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US AND THEM The Dragon's Garden "In the past when painting a picture I would treat it as a window into another world. Where the technique shouldn't obstruct the view. You should just see straight in. Now I don't think like that at all; it surprises me that I ever did. I enjoy the tactile quality of a painting, the texture, stopping at the surface, the feel of it, and to know it's a thing, not just a window. My work is looser now and much more painterly. Once I decide upon the theme, I go straight in and paint. The cover for "Us and Them" is a Dragon's Garden. It's a complex synthesis of moods and form; not just one idea, reacting to the music. Themes came from the music, personal icons and looking through the history of Pink Floyd. This is my first involvement with them since I shared an appartment with Syd Barret towards the end of his journey with Pink Floyd. The symphonic sound is surprisingly powerful. I was very curious to hear it. Pink Floyd music being played by someone else, it's inventive and exciting to hear, and played in such a different way. Not just a symphonic version, a very particular version of Pink Floyd. Totally unexpected. Before I heard it I was anticipating something - else - less immediate. It's very stormy. For me, "Dark Side of the Moon," as a title does describe Pink Floyd, powerful and dark. I want to reflect that image. Before I start painting, I surround myself with sketches. I take sketchbooks everywhere, even to lunch. I've scores of ideas I wanted to use. I was looking for something to carry that stormy feeling. I have had this idea for a menacing brooding landscape for some time. A great, dark, moody, storm swept vista. Totally over the top with cascades of lava. So I started. I wasn't sure. I knew the landscape. The idea, of the dragon, I liked; but should it be there. I tried out half a dozen roughs. The final cover is the one I liked. It went so well I abandoned the idea of starting "The Painting". I'd got the colours, I'd got the look, it kept building. I painted the cypresses - the trees. They looked stronger than expected. It was really good when Rory and Pete said they liked the dragon. The dragon just appeared."
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