Dancing for Beginners. The artwork of Niall Young.

Sketchbook gestations...

2012-02-18T23:01:00.000Z

Regular readers here will know that the period between pieces is often a traumatic time for me....although I have countless sketchbooks full of ideas stretching back to the early 1980's...I find myself tormented over the what to apply my time to...knowing obviously that the next 2 - 6 months could be spent on the next drawing, I have to be sure that what I settle on is the right decision! so here are what you will be familiar with are some little sketches of ideas that I don't mind you seeing....I've worked in greater detail on a couple of the ideas here and will make my decision soon...be sure you'll see me start at the very beginning as always!

Some people are shocked to find that my work is so exact and planned, that I work from these relatively small and simple sketches for my basic reference for composition...well, composition is easy...it's a matter of displacement and symmetry...of weights and perspective...these can be addressed in these simple sketches...the detail and final rendering happens at a later stage..and often during the actual dotting of the final piece!

Anyway....I'll shut up now and get on with the actual doing!...I hope you enjoy these crude scrawlings...if you follow me, you'll see what becomes of them!

Spoonful - Finished.

2012-02-16T20:59:00.000Z

Spoonful

(2012)

48x27 cm

133 hours and 45 minutes.

So here's the finished piece along with a selection of close ups. thank you for your support during the time this picture was in production, I've found it a challenge and an ultimately frustrating piece...perhaps I'll return to the composition again one day and incorporate the 'Mad Vicar' pinching the first cello girl's nose as I had originally intended. Perhaps next time I'll use full colour which is something I've neglected since my last self portrait 'Jigsaw'.

For now however, there is something forming in the sketchbook and in my minds eye which will hopefully find it's realisation as my next piece....

Spoonful - 33

2012-02-15T22:07:00.000Z

Spent all day on the bubbles....bubbles are fanciful..they have no rationale apart from the fact that they are fun...oh, sometimes they are used to illustrate certain elemental truths regarding air pressure and the nature of surface tension and the way liguids behave...they are also very pretty with their swirling colours and distorted reflections...tomorrow I have to work on the label of the medicine bottle and the image in the picture frame...then I'll be pretty much done!

Spoonful - 32

2012-02-14T21:25:00.000Z

I've started work on the bubbles today....it's an interesting process...the first one was slow and I was unsure about what effect I would get...(it was the one just in front of the bubble blowers hand)..I believe that's what is know as the paradigm...the one on which all the others are based!...as I've progressed, they've developed slightly..and I've had to go back and change the earlier ones to match the later ones...! there are plenty of bubbles to go which should keep me busy for quite a few hours yet!

Spoonful - 31

2012-02-13T22:52:00.000Z

I've continued on the trees in the background today..interrupted only by the pressing need to go out and find a replacement for our destroyed car...I don't know about you or car dealers in your part of the world...but it's always a trying time of weighing up the need to be kind to the environment and work within a limited budget whilst also not wanting to drive a car that is indistinct and doesn't reflect the creative nature of those who'll be driving it....more news about that another time.

I've also begun work on sketches for the next picture...I'm always scribbling out new ideas, but I think I have the basis for something interesting!...again, more about that another time!

Spoonful - 30

2012-02-10T20:32:00.000Z

I'm now quite tired of this piece...it's not achieved what I wanted it to...at least so far. It doesn't look like I wanted it to...but I'm going to finish it soon. I've worked hard on adding the trees in to the back ground...I've completed the Matron's belt buckle..I hope you can see what it depicts?..I only have the final trees to the far left to finish..then attend to the middle ground and add in a crow or two and I think I'll be finished.

Spoonful - 29

2012-02-09T20:57:00.000Z

I've not been able to spend very long on my work here today. Last weekend we had snow here in my part of England...not much of it, but enough to knock out the day to day running of the transport network to some degree. To cut a long story short, someone drove their car into our car...we weren't in our car at the time.,, we'd parked it up on an adjacent road to enable us to drive it the next day after the snow ( we live on a narrow avenue on a hill which is difficult to drive up or down when snow is on the ground!) anyway, the result was our car was damaged beyond repair. So calls back and forth between insurance companies, police, hire car companies and garages has dominated the last few days. Today I had to be available to not only facilitate the collection of a courtesy car we'd been allocated whilst our car's damage was being assessed, but I had to go to a hire company in another part of the city to take delivery of a car which we'll use until the finance surrounding the insurance company is resolved. I also had to deal with Annie's school pick up...the her school Valentines disco, and eventually a visit to the supermarket.

Phew! I'm glad that's all over at the end of this day as yet another fall of snow is forecast over night. I've made sure that the shiny new VW hire care car is not in a place where it can get run into.

Tomorrow I shall press on with my work here and move into the final stages...not long to go now!

Spoonful - 28

2012-02-09T00:38:00.000Z

I'm probably going quite mad...I seem to be having a flurry of ideas for new pieces..one in particular I've already mentioned this week (or was it last week?) regarding the bubble blowing Cello Girl...I also have ideas revolving around another self portrait...and in response to having watched so much ballet in the last couple of months, I'd like to try at some point to try my hand at depicting a scene from one of my favourite ballets 'the Firebird' by Igor Stravinsky...don't get your hopes up..but it's a wonderful piece which suggests some dramatic and fantastic images.... I'll probably end up sticking with my own Corps De Ballet for now.

Spoonful - 27

2012-02-07T21:17:00.000Z

Spoonful - 26

2012-02-06T20:43:00.000Z

I opted to have my last girl with her eyes open...I don't know about you, but I like to be drawn into a scene...of course the viewer as 'voyuer' is an acceptable method, but i want you see that the 'artist' or rather the 'creative' that is the last girl has a degree of self realisation as she wonders why she's in the line..as she ponders her fate, do you the viewer call her to step out of line..do you alert the otherwise oblivious girls to wake to their fate?...is it right to tell an artist when you feel they are conforming?...that they are being suckered into a falseness...a world where money and fame outweigh artistic integrity?

An insight.......

2012-02-05T00:12:00.001Z

whilst working on the final Cello girl for my current picture, I tried various poses for her to adopt. I'd worked on the idea that she would be slightly bending forward...but due to the limited space . I opted for her to stand erect. However..I've continued developing the previous sketch for her bending forward. Above is a photo showing very rough ideas on tracing paper....I like to work on tracing paper so that I can rework ideas selecting the good points..then trace onto a new piece for further development....I really like the pose and would consider incorporating it into another composition...but please note...as with all my sketched ideas...they tend to languish in the 'vaults' until needed...this might be next week, or it might be next decade! but either way...they 'live'......and are in gestation...

