Snow in the valley

A might on the chilly side at the moment but very welcome all the same. I believe it was -8 degs. in Carmarthenshire last night. It certainly felt like it first thing when Jac and I went for our walk. I have been making an oak dining table today with our son. It has gone pretty well (touch wood!!).
Tomorrow I am starting another commission. Its been a hectic time.

The painting above is an old one of Abergwili in the snow.

Harlech Cottage

I mentioned our annual visits to North Wales yesterday. The painting above is of a cottage above Harlech. I never did anything with it and eventually it went to the big tip at Nant y Caws. I like it for its simplicity. There is nothing unnecessary in the painting having been synthesised to its bare requirements.

I keep looking at the new pile of oak laid out in the workshop hoping it will turn itself into a dining table. Unfortunately to date it hasn't...Ahh such is life. I hope to make a start tomorrow....................

Snowdon from Porthmadog

We used to go to Snowdonia every year at the end of March. It was normally pretty cold camping but the main benefit was we had the place to ourselves pretty well.  I did plenty of watercolours and sketches few made it into a frame as it was just for my own pleasure. The watercolour above is from Porthmadog looking at Snowdon and was one that was sold.

We have been looking after a little grandchild today who is poorly but I did find time to prime some boards and stack a half ton of oak that arrived ready to make this table I promised for Christmas.

A walk with a faithful friend

The house is in organised turmoil, decorating finished but carpet fitters coming today. I now have a couple of commissions to do and a 7ft solid oak table to make before Christmas. Not sure how I came to agree to the table? Anyway it doesn't pay to let the dust grow under your feet.
Yesterday I fitted in doing a special watercolour for an A5 Christmas card for someone.

The painting above is sold.

Alex Cuthbert

On the brink of another game this time against the Boks. I feel sorry for Alex Cuthbert I guess he may not be starting but he has had a bit of a nightmare recently. Pictured above is when he scored that great try against England in March 2013. What a difference.

You can't blame him for the way Wales have performed of late. I agree with Gareth Thomas regarding the team selection. Players should be chosen on their form not reputation. A number of players have been picked in my opinion automatically regardless of their form.

Anyway team selection is announced today should be interesting. And of course Wales will beat South Africa!

PS. I am not a sports pundit (obviously!!) but love my rugby.

Sea Birds and Colours

This is an old atmospheric watercolour I did of sea birds and sea mist. We are still in the throws of re-decorating and have a lot to do so no opportunity at the moment for a wander into the studio. I do have a new commission on the blocks but there is no rush with that.

Talking of  decorating we had a new radiator fitted yesterday in a room Alex had just repainted throughout. The plumber asked me if we had any of the paint left over as there were marks and holes left from the old radiator.
I had a quick run through the various pots of paint and left him with the appropriate one. I came back a little while later to find a large patch of gloss paint of a similar hue  in the middle of the wall.

Aghh. "I think I gave you the wrong paint." I cried.
"Yes but who is going to tell Alex?" He asked.

We all make mistakes but somehow Alex feels I make more than anyone else. She was quite unimpressed.

Link who remembers Donovan and Joan Baez  ?

Ferryside

Despite all your best efforts to be careful occasionally accidents happen with paintings. This can be a problem.
Take for instance the time when a gallery owner decided to repaint their walls and took down all the paintings. They stacked our paintings face to back. This was okay for the first few paintings but mouldings of the rear ones were scratched by the metal hanging fittings attached to the rear of the paintings. Result half a dozen ruined frames for which we suffered the loss. It was a genuine accident but one that cost us.
We always wrap our paintings to transport them but even so on occasions they can get damaged when hanging them. This happened recently and meant having to repaint the sky on one painting. All good practice for colour matching looking on the bright side.
The painting above is of Ferryside in the sunshine and is available.

Rain on Llansteffan Beach

It seems an appropriate painting for today. I got a bit damp taking Jac out this morning and the dforecast isn't great. Its an old painting and is sold. I am tied up decorating this week!!!

Painting of Brecon Cathedral

I was asked yesterday if I would exhibit in Brecon next year. Whilst we have reduced our exhibitions greatly over the last 2 years I agreed as it was an old friend and it is also raising money for a military charity. I will let you know the details nearer the time.

The painting above is of Brecon Cathedral is sold and was done when I used to exhibit there regularly.

In my previous employment I had many responsibilities and was trained in just about everything from Health and Safety, Project Management to Marketing as well as most policing functions.  I went to various companies to learn marketting from them including British Airways. I digress a bit but I was thinking about how Alex and I had marketed my work over the last 14 years or so. It had either worked very well or we had been incredibly lucky.

Then I thought about the trigger words that worked for Alex:

Maybe: "Organic", "Superfood","Sale", "Shoes".

Yes if she ever saw a label saying "Sale Organic Supefood Shoes" They would be sold before they could be tried on.

For me not so easy maybe:"Real Ale", "Rugby", "Turner" ?

Origin Christmas Card Competition

Origin 23, King Street, Carmarthen is a co-operative of makers and artists from Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion with its shop based in the busy market town of Carmarthen. In the shop you will find a wide range of high quality handcrafted ceramics, glass, jewellery, metal, textiles, wood and cards as well as a wide range of original art work and prints.

The annual Origin design a Christmas Card Competition is now on. The competition is open to all ages and there a re prizes for the winning entries. An entry is only 50p and must be done on the card supplied. To get your entry form call in at Originhttps://www.facebook.com/origincarmarthen/. 

The painting above is one I did last year for the shop display.

Painting of Durham Cathedral and Castle in the early evening

This is the painting I have been working on this week. It is a painting of Durham Cathedral and Castle in the early evening. We used to visit Alex's grandmother in Durham and so we do know the area.

We also have a lot of work to do in the house as we are decorating and having new carpets so everything is up in the air!!

River Towy Merlin's Hill - Commissions

 Here is the finished commissioned painting I posted the first stage of the other day. Generally at this time of year I get people wanting paintings at the last minute before Christmas. Oil paintings take about 3 weeks for me to do and then allow to dry before framing. This year I have been getting orders early which is nice.

If you do want a painting I don't charge a deposit and there is no obligation to purchase. Costs start at £155 for a framed painting 15ins x 13 ins more if it is mounted and framed behind glass.

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