I repainted a small part of STEPS TOWARDS A MEDITATIVE GARDEN.  I did a little more of the initial drawing of the two new works (still in charcoal) before disappearing into the garden for the afternoon - it being Sunday.

Very little time for art today or tomorrow.  I carried on with sketch book landscapes.

I have continued with the drawing stage of the two new works: going over the charcoal lines with acrylic medium on one.  Both these works are untitled - mainly because I am still musing over the second theme of each work (one part of these dual pictures is a portrait of a mother with child).

I also made a tentative start on three smaller works on Winsor board.  These relate to a commission I have and combine landscape with portraiture.

I continued working on the two canvases.  I redefined the lines of the second one in acrylic medium (which combines with the charcoal to make a reasonably dark line).  One has the provisional title of RECLINING WOMAN WITH CHILD BEHIND A DIFFUSIVE ELABORATION OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AT STOURHEAD and the other: RECLINING WOMAN WITH CHILD INTERMIXED WITH A SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAINTING: "ION - SUNRISE" BY GERRY SHEPHERD.

I also made a start painting in SILLY LANDSCAPE using water soluble oils.

Completed the drawing stage of the three small works on Winsor board (although I suspect I will rework them next time I get in my studio!).  I did two in a spontaneous fashion using charcoal and the third in graphite pencil with a more considered approach.  The first two have the working title of JENNY AS A LANDSCAPE  and the last: ENGAGEMENT RING IN A LANDSCAPE.

I also redid some of the lines in THE LOVERS (PEOPLE PORTRAYED AS LANDSCAPES).  I probably wont touch this work again although I may well do a simpler version, which has more visual impact, as an artistic exercise.

I quickly did the drawing stage of three small works (all in graphite pencil).  GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE (A small painting for a friend): in a variation form strand style, GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE: in a spontaneous doodle style and (very provisionally) GATE YOU ONLY GO THROUGH ONCE in a simplified "Meditative Landcape" style.

I redefined the lines (water soluble oils) and painted in (oils) the small GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE.  I also redid the lines of the other GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE and GATE YOU ONLY GO THROUGH ONCE (both works water soluble oils again).

After that I redefined the lines (in acrylic paint) of ENGAGEMENT RING IN A LANDSCAPE.

I was out today with my wife.  When I got home I went over the lines of both versions of JENNY AS A LANDSCAPE with acrylic medium.  I did not have enough energy to do anything else!

I finished - by adding facial feature variations - YOUNG GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE (minor change of title). 

I also finished GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE.  I painted in the entire picture, adding simple spontaneous marks where necessary.

At the end of the day I made a start on painting in GATE YOU ONLY GO THROUGH ONCE.  I can see myself doing several versions of this!

I finished THE GATE YOU ONLY GO THROUGH ONCE - this is comparatively simple work and I did not have a particular scheme in my head before commencing it.

I then painted in the first version of JENNY AS A LANDSCAPE.  I will have to add symbols in the sequential boxes at a later date.

I also returned to STEPS TOWARDS A MEDITATIVE GARDEN (making minor changes to the pagoda like building).  I can't believe I will need to touch this work again!

I did not really have any time to work much in my studio today.  I worked on more sketch book pencil landscapes while out and then partially repainted JENNY AS A LANDSCAPE when I got home.

Did some preliminary work on yet more "mystical landscapes" when I woke up in the middle of the night, but I did not work during the day (I spent most of the day in the garden!).

Painted in the second JENNY AS A LANDSCAPE.  This work is radically different, in terms of structure, to the first and I intend to do another version of the previous composition - so that I can experiment with colours.

I also did some minor tweaking to THE GATE YOU ONLY GO THROUGH ONCE and GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE.

I did the drawing stage of four new works: GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE (a second interpretation) , THE PATH THAT GOES NOWHERE (provisional title) and ENTRANCE IN A GARDEN TWO in charcoal and YOUNG GIRL IN A GARDEN in pencil.  The last named is a very small painting which is radically different in format to YOUNG GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE which I delivered to it's new owner on Saturday.

I have retitled the first version of JENNY IN A LANDSCAPE.  I am now considering it as ENTRANCE IN A GARDEN (the above picture is based on this work).

I also slightly repainted the other version of JENNY IN A LANDSCAPE.

I painted over the charcoal lines with acrylic medium on GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE and THE PATH THAT GOES NOWHERE.  I also painted in the lines of ENTRANCE IN A GARDEN TWO and YOUNG GIRL IN A GARDEN.

I then painted in ENTRANCE IN A GARDEN TWO and a small part of ENGAGEMENT RING IN A GARDEN.