Spoonful - 26

2012-02-03T18:21:00.001Z

I'm really pleased with my work today..I spent a good amount of time working on drawing for the final Cello girl..I found a photo of a woman blowing bubbles which gave me the refference for the possition of the hands..but as for the face, I used my imagination which worked up to a point...I'm not inking it yet because I might like her to have her eyes open and turned towards the viewer...this might work as I usually like to draw you into the picture to be involved at some level...I'll see what it looks like tomorrow after a night's sleep.

It's always wonderful to hear what you think of my work..I have a small but very valuable regular readership, a couple of whom comment on a regular basis..I'm not being melodramatic when I say that I am fuelled and invigorated by such comments. From my exhibitions I know that this type of work divides opinion..basically into two categories...those who love it, which is the majority, and those who don't which thankfully is a very small minority. Since I have now stopped exhibiting, I get very little feedback on what I'm doing, so your comments are ever more valuable. Thank you to those who have and continue to comment and consequently affect the work that I do.!...

Spoonful - 25

2012-02-02T20:57:00.000Z

My parade of oddness is almost at an end...one more Cello girl to go...bubbles and background stuff to complete...then all the little details that have yet to be addressed like the picture in Cell girl 4 's hand...Matron's belt buckle...the spoon...the cello edging etc etc.....

Spoonful - 24

2012-02-01T21:24:00.000Z

Progress today has centred around the planets and the fourth Cello girl's glove...just under five hours work...

Spoonful - 23

2012-01-31T21:07:00.000Z

Had a couple of difficult days which amongst other annoying stuff included a poorly lap top...thankfully the cure for the lap top was no more serious than a new power supply lead. Could have been so much more expensive! I've worked on the sky mainly today which has included work on the planets...the first one I worked on was directly above the medicine Cello Girl's head...the current one undergoing work is to the right of the ,matron's face.

An exhibition - By Tim Young

2012-01-29T17:42:00.000Z

I thought you might like to see a couple of photographs of my Brother Tim's first ever exhibition of art which ran this weekend. Tim likes to produce varied subjects, but majors on wildlife, birds especially...so it was particularly fitting that his first exhibition should be at the Attenbourgh Nature Reserve near Nottingham..

Tim works predominantly in pencils, but also uses watercolours and ink...and is seen here with his wife Wendy demonstrating his work to my wife Jan!

The exhibition attracted a lot of interest over the weekend with over 100 people calling to see the works. Below you can see an examples of his work...the Kingfisher in the foreground is particularly striking!

I was especially proud to see his work since my Father who died in 2000 was a very keen breeder and watcher of birds...he used to tell Tim and I all about birds when we were young..and it would have made him incredibly proud to see that the wonder and delight with which he taught us to appreciate wildlife had continued long after he had passed away.

Spoonful - 22

2012-01-27T20:47:00.000Z

Cello girl number four is a miserable so and so...I think I can honestly say that my art...my creativity and all that it concerns has seen me experience the happiest and the saddest of emotions..the absolute joy of imagining something, then creating it and having another person or persons relate to it and gain meaning and pleasure from it is fantastic. The absolute frustration of encountering the limitations of one's ability and the inability to make my 'business' a 'success' is heart rending.

Spoonful - 21

2012-01-25T23:16:00.000Z

Here's a close up of my Cello girls..I never seem to get the knickers right...for the purposes of these recent woks, I'm not aiming (mainly due to my lack of ability ) to achieve the lightness and delicacy I'd idealy want. As an important symbolic and fetishistic part of my visual referencing, it's important to me that i get things right...so far I haven't...but i'm having fun trying!...

Spoonful - 20

2012-01-24T21:53:00.000Z

Well...what can I say...I'm still working and as you see, here is the start of the penultimate Cello girl..here she's representing visual art...that's why she's carrying a picture frame...I'm toying with the idea that it will be one of my pictures...which one ?..there are also more bubbles around her head as the final Cello girl will be the one blowing the bubbles...!

Spoonful - 19

2012-01-20T22:12:00.000Z

Spoonful - 18

2012-01-19T20:48:00.000Z

Not a great deal of progress today..but did manage a good run this morning and met a good friend for coffee and a walk in the gorgeous sunshine this afternoon..rather chilly though!..

Spoonful - 17

2012-01-18T21:20:00.000Z

It's a funny time of year for me...kids are back to school/ college..and Jan has gone to India for a while to work..she's a guest of the Cochin university in Kerala...all very exciting..the visit is to plan a series of training sessions for Doctors in medical schools across India..potentially a big contract and a gateway to many more visits to India.
So I'm going to hopefully take advantage of the 'quiet' by doing lots more running and lots more work on this piece. My work ethic has decreased considerably in recent months...if I'd been working on this picture a year or two ago, this amount of work would represent two weeks progress...instead it's taken me two months.

Spoonful - 16

2012-01-17T22:06:00.000Z

The first Cello girl represents music...the second is faith..the third is literature...the fourth will be art...the fifth will be....

Spoonful - 15

2012-01-16T20:02:00.002Z

girl mnumber three has emerged from the mist...more to do on number two though.....where are the bubbles coming from?

Spoonful - 14

2012-01-12T20:28:00.000Z

OK...don't faint..it's me again! third day in a row...i know! but like i said..once I get back into a routine, i find it much easier to work. Inspiration wise I had hit a bit of a dry patch..my original concept for this piece was about the artist being convince/coerced into conforming to set patterns of expression and presentation as prescribed by the 'world' to an extent that even though the artist might want to forge a path of discovery, a certain inbred and actually false notion of what the 'art world' expects prevails thus rendering the artist ineffectual.
I needed to find again my sense of wonder and love of symbolism..and a disregard for what other people think. This of course is difficult since I have removed myself from the world of exhibiting my work...I no longer have the public feedback regarding what I'm trying to do. I have only the memory that my Cello girls, Mad vicars...Cancan dancers and trains are what the public said they loved about my work...and thankfully, they are what I love about it too.! So if you don't like what I do..you don't have to look at it, you know where the door is! If you do like what I do....then hold on...there's lots more to come!

