Painting of Brecon Cathedral

I note today that 2 South African sides may be joining the Pro 12 Rugby League (of which of course the Scarlets are Champions). I have posted a painting of the interior of Brecon Cathedral.  Although the links are tenuous, my great uncle died in Boer War and we have exhibited in Brecon Cathedral on a quite few occasions where there are plaques and other items of the South Wales Borderers who fought in South Africa. I have also exhibited to help raise money for the regimental museum which caters for all the participants in that war and has strong links with the Zulu Nation.

Painting of the Boathouse

The above painting of Boathouse Laugharne sold this week. It was a fairly large painting that had been hanging on my wall and not exhibited.

 If paintings are in my studio for a while unframed there is always a temptation to add or change things as you see the painting with different eyes on another day. This is why it is always difficult to know when a painting is finished. It is a common worry with artists.

There is always of course the risk that the painting could be ruined. This is more the case in my experience with portraits. The portrait may be made up of a thousand brush marks but the last one may be crucial and changing it may take away the likeness or spontaneity.

Painting of Solva

I was going to post a painting I have in my studio of Solva but I seem to have not photographed it.
So I have posted the one above which is sold instead.

We have picked most our gooseberries although they aren't quite ripe. Last year we left them and they were completey stripped. The culprits Blackbirds! There are still a few left and from the kitchen window I can see the odd blackbird under the bushes tucking into them.

Day on the Beach

With the change in the weather I thought I would post the painting above of a "Day at the Beach".
If I recall correctly it was never framed and went in a clear out. I am not sure why now but anyway!

We have a busy time this week with various commitments so I am not sure what I will get done painting wise. Last time I saw Alex she was under a pile of ironing.

Whats in a name

The painting above is the one I was working on last week of Llansteffan Beach in Summer.

I don't know if you have seen these things advertised that answer everything and do everything for you.

"What is the weather today Alexa?"
"Put this on my shopping list Alexa?"

Well I think they might want to change the name.

I tried, "Put this on my shopping list Alex," and Mrs Cox told to get off my backside and do it myself.

Link

Motorway

The other day I was in the car with Alex and every traffic light we came to was on green for me. I turned to her and said,

"I feel like Jeremy Corbyn."

She replied,"Err  I think you mean James Corden."

Oh well, anyway

 What have my wife and Jeremy Corbyn got in common?

They both like to spend money they haven't got!


The painting above is of the M4 on a bad day done a couple of years ago.

Carmarthenshire Farmhouse

Over this heat wave Alex and I had a lovely day with our eldest's family and after lunch we went for a walk. I caught this view of the house and decided it would make a nice composition. Anyway I did the painting from a sketch, shown below.

Painting Llansteffan

I started a painting today having finally decided it was comfortable enough to get in to the studio. I am doing a painting of Llansteffan as they tend to be quite popular. I like this view and do it quite often. The one above was done on site. I haven't finished the studio painting as yet which is 3 times the size.

This morning Mal Pope on Radio Wales told the story of our eldest's wedding. Briefly it went like this.

The wedding was in Tenby and we arrived at our Hotel an hour before the service and went to our room to get changed.

 I quickly changed but Mrs Cox was getting quite flustered. She hadn't got her shoes for the wedding and for some apparent reason I was getting the blame.

To be honest I thought she looked fine in her new dress, new hairdo, fascinator and trainers!

A Lucky Escape

The watercolour of a tug was one I did a good while back and never got framed.  

I have never been great at sport although I have always enjoyed participating and watching. There are exceptions. I can't watch golf, tennis, swimming, darts or athletics but love watching rugby and a bit of village cricket. My hand eye co-ordination is probably a bit slow although I did a bit of boxing and karate for a good few years. I have to say there is a good incentive to be quick particularly if like me you don't like being hit.

Anyway the other day we had a lovely afternoon at our sons house and after a good al fresco lunch I sat watching one of the grandchildren kicking his football around.

 Although he is only somewhere around 3? he was very impressive. Anyhow he misjudged a kick and it ran off down drive which is on a steep hill.  I got up and ran/jogged off after it. Fortunately it got stuck in the ditch halfway down.

I perhaps unwisely decided to give it a big kick up the drive and surprisingly it went like a rocket just as the little Gareth Bale came around the corner of the drive running towards me. In a flash I had visions of him being struck in the face, knocked over, crying, repercussions, me in the dog house. 

I watched in stunned silence as the ball flew and curved down towards his face. He ducked down, flicked it on with his head and ran after it! I breathed a sigh of relief and made a note to self not to play football with toddlers.

Watercolour of Llansteffan

The above is a watercolour I did of Llansteffan about 5 or 6 years ago of Llansteffan in the summertime.

I have been intending to do some painting this week but I walked into the studio and it was like an oven and outside is too hot for me. So I am keeping out of the sun and trying to keep cool.

