The Terrestrial Orchard

And if you go...
The closing reception for Mark's exhibition: The Terrestrial Orchard, will be held this evening at the Mokah Gallery, in the Deep Ellum section of Dallas. All are welcome...

The Ignoble

 

An exhibition of new work : The Terrestrial Orchard will be opening 24 September and running through 26 October, 2014. There will be a closing reception on 25 October, 6- 9 pm.

Mokah Gallery
2803 Taylor Street
Dallas, Texas 75226

214.653.0633
 

A House Where Days Are Counted

 

Lino is cut and swept up again. One more year is concluded. Measuring the work completed, and work on the way, the annotations and dilution to the past 12 month's sketchbook of ideas has become as typical as a merchant's annual product inventory. 

 

"For time is inches..."

W.H.Auden

 

If You Cannot Run, Then Crawl

 

A solid month for the sketchbooks- some of which you can view- here . The usual November dampness of Scotland ceased for the duration of my stay allowing me to observe/ record more than usual for this season. 
Carving away at some lino and basswood, leading a quiet life and working with my hands...

Come Along

 

          Heartfelt thanks to those who attended "The Peregrine Herd" exhibition . If you are in the Dallas area in early to mid November, Mark will be exhibiting in the gallery at the PCPC Arts Festival, Nov. 8- 17. Open 10-6 daily.

The Palms Grow, The Fountains Flow

          These days are drenched with labor, pushing to complete the remainder of ideas mapped out for next month's exhibition . Will be showing a few other works in Dallas, sometime in October- hopefully can carve out a moment to list the details here before it happens.

          With a weary stare... onward .

No Caterwauling

 

I have been working importunately to complete work for a solo exhibit in October. If all goes as planned, and I don't collapse before, the opening reception will be 4/October, 6-9pm, @ the FWCAC in Fort Worth, Texas. More details soonish...



Come Up For Breath

 

Choreographing several canvas/ panels at once, a wide latitude to reign in before a large exhibition in October. Some travel on the horizon. Hence will devote that time to lino- cuts, and the more recently neglected sketchbooks while developing a strategy for just how to complete it all with the classical effort of one who normally fails at deadlines.
  

Trouble Is The Way Home

 

 

 

"Searching for Honey in a Salty Sea"

 

(lino-cut )




Putting The Oars In

 

Exhibition forthcoming- October 2013. Details to follow. . .

In The Courtyard Of The Guard

 

There is something about work that brings comfort, and invokes a restlessness when away. The periods of block, rarely steer in any direction but the forest of doubting.

 Here abiding and awaiting an eventual release ...

Whirling On

 

From the sketchbook... San Francisco - earlier this month.

On The Way Back To

 

Just returning from San Francisco and a pleasant diversion into the wilds of Yosemite, in the Republic of California. Some sketches from the streets, spires and rooftops of SF, however the created grandeur and elevation of paradise rendered me speechless and sketch-less in Yosemite. 
 Thirsting to get back to canvas. The fire burns. I'll meet you at the train...

Above - a foggy glimpse of something to come...

A Horse Opera

 

Recordings have temporarily diverted me from the easel, but I am coming back for more. A sketch, detailed above, for a large canvas beckoning...

"If time were the wicked sheriff in a horse opera, I'd pay for riding lessons and take his gun away. "

 

W.H. Auden

Hope Sees The Hidden Things

 

More carving and cutting than brush wielding this week, running prints to post to Caledonia. The days are full, and evening hours have been invested in the assiduous refining of new recordings, while awaiting the stirring that will "push the boat out " on some large canvas, beckoning commencement.
The above lino-cuts are from a forthcoming project on the book of Jeremiah...

The Whole Of It

Sedately navigating the backwaters of January, a few panels nearing completion. The ignitable optimism that comes with the new calendar is a roseate companion of my toils.

Some leaving on the horizon, missionary visit to Addis, always humbling and proving...

Above- from the sketchbook, a visitor who returns daily with Swiss-watch punctuality to the garden outside my studio window. The lashings of pecans have made for a hoggish festival for the red squirrels for the last four months...

 

The Last Tram

 

Approaching the last stop at the end of the 2012 line, looking ahead to work and ideas awaiting. December has been a stagnant month- extensive study for a book project I have been  formulating for some time. And what emerges is a need to study more and cultivate deeper convictions about what I commit/ omit from the blocks/plates.
           As seems to be a pattern, I am in various stages of completion with 3 new paintings, and bouncing back and forth between a recording I have neglected that beckons completion. Sedulity is occasionally rewarded, but at some points busy is an antipode to true progress.
 

Not Fit For Man Or Beast

 

Have recently returned from a very damp Glasgow, somewhat recharged. Above - street sketches from one of the few days of extended dryness. Stirling, and Killermont Street ...

My deepest gratitude to those who attended, and to those who purchased work from the recent  Orphans exhibition in Fort Worth , Texas. 'Twas a delight to meet so many new faces at the opening .
 

Ivy, Red Brick And Rain

A grey morning increases the backwards glances, and I am heartened by the lasting visions of the Arcadian autumns of my youth. There is no future in a memory, but I will linger there briefly this morning. Not an unduly prolonged stay,  as I continue study and research on a forthcoming project- a series of prints on the book of Jeremiah , which I am hoping to assemble and publish in the next year.
The Orphans gallery exhibition continues @ FWCAC until the end of October...
 

Dismount And Settle

For a large portion of the past  calendar year I have been working on paintings, and prints for this exhibition. In the next few weeks before the opening, between the prayers and perspiration,sleeplessness and second guessing, I will have hopefully completed in the range of 30+ new paintings and 5-10 new prints.
The opening reception will be on Friday 5, October. Alight on us and "'bide a wee while"...

 

(click on image to enlarge)