I painted in  GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE and THE PATH THAT GOES NOWHERE.  Symbols and other imagery will have to be added in due course.  Because of the chromatic parameters I am working within, all these works are painted in a strong red biased palette.

I finished, by painting in and adding simple image variations, YOUNG GIRL IN A GARDEN.

I also prepared a number paintings for delivery to Gallery 92 on Sunday - these are predominantly in the "Meditative Field Painting" style.

I delivered a selection of framed and unframed pictures to gallery 92.

When I got home I tweaked YOUNG GIRL IN A GARDEN  and then did some preliminary drawing (in pencil) for two small works on the same theme.

I did more pencil landscapes - while out and when back home.

I completed the pencil drawing stage of two small works.  One called YOUNG GIRL IN A GARDEN and the other YOUNG GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE.  I then went over the pencil lines with oil paint.

I also reinforced the charcoal/acrylic medium lines on both versions of ENTRANCE IN A GARDEN and JENNY AS A LANDSCAPE with oil paint.

I painted in and completed by adding symbols, YOUNG GIRL IN A GARDEN and YOUNG GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE.

I then completed by adding the symbols and other imagery, GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE and A PATH THAT GOES NOWHERE.

Towards the end of the day I started painting in ENGAGEMENT RING IN A LANDSCAPE.

I finished painting ENGAGEMENT RING IN A GARDEN.  However, I will need to go over the acrylic lines again to reinforce them.  I this at 8pm and didn't have time to start anything else.

I repainted the acrylic lines of ENGAGEMENT RING IN A LANDSCAPE with oil paint, thus completing the work.

I then finished JENNY IN A LANDSCAPE by adding and painting in imagery of various kinds.

I spent almost all of this Sunday in the garden.  I only managed to work on some crayon landscapes in the evening.

I finished both versions of ENTRANCE IN A GARDEN: by adding synbols and figurative imagery.

I then made extremely minor modifications to the smaller version of GIRL IN A LANDSCAPE and ENGAGEMENT RING IN A GARDEN.

I restretched and primed three large canvases for some new "Meditative Field Paintings" which I hope to start shortly. 

This took all morning, in the afternoon I started work again on SILLY GARDEN.  I worked from a photograph when adding the linear elements but I plan to totally improvise the colours.

Restretched and then primed (3 coats of Galeria) two more old canvases.

I then continued painting in SILLY GARDEN (itself on the back of an early work).

Out in the morning.  I spent the afternoon continuing work on SILLY GARDEN.

Sunday.  I spent the morning still working on SILLY GARDEN.

I also started preliminary work on a new commission before going out into the garden.

I haved painted in the main stage of SILLY GARDEN.  All that remains to be done is for the margin to be painted, some of the linear elements reinforced and a degree of ornamentation added.

I also started the drawing stage of four new works on Winsor board.  Two are in graphite pencil and two (larger works) are in charcoal.  Although the charcoal pictures have progressed further, they all need a fair bit of work yet.  All will be painted in oils.

I finished the drawing stage of the two larger new works (both have the working title of IAN'S TRACTOR) and then went over the charcoal lines with acrylic medium.  I also, more or less, finished the drawing stage of the other two new works (with working titles of THE BEAN PLANTER and MASSEY FERGUSON 3125 respectively).

I never managed to get into my studio today - however, I did carry on with the small pencil landscapes and I have almost completed the series.

I started painting in both versions of IAN'S TRACTOR.  I first put in a layer of thinned raw sienna and then painted into this.  I will need at least another day (probably two) to complete these works.

Out again today but I did finish the series of A6 pencil landscapes.

A strange Sunday which was partly spent painting in someone elses's garden.  I did more work on the two versions of IAN'S TRACTOR and started a new series of small pencil landscapes.

I completed one version of IAN'S TRACTOR, by finishing painting in the colour blocks and redefining the lines, and almost finished the other.

I finished the other version of IAN'S TRACTOR -  actually, all I had to do for this work was redefine the lines.

I then drew in with pencil and subsequently strengthened with oil paint another small work entitled BEN AND HIS AURA.  This is a tiny portrait with characterisation symbols within strand like structures.

A late start (not really my fault).  I painted in BEN AND HIS AURA.  Symbols will have to added to the colour strands in due course.  I suspect I will do another version when I can obtain a small Winsor Board.

I then returned to working on SILLY GARDEN.  I started reinforcing all the lines with thinned oil paint.

Another late start (my fault!).  When I eventually got into my studio I finished reinforcing the lines of SILLY GARDEN.  This took me the remaining part of the day!  I now have to paint in the margin and detail some of the colour areas - all being well, on Sunday morning before gardening.

