I seem to have had a busy month, mostly planning things, the first Urban Arts Retreat on Colour wisdom. This is happening on Saturday 10th March, more info on my main site, and planning for the next at the end of March.
Sorting out ideas for a body of work called ' 1000 petalled lotus ' which I hope to launch soon. This is an open event for all artists working in all mediums to respond to the theme. Initially work produced would be photographed, or videoed and sent to my website where there will be a section for the work to be seen. The idea is to eventually have 1000 pieces of work representing the 1000 petals of the lotus, and look for a suitable venue for an exhibition.

Continuing with my printmaking, I have been working on copper, trying out drypoint, and working on some designs for silkscreen. It keeps me on my toes, working in different mediums, but quite a lot of work awaiting completion.

I've also started a couple of self portraits, I haven't done any of these for a long time, so this is an interesting process, what do I see? who do I see? and what do I look like? I'll put them on here and my site when they are finished.

David Hockney Portraits

I just caught the David Hockney exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery before it closed a week ago. It was a much larger exhibition than I was expecting, and a treat to see. I have admired a lot of Hockney's work for many years, especially the drawings and fine pen portraits.

It was good to see the double portraits in water colour, in the flesh, as reproduced they seemed to bright in colour, especially the faces which in reproduction were bright red. The colours are strong in these portraits, but not that strong fortunately.

The exhibition included Hockney's photographic portraits, made up of dozens of images, which I've always fancied doing myself, but haven't yet.

Hockney's portraits of his mother,( there were examples from all periods in her life,) were beautiful, drawn and painted with such obvious care. The latest large portrait canvases were also great. the characters of the sitters coming through strongly.

What I was also stuck by the sheer amount of work that he had produced, it puts me to shame and makes me determined to use what time I have as creatively as possible.

I have just enjoyed 4 weeks teaching meditation at the London Buddhist Centre, and am working on the next series of art and meditation days the first of which will be on colour called Colour Wisdom, on March 10th. More info will be on my main site.