Spoonful - 13

2012-01-11T21:11:00.000Z

It's good to be able to get back to some sort of routine after the School holidays...I like my work day routine. I work best when I can spend lengthy amounts of time working without interruption. Despite the many years now working virtually every day with this technique, it still takes a while to settle into it each day. This has to do not only with getting my equipment and my desk organised, but requires my breathing and heart rate to calm. Since I've been running, my heart rate and breathing have reduced in frequency... in fact my resting pulse is around 63 beats per minute! But a few minutes sitting quietly and thinking about what I want to achieve during the day will see me ready....usually!

Spoonful - 12

2012-01-10T22:10:00.000Z

The girls will have black gloves since I made a mess of Cello girl number 2's hands...!Some of the best ideas come from mistakes!

Spoonful - 11

2012-01-04T22:08:00.000Z

Not much to show ....but I have at least returned to this piece. Girl number 2 is taking shape ( only three more to go!) I also taking this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year...my how the time flies!

Spoonful - 10

2011-12-30T22:12:00.000Z

Began work on the second Cello girl today...added more back ground too. shadows to the nurses hand and spoon need further attention. I know I've been negative recently..I'm feeling a bit lost to be honest. but I still have the need and the urge ( they're the same surely?) to create..and I'd really like to see this one out...so I can start the next one!

Looking back - looking forward.

2011-12-28T02:03:00.002Z

I hope by now, you've had an enjoyable Christmas....if indeed you even celebrate it where you live. It's funny, but as a child I thought the whole world stopped for Christmas...but I guess somewhere there lives a counterpart me who believes the whole world stops for Eid, or Diwali...I'm digressing....I'm supposing that you have approached the end of this year with a modicum of satisfaction and anticipation for what is to come in 2012.
In time honoured tradition I'm looking back over my year...Last January I was still reeling from the death of my close friend Geoff...Geoff had been a good and encouraging friend who felt strongly that I should use my art to earn money whilst developing my style and skill. We were in discussions about an exciting project when his illness took hold ...I will never know what might have been. Around the same time I had also found an opportunity to create the cover for a novel which was thought would become a best seller. I created the artwork and was told it was perfect. However upon publication, I discovered my artwork had been dropped..I'd not had any notification of this, so I felt very upset...and you guessed it, the book went on to become a bestseller!To this day I have no idea why my work was deemed unsuitable.
I knew that to continue I needed to find some encouragement, but I found none. I've continued to produce artwork which moves from my drawing table straight to storage besides the wardrobe never to be seen again. From my many previous exhibitions, I leaned that what people wanted was my black and white surreal erotic work...not the pretty trees and landscapes which to be honest you can get anywhere. But to begin again to have my work reproduced for the print market is prohibitive to the point of silliness.
The burden of financial problems is alleviated by the fact that Jan's work is progressively more involved , and requires frequent overseas trips...it pays the bills though. My time is however not waisted as I see it as my duty to enable her to do this. But this detracts from the work I do.
To this end. and the unavailability of the work people want. I've cancelled all exhibitions and given up seeking bookings for any more...I have nothing to sell that people want and it's too complicated and expensive to get what I do have, photographed and printed.
I feel very heavy of heart creatively because I have no shortage of ideas...I do however lack to freedom to produce work which will sell...I cannot dedicate my time to exhibiting.
Perhaps one day it will change...perhaps by this time next year I'll have a better outlook...perhaps.
I shall continue to work...I shall continue to run..( I'm hoping to reach half marathon standard this year).I shall coninue...
May I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very peaceful and very very hopeful New Year!

Spoonful - 10

2011-12-19T20:46:00.003Z

Having given up on the exhibition scene, I am lacking the contact with the public who are actually instrumental in inspiration and solidifying my resolve to produce the kind of work i enjoy. Therefore I'm finding it difficult to feel confident in what I do...my motivation is lacking and it's rare that I am able to actually achieve the 5 - 6 hours a day I aim to work for. Never the less...I still have my vision for this piece, and I'm ready to move onto the next stage. Today I was content to lay down a little of the back ground shades, which are light and even, leaving potential for additional clouds and birds as I see fit. There will also be stars and planets in the sky!

The next big factor is to add in the other four cello girls who will be standing in the line!

Spoonful - 9

2011-12-17T00:19:00.000Z

An artist is always alone - if he is an artist. No, what the artist needs is loneliness.
Henry Miller

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_art.html#ixzz1gkLry6n3

Spoonful - 8

2011-12-14T20:15:00.000Z

you're very patient...but it's something you have to get used to...my sporadic posting is symptomatic of my current low point concerning motivation ...I'm sorry, but at least today I was back in the groove..it's not a matter of not knowing what I'm doing...I know where this piece is going and what comes next...I hope you'll continue to keep up to date with my posts and let me know what you think.

Spoonful - 7

2011-12-08T21:00:00.000Z

I had an interesting experience today. We were out doing the weekly shop in a large Sainsbury's supermarket ...the checkouts were packed and the shop was very busy when the fire alarm went off...staff ushered everyone ( there must have been 100 plus) out into the car park where we waited. It was odd looking into the shop seeing everything abandoned as if everyone had just walked out..which ermm...they had. We were all allowed back in soon after as it had been a false alarm...thankfully. you know, I even heard a few complaining along the lines of " all that for it only to be a false alarm!"...I just smiled and thought, if had been a real fire, we'd not have been allowed to finish our shopping...some people eh?

Spoonful - 6

2011-12-07T22:13:00.000Z

Don't have a coronary..yes...it's me again...that's right...two days on the run...and speaking of running, I've now run my second run this week after my mammoth November run which totalled 111.58 miles. I'm going to take it easy over December ...!

Today's work centred around the little boy....I made a few small alterations to his face too...so I'm happy with the way it's now developing....I think you're going to have fun working out what it's all about...any ideas?

