Droplet. I thought it might be amber when I picked it up. It wasn't. Semi-transparent, half chipped away. Am fighting the depression now. Will lose, I guess. The world just stinks. Sigh. #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #acrylicpainting #mycottenham

Candy. I was thinking about all the artworks I've lost over the years: some unwisely given away, some thrown out by philistines; some destroyed by weather events like leaking garage roofs in a storm. Sad. #theferrisfiles #acrylcpainting #metaphorsaplenty #mycottenham

Flint. There are a couple more, but will probably leave it there. Other platforms to engage with. I have no idea why I do; doesn't get me much further along! keeps me off the streets? Sigh. #theferrisfiles #mycottenham #metaphorsaplenty #acrylicpainting

Warts 'n' All. I'd do them differently now; I'd use structure gel and large grain or even glass (which is of course plastic). May have to try that at some point, maybe a pile on a big canvas? #theferrisfiles #metaporsaplenty #mycottenham #acrylicpainting

Split. This one IS a flint, that links me to Letchworth, the town we first moved to when I was 7, a wrench form the bungalow near my paternal grandparents. You can see why I picked this up. #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #acrylicpainting #mycottenham #nostalgia

Swirl. claim there is no anchor or draw from Hartlepool and surrounding area, but Blackhall beach remains electric in my mind. If I had any success I'd return to collect more pebbles and place them in a vitrine. #theferrisfiles #mycottenham #acrylicpainting #metaphorsaplenty

Conglomerate. This is a manmade fragment lapped by the sea. So much industrial waste on the North-East coast. False beaches, chemical seep from copper and iron slag. Beautiful day outside. #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #mycottenham #acrylicpainting

Eros. The support if Khadi paper (my fave), A5. This is a smaller find from inland. I understand Henry Moore's fascination with flints. My own Cabinet of Curiosities. #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #acrylicpainting #mycottenham #geology

Dead Man's Bank. The name of a little road down to the beach in Co Durham, near where I was born. I never finished the 385 project. This should be in the Japanese museum for petrified faces! #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #mycottenham #acrylicpainting #nostalgia

World. I decided (futiley) to do 385 in one multiwork; it's the sum of the first 10 squares. Each of the latter would get a sub-theme. I wanted the 'Stone' section to show my early urge to be a geoogist. #theferrisfiles #metaphosaplenty #mycottenham #acrylicpainting

I first used the enamel to guarantee I could put white over black and for it to not show through. used it all the time after that. Last bit of pizza tonight. Baked potatoes tomorrow. Variety. #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #mycottenham #mixedmedia

A Calvino City. Now the [redacted] keyboard is playing up. I am sure the Fates conspire to make everything worse on a daily basis. Should buy large canvases, but just not enough time. Frustrating! #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #mixedmedia #mycottenham

My tutor at AHEC, Olive Mayo, told me that she thought much of my work was like a sketch for a future bigger, better piece. Doeesn't happeen. Perhaps it should, but I need sles! The world disappoints. #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #acrylicpainting #mycottenham

Bat Boy. No hugely successful, but it's hard to integrate all these different techniques; I dare say if it I was really good at IT, I could manipulate the proportions. I have to be satisfied with Neil R instead! #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #mycottenham #frustration #mixedmedia

Terrible title. Dates from thee late '80s I think, when I was in love with Peter J. Absolutely no idea where he is noww. That is the way of the world, but it upsets. So too Pete Church. Somme just aren't on socials! #theferrisfilees #mycottenham #metaphorsaplenty #frustration

Another abstract over the threee primaries. Could be a response to Jasper Johns. he was one of those artists who started brilliantly, then lapsed into complete unfulfillment. Along with Rauschenberg and de Kooning. #theferrisfiles #metaphorsaplenty #mycottenham #mixedmedia

Been cutting up the personals from gay mags from 2003. Am going to glue them to another piece of paper or card, spray withing enamel, and then impose an image on top. Would have prefered a bigger piece. #theferrisfiles #acrylicpainting #metaphorsaplenty #mycottenham

Balancing Act. Right! Time to get on with it. I have no idea how I keep going some days. All I want now is for some gallerist in Japan to 'discover' me... Won't happen though. #theferrisfiles #mixedmedia #metaphorsaplenty #mycottenham

Angel Boy. Made an apple and sultana crumble earlier. It'll do 6 meals. Listening to Bronski Beat. Looking at old source material. Anoher project for a MA thesis after I'm dead. He said, hopefully! #theferrisfiles #acrylicpainting #mycottenham #metaphorsaplenty

Heavenly, Tahoe. My skiing days are over. I came across a cache of old photos. Took me back to 1982 in Acambaro, and Brussels a little later. Will scan some and post. #theferrisfiles #mycottenham #nostalgia #acrylicpainting