Hello peeps,

What can I say?...the second painting of the triptych is winging it's way towards Olde London Town as we speak....post permitting. I must say it was a bit of a bugger to do this one, still unsure it it's what the client had in mind when he commissioned it but, hey ho... I think the anxiety stems from such little information about the "Creation of Adam"...I mean, we all know he is the first human to be created in Gods image but will he be the "image" that the client was expecting????.....ooooer....fingers crossed. On a positive note though....I know it'll sit along side the "Ascension" panel very well and the balance of colour and composition should work rather well. Here's hoping that the third panel doesn't balls it all up. I think the decision to paint all three with a very "English" theme was the right thing to do as it gives the whole image a rather excentric feel.

I've commenced the "Vision of Hell"....now this third painting should tie the whole triptych together....mmmmmm....we shall see. Ho hum.

"Lucifer" is looking dead smug at the minute...mind, if you were sat ruling over the lost souls in a fiery pit all the live long eternity...I suppose you'd have something to be smug about. I'm trying to make him less "evil" in presentation and more "boy next door"...yeah right, now that'll work. Want a new look to poor old Lucifer...I mean, having horns sticking out the side of your head can't be much fun. You'd be constantly snagging them on door jams..plus, it would be very tempting for the "lost souls" to use you as a hat rack. Upshot of this is Lucifer will be without horn......

I'm also not to sure how Hell can be portrayed as "olde England"....it's a concurrent countdown conundrum. The last two panels had a lot of symbolism in them that depicted a certain "Englishness". Oh well, it'll all come together as I paint no doubt. My work usually develops in unexpected ways........

I'm also developing ideas for the next series of paintings...hopefully these will be ready for the exhibition in Manchester in November. Want to do an "Urban Angels" series. I was in Blackpool recently and saw the ruins of the arson attack on Yates wine lodge. It's very strange that a building that has been ravaged by fire can still be so beautiful. Anyrode up....it sort of sparked up some ideas in my head so am working on them whilst completing the triptych. This is quite a wonder for me as I can't muti-task normally...........

Good evening all...

Well where do I start?...it's been a busy old week really. I'm trying to juggle organising work for the exhibition I'm having in Manchester and finishing the commission painting. It's a conundrum to be sure.

The painting of "the creation of Adam" is almost complete...I've still got to organise the framing and give it a general tweaking but, all in all, it's virtually done. It's been an odd commission this one as a great many people have no idea what or who it is I'm painting. I suppose the trouble with painting a religious subject one has to have a good knowledge of the subject matter and there is very limited reference to the creation of Adam in the bible. Plus...and this is a big plus...Michaelangelo's "creation of Adam" on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is a bleedin' tough act to follow...I mean, how iconic is that piece of work? It would of been easier all round to do a traditional "Adam and Eve" painting in the garden of Eden...then everyone would of known who the Adam I'm painting and banging on about is...hey ho.
It's also the second panel of the triptych and I'm crossing my fingers and toes that it balances up to the main panel of "the Ascension". The "Ascension" is already housed in it's new home and awaiting it's two counterparts..... I've never worked on a triptych this seperately before. I usually have all three pieces together to juggle with and balance up, we shall have to wait to see if they all do. Plus...as soon as this one is finished it's being posted off to meet it's "central" brother so the third will be worked as a seperate entity too. At least the final panel won't confuse anybody...it's "a vision of Hell"...surely everyones heard of Hell and the Devil ??? It's a concurrent countdown conundrum if they haven't..............Ho Hum.

I'm now on display on the Park Gallery's website...I'm still dead chuffed about that one. David, the owner, has proved to be such a diamond geezer...he's very "on the ball" and it's been a pleasure doing business with him. I thank you David...you're a star.

Right I'm off to do some research about "Hell" in general...sure as hell hope there's more reference to it in the Bible than there was of the "creation of Adam"...will save shed loads of confusion...

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Good afternoon my chums,

Blimey, blimey, blimey...it's been eons since I last blogged. I have been moving house...awaiting tinternet connection and rushing about like a thing possessed. Incidentally I'm now a Scottish bod...having moved across the border. I'm forever tossing off cabers and chasing haggis. I'm also thinking of forming a "Krankies" tribute act but am unsure if I can still get away with wearing shorts...

