Sunday 7th March 2010.
To hear and view this weeks work click on Week 9
(Don't forget to use F11 on your keyboard to view the page at it's best) 

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Week 9.  Thanks to Ian Ritchie you can now listen to the music and view the artwork with one click. Many thanks to Ian, it makes the work much more accessible. 

This week's music is quite abstract, but for once the scene that I try to create with the music was in my mind almost instantly. I had to somehow make the music reflect the scenario that was already  strongly suggesting itself to me, rather than let the music appear from nowhere as it usually does.

I have realised this week that the best moment in the week for me, is when I start painting with the finished music playing as I work. It is a joyful feeling, assuming of course that I like what I'm hearing. 

Week 8. Lots of rhythmic inaccuracy in this weeks music, the sort of thing that is very easy to avoid with sequencing and quantising these days. Unfortunately at the beginning of the project I said computer applications like that were banned, oh well. Anyway I quite like the lumpy feel the slightly loose playing gives it. 

Week 7. I am so pleased with this week's music, for reasons you might find strange. First of all I have no idea where it came from, it is so unlike anything that I have created before. When I first listened back to it I was so surprised that I laughed out loud!  That shows me that this project is developing its own momentum, which I find very exciting.

The artwork I am less happy with, because the execution is nowhere near the concept. Still, I am showing it, because poor though it is, it is the partner of the music.
   
Week 6. I have been limiting myself to a maximum duration of about 2 mins 30 sec for the music and concentrating on setting a scene, also consciously avoiding developing the piece any further. When I have tried to move the music on it seems that simple scene setting is slightly diluted. It is much easier to maintain a link with the visual artwork if the music is direct and easy to read. Sometimes it goes against the grain to keep things direct and compact.

The image this week presents a small problem, it's really the proportions of the page. I don't want to be inhibited by the size and shape of the internet page, so I am painting in all shapes and sizes, that means that the image can appear less imposing than I would wish. So imagine this painting is BIG !! 

Week 5. I find it very interesting that when putting this weeks music together, the very thing that was the inspiration for the piece became the biggest obstacle when completing. I have to work this one out, because this has happened before, it's hard to understand.  

I'm pleased with this weeks painting, it seems more like me than some. Of course they are all like me, it's just that sometimes it seems that I'm not involved !
 
Week 4.  It has been another good week for me, the music and the art have come together much more easily this week, with no technical glitches to worry me.

It is very interesting how the work itself is becoming the teacher, I am finding that I am having to address all sorts of artistic problems which I have evaded for years, I simply have to work these things out to achieve any kind of progress.

I wish I could just think about the project and not the website presentation, but that is  the way it has to be. Rest assured I am working hard to find a more user friendly way of presenting this work to you.

Once again, thanks to you all for the continuing interest and encouragement.
  
Week 3. I have really enjoyed creating this week's work and feel that I am getting more of a feel for the project. More technical problems this week though, when my  venerable Fostex FD8 failed. I don't think it has ever worked so hard before, thankfully the very helpful chaps at S.C.V. sorted it out for me.

I am amazed how much this project has taught me already, about myself, family, friends and, I nearly forgot, art and music!      

Week 2. It has been an amazing week for me with so many supportive messages from you all. I have to say a heartfelt thank you for your fantastic generosity.  It is wonderful to have so many marvellous  friends and colleagues. I really don't think I would stand a chance with this project without your good wishes and support.

If I was in any doubt about how difficult this work was going to be I really now know for sure, Quite apart from creating the work, I have had technical problems one after another since the first day. Somehow or another the week 2 work is here to be seen and heard, I'm hoping that from now on I can concentrate on the work and not the gismos.

Thanks again everyone, please keep talking to me.

Week 1. So I have started, I have had so many thoughts and ideas running around my head for the the last few weeks since I gave in to this project. It has been surreal to actually start work and the first week has been a journey in itself for me. I had already decided that all the music will be played and recorded in real time, no sequencing, no cut and paste or drum machines etc, this is just me, music, art and my vulnerable life. I'm  going to try to make it happen. Please don't be too hard on me, I expect to fail, but at this stage I'm not sure what success or failure would be.

Because of my limited website building skills I haven't yet worked out a better way than the following for you to view the artwork when listening to the music. I suggest that you right click on "play music" and open in a new window, then minimise, allowing you to view and listen at the same time. Any HTML boffins out there, your advice would be gratefully received on this subject. Press F11 for the best view of image

Finally, wish me luck!

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