Not quite done. I’ve realised I want to tidy up a strip of light blue on the right, given it’s acquired the status of galaxy.

In fact it turned out that a much bigger and wholly, significantly, impactful change was required. Like many of these, it was the result of judging something to be ok and yet still not putting it away or posting it online. It wasn’t ok and it wasn’t done. This took a familiar process of prowling – yes, people, I stalk my paintings! – glancing sideways, asking myself questions about the nature of the green tunnel and how it related to the rest of the painting or its role as a link between early 1960s exuberance and today’s more measured weirdisms.

I began the editing by changing the arch a little then half-lidding it so that it became an eye. Once that had happened, the rest was a tidal force drawing on the unreal palisade with touches of Regency gold and clouds and sky in, or maybe on, it. The tract of water that seems to be flowing towards the viewer and the smooth, pinkish beach, but that has a focal point at the eye as a river might. The nature of the architecture which has the feel of butterfly wings or a chrysalid, but which seems to have windows and walkways at different levels. And finally the spiral galaxy in the top right that really should not be there at all.

This is how it turned out, and it couldn’t be more 1968 meets 2026. Twiggy was everywhere, a massive star of fashion who was built like a coathanger and had enormous hungry eyes and caterpillar lashes. Exploited by everyone but of course we didn’t know that then.

Better quality picture tomorrow. This one is in late afternoon blue shift mode.

Footnote: Brighton has form when it comes to aliens, with more UFOs, now termed UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena), spotted there than almost anywhere else. Spoiler: the great expanse of dark sky over the sea probably makes that more likely, as will the preponderance of bars, pubs and restaurants within staggering distance of a promenade railing to lean on, not to mention the ‘interesting’ aromas in the air of an evening that definitely aren’t from flowers.

© Suzanne Conboy-Hill 2026