Several wise people offered advice to me in preparation for writing this blog.  One wise soul suggested I speak of my inspirations and my artistic process and another urged me to tell you stories about my art. 

I have been impressed with writers who let their books write themselves, wondering how those writers stand aside to let the book tell its tales.  Notable art tutors say similar things about the painting taking over the painting process at some point and that we would benefit from following in the direction the painting was heading.  

Good Fortune is the name of the painting where I experienced a bit of the painting directing the result.  My inspiration was finding "Piq a Boo" pears in the local veg shop.  They were in season for about 6 weeks and I bought many and set them up in a few different configurations for a still life, then we ate them!  Conforming the pears to an available canvas, they ended up in a line, on a cloth.  Not very interesting.  After looking some more, I put the middle one in a small red pottery dish, then looked some more.  Still not very interesting.  I had a dream of ribbons of all kinds so I rounded up all sorts of ribbons and ended up with one white one draped around the pear in the dish.  It felt complete but what were those pears saying?  After more looking I realised that while we humans come in all sizes and colours and temperaments, sooner or later, one or the other of us gets put on a pedestal and then after awhile, we might get a ribbon wrapped around us, or pinned to our lapels.  And how that happens or does not happen is widely subject to good fortune!  

Thanks for your attention and your interest in my art.  I'll write more soon.