Size Matter

Size matters. The size of a painting or image is something that does affect the viewing of it. It is difficult to explain why I know. If you see an image of a painting in a book or these days on the internet then you get an expectation of the real thing. I recall this happened to me.
As a boy I had seen pictures of the work of Van Vermeer (Girl with the Pearl Earring  and the Milk maid above). What I was not prepared for was when I saw his works they were comparatively  small. The Milk maid above is 16ins x 18 ins. This does not detract from the technique or skill involved in painting them in fact it is harder to paint detail on that scale. But for me the paintings were lost and I felt cheated.
I still love his work but I do wish he had painted them bigger.

Cat Boat

Another of my favourite artists is Winslow Homer.That being said his style varied tremendously and there are some stages of his work that do nothing for me. The watercolour painting of the cat boat above is a very famous work. It is called the cat boat because that is the name for a boat rigged in this manner with the mast right foreard not in the middle of the boat. The painting is light and full of life, beautifully executed.

This week Alex has been kept busy she has been dealing with an order for 100 cards and a seperate order for 500 postcards along with going to the printers and framing!

The Voice

I had to deliver work to Laugharne today so I took the opportunity to have a walk on the foreshore.
I notice Browns Hotel is looking very smart and hopefully its opening is not too far away.

One of our grandsons (the six year old) is quite in to "The Voice". Now Alex caught me singing along at breakfast this morning.  Not a thing to be recommended. I have an appalling voice apparently although it sounds okay to me. She said our grandson had been watching "The Voice " last week when Tom Jones team was on. Now I don't know if you have been watching the show but Tom has a couple who are a throwback to the Mommas and the Pappas or Peter Paul and Mary without Peter.
Anyway they came on and our six year old grandson said," Those dweebs are like Nanny and Grandad".

Well I admit I have been called a hell of a lot worse things in my  life but when Alex told me I nearly choked on my porridge. In fairness they can sing very nicely which is more than can be said for me (apparently).

 I am doing a watercolour this afternoon.

Clifton Common

The painting above is of three pines on the common at Clifton, Bristol. I had been down there visiting and I was taken by the trees. I didn't have a sketch book with me but I did find an old envelope which I opened up and used a biro to get the main points down. The rest I carried in my head. There was actually a bench under the trees but I was happy to leave it out.
The painting sold and now resides in a Royal Household in - "Dubai ?",  if I recall correctly. The gentleman who bought it was the head of the Police Service and was an extremely engaging man. He bought it along with a couple of others that I cant remember as a present for his mother who was having a new residence built.
I mention this as it was quite amusing we had been talking a while and I told him I had been a policeman he then told me so had he.  His wife later told me who he was. I was impressed by his modesty and that he didn't embarrass me. Okay I was also impressed he bought all the paintings.

After the Rain

The above painting I called  "Cattle after the Rain". Of course what it doesn't say is that there is more rain on the way!

The other day I had to look after two of the grandchildren. I normally pick them up from school but Alex entertains them when I get them home. As she was at the printers I was left holding the baby so to speak. Initially I got them chocolate rolls and then iced buns. No problems there. An easy win. What to do next?
I asked my grandson who is 6 if he would like another iced bun.
"No, Thank you." (I know great manners).
I said "Would you like a chicken drumstick?"
He looked thoughtful, then said, "Yes please."
"Oh I said we haven't got any."
He was quiet for a minute and I was looking at the hole opening up underneath me.
All of a sudden he said, "Its a joke isn't it?" and laughed.
I relaxed and said "Yes".
I turned on the television and the grandaughter was happily entertained with Mickey Mouse. Our grandson  is quite creative so I found the "playdo" and he seemed quite happy.
I said to him "Would you like a knife to cut up the playdo?"
He looked hard at me and said," Have you got one?" Then smiled. Touche!

Snowdon again

I was quite taken by the painting I sold the other day of Snowdon so I thought I would do a looser version. The subject has been synthesised (broken down into its main parts). Most of the drawing has been done with a size 12 brush. The style is more modern compared to the previous one which is more Victorian in technique. The Victorians could certainly handle watercolours.

The Blind Girl

The painting above is the blind girl by John Everett Millais and is one of my favourite paintings in Birmingham Art Gallery. It is  a painting which tells a story to the viewer or rather makes the viewer read their own story. I rarely paint rainbows but it is interesting to note that the colours are reversed in a double rainbow. They are not identical. It is a beautifully executed painting.
Anyway today I didn't get to start anything but I have pretty well finished my toy chest. I have to collect two of the grandchildren now. Alex has gone to the printers.
That reminds me I found out that the Welsh Language Board have stopped there free translation service. This is a real pity. I found it to be a brilliant service. The staff were helpful, fast and totally competent. So thanks to Gwen, Huw and all who helped me so efficiently. Huw has started up a commercial translation service Annog Cyf, a subsidiary company of Menter Môn,  which will operate from 2 April 2012 onwards. Enquiries 0845 6076070. Pob lwc i chi.