The illusion of realism in an image is dependent upon the correct organisation of values. A value is how light or dark a portion of an image is, whether monochrome or colour, in relation to the rest of the image.

Goodbye Rembrandt! It was a pleasure to have you watch over my studio, my struggles, my progress and triumphs. Now Rembrandt is off to a new home in another country, thankfully one that is still accepting post.

One small step after another, things are becoming tighter. Because of Coronavirus restrictions, post is no longer being delivered to certain countries.

It seems I’ve been making a bit of a habit lately to first sketch up the figures I want to paint.

Another practice drawing. This one also might transition to a painting.

I’ve been enjoying the quick studies as they are pushing me simplify my work further.

I love it when a collector frames up one of my works. It just takes it to a whole new level

Here’s a brief snapshot of the studio in its current state. This is where the action happens. It’s a small space, but I’ve optimised it.

After Rembrandt left the studio, I needed some one else to keep watch over things. So the Spanish painter to the court of King Phillip IV, Diego Velázquez (1599 – 1660) was it.

I’ve explored a few ruined castles now and Emmerberg would have to be one of the best.

A cold mountain river cleaves its way between two massive mountains, etching its course into a deeper gorge with each passing aeon. For a brief moment in that expanse of time Peter Gric and I navigated our way along its twisting course.

This is my studio view at the moment. I’m out of the city for awhile at Peter Gric’s house in the country.

The mountains, forest and cold rivers are my Summer studio.

I did things a bit differently this time around. I marked out the drawing on the canvas in ink rather than pencil and I also blocked in some of the shadows to force me to concentrate on the values of the painting.

I have long admired Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. Well it seems mathematicians have now come to a greater appreciation of his artwork also.

Of course plants can communicate.