Another new sketch for a possible future painting. At first I used repeated forms as I have not sourced enough falling figures yet. Yet I actually think the repetition helps to create rhythms across the surface; as if each figure is a different note and then the arrangement is like composing a song. I like the notion of moving towards something tragic on a sublime level. I seem to be pouring new compositions out at the moment, far far faster then I can paint them, so I now have about 15 on the go. I dont know if this means the ideas are just weak and empty, but at the moment I am trying to not over think it, and allow each picture to give the seed for the next idea. After this period of creation, when these ideas have been knocked out, I will stand back and consider the results. Chacnes are I will think a lot of them are shit, but even that will provide a base to work from and make me question what i am trying to do.

The play between figuration and abstraction continues. Have also just started a series on Autumn in general. Along with the new Danae paintings and my MArsyas series these are moving towards a totally none figurative essence. Where the language of abstraction searchs for representation.

other works like ‘drummer:ritual dance’, ‘Icaroonus, the child and the smoke’ ‘The Sinner and the child I and II’, ‘Our Birmingham Rulers’, ‘Curtis’, and ‘Acteon on the run from his own dogs’ are all moving towards a clearer form of figuration. more characterisation, certain graphic or illustrative elemetns, more solid compositional forms, more explciti narratives and meta narratives and an accidental push towards contemporary fragmentations of meaning.