By some complete oversight I forgot to post on here about my painting of the Night Sky, June 15th 1215. This what you’d have seen – roughly speaking – if you’d looked heavenwards on the night Magna Carta was sealed eight hundred years ago.

The painting was originally planned for Lincoln, which possesses one of the four original copies of Magna Carta, and where I had my first large solo exhibition in 2003. Alas that didn’t work out.

The painting is on canvas with acrylics, inks, pigments and dyes, with pure siver leaf. There is a barely visible image of the world as it was perceived in the Middle Ages (divided into three continents) underlying the painting of the sky with its stars and constellations.

I wonder if King John consulted any astrologers/soothsayers before this momentous event was thrust upon him? it was a not uncommon thing to do. I’m not an astrologer: I wonder what the omens were? Anyone able to tell me?

A recent painting in its new home!

What was it like to be one of the Impressionists in the early days? Hardly anyone wanted to buy your outlandish work; sometimes you traded it for a meal. You painted quickly because you wanted to and needed to. And then you flogged the piece if you could, and it was gone. AND YOU NEVER HAD A PHOTOGRAPH OF IT!

I’m at the stage of having sold hundreds of painting by now. I don’t know how many and have quite forgotten some of the early ones. I had a poor camera and sometimes forgot to take a photo of a piece before it was sold. (I still occasionally do.) But by and large I have a record of my work.

(and here’s another, sent by Gillian):

It’s necessary to sell work: not just to make a living or create room in the house, but also to clear your mind. While older work is still around you it’s harder to move on to new ways of working, seeing and thinking. You soon learn to not miss any but a few special favourites when they go.

But it’s a special delight when buyers (people often hitherto unknown to you) send you photos of your work in its new home. This is ridiculously pleasing! Suddenly the painting has an afterlife. It’s leading its own existence independently of you. I’ve had a few such photos in the last weeks – so a big thank you, lovely buyers, it’s much appreciated!

(and here’s another – all three were favourites, especially this one):