Peake-o-matic

We went to the seaside for the day yesterday for a bit of bracing air. Southwold is an old fashioned and quirky resort on the east coast of England. It hasn't the brash pseudo-Vegasian aspirations of many seaside towns. No gawdy neon signs or 'kiss-me-quick' hats. Brighton Rock could not have been set here. On it's plus side, however, there is a pier with a small arcade containing the most bizarre attractions. They were all from the imagination of Tim Hunkin: http://www.underthepier.com/index.htm

There is also an excellent fish and chip shop in town called Mark's.

Spring is now reluctantly beginning here. This little chap appeared yesterday. Despite his ponty nose, he's a harmless bee fly, or bombylius major to his friends. He's about hlf an inch long. Not that uncommon, but a sign of the end of winter. I also saw two bats in the garden last night. I didn't attempt to photograph them, so I took a photo of the sunset instead.

Having been updated on the antics of Annie's feathered and web-footed friends across the pond, I tried to get a reaction from our UK amphibious contingent. Unforunately they were not at liberty to comment.

As I mentioned, I'm in a group of varied artists and we meet up for life drawing regularly. No sinister mystery about this pen and ink sketch, but I like its simple solidity so I thought I'd post it.

These are a couple of monoprints, both about 8 by 10 inches. Hopefully they convey some of the qualities of the painting below, but using landscape.

This is not one of my paintings, unfortunately. It was painted by my wife, Bridget, when she was at college. I like the sense of sinister mystery here, as well as the way it was composed and painted. I try to make my images quite ambiguous in an attempt to keep the viewer wondering.

Just found this picture on my computer. It's a photo of an oil pastel and ink sketch that I made when I spent a year as 'Artist in Residence' at Stowe school near Buckingham (UK). Quite an amazing place, with 600 acres of landscape gardens and lots of monuments and follies.

It was quite a few years ago now, and someone bought this (no idea who). I used to go into picture making like a bull at a gate, which meant the resulting images had a lot of energy. I'm probably being a bit too careful now, so I'll keep this here to remind myself to inject plenty of vigour into my work.

As promised, some examples of my sculptural ceramic work. They are hand-built, combining thrown (or turned), rolled out slabs or coils of mixed clays. Then they are fired in an electric kiln before re-firing in a drum of slow-burning sawdust and wood shavings. When they have beeen cleaned up, I put wax on the burnished parts, which gives them an appearance resembling wood or stone. They vary in height from about 10 to 18 inches. I'm planning to make some much larger ones for out-doors.

another picture taken at Wicken Fen(then cunningly inverted)

 

I'm in a group of artists called 'Ouse Life' and this is the door-sized painting that I entered for our latest exhibition called 'life sized life'

Hi, Thought I'd add my first bit of artwork. I've always liked this self-portrait (this is a segment of it). Must do more,, but of a prettier subject.