Rik Mayall Dream, She Just Looks Empty Underpainting Day 1

I dreamt that Rik Mayall wanted to publish a magazine. I advised that he needed and 'SSN' number for it, a magazine equivalent of an ISBN (in actuality, an ISSN). I became annoyed that he didn't seem to care about this, yet that it was holding up the publication of the magazine. I found a laptop and located the website for purchasing SSN numbers and tried to persuade him to use it, but to no avail. He lazily didn't care.

I awoke feeling so unexpectedly tired and ill, weak, and almost feverish. Still, I pushed on with my plan of painting today and underpainted part of 'She Just Looks Empty'.

All went exactly as planned. The colour study is so massively helpful as a guide here. No matter how I'd have painted it, there are so many options that without a guide I'd be uncertain if this is the best choice. One hour spent painting a colour study potentially saves days of repainting.

All Controlled By Someone Cover, Claire Luce Sketch, and Other Jobs

I feel too slow and am struggling with motivation, yet am getting things done as planned.

First, sized some paper for the large panel primed yesterday, this was annoyingly 10mm bigger than an A1 sheet, so rather than using the larger paper rolls I have I glued a small extra part to it. Then, finished the scoring of the 'I Can Heal' music, which is now in 5 versions, including two simplified piano versions.

Then, did some artwork for that single release (All Controlled By Someone; I Can Heal is the B-Side). Made an iTunes booklet for this too, 7 pages including all lyrics.

Then spent some time, too long due to the way many websites work, organising my email addresses. After that, sketching out a new Claire Luce portrait. One problem I can envisage is that now I can paint more 'realistically' than back then, which means less dark eyes. My sketch already seems to have a better likeness than the old portrait; yet, perhaps I already know that I can't love any new painting more than a beloved old one.

This took 90 mins or less. I expect that the first portrait took days to sketch out. That took 3 days overall and used a flesh mix of Magenta, French Ultramarine and Olive Green, all in one layer.

I Can Heal Transcription, She Just Looks Empty and Masochistic Gaia Studies

Today, started the transcription of the sheet music for 'I Can Heal'. There are very slight differences between the repeat of the second version and first, only because the bass piano comes in a bit later on that second repeat. I've ignored that here, and ignored the idiosyncratic timing of the vocals (the odd note is a half in the vocals, the melody is somewhat robotic in timing). There mark a few little compromises that are sometimes needed for efficiency when transcribing.

After that, I cut a moderately large (80x50cm) MDF panel for a new painting, and primed it with GAC100 each side, then Lascaux Primer. Lascaux Primer is the most expensive gesso, but it is perhaps the best I've used. It has the consistency of single cream. Then, two colour studies for 'She Just Looks Empty' and 'Masochistic Gaia Toying With Humanity'.

I Can Feel Vocals, Donovan Before I Was Even Born

Sigh, a slow a frustrating day, disturbed at night by the annoyances of so many injustices in the world. My main job of the day was to write a song of some sort for the Donovan evening, so I managed this by putting together a few words. This took rather long time; I came up with a few options and didn't want too much repetition with previous songs. I did repeat the same words a few times, because Donovan seems to repeat lines a lot in his songs. My words:

I'm reading up and down
like the colours of the rain
I'm typing up a memoir
of another you again
and the sky is black and white
like yesterday and the yesterday
you saw
In that long ago before
I was even born

And the words are all a flutter
like a butterfly of type
and the flowers in the rain
are moving to the hype
and the sky is sudden yellow
like somebody in a summer field
of corn
In that long ago before
I was even born

And now you're painted mellow
Funny how that goes
Funny how ambition
Dies but never grows
And the stars are all around us
like yesterday and the yesterdays
before
In that long ago before
I was even born

It's also Tuesday, so my only few minutes of free space to sing, so I practiced a little and sang words to the new version of I Can Heal (an old song, previously recorded with a much lower pitched melody for The Harlequin Kings album). I layered the chorus with a main lead plus 2 duplicates, and 4 duplicates of harmonies; all good. The song is certainly much better than before. I wish I had more than an hour a week to sing, but perhaps a regular hour per week is better than lots of time in a rush every few months.

