of my recent "Meditative Portraits".  It goes without saying that Simon's reading is different to my own.

Simple Simon redefined the lines (in acrylic medium) of all six works he started yesterday.  The two GS's and other pseudo-people did not have time to do anything of their own.

Simple Simon spent the day working on A DOG PORTRAYED AS A PERSON and ROBED SHAPE.  He painted in all the background and colour blocks of the latter and most of the former.  None of the "Country Boys" will be able to do much painting until after the weekend because of other committments.

Only a couple hours in my studio:  Simple Simon finished ROBED SHAPE.

GS thought about painting a visual novel about the AMORPHOIDS.

Considerably more time was spent painting today than yesterday - although still less time than normal.  Simple Simon painted all the background and colour blocks of TELEVISION HEAD.  He thought about starting another work but didn't get round to it.  After this series is completed he will start work on much larger canvases painted in a much looser broader way.

A more productive day again: Simple Simon finished TELEVISION HEAD by adding hints of symbols and other tenuous thematic linkages.

He then started and finished FIGURE ON A PEDESTAL.  The symbols are reduced, almost to non-existence, in this work.

At the end of the day Simon started painting in the main colour elements of MAN & CHILD.

A later start today: Simple Simon finished painting in all the colour areas of MAN & CHILD during the morning.  In the afternoon he painted in all the colour areas of TWO PEOPLE COMMUNICATING and then painted the margins of the remaining four works of this series.  I then took the dog out - this took longer than expected.

A full day painting.  Simple Simon painted in all the colour areas of the last four canvases of the series: ANIMAL STUDIES, CAMOUFLAGE STUDIES,  and IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE PRETENDING TO BE A TABLE.

I need to repaint two of the 30-06-97 works to get them ready for an exhibition next week.  This will have to be done on Sunday/Monday if possible - Simon then has a few days to finish his works.

I spent an hour or two repainting THE BOTANIC GARDEN - which isn't the painting I should be doing!  I have never been happy with the composition of this work.  Both variations consist of a sequence of organic shapes which follow a path into the picture.  The path is what I have had the problem with.

I partially repainted both "variants" of 30-06-97 - mainly to increase the complexity of the imagery as I felt the works looked empty.  However, I also took the opportunity to alter the colour scheme: toning down some colours and over-painting others to strengthen them.

No work yesterday.  Today: I spent a good part of the morning getting paintings ready for a Test Valley Artists exhibition; which I deliver tomorrow.

In the afternoon, Simple Simon filled in the evolving or interacting shapes of ANIMAL STUDIES, CAMOUFLAGE STUDIES, IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE MASQUERADING AS A PORTRAIT OF JUNE SHEPHERD and IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE PRETENDING TO BE A TABLE.  More remains to be done.

Delivered work to the Weyhill Fairground Gallery in the morning.

In the afternoon, Simple Simon filled in the evolving or interacting shapes of ANIMAL STUDIES, CAMOUFLAGE STUDIES, IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE MASQUERADING AS A PORTRAIT OF JUNE SHEPHERD and IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE PRETENDING TO BE A TABLE.  More remains to be done - déjà vu!

Simple Simon finished ANIMAL STUDIES and CAMOUFLAGE STUDIES by filling in the shapes and symbols and redefining some of the linear elements.  It was projected that he would complete four works today, but as appears normal for him, the painting took longer than anticipated.

In the garden or in my library most of this Sunday; but I did photograph some of my recent works for later use.

Simple Simon finished IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE MASQUERADING AS A PORTRAIT OF JUNE SHEPHERD and IONIST IMAGE SEQUENCE PRETENDING TO BE A TABLE although I am suspicious that he did not work hard enough.

He almost finished A DOG PORTRAYED AS A PERSON - all that remains to be done is the filling in of the symbols.

I am helping to steward the first exhibition of Test Valley Artists tomorrow so there wont be too much time to paint.

I stewarded The TVA exhibition all morning.  This is a new local group in a new local gallery.  It was a stylistically varied exhibition with quite a high standard of work on show.  When not chatting to visitors I worked on more SEATED WOMAN drawings - graphite pencil on cartridge paper.

