The paintings are now entirely about accidents. During the next year I will continue on the theme of reflections inspired by Saunton Sands in North Devon
I have also started another blog entitled, 'The Journal of an Artist.' which has been taken from a small note book. It's a philosophical work of comedy and should be regarded as pure fiction on www.hegelsplan.blogspot.com.
Note about numbers
Things never occur on a first accident because it is probable that it is the result of some thing that has already happened. Two accidents are random and one isn't, because it is only by either subtraction or addition that 1 can change it's form. This transformation has a 3rd causation in actuality. The third attempt is normally when things are successful. I attempt to find a colour twice for instance and on the third occasion it appears.
In physics (the study of atoms,) two accidents are known as collisions. The problem with painting is, the less we're aware of mathematics and science the less control we have. In my experience creativity just stops if we don't pay attention to the mechanics behind it. The study of numbers is important in my work at the moment so that it can be structured. Example, if I find a colour on the 2nd attempt, I may search again anyway, just to even things out. From practical experience however we don't employ these systems as logically as I suggest, but to think through some of these ideas can be intriguing.
Some simple basic principles
There are 10 forms altogether that start with 0. We count them as 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Just look at any computer key board. The number 10, combines 0 and 1 and 11, 1 and 1, 20, 2 and 0. Other examples, there are 9 months gestation, 9 planets and one X with an irregular orbit, 10 fingers, 0 fingers are 0 fingers. Two fists are therefore called something else. The point being, if you count all the numbers on the keyboard including 0, there are ten. Also 10 was the golden number for ancient Greek mathematicians, like Pythagoras. This pattern then repeats itself. One accident becomes a second accident and on the third we observe it's outcome. The 4th accident becomes the 5th, the outcome is number 6. I would like to add, that 7 is an important number because it is the beginning of the final outcome of a set of 10 forms and 3 is the end of 2 previous accidents. Get my drift? The term one for good luck has relevance as well because including o, the extra 1 is number 10, which=11. One for good luck is always optional which means we choose whether we bring a thing into the equation or not at all. It has a random pattern which doesn't have to be predicted. Once we hit 9 forms including 0, we posit 1 or not 1 for good luck. The number 10 has been superseded and the forms start all over again.
I was commissioned to paint an 8' family portrait in 2008. There is an example entitled, Parkhouse family on www.Johnsonsburyart.blogspot.com. It took me 9 months in total to complete, which including 0 is 10 forms. If I analysed it using this system, it may have been apparent that the portrait was divided into 3 sections or processes. Other examples are past, present, future and foreground, middle ground and background etc.
Accidents are physical things, in everyday life. Painting is only part of the process. I would like to add, call it a coincidence, whilst I was writing this blog, the doorbell rang twice. One was a parcel delivery man and the other a woman who both wanted to know directions. The outcome is, whilst I'm writing the blog today, another parcel delivery man? It is all association, and ways of structuring random events in time. The word Ekstasis may also be useful for further study. A third example, I was developing photo's in Boots chemist. The first machine didn't work and the second didn't work either, but the third did. Also, think of Goldilocks and the three bears. First bowl of porridge, too hot, second too cold, third, just right.