Spoonful - 5

2011-12-06T21:37:00.000Z

Hello...remember me? ...I'm the person that used to post progress on strange pieces of artwork slowly developing each day before your very eyes. Well I've not done that for a while...I'm not very good at it at the moment....I find life and art difficult. I've sat almost every day looking at my work, wondering what to do...but today I knew what to do. I'm not sure I've done it very well...and it might be that I'll scrap it tomorrow...but for now it will be as it is before you now. I've put my very young self in the picture yet again...surrounded by thorns...when I showed this to Jan she remarked that i looked as if I was trapped...this was not my intention...the thorns surrounding me, the Nurse..the Cello girl are my way of saying these memories...ideas...influences are mine...you're not allowed to touch them or alter them ...they protect me and my dreams...fantasies and fascinations....but I'm allowing you to observe from outside...at some point, one of the characters yet to be included will look out to you and invite comment...attitude...judgement...but until then...you are only an observer...a guest in the 'canyons of my mind' !

Flash!

2011-11-28T20:40:00.000Z

As I rounded the corner into Vicarage Avenue and the warmth and comfort of my own home, I could see the banner held up by various Family members and friends which read "Well done! 100 miles run for Children in Need...you're our hero"...as I neared the group of cheering people , I felt a mighty pride well up within me as I realised that all the nights of running on darkened pavements in the rain, wind and cold had brought me to this unimaginable climax to a month of almost nightly runs of 5 miles.

I collapsed into the arms of my gathered friends and felt the warmth of the blanket wrapped around my shoulders and the steaming mug of hot chocolate thrust into my hands. this was the most wonderful and unlooked for achievement of my inactive and once overweight life!

Of course, the above description isn't entirely accurate...in fact everything except one fact is true ( assuming you cannot have false facts!)...Today I did reach and surpass my target of running 100 miles in November! I honestly cannot believe that I've been able to do it bearing in mind that it was only a few short months ago in May that I was overweight and unable to walk briskly for 20 minutes without becoming sweaty and out of breath ( well almost!)....Now I'm running on average 5 miles every evening ( with the occasional night off )

Reaching my target, I felt like fireworks were going off inside my chest...my head...my legs...I took a photo of myself on my Mobile as I passed the point where the maps said I'd reached my goal...looking at the photo, it reminded me of the final scene of Flash Gordon...a moment when the hero is victorious..the moment for celebration has arrived...it's a scene in the film that ( wait for it!) has caused tears to well up on occasion ( I've seen it numerous times)...I love it when the good guys win! ...and looking at my photo gives me the same feeling!

So...in reality...I rounded the corner into the Avenue...I ran up to my front door...I went in..had a drink of orange squash and went to take a shower....and that was that.

This is what it felt like (above)

This is the reality (below!)

Spoonful - 4

2011-11-24T22:36:00.000Z

Spoonful - 3

2011-11-23T21:46:00.002Z

Spoonful - 2

2011-11-16T22:16:00.000Z

I've worked on the Matron's face today...once again I used a photograph of myself as the basis for her face....I've exaggerated certain aspects of course and really I don't look like this at all...but still...it makes me chuckle! I've decided for this version to place the medicine spoon just inside the Cello girl's mouth..not sure if I'm going to use the Mad Vicar in between these two now or even at all...we'll see.

Spoonful - 1

2011-11-14T21:46:00.000Z

This is the third incarnation! I had dreadful difficulty with the pinching nose thing so have had a bit of a rethink...the basic concept is still there, but with some subtle differences which will become apparent as we go along!

In other news, I continue to run and have embarked on a fund raising challenge inn aid of Children in Need, which is run by the BBC. An annual event which raises millions of pounds to support child and family projects thought the British Isles. My aim is to run a total of 100 miles in November. So far I've managed to run 50.03 miles, just over half way. If you'd like to support me, you can visit my page which is administered by Virgin Money by clicking here My goal is to raise £200 in donations, and as an incentive, for each person who donates £5.00 or more, I invite you to make a guess as to how many miles I will have run by the end of November 30th. the person who guesses correctly or who is nearest, will win a personally signed original piece of my Hyperpointillist artwork..! So get clicking and get donating!

Good news...bad news.

2011-11-10T21:50:00.000Z

The good news is, for those of you who had a problem with and didn't like my last picture 'Medicine'...I've ruined it and abandoned work on it! The bad news for you is that I've immediately begun work on a new version...I will be able to avoid the mistakes I've made in the last couple of days and no doubt be freed to make a whole new bunch of fresh mistakes. Anyway, it's all part of the process and I'm incredibly mad and disappointed with myself...I love my concept for the piece...I'm very excited about the way it will extend beyond the original three characters. I can't wait to get back to dotting tomorrow as I've completed all the pencil work today. I'm down...but I'm not out...tomorrow, I'll be back up!

Medicine - 8

2011-11-09T21:15:00.000Z

Medicine - 7

2011-11-04T23:02:00.000Z

first of all..I should tell you I've not actually done any dotting today...although I've drawn in the Cello at long last!...the reason for me not dotting was I was absolutely exhausted...odd considering I awoke after a good night's sleep, which has been rare recently. I felt invigorated, full of energy and immediately knew I would need to go for a run. I've been running just over 4 miles each night ...but today I decided to press on to my next goal which was 7 miles. The actual final distance was 7.14 miles. I'm now running a regular 4.25 miles as a regular evening run, and an extended run once or twice a week.

My 50th birthday is coming up later this month...I really am 'Fit before fifty' !

Medicine - 6

2011-11-03T21:42:00.000Z

Medicine - 5

2011-11-02T21:15:00.001Z

To find the correct resource for the hand on the nose and the nurses hand, I took photographs of my own hands...since the nurses face is based on my face, I felt this was in keeping.

So it's November!

2011-11-01T16:51:00.000Z

Having 'one of those days'...not able to motivate myself. Suffering mainly from a dose of 'reallity'. You may or may not know that I'm approaching my 50th birthday. I had originally arranged a party...I'd booked a band and Cancan dancers at a local pub. But decided to cancel when I realised that it was an rather selfish ego trip which would leave my family having to manage or very little money on the run up to Christmas. Besides, we always have a party in between Jan and my birthdays in November. So I then arrived at the idea of making it something special which would probably involve fancy dress. Then it was helpfully pointed out to me that I would after all be 50 years old and most of my friends were also of similar or older age, and would be unlikely to want to do fancy dress. So after a couple of friends also voiced their anxiety, I decided it will have to tone down even further , and will be a normal conformist party.

It's really not my intention to cause my friends anxiety on what should be a night of fun and happiness...So, I've decided that I will pull out all the stops for the next time I have a 50th birthday party...so be warned...I'll probably be the only one there!

