Day paintings

As minimum art practice, Robert paints two small (A5) images every day - one in a sketchbook, the other separately on paper.
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Click on a year to view the images for each month of that year
 
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January 2020
 
February 2020
 
March 2020
 

Lockdown Trees

At the start of the first lockdown in 2020, Robert began taking daily exercise in Hyde Park and became interested in the marked individuality of the trees.   More ....

April 2020
 
May 2020
 
June 2020
 
July 2020
 
August 2020
 
September 2020
 
October 2020
 
November 2020
 
December 2020
 
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Lockdown Trees

continued from 2020
January 2021
 
February 2021
 
March 2021
 
April 2021
 
May 2021
 
June 2021
 
July 2021
 

Day paintings resume

August 2021
 
September 2021
 
October 2021
 
November 2021
 
December 2021
 
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January 2022
 
February 2022
 
March 2022
 
April 2022
 
May 2022
 
June 2022
 
July 2022
 
August 2022
 
September 2022
 
October 2022
 
November 2022
 
December 2022
 
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January 2023
 
February 2023
 
March 2023
 
April 2023
 
May 2023
 
June 2023
 
July 2023
 
August 2023
 
September 2023
 
October 2023
 
November 2023
 
December 2023
 
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January 2024
 
February 2024
 
March 2024
 
April 2024
 
May 2024
 
June 2024
 
July 2024
 
August 2024
 
September 2024
 
October 2024
 
November 2024
 
December 2024
 

Day paintings

As minimum art practice, Robert paints two small (A5) images every day - one in a sketchbook, the other separately on paper. The former make up an ever-growing collection of books, while the latter are presented singly or in groups of any size (sometimes as complete installations) based on a module of 14.8 x 21 cm. They might also form the basis for larger paintings in oil.

Individually, the images are, in essence, quick statements of the moment, varying in modality between the figurative, representational or abstract. All explore the use of line, shape and/or colour. Together, they are a celebration of life, and collected over time, represent a visual journal of feelings, thoughts and reactions. Sometimes, more recently, a theme is followed or developed over a few days, or a month so the month’s collection also forms a unified whole or grid. Thus making a day painting for every day.

“Holons”

Robert is also interested in the way parts come together to form wholes, which in turn form parts of a larger whole, just as days become weeks become months become years. The word “Holon,” first coined by Arthur Koestler describes this and, in a sense, also describes Robert’s Day Paintings as “Holons,” while it references aspects of time and memory.

Contexts

The context of this work has surrealist parallels - in the automatic, uncensored way in which images are generated, in the reference to the unconscious, and in the way images contrast and conflict with each other when brought together in unexpected juxtapositions in the collections. The use of colour and distortion has its roots in Expressionism and Fauvism. The works therefore function on Surrealist, Expressionist, Fauvist, Abstract and (with “Holons,” time, and memory) Conceptual levels.

Lockdown Trees

At the start of the first lockdown in 2020, Robert began taking daily exercise in Hyde Park and became interested in the marked individuality of the trees. He came to identify them with names as they became like friends, and made them the subjects of Day Paintings. These, as “Lockdown Trees,” are dedicated to the trees and wardens of Hyde Park.

This project has continued for more than a year now. He continues to visit “my friends,” deriving fun, enjoyment and comfort from them.

"The seeds of a project grew...
...from a few drawings sketched during a lockdown walk in Hyde Park...
...to a year-long project exploring the myriad textures, colours and personalities of the thousands of trees..."