I did not get home until early afternoon, which left Simple Simon time to complete A DOG PORTRAYED AS A PERSON; but nothing else.

Simple Simon finished MAN AND CHILD and did a large part of TWO PEOPLE COMMUNICATING.  He added and filled in symbols and other thematic elements.

Simple Simon finished TWO PEOPLE COMMUNICATING in the morning.

In the afternoon I looked again at two of the LANDING BIRD VARIATIONS which I originally completed at the turn of the Century.  I painted the margin in a combination of acrylic and water soluble oil paint.

The rest of the time I photographed all the recently completed Simple Simon works and generally fiddled around.

No time for work tomorrow.

I never have any time to paint during the day on Saturdays but, as I had a free evening, I worked on more SEATED WOMAN drawings.  I may turn a couple into paintings.

A Sunday, and as such, often a gardening/other interests day.  However, I spent a lot of the day on paperwork and preparing work for my forthcoming exhibitions.

Note to myself: I need to get MDF and/or hardboard for the proposed sectional meditations and a new series of landscapes.

A day divided between preparing paintings and documentation for my forthcoming show and repainting ETUDE, which I first completed in 1978.

I did a little more work on Etude.  This will be a strange work: eliminating a lot of small images and simplifying the structural elements.  I was going to repaint another drawing from this period but, for a number of reasons, I decided against it.  I am using the panel for the work described below.

I then repainted the perimeter band of WING: SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Wing was busy doing something else!  Following this I started another version using a similar but simpler format.

I started late, but then, more or less, completed the drawing stage of WING: SERMON ON THE MOUNT  - Wing was doing something else again!  Or I have decided to be less schizophrenic.  I did the initial rough drawing in charcoal pencil and then went over this, and added more, with water soluble oil paint.

Stewarded the Test Valley Artists exhibition in the morning: more SEATED WOMAN drawings.  The rest of the afternoon was spent on the computer: preparing material for my forthcoming solo show in Chatham.

Sunday and nothing much to report:  More SEATED WOMAN DRAWINGS and more preparations for my show

This week I will probably have to divide my time between Christmas preparations and finishing paintings.  After almost a morning of the former I started painting in WING: SERMON ON THE MOUNT.  As this is painted over an early drawing I am incorporating (albeit very loosely) elements of the first work into the new painted areas.  Warning: the paint doesn't appear to be sticking very well in some places.

A day very similar in content to yesterday with me still trying to finish WING: SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

Finished WING: SERMON ON THE MOUNT, but I didn't really have time to start anything else.  This is the 95th titled work finished this year (this includes at least one series of drawings).  I hope to get number 96 completed by the end of the year.

Very little time to work today - Bloody Christmas!

No time to work at all today (or for the next few days) - echo sentiments of yesterday!

Lazy today.  However, I worked all morning on ETUDE: filling in all the spaces with doodles.

In the afternoon I walked the dog, ate the remains of the Boxing Day dinner and worked on the computer.

I put the finishing touches to the finishing touches of ETUDE (1978-2004). 

I then varnished a HORSE HEAD I had painted a year or so earlier - the buyer returned it for varnishing.  The rest of the day was filled up doing odds and ends.

I put a non-removable acrylic varnish on ETUDE at the start of the day.

I then returned to working on BITTER SUITE (I forget when I left off work on this).  Filling in the spaces with symbols and patterns.  I could probably finish the work this year, although I may make it the first work completed of 2005.

A late start; for no particular reason.  I carried working on BITTER SUITE: adding figurative scenes in the colour blocks.

On the spur of the moment I changed the perimeter band of LANDSCAPE PORTRAIT: reinforcing the colour. I also primed a piece of hardboard I found to do another version on Wing's AN IMPROBABLE ATLAS.

For the rest of the day I prepared work for the forthcoming show and tried to catch up on paperwork.

A late start for a particular reason.  When I got home I continued with BITTER SUITE.  I have now drawn in all the imagery but the images still have to filled in with colour.

I started working on THE UNANSWERED QUESTION.  I also did some preliminary work on WING: AN IMPROBABLE ATLAS.

When my wife had left the house for a brief spell, I varnished some paintings needed for my next show - she doesn't like the smell!