Hello, good afternoon, good evening and good morning depending where in the world you are, and wherever you are in the world at the moment I would imagine that there is trouble of some description brewing, that as we all know is just the way of things, but we also know that there is little we can do about it. A blog won't stop a war or end world hunger, although if we all tried helping at the same time on the same day it might help, but alas I digress. Not much can be done...but here you are seen to be from the countries you're from with no judgement, I have ill feeling toward those who are malicious for the sake of being malicious only, the rest of you, be you Christian or Muslim, Hindu or Sikh, Buddhist  or Shinto, black, white, yellow, red, blue skinned fan of rugby or football, cricket or baseball, tennis or badminton, I think you get the point, it matters not! Here is a place where I write for you to read and hopefully enjoy, to pass your eye's over my latest paintings or photographs and  generally not have to be bombarded with various speculations of doom. I am having a break from writing poetry anthologies at the moment, so what I write will be almost entirely here for you ladies, gentlemen, anything in between, or who ever you deem yourselves to be. Please feel free to comment on anything you'd like to, however I will just say this, which anyone who has a taste for contradictory  irony should enjoy, 'The only thing I do not tolerate is...intolerance'. I happen to think that's quite an amusing quandary of life that  beautifully illustrates the general state of affairs. The only thing that should not be allowed (bar the obvious) is intolerance. Acceptance of each other is of paramount importance and I happen to think that a vast proportion of the world is already there. I was having a chat in my local pub not more than a couple of days ago and the subject of racism came up, and to my ever lasting delight, nearly everyone sighed, from the polish chap I'm only just getting to know to the Irishman at the other end of the table with various shades of skin in between, sighed and and said their own variations of "what racism". Now don't get me wrong, I'm not as naive as that which I just wrote makes me sound, I know it still happens, there will always be idiots after all, but the point is, in many places it's so far from peoples minds that when someone says anything about racism their comments are met with contempt, if there was a word less harsh I'd use it, but contempt is the word. The racism tune has been over played in many places, change the record, a large percentage of us are colour blind, creed blind and religion blind, but what we are not blind to is people stirring up ill will where there is none. The places where it no longer exists will grow larger, the example of these places  will spread. It is a passing darkness and no more, the light is returning to drive away the shadows of that particular problem. Pull together for the good things, laugh at the bad old days, and keep moving forward, pushing the light as you go.    Peace In All

Hello, I have said this many times before and I'll make this the last time I do, you all know the score by now. Sorry for not posting for a while I've been creating, both painting and writing, and of course I've been filling the inspirational well, the place where I delve down deep for the roots of feeling that I try to convey in my art, whether it be the painting's I paint or the writing's I write. Here are some photos of the places I've been and the things I've seen, with a couple of the things I was inspired to create along the way.

This is a wonderful sight in this day and age 'Business as usual at this, one of north Devon's political hubs'

The first pristine day on the beach, I've seen the place where sea meets land in many of it's moods, and no time is ever the same as the last.

'Dogs Must Be Kept On Leads' fortunately at this particular beach as long as you clean up after your buddy's anyone can run free on the sand. I love the look on her face when I take off her lead, as I've said in a couple of my poems, humanity would do well to take a leaf from the 'Book of Dogs' and enjoy the simple things, like the freedom of the beach.

'Inspiration for the greatest of deeds can come from the simplest of acts'

©D.N.Read 2013

Damien Hirst's 'Verity'

This photo taken at night does nightly virtue, uniquely in my experience, this particular sculpture is good in any light, I've seen her on stormy days, in the searing heat of midsummer, and on many other occasions as well. I'm not usually a fan of Damien Hirst's work, but in my humble opinion this piece will stand as one of the greats.

I really needn't say much but this; look out for painting's of night time sea's, and writings of the ebb and flow.

Lights on the waters of any harbor have always enchanted me, this night was certainly one of those times that fill the well of inspiration.

The harbor town chapel and light house, guiding fishermen in many ways for many years of seasons.

Art for the folk of this day, the sea has claimed back the driftwood, rolled away the stones, filled in the holes and washed away the circles in the sand...but we had it for that moment, as did all the folk who passed that day.

The sleepy hidden valley's of the moorlands have always held magic.

This day, just to breathe was to fall under the spell.

 Woodland, the cradle of my soul.

On the road again, I always have the 'Canned Heat' song of the same name in my head when I get back to traveling. 

A homeward stretch.

This was one weekend of many filling the well and living life, as the old saying goes 'Work to live' find a balance between paying the bills and enjoying life with every breath and freedom is yours. You don't have to live in a hippie commune to live the dream.

Peace In All 

My latest painting, 'Fresh Ghost's Fair Well To Mortal Face', I hope you like it.