I spent all day in the garden but did get into my studio at the end of the day and (more or less) finished SILLY GARDEN.  I didn't put a wash of colour over the white canvas - if I did the work again, I would!

I completely finished SILLY GARDEN first thing. 

I then tweaked the pencil drawing of THE BEAN PLANTER and MASSEY FERGUSON 3125 and  went over the lines in oil paint.

In the evening I worked on the latest series of small pencil landscapes.  I should soon finish another set of 25.

I decided, on the spur of the moment, to repaint part of BEN AND HIS AURA.  I mainly altered the background which was a bit bland.  I may well do other versions however.

I then started work on the drawing stage of a large scale work based on an aerial photograph of the villages where I grew up.  The painting was taken circa 1930.  The imagery is heavily schematised and includes passages of small evolving elements - however there is no superposed thematic content.  It has the working title: THE BEGINNINGS OF PROJECT ISIS.

Not much time to work today.  I carried on with the charcoal drawing stage of the work based on the villages where I grew up at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day I started painting in THE BEAN PLANTER.

I finished painting in THE BEAN PLANTER - although I will need to repaint certain areas.  This is a very simple work with no image series or symbolic components.

At the end of the day I started painting in MASSEY FERGUSON 3125 but didn't get too far before rain stopped play.

Hardly any time to work again.  I carried on with the series of small scale pencil drawings.

I finished the latest series of landscape drawings late in the evening.  I hadn't done any other art work during the day.

A Bank Holiday Sunday which I started in my studio and then I disappeared out into the garden.  I repainted THE BEAN PLANTER as planned (still a bit more to do) and then did a bit more work on MASSEY FERGUSON 3125.

I must confess to spending most of today (Bank Holiday Monday) in the garden.  All I did was the drawing stage (in pencil) of three new small portraits.  These have the working generic title of BEN AND HIS AURA - titles which may be elaborated in due course.

Out with my wife, June, most of the day.  I crept into my studio at 4.30!  I redid the pencil lines of the three works I did yesterday using oil paint - and  practically nothing else! (although I did start another series of A6 pencil landscapes).

I got into my studio about 11am and stayed there all day.  I painted in (and partially repainted!) all three versions of the BEN portrait.

I also worked again on THE BEAN PLANTER - adding the beans!

I continue producing the small landscape pencil sketches.

Typical late start!  I first finished THE BEAN PLANTER (which only entailed adding colour in the beans).

I then repainted (again!) BEN AND HIS AURA, changing it to BEN WITH BANJO, and completed it by adding symbols.  I then completed BEN OUT WEST by adding symbols to the appropriate strands.  I also worked a bit on the other two "BEN" works but will finish these next week.

At the end of the afternoon I started work again on MASSEY FERGUSON 3125.

No time to paint.  I did some more drawing instead.  Some of these small landscapes should really be converted into paintings

Sunday and home all day.  Unfortunately, after some token work on MASSEY FERGUSON 3125, I decided to spend it in the garden!

More pencil landscapes in the evening.

I finished BEN IN A PHILOSOPHICAL FIELD and BEN AND HIS AURA by adding symbols and other details.  This took, surprisingly, most of the day.  In the first named work the full stop represented man and in the second the arrow was a hypothetical soul.

At the end of the afternoon I started work again on MASSEY FERGUSON 3125.  I should complete this work by Wednesday - even allowing for some repainting which will probably need doing.

I finished MASSEY FERGUSON 3125, despite having to go out for most of the afternoon.  However, I can see me repainting this work at a later date as it is still not quite right.

Begun work again on THE BEGINNINGS OF PROJECT ISIS (this title will change!).  I reinforced the charcoal lines with acrylic medium and then started painting in the main colour blocks.  This will probably be a relatively simple work with the main interest centred on the evolving linear elements.

An hour of painting very early in the morning and then I had to go out for the rest of the day.  Work continued on THE BEGINNINGS OF PROJECT ISIS.

I was late getting into my studio but I then spent the afternoon working on THE BEGINNINGS OF PROJECT ISIS.  I am still adding colour to the main areas (based on field shapes viewed from the air).

A late start (as it will be all week).  Once in my studio I completed filling in all the blocks of DAWN OF PROJECT ISIS (title variation one).  I have to add detailing - derived from the existing designs - and reinforce (again) some of the lines.

I repainted all the linear elements of THE DAWN OF PROJECT ISIS.  This took all of the day which was available for painting.  It is still likely that I will add additional elements, although the plan was to keep this work simple.

I finished THE DAWN OF PROJECT ISIS but I can see myself adding more details at a later date.  The work was painted in the now typical colours for a Meditative Field Painting of tinted white and earths.  The small number of symbols added were taken from the landscape derivations contained within the main linear elements of the work.