PS...I took the photo above from my front room window this afternoon. the trees in the avenue are gorgeous at this time of year.

Medicine - 4

2011-10-31T21:48:00.001Z

The Cello Girl seems to be taking her medicine with stoicism...the Vicar pinches her nose..not necessarily to lessen the taste, but to cause her to open her mouth..probably against her will, but she does not seem to be fighting. Being force fed something is what this area concerns...here the protagonists are The Medical world and the religious world versus the Musician/ artist...is this how 'orthodoxy' and 'normality' would have us believe or eat to make us comply/ conform...how often as artists do we actually do that?...More often than I'd care to think...how often do we produce work that seeks approval and acceptance rather than it being from the gut and from the soul...how often do you create purely for the sake of creation/...for the need to satisfy the passionate drive within you regardless?...are you content to have the dream of expression, but stand in line too be force fed the 'Medicine; that is given to make us 'better' that will cause us to become acceptable and thus just one of the many?...ummm....I'm enjoying this line of thinking!

Medicine - 3

2011-10-29T22:02:00.000+01:00

Nurse Doris is beginning to take shape...a few tweaks of her hair and hat position had to be carried out, and attention to the jaw line needs to be addressed tomorrow...but essentially I'm happy so far with the way it's progressing.

Medicine - 2

2011-10-28T20:21:00.000+01:00

Here's a close up of the pencil work on my Mad Vicar ( he needs a name!)...it's important to get the base drawing correct before beginning the dot work. I've always been taught, and hence teach others that good draughtsmanship is the basis to all art....even abstract art....understanding your subject is paramount! So below you can see the refined drawing I've completed on the Nurse and Cello Girl too...as an added dimension I had the idea that I'd surround my figures with bubbles...! don't ask me why...it just seemed a good idea at the time!

So the dot work has now begun..I proceed with caution as faces are the most critical element of the work...get them wrong...then the picture is ruined!...anyway, glad you're here at the beginning...thanks for joining me...!

Bleurgh!

2011-10-27T18:17:00.000+01:00

Many apologies for the non - posting these last few days...we were out on Monday visiting the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, since then i've been laid low with a cold. All being well I'll get to work tomorrow !

Medicine - 1

2011-10-23T22:44:00.000+01:00

Subject of course to much change..here is the pencil drawing that I've transfered to water colour paper this evening ( I prefere 300lb cold pressed watercolour paper to work on) the figures you see here are 100% of my own creation and will form the basis of a (as usual) enigmatic and symbolic composisition. I have many details to iron out, such as the nurse holding a spoon full of medicine to the Cello girl's mouth...you'll also notice the Mad Vicar is pinching the girl's nose too! his hand is visible behind the Nurse's back...at present he is holding the floating orb from the earlier picture 'Tables'. The Cello girl will possibly be holding the neck of her cello...behind her will be a queue of other Cello Girls all awaiting their medicine. I am planning 5 Cello girls in all.

At time of posting, the above description is of course open to radical change and interpretation and will mean different things to different people. what will you find in it?...Time will tell. Welcome to the begining of what I hope will be a far quicker piece of work than the one that came before!

Sketch book...ideas...nurse!..no pics..but very excited!

2011-10-20T21:26:00.001+01:00

Below is a picture painted by one of my favourite artists. Paul Delvaux was considered a surrealist..which he didn't recognise or accept, and considered himself inferior to fellow countryman Rene Magritte.

I chose to show this picture because I identify so strongly with Delvaux's recurring themes..the reverence and esteem in which he regards woman...the dignity he regards education and learning...the heroism he regards exploration and engineering development and the pioneers who designed and built the great railways of the world which we now regard with almost resignation that be part of our environment and landscape.

I too have recurring themes similar to this...however I'm not a painter..but I can bask in the moonlit blues and dreamlike landscapes that Delvaux produced knowing that on face value, they are odd, slightly disturbing works whilst simultaneously being peaceful and full of symbolism...characters and locations..that draw the eye and imagination to question and wonder.

Painted in the year of my birth...it is one of a series of railway and academia themed works which represents the female nude as pure and dreamlike despite the stayed formality of the intellectuals.

LES ASTRONOMES

(1961)

As far as my work today goes...I'm very excited about my next piece...the sketches I showed you yesterday have undergone further development and I've arrived at (for me) a quite remarkable scenario which I will wait to share with you as you shall see it as it develops on the page.

I'm really looking forward to sharing that with you...very very soon!

Sketch book...ideas...nurse!

2011-10-19T21:39:00.000+01:00

Well...after the absolute anti climax that was 'Teatime', I've set about refining the already advanced ideas for my next piece. Like I said before..I'm going for a smaller picture. My sketches so far have brought me to the stage of needing to find the right resource for a nurse who will be giving medicine. I trained as a nurse back in the early 1980's and like the idea of using that theme in my picture. It always used to amuse me that when I told people that I was a nurse, they'd often ask.."What!..a male nurse?!"

Anyway...for this picture I'm using my profile...I took this photo on my phone.this will be the basis for my nurse....I'll call her Doris! i wanted a sort of haughty sort of an expression....so this was the one I settled on.

Below, I've used the photo as a basis for my pencil sketch...a bit of tweaking , hair and a hat and nurse Doris is born!

I need a face for the next figure...yes , it's the Mad Vicar yet again!! I originally drew this face as the basis of the violinist in 'Quintadagio'...so I dug out this sketch...but I didn't want the raised eyebrow. so worked on a sketch without it.

Below I've used my nurse and mad vicar sketches and combined them. the idea is progressing quite nicely....but the Mad vicar looks to bulky...to muscular...he needs to be much much older and wizened. So that will be part of my job tomorrow...and of course...the rest of the scenario!

Teatime - A closer look.

2011-10-18T00:08:00.000+01:00

Here are a few close up shots which you may or may not be interested in. It was back in Early May that I began work on this piece....322 hours later, i'm fininshed...but more than that, the photo session for which I took pictures of myself for this work inspired and horrified me so much as to my appearance , that I embarked upon a regime of self improvement. Now, , 5 months later, I am over 3 stone lighter and have progressed from 20 mins of brisk walking to 6.5 miles of running on alternate evenings. I am truly 'fit' and have achieved something I never thought possible and a heritage for my next 50 years!!