I'm now installed in my new abode...have unpacked the equipment and have been attempting to paint the second part of the "Ascension" triptych. It's been altered slightly from having wailing deciples and Marys either side to "The birth of Adam" on the left and "A vision of Hell" on the right. Ooooooer! I must say it makes very interesting subject matter. I never realised that poor old Adam was bunged together from dust and had to hang about for 7 days or such til God breathed life into him....still, I suppose we end up as dust so we may as well of come from it too....
The youth I am using as Adam is looking a tad worried at the minute...mind if you're surrounded by the "Holy Ghost", apples and snakes and awaiting life to be breathed into you...you would look a bit anxious. Ho hum. I'm trying to create a smidgeon of mediaeval wall art on this one...it's a conundrum trying to create a twisted perspective without looking as though you've messed it all up. We shall have to see if it works or needs re-jigged when all the background is painted in.

I have also been to see a very nice man who owns a very good gallery in Glasgow. It is a breath of fresh air to meet a bloke who is so passionate about art and who is so knowlegable about it all. He's also very approachable...this does help when the paranoia kicks in and you just want to run for the hills leaving a wake of painted boards behind you..........thank you David.
It's called the Park Gallery...it has a very good website too if you want to check it out. Some of the work in the gallery is outstanding. The upshot of the visit was that David agreed to take all the work that I had brought...hurrah!
I am now on display in a Glasgow gallery and I'm more perky than a perky person on the perky bus leaving perky town for a perky week end away....blimey, I'm chuffed.

The exhibition in Manchester is still on track...well..sort of...may have to burn the midnight oil to get enough stuff together but...hey ho...these things are sent to try us....

Thank you for taking the time...

Ivor x

Good evening my special chums,

I am back from a very gruelling period of my life...mmm...what can one say, it has been dead knackering. I am about to make some life changing decisions and it has been a tad taxing on ones old blogging elbow. Does this appear to be a very feeble excuse for taking so long to blog?.........mmm you know me so well.

Apart from the very over dramatised issue above I have been painting steadily and have finally finished the main panel of the "Ascension". It has been a very strange experience as I have learnt much more than I had bargained for. I thought I had a definite idea of how it should of turned out...but...that was not the case at all. The painting seemed to guide its self..yes, I know that sounds like "new age hippy crystal waving nonsense" but it did. The finished piece has a definite "English" quality. I had intended it to be kind of Middle Eastern with a Catholic twist, not at all...very "English" with a medaeval twist...hey ho. Mind you, I have visited numerous old churches and cathedrals recently, perhaps they had inspired me more than I had realised. It is a triptych and the other two panels have yet to be embarked on. The wood is cut and ready for the images...it's a damn shame that I have yet to find my "Mary"...and that is not a euphormism either... in case you're wondering.
I have got the deciples lined up and ready to appear, it will be interesting to see if these follow the same theme as the main panel. If the last painting is anything to go by, they could end up "Scandinavian" with a tribal twist...aint being creative fun?! I can visualise Joseph with the chalice being held up by Peter...who knows...we will see.

The only obstacle now is that the client loves that it is so "English". Nathan tends to think on the same wave length as myself so all should be well...fingers crossed.

Well I'm of to search for my "Mary"....hey ho. Oh and incidentally...I am a great believer in "new age" things so sincerely hope that my run away gob has not offended any body ready this blog.

Thankyou for taking the time,

Ivor x

http://www.ivorsexton.co.uk/

Good morning peeps,

I am back from my travels and have finally got the new paintings downloaded onto the website...hurrah!
It's very odd finally getting to look at the paintings on the gallery page, they seem to have been eons and eons in the making. Hey ho... A big fat thank you to Will (Neptune)...Brian (Mercury) and Leigh (Romullus and Remus) for their patience. They have all been sat twiddling their thumbs awaiting a gander of how they ended up looking. Mmmm...I hope that it was worth the wait lads ???
Seriously lads...thank you.

The "Ascension" is plodding along very nicely thank you for enquiring...I'm still not too sure what expression he should have. At the moment he is staring out and looking quite wistful...will have to just go with my gut feeling about it when I'm nearing completion. Incidentally, I was going to bung up a progress painting to be viewed by all...however, in my constant state of thickyness and technophobia, I was unable to download the image onto my USB doodah. Hopefully my very good and patient friend Chris will be able to sort me out to sort it out. Not sure if that makes any sense what so ever but I'm just off to work so am using that as the excuse.

