Tamana Buddha with Rainbow Lotus, Acrylic on Canvas Board, August 2014
The decorative detail on the right of the composition is an interpretation of designs that feature frequently in surface pattern on Persian textile and ceramic pieces. The particular design I developed this from was in fact based upon Chinese decorative arts and is an interpretation of the lotus flower. It seems hard to believe that it was a full year ago since I was actually at the temple, but this slightly sad realisation is somewhat tempered by the knowledge that I have continued to enjoy the experience through the production of these pieces. | Today I finally made time after returning from various summer travels (none as exotic as this time last year when I was still in China!), to complete the latest in what is now a series of three acrylic paintings titled The Serenity Series. The series is based on photographs from the Peaceful Places collection, and I started to produce the paintings following positive feedback on the photographs. This piece, titled Tamana Buddha with Rainbow Lotus is an impression of a large statue of the Buddah at the 'Big Bell' temple in Tamana, Japan, which I visited in July last year. The giant statue is situated at the top of a large flight of steps (see below) and cut a striking figure against the (almost) cloudless sky. 
Big Bell Temple, Tamana, July 2013
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| In other news, I have continued to be productive in alternative areas. Just occasionally, though I've always felt it is something to aim for, you get to combine passions. Sometimes, one can be lucky enough to actually get paid for this. In June I was fortunate to be commissioned by Up & Running to produce a design for the front cover of a promotional give away notebook that they plan to publish before the end of the year. As an avid runner, I didn't need asking twice and it was a genuine pleasure to spend time working on the brief in close discussion with one of the directors of the company. It was a smooth process as we understood each other well and this is the resulting piece. If you want to get your hands on a copy you'll need to head in to your local Up & Running store (there are branches across the UK) sometime from the beginning of the autumn season and see what the deal is! Even I'm not sure yet! Hopefully I will be working with them again soon to produce artwork for further projects. Watch this space for that one, but in the mean time I must try and make the most of a few last days of holiday to get a bit more painting done! I have a couple of new ideas for The Serenity Series already on the simmer! | 
Illustration for Up and Running Promotional Material
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Though the PlaceMaking work has taken something of a back seat to the The Serenity Series of recent months, I have also been invited back to Hulme History Society to re run the I Remember workshop I first delivered to them in 2011. As they have many new members who were not involved in the original session, they have asked me back to work with them again in sharing some new perspectives on the local area. This will take place in a couple of weeks, on August 14th and I shall look forward to sharing the resulting photos soon!
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