a couple works in progress, and two more constructed paintings near to completion... these photographs are close-up textural details... sometimes it pays not to reveal too much too soon... the web is thick with thieves i've discovered; i've found my paintings used as abstract textures and backgrounds on a couple of photography websites, and even stumbled upon one contemporary artist selling on ebay who had copied some of my text to describe their own work, it would be futile to name and shame... so i will just quietly sigh... i've been asked to exhibit about twelve of my paintings for a show at the centre point building in oxford street, london... more information at targetfollow arts... i initially had a bit of seagram moment, wondering if my work would just be seen as decorative wall features, but then considered the variety of visitors it would receive in a large building; centrepoint is a skyscraper by any standards, and the property development company have built up an impressive record of organising art events at various corporate buildings around the uk...i'm feeling a mix of nervous anticipation (partly due to a certain giddiness at the mere thought of exhibiting on the 18th floor) and some joy that i will be able to show my new paintings together, plus it will give me some space to concentrate on developing some smaller and perhaps more sellable artworks... there are the ever present doubts and worries about making a living from art (and in the process proving to others that it is still a valid and respected profession aside from any monetary gain)... so credit crunch times or not, we might have to live frugally in order to pursue the passion (art cannot materialise without it), rather than live an ordinary life with no particular ambition or purpose...p.s. the late works of a painter by the name of mark rothko will form a major retrospective exhibition at the tate modern, opening later this week.. no doubt, this show will be a big crowd pleaser, so i'm glad i managed to catch some relatively quiet time with rothko's late murals back in the summer... i just can't do crowds and noise with my art, and neither did he it seems...