To Lee Hanson. I was the first baby born in a new maternity hospital Colne Lancs call "Langroyd Hall" 19-39 an evacuee birth.The nurses insisted I should be named Langroyd! I was brought up on the Bradford Moor. council estate.I did many jobs before going into teaching,Apprentice engineer,messenger boy G>P>O Postman,Groundsman Artist.I taught in Chapeltown Leeds for 15 years.I married Esther who was a Cameroonian from Bafut who sadly died in 2006. I am still painting.

Hi. Love the image. I wondered what your ancestry is? I'm a Hanson and painting was strong in my family. My grandparents lived on Killinghall Road and my Grandad's father was an Undercliffe man.

I enjoyed all the comments.Although I have sold many paintings I know the trap of "commercialism and mannerisms .It is for sure the best to be aware of these.If someone is painting for money you can usually see it in their work. I suppose in a way its like actors being aware of type casting Just paint what you like and "Blow" the rest.even the critics and the established art world.I think it is good to change both style,and subject matter if you feel like it. Thanks Barry.Langroyd.Hanson

Phil -- I do like a Man with a Plan. Unfortunately yours doesn't work for me. I'm constitutionally incapable of working on one painting to the exclusion of all others. Partly as a result of needing to wait for oil paint to dry, I have to have several on the go at one time. This week, I've been working on five. Three are now finished and I'll finish the other two, probably tomorrow. Then I'll be starting three more. With luck they'll all be done by the end of next week, so that when I get back from Croatia two weeks later, I can hang them all in my next (group) show.

What a great blog. I am glad a professional like yourself (me being self taught and sell some) has similar feelings to me. Very often I start out full of enthusiasm. Starting with the freedom of the brushstrokes; love it. Then it starts I am getting fed up with this one. I will have to try something else? I have a few that are unfinished. On one occasion my son popped into see me, he said: ' I love that painting mum' I said; 'but it's unfinished' I think I should have left it!

I'll be happy to finish last terms project of a Pilbara Landscape which is now an obsession...I get a bit further with each incarnation...but I find I can't even look at anything else at home until this blessed thing is completed to my satisfaction...I have a feeling after having a painting session last night thet a seventh incarnation is in the offing unless I am willing to introduce a bit of body colour into the watercolour

But as an artist you have to Make the Delivery...you have to finish it so that you can move on leaving that one as the best effort on that date. With notes made about its strengths & weaknesses. Now move on to the new work and make that better than the last...Make the Delivery. Either shred the unfinished works or finish them before even starting the next one..Make the Delivery Harry.

I agree with you. The debate reminds me of what people often say about hobbies. " You need a hobby, why not take up...whatever" You know sometimes that the chosen hobby should suit your needs but if something dosent really grab you you wont keep it up. I think that is especially true for art , which demands practice and probably many failed attempts before you can produce anything half way decent. I think ,the same is true of a picture. If it really has no excitement for you it will languish and be difficult to finish. A rather cheeky aquaintance of mine cornered me into agreeing to do a picture of her farm for her, I can tell you I did try my hardest but it was pretty rubbish. I think internally my resentment at being cornered by her and forced to try an unnatural subject for me was the cause, as much as my ability. Your pics are usually super so I dont think that many will have to be painted over sometimes to just "go with the flow" can produce surprising results.