'Teatime' is more than just a personal motivator for personal betterment..it is a statement of peculiarity..a surreal version of my state of being...an underlining of progression..so far.
reluctant as I've become to making interpretations of my work, I'd like to draw your attention to the stream of tea falling from the cup.....I intended ( and hopefully successfully) to depict a double helix which represents the DNA strand. I based this composition around a quote made by British pop star David 'Boy George' O'Dowd..who when asked about his sexuality and what his attitude to sex was, replied " Sex?...I'd rather have a cup of tea".

Whilst the phrase still lingers in our ears, the organic and bestial instinct within us decrees that we seek a mate of compatibility to our facets and needs....the obvious ( naked souls) are a distraction to the nurtured and refined sensibilities of our desires are revealed ( the Can can dancer exposed ) ..whilst We ( I ) can claim our interest is NOT the evelation of the erotic...it is within our DNA that we find the attraction of sexuality unavoidable.

Teatime - Finished.

2011-10-17T13:33:00.000+01:00

'Teatime' (2011)

70 x 41 cm.

Teatime - 95

2011-10-15T22:41:00.000+01:00

This is the only section I have yet to complete! I could easily have finished it today, but I've decided to save it ...I'll probably finish it on Monday...but I have to take a trip out to the art shop to buy a new sketch book and an A2 pad ( in which format I'm intending to base the next few 'large scale drawings) I can't tell you how enjoyable I find working on a large long term project, but I'm challenging myself ( at least for the next year) to increase my output by reduction in scale.....I wonder how long that resolve will last?

Teatime - 94

2011-10-14T21:37:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the slope!...this side of the picture is just about finished!!...unbelievable I know..it seems like I've been working on this forever! My plans for my next 'major' piece are well in progress and at time of writing, it will be rather smaller than this one!

Teatime - 93

2011-10-13T21:47:00.000+01:00

Not long to go now!...Having completed the flying Crow, I've made a basic layer for the sky then started the process of darkening it from right to left...you'll easily see where I've got up to! I've yet to put a line of grave stones beyond the trees...adjust the shading to my legs and head..then move onto tweaking the other flowers not shown here then the area around my signature which always is the last thing to do!

Teatime - 92

2011-10-12T21:23:00.000+01:00

Teatime - 91

2011-10-11T21:05:00.000+01:00

Teatime - 90

2011-10-10T21:16:00.000+01:00

Have now completed just over 300 hours work on this picture...nearing the end though. I like my little running men...the chaps on the left have been finished..the trio on the right have yet to be worked on.

In other news, continue to run...having lost over 3 stone (42 lbs) my weight has remained the same for four weeks now...so some sort of equilibrium has been achieved. I've run six miles on a few occasions last week, but managed to strain my right calf muscle whilst doing an aerobic workout on Friday..so I've rested over the weekend and resumed training today with a gentle two mile jog around my local park...the injury feels OK and should not prevent me from resuming regular runs this week.

Teatime - 89

2011-10-09T21:44:00.000+01:00

Here's a close up of the final group of running men..I apply a basic layer of dots then develop shadows which will add definition to arms, legs and heads. I still have work on my legs to blend away any hard edges.

Teatime - 88

2011-10-08T20:34:00.000+01:00

Gradually coming to the end of the Dandelions in this section at least..I've next got to refine my legs then I can begin work on the runners..trees etc..

Teatime - 87

2011-10-07T19:51:00.000+01:00

Teatime - 86

2011-10-06T21:19:00.000+01:00

A long hard day working on the (what have become) Dandelion clocks in the grass..I like them...in reality they would not be even..they would be clumped.....but this isn't reality!

Teatime - 85

2011-10-05T21:36:00.001+01:00

You're watching the final big area on this piece..there's always a moment in a pictures progress when things speed up and the end comes quickly...or at least gives the impression of hurried arrival....although how the word 'hurried' can be attached to something was was begun in the early days of May is a little over stated!

In case you're wondering...I originally had no intention of idea that I'd be adding another image of myself into the composition...I originally sketched plans for my Cello girl to be sitting in that place...just goes to show that the best laid plans even when working to such a fine degree can be altered at short notice!

Teatime - 84

2011-10-04T20:24:00.000+01:00

Have now progressed well with the running me....it's slow going getting the face correct...I still look as if I've been down a coal mine...but this should look OK one the very dark back ground is added in.

Run,run as fast as you can....

2011-10-03T21:37:00.000+01:00

Pardon me if you cross over as a Face Book member for the repeated images, but I was surprised by them this morning. I needed some reference images for inclusion in Tea time...so this is one of a series . I've done some work on the picture today, but I'll show more of that tomorrow.

This evening I went out to run and managed six miles ( which is just short of 10K !) non stop...it felt good and is another step up in my regular running regime!

Teatime - 83

2011-10-01T20:20:00.001+01:00

Working my way across..the little fella on the right has now started jogging!...I've also refined the ground cover with lots more there to do. the grave stones ( which often feature in my work) are there policing the horizon mapping the journey of the train and the walkers/runners..as in deed the we are all bounderied by the limits of our own mortality..in everything weather we are aware of it or not...it is inevitable.

Below are a couple of detailed close ups.

Teatime - 82

2011-09-29T20:16:00.000+01:00

Today I worked on refining the hair, star top and back ground...I've added in grave stones too plus the next figure who appears to have taken up power walking!

Teatime - 81

2011-09-28T21:48:00.000+01:00

I've spent today finishing the second tree, the sky ..aspects of the viaduct, and blending the hair, face and clothing of that remarkably handsome chap! In other news, my running continues to be a regular feature of my week. In the last 7 days, I've run 5 sessions of 5 1/2 miles each time...that means I've done a marathon in a week!..I'm hoping to increase my distance to include a 6 mile run in the next week.

Teatime - 80

2011-09-27T20:22:00.000+01:00

I've decided to make the back grounds trees in a stylised way...I know the style is called 'Broom' because it's one I used when I grew bonsai trees. the shape goes well with the arches of the viaduct and other curves such as the girls and the planets.

Ruddigore - or, the Witch's Curse.Finished artwork.