This is all I have given the world today. Too little.

Dentist, Music Transfers, Gaia, Donovan Speculation

A visit to the dentist in the morning. I used to enjoy such visits, seeing them as a challenge of stoicism, particularly if something potentially painful was due. I don't enjoy these so much now; the price is very high, the treatment very scant.

Then, some of my regular music transfers. Just 16 albums remain, perhaps I can mange 4 per week. Some won't need transferring, or must wait a little... I'll need to re-record The Modern Game yet again, for example, as I can't use the Marius Fate name.

Then, a little more work on the Gaia painting, though too little! I've completed the tracing, photographed the underdrawing (it always amazes me how the tiny delicate pencil lines can be photographed) and then printed and prepared a small copy as a study.

Tomorrow I must write some music for the Donovan night. Donovan's music tends to be one note, and the lyrics always about being half-asleep in a stupor. Perhpas I can comment on this in the words, but I have no idea at all what to write. So far, my songs have been attempts to emulate the style of the artist I'm paying tribute to, but here I may have try something different. I have a self-imposed 24-hour deadline for this.

Masochistic Gaia Plans

The start of work on a new painting entitled 'Masochistic Gaia Toying With Humanity'. The hottest day here of this heatwave, 27 degrees inside. I've barely the energy to work, and have watched some of the gripping tennis final, unable to face more drawing.

The composition needed more, so I added a fish from 'Bye Bye Little Fishes, And Thank You' (with the same meaning; the fish also appeared in Annunciation). The idea features a distorted figure, but with a strange face, which is in the air and upside down relative to the body. I decided to make this more 'realistic' in shading and look, but now I'm less sure. A mock-face as in 'Bunting Game' may work better.

She Just Looks Empty Plans

The hottest day of the third heatwave of 2024, 30 degrees out and 26 indoors. I've started work on painting, continuing work on 'She Just Looks Empty' from last year. Here's the original idea sketch:

I want to stick, as ever, to the original feeling and idea, but there are many influences and enhancements to the core mood of isolation, alienation. The little figures, initially simply gazing upon the broken 'building' figure, are now a couple, perhaps married life, or strife, a breaking point, but always a contrast, separate from the main figure like a memory or idea. Here is the underdrawing:

The top right has an orange (in my mind's eye) glow, here a toy rabbit; a symbol of non-human companionship, or a symbol of (social) fear.

I've prepared the canvas, and a copy for a colour study, and I made a lighting model from cardboard too.

It makes more sense to paint a few colour studies in one session rather than just one painting, so I may plan more works before proceeding. As far as goals go, there is no target (no competition or exhibition) for this painting.

Stratford, Another Violet Night Complete

A trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon yesterday. My first visit to this delightful town, more timber framed old buildings than even Nantwich. It was however very hot, around 30 degrees, and the 3-hour each way coach trip was a particular test of physical endurance; there was no air conditioning, it had apparently broken, though the coach was decades old and I suspect the company of stinginess regarding the use of this expensive device. The cramped heat and disruption to my eating routines led to a night of stomach agony (despite a light meal of only weak porridge at 7pm). Such trips take days off my life and today I am recovering.

I think that Another Violet Night is complete, and have listened a few times without wanting changes. I now dislike all of it, a sign that I'm ready to move on. I must try to promote it a little despite my prejudice. One notable aspect is that it's as dark as my paintings, as much about pain, loneliness, and longing as any romantic work. A Drive Through The Town was, by comparison, one of my most joyous and exuberant energy-filled works. The new album was made because I wanted a contrast and more raw humanity.

I have the tracks to divide, a listing on my website. There is a lot of other admin work regarding the music, once I'm completely certain the album is finished. Here are the tracks and times: