OXIDE OF CHROMIUM

[WEDNESDAY 27 OCTOBER 2010]
I have spent this morning doing some (payed) werk, and also catching up on a few emails and things. It is now 10.43am and I will go and make a cup of tea and head on out to the studio...

It is now 10.53am and I am still on this infernal computer.  I really, honestly, am going now.

First task: I paint in some sky and find a vintage tube of Oxide of Chromium to give to the trees

Post-lunch: Another fun-filled time painting and pouring on "rock face" number 2.

Later: I was merrily werking away, intending to bring the neon glow on the secret date plaque back to a whiter shade (it's looking decidedly yellow).  But too much paint, and we're losing the background.  I blend it out good and hard.  Still no joy.  Emergency procedures: flood a load of white spirit down the surface.

And then I have to go and fuck it up completely.  I was rubbing it back, but the white has spread everywhere, the background is getting lost under a haze of white, which is growing and growing.  fuckfuckfuck.

Looks like we're back to scratch.  I add some green and black to get rid of the white, but I have a feeling I'll be starting again on this from the ground up next week...

artex and papered cracks

[WEDNESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2010]
09:07 hours.  I am turning off the computer and heading for the garret.  Hmm,  judging by the icy air that greets me, we seem to have skipped autumn and cut straight to winter.

I put the heater on to take the edge off the cold.  But then go outside anyway.  The second "rock face" canvas ends up clad in tissue paper to cover the cracks and add some more texture and wrinkles.  Then I take a break and get a lift to a well-known hobby & craft superstore to buy some canvas.  Proper heavy duty canvas, not like that flimsy, light weave stuff I've been putting up with.  5 metres of canvas: I have plans to build some more large stretchers.

Back at the studio: the latest commemorative date plaque gets a load of chalk added to the neon glow.  I do the usual blending and brushing and go in for a second layer.  But something is wrong.   I take to it with some water: kill or cure.  It looks even worse, then it looks better.  phew.

And next: "Rock face" no.2 has been drying in the crisp air and sun.  In it comes, and I crack open an old jar of artex.  Yes, you heard me, artex.  Brush it over the the thick, plastered and papered areas.  And it's time for lunch.

After lunch I make some progress with the other "rock face".  I stand back and look at the fresh, deep pink neon glow.  I will leave that one to dry for now.

Must keep up the momentum... "Rock face" 2 is now under a layer of stone-y oil paint, I picked out the cracks and everything.

The big square canvas goes back up on the wall.  Another frenzied attack on the sky:  leftover grey paint; dirty water; more oil paint; more water; rub it back; white acrylic, watered down... all of it dripping down the surface.  I turn it on its side and run more filthy water down.  Then flip it round and do the same the other way.  It ends up hanging at an angle, all manner of watery mess trickling slowly down the canvas.

the business end of my brush

[WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2010]
Hi-Ho! And off to werk I go...

I've spent the morning jumping from canvas to canvas, doing a bit here, a bit there.  Werking on things that haven't seen the light of day for months and months, and everything remains in a half-finished state.  These are just two of the paintings that have seen the business end of my brush:

I'm starting to think I need a new project to really get my teeth into.

This new "rock face" could be that project.  Looks like there'll be quite a bit of werk prep-ing the ground before the neon is added.

So I sat there, contemplating my next move.  Gazing round the studio...  As if in a trance I approached the large square canvas on the wall, applied a little oil paint (Coeruleum Blue and Burnt Sienna) to areas at the foot of the picture plane.  Then out comes the ink and a frenzy of activity; then on goes my pint glass of water...

next: thinned-down Cobalt Blue and White, more water, more paint; then the dregs of everything I've thrown at it, that has collected in the trays underneath, that goes back down too.  I have paint on my hands and paint splashed across my face, and the feeling is good.

I have another go: water; charcoal; brush it around; scrape some old flake white paint across with a palette knife to suggest a cloud; and, of course, more filthy run-off water... I sit back and take it in: a good start.

And to finish off for the day: a little more werk on the orange neon glowing 'NO'.

I THINK OF YOU AND I SMILE exhibition photos

On the final day of my exhibition, Verity and I snuck in early to photograph my paintings in situ. 
[see previous post for a short video tour of the exhibition]

plastered

[WEDNESDAY 06 OCTOBER 2010]
I just spent an hour tidying the mess I left behind last week.  Chucked out a load of old palettes, rags, and detritus that's been building up on the studio floor. It is more organised, even if it doesn't look it.

And now, a bit of chalky whiteness on the latest secret painting.  Fixative spray, then leave the loft and the fumes...

I was looking for some plaster-of-paris, but instead I came across a big tin full of old tubes of oil paint. Bonus!  It's okay, I found the plaster-of-paris shortly after.  Mixed it up and slathered it onto the canvas I began last week.  I already have ideas for the neon that will emanate from the crevice, but for now I must wait for the plaster to dry.

After an extended lunch (curse you internet!), I pay the top secret painting some more attention.  White oil paint to build up the glow, I patch up the areas that need a little extra, then go over the parts that have become a bit dirty from all that chalking earlier on.

And finally, some more werk at the old "rock face" (or "The Path of Least Resistance 3 (pink)" as it should probably be known).  And then I finish early, I have a gig to go to...

I THINK OF YOU AND I SMILE exhibition tour

For those who were unable to make it along, here is a short video tour of my exhibition.