My Parallel project is now fully underway. I have a clear direction even though I have yet to decide whether the focus is going to be on close up studies or those which depict in the object in the landscape. At this point my guess is that I am likely to end up with a collection of works from which I will select those that form a collective narrative. I suspect that this will be a mixture of the two options. My focus is on exploring the impact the passing of time on buildings and machinery in the Fenland landscape. In doing this my focus will be on using paint in a textural way. The paintings will be pictorial in their execution but the object may not be identifiable. This will be particularly true of the close up paintings. These are more likely to have an abstract nature to them.

To date I have found that Part Four of the course was where a made the biggest breakthrough in my realisation of the notions that I wanted to investigate. The experimentation with alternative materials, supports and applications assisted me to uncover a methodology to explore the topic. I see the progress that I have made to date is aligning with the aims of my practice. My interests lie in trying to convey light, movement, the passing of time, nostalgia without becoming sentimental and melancholic. I am still informed by the landscape in which I currently reside. This has been a recurring theme through my studies, and although I have ventured to other topics, I keep returning to it. I can see myself exploring this topics in the future and thoroughly expect to be taking it Level 3 (HE6).

The artists that are currently influencing my work, in terms of ambition, but not directly in terms of scope, are George Shaw and Peter Doig both of which will be the subject of my critical review.

Of the works completed to date I suspect that four pieces are likely to be in consideration for my Assessment submission. Two of these have recently been reworked following feedback and these are now closer to what I am striving for. They are replicated below.

I have yet to consider how I would want these paintings to be presented but I do expect that they will be able to hang together and convey a coherent narrative.

• Part 5 - Working with words