First Gallery of the year

I collected this painting from Bishop Auckland Town Hall last week and tomorrow it is off to Green fields Arts open Gallery. It will be offered at a radically reduced price to account for the current economic climate so if you are interested please pop along and see it. It will be accompanied by The Journey home also at a reduced price and Summer Hill force at full price.

Although I have not published anything for new year I have journaled two New years thoughts, one way back in November at the start of Samhain, the Celtic New year and one recently at the start of Imbolc. They both turned out to be a bit personal and I have not published them. But a watered down version follows. What was a very busy year last year did generate income but also sacrificed creativity. This year I aim to focus on creativity, less on chasing the money! Counter cultural, I know and a big risk as how can I be creative if I cant pay the bills, but there has always been a wide swathe of faith running through this art stuff and I am hoping this will take me somewhere different and hopefully also will generate income.

To work or not to work is a constant chant in the background of my mind. To find a job and work of money, to work for charity, or to work on my art. The three jostle for priority in a never ending dance and while this tension lasts I know I will never be as creative as I should be. I would love this year to be the year I can relax and just create and let the people who love the work find me, instead of me having to spend a lot of money, time and energy trying to find them.

As ever learning to say no to all the things I am asked to do that are not really what I feel I should be doing is something I need to learn. Its so hard but so important.

Most immediately, I have a commission just finished and once those who commissioned it have seen it I will be sharing it with all of you offering the opportunity for prints. I have a beautiful little painting that will be finished soon, along with a large wild and wonderful image of the Seam midlist storm following. I have one painting of Barnard Castle's Castle started and another to start. Some cogs and things from The back of Barnard Castle to grapple with and a whole series of work I want to do on Kirkcarrion. Not sure where I am going to show all of this at once it is finished, but I do hope I do get some of it finished.

I don't have a lot of paintings left in my possession as I have just sold another three in one night. Now new work needs to be done urgently. I hope 2023 is going to be an incredibly productive and especially creative year. Best wishes to you all, I look forward to sharing what is done throughout the year.