An even later start than anticipated.  I tweaked THE DAWN OF PROJECT ISIS as expected.

I then started painting in WOMAN WITH CHILD BEHIND A DIFFUSIVE ELABORATION OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AT STOURHEAD - Now called WOMAN WITH CHILD BEHIND A DIFFUSIVE ELABORATION OF A CLASSICAL THEME.  It's pendant will be called WOMAN WITH CHILD INTERMIXED WITH A SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CLASSICAL THEME.

I will now do a new painting entitled A SERIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AT STOURHEAD  INTERMIXED WITH THE PAINTING: "ION - SUNRISE"

It is likely I will not now be able to paint again until Monday.

A frustrating day with an unintentional late start and then a series of mishaps.  I did the charcoal drawing stage of a new "Meditative Field Painting" entitled THIS IS WHERE I MET THE ELEPHANT HEADED MAN - but did it on a canvas I had prepared for another work (with holes in the canvas!).

I then did the charcoal stage of A SERIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AT STOURHEAD  INTERMIXED WITH THE PAINTING: "ION - SUNRISE" - but initially did it along the wrong axis so had to rub it out and start again!

I started the drawing stage of two other works: MOLECULAR CRUCIFIXION and THE MOMENT WHEN ONE MAN BECAME MANY.

I also did some minor alterations to two completed works: SILLY GARDEN and MASSEY FERGUSON 3125.

I worked again on the drawing stage of MOLECULAR CRUCIFIXION and THE MOMENT WHEN ONE MAN BECAME MANY.  I have drawn in all the main structures/shapes; although I may add more details before completing this stage.  I am now much happier with the first named work - which I created spontaneously without reference to any notes and without a firm idea in my head.

I then went back to painting in WOMAN WITH CHILD BEHIND A DIFFUSIVE ELABORATION OF A CLASSICAL THEME.

Today wasn't especially productive and I am out all day tomorrow.

A bit of a funny day.  I spent most of the day painting in  WOMAN WITH CHILD BEHIND A DIFFUSIVE ELABORATION OF A CLASSICAL THEME.  Unfortunately, I didn't quite complete this stage of the work so I will finish it tomorrrow.

Before working on the above I reinforced the charcoal lines with acrylic medium on THIS IS WHERE I MET THE ELEPHANT HEADED MAN.

In between I started making notes for the symbols and imagery for SEATED WOMAN.  A work I actually started some time ago.  This painting, and it's pendant (3 BATHERS) are very complex works and represent the major stylistic innovation of my current batch of pictures.

I finished painting in the main colour areas of WOMAN WITH CHILD BEHIND A DIFFUSIVE ELABORATION OF A CLASSICAL THEME.  I will repaint the background in due course.

I also redefined the charcoal drawing of A SERIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AT STOURHEAD  INTERMIXED WITH THE PAINTING: "ION - SUNRISE" in acrylic medium.

At the end of the day I started painting in WOMAN WITH CHILD INTERMIXED WITH A SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CLASSICAL THEME.

I did a bit more painting in of WOMAN WITH CHILD INTERMIXED WITH A SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CLASSICAL THEME before disappearing into the garden.

I had to collect paintings from gallery 92 in New Milton today.  I didn't get back until late afternoon so had very little time to work. I repainted part of the background of WOMAN WITH CHILD BEHIND A DIFFUSIVE ELABORATION OF A CLASSICAL THEME before having to go out.  I didn't like my amendments!

I did more pencil landscapes on various railway stations.!

I repainted (again!) the background of WOMAN WITH CHILD BEHIND A DIFFUSIVE ELABORATION OF A CLASSICAL THEME.  I am still not happy but I will probably leave it.

I then started three small portraits.  I did the initial drawing in graphite pencil which I went over with thinned oil paint.

I later did more work on WOMAN WITH CHILD INTERMIXED WITH A SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CLASSICAL THEME.  I am exploring new colour associations with this work.

I was out all day yesterday although I did get the FPS newsletter finished and posted off.

I spent all of today painting WOMAN WITH CHILD INTERMIXED WITH A SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CLASSICAL THEME.  I have almost finished this stage of the painting.  I feel the colours work better than it's pendant.

I finished the main stage of WOMAN WITH CHILD INTERMIXED WITH A SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CLASSICAL THEME.  Once this is dry I will add all the words, symbols and images.

I also painted the majority of THIS IS WHERE I MET THE ELEPHANT HEADED MAN.  Like other works in this style it is painted in pastel earth colours.  Again, words, symbols and images will be added later - very few for this type of work.