Wednesday 22 April 2015

Talking in the night

Raffi and I were up before daybreak today, There was a mistiness and chill in the air. The sun was struggling through the mist and the landscape was drained of it's usual vibrancy.  Our walk out to the tower was filled with a feeling of new beginings and as we sat on the cliff waiting for the sun a Rumi poem came into my head. This is then dedicated to someone where a new understanding would be good. I shall just sit here and wait for the metaphorical mist to burn off.


Talking in the Night 

In the middle of the night, I cried out,
 “Who lives in this love I have?”
 You said, “I do, but I’m not here alone. Why are these other images with me?”
 I said, “They are reflections of you, just as the beautiful inhabitants of Chigil in Turkestan resemble each other.
” You said, “But who is this other living being?”
 “That is my wounded soul.” Then I brought that soul to you as a prisoner.
 “This one is dangerous,” I said. “Don’t let him off easy.”
You winked and gave me one end of a delicate thread.
 “Pull it tight, but don’t break it.”
 I reached my hand to touch you. You struck it down.
“Why are you so harsh with me?”
“For good reason. But certainly not to keep you away! Whoever enters this place saying Here I am must be slapped.
This is not a pen for sheep.
There are no separating distances here.
This is love’s sanctuary.
Saladin is how the soul looks. Rub your eyes, and look again with love at love.”

Jelaluddin Rumi


I came back and painted this small 30 x 30 cm painting with this in mind. Have a nice day.








Tuesday 21 April 2015

Loving the weather

Making the most of the lovely weather and a spot of painting outside.



Raffi is exhausted after his morning marathon down the Mielah Valley and back !


Thursday 16 April 2015

White out

Make over of the week... in da studio.

From this very lovely shaped chair,


To this. Which goes a little better with my style.


Just have to make a proper cushion cover and I'm done.




Wednesday 15 April 2015

...and aaahhhhh


I think we have turned the corner as far as the weather is concerned and summer is on it's way. A splendid lunch on the beach under the shade of a Tamarisk tree and the wonderful colour of the sea made a lovely setting.

Camino in the distance.



A little obsession with the ripples on water and concrete walls !  Very painterly images I think and I may well interpret them into some abstract work.











A Raffi walk the other day down to Xatt l ahmar. The hay is being cut and the ears of barley are begining to ripen. The island is so pretty at this time of year.




 Little hut nestled into the hillside a spit from the sea. I would love to live and work here, so inspiring.



 Weird creeping alien seaweed bleached by the sun.


Monday 13 April 2015

All in a daze work

I have recently been reading 'Me & Rumi' by William Chittick. The autobiography of 
Shams-i Tabrizi. A collection of translated works from the 12C manuscripts. A very enlightening read about these two friends. Sometimes the text is somewhat hard going and takes a little bit of concentration but well worth the effort ! 



My latest sketchbook/journal is based on making marks. An upcycled hard back novel, a little gesso and hey presto a very useful and cheap way of putting down idas. Making different marks is very much how I build up my paintings in layers. So I thought a record of all the types I use would be good to have in one place. Plus it sparks ideas for new ones. Here's a few ideas.

Words by Rumi.

Paper on paper


Scraps of watercolours on Gold pen.


Pen on acrylic over book page. Indira's net.



Leaves painted stuck onto acrylic.


Acrylic and gold pen exposing circles of book pages.


Leaf prints.


Leaf prints.


Metalic paint on acrylic.


Metalic paint and ink on acrylic.


Rust marks on silk.


Incense stick burn marks


Fragments cut from a larger collage.


Sewn tea bags.


A Good Friday hike up the 14 stations of the cross. The weather was fitting for a sombre day.