Rainbow Warrior - 29

I've added the basic layer of Blue-Black (yes, that is the name of the ink I'm using!)  Detail of the stitches in the garment are beginning to be filled in. It's a tricky process which I hope will give a good effect. I'm also exaggerating the detail slightly from the way it appears in my reference photos, this is purely for effect and to hopefully increase the three dimensional appearance...I want the arms to appear as if they are reaching out to the viewer.

Rainbow Warrior - 28

I though you might like to see a picture which gives you some idea of the size of Rainbow Warrior. Work has sped up somewhat mainly due to the areas of light on the folds of the material. the next sleeve has many folds which are highlighted...so more of a challenge but should be quicker to complete.

Rainbow Warrior - 27

It's been a matter of hard work today...nothing spectacular, just hard slog! But it's this work which pays dividends later on...large areas of colour have a good impact on the appearance of the work. Close up of course the density of the dots creates a pleasing texture which I really like and adds another dimension to the piece.

Below are a couple of photos I took this week from my bedroom window...I'll be incorporating a rainbow in the picture ....give me another month and i'll be on it!

Rainbow Warrior - 26

Rainbow Warrior - 25

After my teaching day yesterday ( did I mention I did a day in a local school teaching year one and two about Pointillism?) I was able to return to work on this piece. This is where my artist heart beats...this is the thing that makes my heart beat faster today ( despite the 5 miles of running I also did!) During recent exhibitions, I try to explain to people that I love the process of working on a long term project. I love the fact that it's NOT instant ...I love the fact that it grows slowly...I love the fact that it becomes part of my life, and comes from my life, a result of all I have gone through. Whatever I am working on is the point.....the point that my life has been leading up to. This is me.

Willington Arts Festival - Day One.

I still get shocked when I see photos of myself. In my mind I'm still 28, dark haired and irrepressibly virile. but i'm not...I'm 51, grey haired and resistibly sterile! (I'm not sterile really, but I thought it would sound funny in that sentence.)...but you get the idea. 

Here I am at the Willington Arts Festival. A friendly festival which though not on a large scale like the Wirksworth has been running now for 7 years i think. I'm sitting in a room i'm sharing with fellow artist Martin Sloman...behind me in the picture through the door is a large school room with another 12 artists approx.

I managed to sell three prints, which is better than nothing! But I can't help but feel a little twinge of frustration considering all the work producing/ mounting and framing things that i though would be popular. Never mind, it's the nature of the business! Once again also it's frustrating not to be able to show my best work which still remains unframed and under the table! I'm sort of loathed to frame them in cheap Ikea frames...they need something more substantial!.

It was also good to be able to talk to quite a few people who were genuinely impressed with my work and knowledgeably so with regard to the historical relevance of Divisionalism/ Pointillism.I sometimes feel connected (at least in passion and intention) to the Post impressionists. I often feel alone in my work and have regularly become down hearted. But days like today have the ability to refire the heart and sharpen the resolve.My desire to develop and push the boundaries of the technique are strengthened  My only concern is that i remain alive long enough to do what I dream of doing!

The final five. No more minipix!

It does happen...and it happens on a regular basis...what am i talking about? Dissatisfaction is what! you'd think with someone like me who is gifted/cursed with almost endless patience would never get dissatisfied. but you'd be wrong, I'm actually fed up with these minipics. Which is a bit of a problem because I've discovered over the last month that they're quite popular and sell well! I see I'm going to have to do more at some point, but to be honest, they don't reflect or ignite the passion I feel for my bigger more complex symbolic pieces. but i have to face facts....no one is going to pay thousands of pounds for those, and I need to to earn money. So minipics it is! I think you'll have to wait quiet some time before I return to these little beggers!