Ian Warburton .New paintings

                                                garden, July. oil on canvas. 100x100cms I used to think that I had something useful to say but the well of words runs dry. Fortunately the ideas for painting do not. The way in which this painting has developed, close up, emphasis on the surface, has meant that I was surprised to see take on this aspect. It reminds me of something by Altdorfer in its slightly oppressive character.

 Robin Brienne asked if I would agree to a short film. I was happy to help and the result makes me smile. I hope that it has the same effect on others. All kudos to Robin and his associates.

 I have spent days on the web looking at how people paint, watching instructive videos, looking through books. The videos show me how to do it, what steps I should take to improve and frankly it is exhausting. It even figures in my dreams. But I did find a link, well maybe a link which was a teaching moment . So the link is, William Coldstream, Euan glow, Ann Gale. If you get a moment.. There is a story about the Chassidic Master Zusia. As he lay dying, he was crying and his students asked him, "Reb Zusia, why are you so sad? He responded by saying that "when I go to Heaven, God will not ask me why I was not more like Moses or King Solomon. No, God will ask me,"Why were you not more like Zusia" So after all of that, it is the question I must ask of myself. Why am I not more like me ?  Everywhere one looks there is a wealth of information, years and years of effort, a cornucopia of thought and practice and yet in the end one can only be oneself.The job is the job and...

 Which is how I spent my day.

oil on canvas. 120x120cms There is a poem by R.S.Thomas with the same title as this. It fitted as this is a distillation of something that might hardly be noticed but which I catch sight of in those rapid eye movements which occur whilst moving from one position to another and while doing something else. Then one comes across the poem and something must be done about it.

small bush and hedge. oil on canvas. 120x100 cms Showing at the Concrete Cube Gallery has been a good experience for me and now, having the catalogue to look at during times when I am not in my workspace has caused me to think hard about how these paintings are developing. I am erratic. I don't have a plan. I think that one thing is going to happen and then some other thing does. So in the course of making say, this painting and the one which follows it any sense of continuity disappears. There are parts that are new and ideas that have history. Recently, to add to my liking of Thomas Jones (1742-1803 ) I have been looking at Altdorfer ( 1480-1538 ). These might well shape some of the things I will be making over the next few months. Note: I have been told that it can be difficult to access other posts. Click on the site B in the orange square and see if that works.                               winter afternoon,...