2011-09-26T21:44:00.000+01:00

Bit of a frustrating day today..had arranged to go out for afternoon tea with my friend Di, but the unavailability of the car till later than I thought and the need to rework the drawing you see here meant I had to postpone the trip. Anyway, here at long last is the finished and final piece of artwork for the Rose Hill Musical Society's production of Ruddigore. I'm amazed that they come back to me each year to produce their artwork.My rather childish illustrations are rather lightweight and comical...(a bit like the operettas I suppose!)...oh. and I'm cheap!...

Below is a reminder of last year's artwork for HMS Pinafore.you just have to imagine all the extra text that the printer adds indicating ticket prices, venue and performance times...

Teatime - 79

2011-09-24T22:37:00.000+01:00

I find it perplexing that occasionally I hear that some people find my work hard to deal with because of the nudity and subject matter. i like the fact that I can illicit reactions in my viewers...true art causes reaction...acceptance and complacency are enemies to me. thankfully Michael Angelo, Raphael, Davinci, Rubens, etc on and on and every classically accepted and revered artist in history have also had their erm knockers and detractors...it didn't seem to do them any harm!..and it won't do me any harm....I shall strive and continue to produce work that causes reaction! :)

Teatime - 78

2011-09-23T22:11:00.000+01:00

I really enjoy putting the back ground into my work..the characters assume a greater relevance when viewed in context to their surrounding. A bit obvious to say I suppose, but I tend to like rather sombre twilight/ night time scenes as the softness and shadows brings a dream like quality to proceedings...my reasons and influences exist in the shadows and darkness of time..the deep core of my past...they live in my dreams, my fantasies..and my thoughts.

Teatime - 77

2011-09-22T22:53:00.002+01:00

Teatime - 76

2011-09-21T20:50:00.000+01:00

Even though I say it myself. I'm quite pleased with the chap second from far left..a huffing puffing overweight me chugging along at the start of my fitness campaign!...oh, and some trees!

Teatime - 75

2011-09-20T21:51:00.000+01:00

In the background, I've drawn a line of figures.These two little fella's are walking..in fact the second figure is power walking! You see, when I took the photos to use as reference for my self portrait here, it was the impetus I needed to start my fitness campaign.so I thought that to represent that, I'd begin by having walking figures at this side of the picture, by the time they reach the other side of the page they will be running. The figures you see here are silhouetted...further detail will be picked out eventually!

Teatime - 74

2011-09-19T20:47:00.000+01:00

Progressed with the white blobbly flower things..what are they exactly?..ooh! and there are runnners on the horizon...and did I ever point out the DNA Double Helix dripping from the tea cup?...I thought not!

Teatime - 73

2011-09-17T20:27:00.000+01:00

A couple of hours work on the ground cover today..also managed to fit in a 5.18 mile run..actually the furthest I've ever run non stop..it was a challenge and I succeeded. you know...I think the end is in sight for this picture..it's been a long project. Probably with in the next two weeks...but I've still to introduce some interesting elements before then!

Teatime - 72

2011-09-16T19:41:00.000+01:00

Have now begun work on the ground...!

Teatime - 72

2011-09-15T20:26:00.000+01:00

I've now finished the windows in the coach and the locomotive...at last!! Now I have to concentrate on the under arches areas. In other news, I increased my running distance to 5 miles today and managed to run non stop for the entirety! Plenty of uphill sections including one very steep hill (Hillsway if you know Derby!)..at times I'm sure I could have walked quicker!! But I did it and feel really proud of myself. I'll run the same distance for 4 or 5 days then increase to 5.5!

Teatime - 71

2011-09-14T21:18:00.000+01:00

Sat around waiting for email from my client re - Ruddigore artwork, but it didn't come so eventually got myself back into Teatime here..not worked on it since last Friday. It's funny, but even that short break means it takes a while to re accustom myself to what I should be doing. anyway..that done, I can point out that I've continued to work on the lighted windows of the coach...I've been working from right to left darkening the window surrounds as I go..perhaps you can see where I've finished work for today towards the last window where the paneling is suddenly lighter.

Fit Before 50!

2011-09-13T21:38:00.000+01:00

As many of you will know..since early May this year , I've started a campaign to get myself into shape, lose weight and get fit. I've been using a web site which allows me to map and measure my walking/ running routes. walkjogrun.net is an easy to use site which not only gives information on distance run, but estimates the time to cover the course and the amount of calories that you'll burn. With a whole host of other info and details on routes that other site members have logged it's a brilliant (and totally free) tool to make your walking/running more satisfying where ever in the world you are!

Yesterday I was approached by Caitlin who monitors Tweets and Facebook communications. She asked me if she could write about me in an entry to the site's blog. So below I've included a link to the blog post she kindly wrote about me...I'm really honoured to be recognised for my effort and I hope that you'll take some inspiration from my story!

http://www.walkjogrun.net/blog/index.cfm/2011/9/12/Fit-before-50-One-mans-weight-loss-and-fitness-journey

Ruddigore - or, the Witch's Curse.II

2011-09-13T21:25:00.000+01:00

Here is the final piece of inked art work for the Ruddigore publicity. I next scanned this image and printed out two copies whch I then colourized.

Below you can see the basic B/W image in centre, then a blue monotoned version and a fulll colour version. They have been sent to the client who now has to decide which version to go with. Hopefully I'll produce the final piece tomorrow.

Ruddigore - or, the Witch's Curse.

2011-09-12T21:23:00.000+01:00

For the past six years, I've been asked to produce publicity material for a local Operatic group who produce an annual Gilbert and Sullivan operetta . The Rose hill Musical Society are performing 'Ruddigore' this year. As part of the story, the 'Hero' is surrounded by ghosts who are the living images of his dead relatives who emerge from large portraits. After producing half a dozen rough images for the client, the drawing below was chosen as the one to base the final artwork on.

Having satisfied with the above sketch, I then moved onto producing the pencil work on which I would apply the final inking. Below you can see that I've developed each figure to a higher degree.

Below I've applied ink to the hero figure as he is frightened by the emerging ghost from the painting. the stage costumes are based on the Regency period in UK which was circa 1790 - 1820 ish!

Below you can see I've now inked the ghost and his picture frame...two other frames can be seen giving a bit of dramatic perspective to the composition. I've penciled in the title 'Ruddigore'..the 'R' of which will be like a picture frame holding a silhouetted image of a witch.

The final work will be completed tomorrow. Once scanned, I will be producing a full colour and 2 colour version of the image which the client can chose from for final delivery to the printers who add the final text for printing.