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x

www.ivorsexton.co.uk

Hello peeps,

T'is that time again for me to bore you rigid with my antics or lack of antics...depending on how people judge antics....

I have had a trip to "wee bonny Scotland"...Glasgow to be precise. It is a fantastic city, very vibrant and ever so friendly. I had a great time. I went to see "Offshore" cafe/gallery in the hope of getting an exhibition there in the future. I am well aware that galleries are so well ahead with their bookings but a rough estimated date would of been nice. It came to pass that the manageress was unavailable for comment...hey ho. She has been left with a port folio and contact details so, here's hoping that she gets back to me. Mmmm...I have to admit it's been a couple of weeks now and still "zitch".............
I'm not so bothered that I may not be able to exhibit at "Offshore", though I'd be a big fat liar if I said that I didn't want to...the actual gallery space would enhance the "Romanesque" wall paintings very well...only it would be ever so nice to be told the reason why one can't. I do like to have feed back, even if it's not what I want to hear. Call me a sad old masochistic dwarf.
I did get to meet Will...he's the bloke who has become "Neptune". We had not met before and Will had not seen the finished painting...it was brill to be able to let him see himself immortalised in acrylics. I think he approved...here's hoping he did. What a thoroughly decent and top bloke he was too. Thanks Will for all your support. I'm off to Liverpool to get all the new pieces photoshopped and bunged onto the web page next week end so all the world can then have a gander at the man that is Will.....

The "Ascension" painting is developing very nicely. It is a joy to do to be honest. It's a tad different from the stuff that I have been producing of late...far more vibrant and it has a richness of colour that is indicative of the medieval alter boards on which it is based. I have spent all the live long day painting fabric...I close my eyes and I see a red glow. Here's hoping Nathan approves....ooooer. I am also developing a very stiff neck and shoulders as it is a bigger painting than most I produce...I am constantly stood leaning over it in very strange positions. I knew I should of taken up yoga...I'm bleedin' sure old Madonna wouldn't be aching like my old carcass does and the end of the day.

Why oh why can't I be more bendy???

Thank you for taking the time....

Ivor x

Good morrow to one and all!

A big fat happy new year...I know it's late and I haven't been about and I haven't blogged in eons but...hey ho...I've not been too happy to tell the truth.
Why is it that there are always great expectations to the coming of a new year?...it's like everyone in the whole wide world had decided that last year was rubbish but this year will be fabulous....mmmm I beg to differ... I worked the entire yuletide so it all staggered past me. It did give me a chance to reflect on how I wanted to spend this year. Upshot is...now that 2009 has wimpered into being...I will be painting painting painting, looking for gallery space and exhibitions and...more painting.

I spent some time recently visiting old ruined Abbeys and a beautiful Priory in Cartmel. It has truely inspired me to give the "Ascension" painting a new angle. I'm thinking stain glass windows, knackered old walls, painted panels and distressed alters...mmm...hope the punter who's commissioned is thinking the same things. Hey Nathan...you up for "old medieval Greektype othadox ascension"??? I know this sounds dead flippant and I should be treating my patron with the respect he deserves...Nathan and I go back along way and I know he is on the same "visual" wavelength as me.

I began painting "Christ" this week end...despite the appalling light. (I know the freezing weather was a ball ache but it did provide fantastic light for painting.) I am always slightly anxious when creating a "new face" as it is the focal point to the piece and also sets the mood for the final work. The "Christ" that has appeared looks a very perplexed one. He is also extremely dark and jewish/middle eastern looking...as he should be considering his background. It's early days as to how the final painting will look but I am happy with it so far...even if I have practically blinded myself painting in this light. It's part of a triptych...the other two panels will be of the desciples and the two Marys...what their origins will end up being will develop along side the main "Christ" painting. It's all a mystery to me as I go along...I'm just enjoying the ride at the moment...no doubt I shall have the usual "Oh sod this!, it's all rubbish"...but we will just have to weather that storm when it happens....

I'm off to Glasgow next week end...I'm hoping to get to see the manageress at "Offshore". It's a cafe/gallery in the West End of the city. Fingers crossed that I will be considered for an exhibition at some point. I had a friend display his wares there and the space would be fantastic for the Romanesque wall paintings....here's hoping my chums.

Thank you for taking the time,

Ivor x