Summers Day Llansaint

The above watercolour is of the Church in Llansaint.Our daughter used to live there and so I did a few paintings around there most of which sold. There is or was a council information board with one of my paintings on it. I am not sure if it still there.

I really must get around to doing some more work as my stock is pretty low now. I normally have about 60 paintings framed but it is less than half of that now. There are even spaces on my living room wall.

Anyway a lovely day today and will see some of the family for lunch.

Bygone Days

Now if we still had our boat we would be down on the Haven passing the shipping and out to the Islands. Those were great days. I loved watching the shipping and seeing the tugs doing their work, like Anglegarth above. The painting is sold.

Anyway those days are gone although I still have a few paintings to remind me.

So I guess its out with the lawnmower!

Personalities

I was asked the other day who I would most like to meet if I could. Over the years I have dealt with and met a good number of personalities, royalty, politicians and media people.

I have also met a lot of interesting people. Sorry that's a bit unfair. I have a lot of time for Prince Charles ( I am not sure he feels the same about me!) also I couldn't hold a candle to a number of the others too. Of all of them I really liked David Blunkett.

Anyway who would I most like to meet. There are any number of artists who are now deceased Carravagio ( a real bad boy but a great painter),  Augustus John and Ford Maddox Brown to name but three. But I would kind of like to meet John Prescott. Why? Well he is a real character and I am sure he would be very entertaining and could give a very good inside account of British politics.

The painting above is of Carreg Cennen Castle and is sold. 

A solid enough performance from Wales today to beat Tonga.Can't believe Jamie Roberts was penalised for an apparent high tackle. Pity Sam Davies had a bad day kicking as I think it would have been a better game in the end. 

A break from it all

We have been away for 10 days in the Cotswolds. It was nice to not watch the TV and avoid all the election stuff. Although we did vote I am fairly luke warm about it all. During my lifetime there have been 15 or so parties in government. During all that time I cannot directly attribute our circumstances to any change in party or government. I have met many politicians they all seem very personable (even the ones you wouldn't touch with a barge pole). Have any of them made any difference at all ?
Probably not. (With of course the negative exception of those that  took us to war in particular Mr Blair and later Mr Cameron who decided to bomb Libya).

Look at the USA when President Obama came to power much was expected of him. That word "change" was the watchword. In reality I fear nothing has changed for the majority of poor in the USA.

I was particularly perturbed at all the negativity anger and hatred that was on social media during the run up to this election. Passion is one thing but personal abuse is another. It was all very disappointing.

There isn't a party that reflects my opinions and beliefs. For what its worth I have quite socialist views on education and social issues with strong opinions on law and defence.

Anyway we were glad to get away from it all to read, walk oh and I did listen to the rugby on the radio!

While we were away a painting of Llansteffan sold but I thought I'd post a painting of the Cotswolds instead.

Mwnt

The other day we went to Gwbert with our youngest daughter and her children. We had a pleasant walk and the children played on the beach in a littel cove where we were visited by a seal. It reminded me we hadn't been to Mwnt for a while. Mwnt with its little church is only around the corner passed Cardigan Island and would have been a pleasant walk. Unfortunately you have to divert a bit way from the coast as access is problematic.

Painting of still life

I have done a few still life paintings. One advantage is that the subjects don't move! The other is you can do it indoors.

I resisted the temptation to do this with a traditional dark background and made a more modern painting. No we didn't eat the crab it was smelling a bit by the time I finished. THe bottel we dug up in our garden in Brecon.

Burry Port Inner Harbour

We went along to Burry Port the other day to watch one of our grandsons play football. The place has changed a great deal over the last 10 years. It now has a marina with overlooking apartments and plenty of leisure area. I painted the above picture about 7 or 8 years ago? This is the inner harbour and is pretty much the same.

Burry Port is where Amelia Earhart landed after her transatlantic crossing.

Portrait of a Lieutenant

I don't do portraits now but I have done a few in the past. This was a commission of a deceased relative of the customer from a black and white photoas I recall.

Watercolour of Harlech Castle

This is a watercolour I did from our campsite when we visited Harlech about 5 years ago. I have left out a few buildings and objects that detracted from the composition. The painting is sold.

Painting of Criccieth

We used to take our camper every March up to North Wales. Criccieth was a favourite spot. Youoften saw dolphins in the bay and Jac loved the beach. The situation is similar to Llansteffan with the castle on a prominent rocky outcrop.

The painting is sold.

Llandeilo

I haven't done many paintings of Llandeilo but this is one of them. It shows the Railway Bridge and river. It is not the usual view that is painted but I feel it contains the essence of the place.

The painting is sold but we have sold a number of prints of this one.

Painting of Anglegarth off St. Annes Head

This was one of my favourite paintings. It shows the Tug Anglegarth off St. Annes Head. I did it a few years back and it sold quickly. Not every ones choice of subject I know but I did a lot of shipping back then. I kind of wish I had kept it. Oh well.