If you'd like to read more about the plot and characters from 'Ruddigore' click here

Teatime - 70

2011-09-09T20:03:00.000+01:00

I've completed the sky and now moved onto the windows..I'd not got any reference material for lighted coach windows, so I've used my imagination..I think they look alright for the purpose here.The problem is that once the light level was established, it made the outer surface of the coach look too bright, so I've begun to darken it panel by panel as I progress to each window...the same goes for the bridge.

Teatime - 69

2011-09-08T21:31:00.000+01:00

Had a slightly reduced amount of working time today due to having been invited to lunch with an school friend. Was a very enjoyable time at The Mistral Bistro in Wirksworth ( Brie and Cranberry Baguette ! ) But I was able to fill in part of the major planet and continue the steam. tomorrow I'm hoping to complete the top left hand corner and then move onto the windows.

Over the weekend I'm planning to work on the publicity material for 'Ruddigore'...I also need to spend time developing sketches for my next idea which is taking shape conceptually quite nicely!

Teatime - 68

2011-09-07T19:54:00.000+01:00

Sorry it's blurred...spent over 5 hours again today on the steam...will aim to finish the steam and remaining planets by the end of the week!

Teatime - 67

2011-09-06T20:18:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I spent my time working on sketches for publicity material advertising the annual Gilbert and Sullivan production by Rose Hill Musical Society. Ruddigore ( or the Witches Curse) is going to be a fun piece to work on. I met with the commissioning officer and settled on a final idea for the posters/ handbills. I'll set to work on the final artwork later in the week.

Today I needed to get back to work on Tea time. Yet more of the same with the steam and smoke.

The incredible shrinking man!

2011-09-05T21:01:00.002+01:00

I know I posted these photos with the exception of the last one some time ago, but just wanted to show you what a bit of resolve can achieve. I started out on my get fit campaign at the beginig of May this year. The motivation was the photograph you see first here for my 'Tea time' picture.I was so horrified by the weight I'd put on and the fact that this year I celebrate my 50th birthday...I wanted to enter my second half century in the best shape of my life as opposed to the worst and heaviest condition I found myself in! So with the aid of some dietary guidelines, a desire to start exercising and a new pair of trainers...I got going.

The photograph below shows me after I'd bought the gear and started Power Walking...initially walking for 20 mins, I quickly managed to step up the distance I walked. As the weight started to come off..so the distance and my stamina increased!

The picture below was taken in June after I'd increased my daily power walks from 2 miles to 6 - 7 miles. I'd lost nearly 2 stone by now and was feeling like a different person (despite the glum look on my face!)

I took this photo (below) this morning after I came back from a 3.7 mile run. I have not given up power Walking, but running gives me an added challenge and is quicker !Each power walk session was taking one and a half hours...

I hope you'll forgive the vanity..I'm really proud of what I've achieved...I've lost 3 stone now and I'm probably in the best physical condition of my life...I know I look a bit of a prat and those shorts do me no favours what so ever...but there you go..!

Tea time - 66

2011-09-02T21:09:00.002+01:00

This is slow going, but it'll be worth it when it's eventually finished...which seems a long way off at the moment. I'm hoping to have more time to work from Monday as now my eldest Son has moved out to his new accommodation for University, My other son has enrolled at a local college to study art (!) and my daughter goes back to school on Tuesday! The school holidays seem everlasting...but you're always left wondering where the time has gone at the end!

Teatime - 65

2011-09-01T20:15:00.001+01:00

Teatime 64

2011-08-31T21:44:00.000+01:00

As you can see, I've resisted the urge too long and started work on the steam!...you can see that to begin with I lay a basic layer of thinly spaced dots....then darken areas to represent the shapes of the steam clouds...Passed 200 hours work on this now!

Teatime - 63

2011-08-30T20:31:00.000+01:00

I've progressed the sky to the far left..I have yet to complete the large planet above the coach, then I shall be free to work on the steam coming from the engine.

As promised yesterday, I can now reveal that the gesture of my left hand is a circle created by touching my thumb to my index finger. Now plenty of people more learned than I will probably correct me, but from what I have studied, the 'Mudras' are hand gestures which convery different meanings and are also an aid in meditation. I specifically chose the Gyan Mudra because it is an aid to mental peace and creativity. One document explained that it's presence symbolically in art is there to promote peaceful and intellectual discussion .It's use in 'Teatime' is my way of saying that ( as in all my work) objects and thier representation in relation to other objects signify important messages within the meaning of the picture.

GYAN MUDRA

Yogic Tranquilizer.
Its practice ensures
Mental Peace,
Concentration of the mind
and Sharp Memory,
Spiritual enhancement
develops creativity

Teatime - 62

2011-08-29T21:55:00.000+01:00

I wonder if you know what I'm doing with my hand in this picture?...It looks a bit like I'm about to twang some knicker elastic....but it's not so! I might tell you tomorrow if you don't guess before then!

Teatime - 61

2011-08-28T22:03:00.000+01:00

More sky...more stars...more planets..

'The Cello girls'

2011-08-26T21:17:00.004+01:00

(I recommend forwarding to 2:29 for the appropriate bit!)

I know I've posted this before..but I just wanted to do so again. Over the years, my work has evolved to the extent that I now have quite a cast of characters who pop up in my compositions...a regular feature has been the 'Cello Girl'..characterised by her dark bobbed hair cut and frilly knickers..oh and the cello of course...although not always. So having lived with the image of this gorgeous female which as a creation of my own imagination has haunted and teased me for many years, you'll probably understand my amazement to discover this little clip from 'The Merry widow'...a French TV production by Baile de la Opereta La Viuda Alegre y final by Fran Lehar .which appears to show a secession of my 'Cello Girls' almost exactly as I've imagined them for years. Needless to say I find this clip inspiring and will certainly use it's influence in future work.

Hope you enjoy it..watch to the end to see some wonderfully represented french Can can dancing!

Teatime - 60

2011-08-26T20:07:00.000+01:00

Another day of sky...really looking forward to moving onto the steam and underneath the arches!...the frustrating thing for me at the moment ( picture wise) is that I've got a really good and fairly definite basis for the next piece. I also have a commission to complete for the Rose Hill Musical society's production of 'Rudigore'. Lots to keep me busy!