Senghenydd

The recent triumph of the rescue of the Chilean miners reminded me of another mining incident. The Universal Colliery Senghenydd Mining Disaster. A powerful gas and coal dust explosion on Friday May 24th, 1901, killed 81 of the 82 men underground at the time.

I was commissioned to paint a scene from the disaster. The painting was for someone who had a relative in the mine. Fortunately they were not underground at the time and survived the disaster.

The painting had to be done from photographs from the time. The Universal Colliery was distinctive in that it had 2 pit heads and I was not able to find a photograph with the two shown together. So it was quite a challenge to do the initial drawing whilst being as accurate as possible. The final painting is shown above.

Today was a bit "pick and mix". We had to take mom to hospital, clear 2 rooms, lift 3 carpets, and do the shopping and then on to decorating.

Actually Alex did the decorating I sat and watched the rugby on tv.

The Unknown Soldier

I heard a mother from North Wales on the radio this morning talking about her son's memorial. He had been in the RAF and had been killed in Afghanistan. A memorial stone had been put up for him but it had been repeatedly damaged by vandals.
In the end the memorial was removed. My reaction to this sort of incident is two-fold the feelings of sorrow for the mother and the anger at the apparent inability of the authorities to catch or deal with these mindless juveniles.
The painting above is of the memorial in Cidweli. I painted it not because it is a marketable subject it is clearly not. I feel these memorials are however a very powerful symbol of the sacrifice that the generations before have given. It was a compulsion that made me record the image a small homage to their sacrifice.
On a lighter note I have been decorating today and dealing with paperwork for a future exhibition.

I love cricket

I mentioned in a previous post that my grandson had asked if I would be an angel when he was grown up. I got to thinking about my own grandfather. I was fortunate that I did get to know him as I was about 10 years old when he died. He used to take me to watch the cricket at Edgbaston. That is the home of Warwickshire. Strangely enough I also met Alex at Edgbaston County Cricket ground, although that was at a dance. The painting above is of my great grandfather who was born in Ayreshire. I did the painting from an old photo. I dont often do portraits now and then only of family members.

Today I taught watercolours to a lady who comes for private tuition. She did a very light and lovely painting from a sketch of the Menai Straits. I also finished a painting of Ferryside in oils.

Alex is now busy painting the walls. Tomorrow will probably be more decorating and maybe a small painting.

The Strand

The painting above is one I have done for my next exhibition it is of the Strand in Laugharne. We really like Laugharne and have a lot of attachments to it. We have often sailed there and go to the Rugby internationals in Cardiff on the Laugharne RFC Coach which is an event in itself.

I am not personally a great fan of Dylan Thomas. I enjoy hearing Richard Burton reading his words but I can't really say I connect with it. That said Laugharne does feel like the ghost of Dylan Thomas still resides there. It is a place of great character which has not yet been ruined by the advance of progress from the East.

Today I spent decorating, tomorrow a bit of teaching for a change and maybe a painting?

Sainthood and angels

The painting above is one I donated to Dorothy Bere from Carmarthen who raised funds for a charity engaged in building schools in Nepal. Dot has been out there and put in her own work so good for her. It is always good to give something back and I always appreciate the many blessings we enjoy. In truth in this country we have an excess of riches. This Christmas we are donating to Macmillan again and have asked for matched funding from Barclays well you never know.

Anway before I promote myself to Sainthood I must mention I was brought down to earth by a great question by my 5 year old grandson today,

"Will you be an angel when I'm grown up grandad?"

Well I'm certainly no angel now and am never likely to be nice though the thought might be.

Alex and I spent a good deal of the day in hospital with my mom and then picked up some of the grandchildren. I did spend 10 minutes waiting for school to finish by examining the shadows in the playground (no not the group) and the light in the trees. I chatted to David Cowdry tonight a a really nice guy and a fantastic artist if you don't know his work you should look him up.

http://www.walesartists.co.uk/newfile_4.html

It looks like it will be Wednesday before I can get around to painting again.

2 colours and a nap

Worn out today after a hectic weekend. Grandchildren are great but occassionally a bit on the noisy side. So being out Friday and Saturday visitors and decorating we are on our last legs. Still did a painting of view near Libanus today and also got down to Saundersfoot taking advantage of the lovely weather. Called in to see my mom earlier. Saundersfoot at low tide has some fabulous images that would make great paintings. You are spoilt for choice with wet beaches,cliffs,boat people and a drying harbour.

The painting above is one I did last week of Mwnt for no particular reason other than I had this idea to paint it in basically 3 colours or more correctly 2 colours and white ie; yellow ochre, ultramarine and white.

Might have a small nap now!

Stripping - wallpaper

The painting above is one of two paintings we sold yesterday. It is a view of Llansteffan from Ferryside Beach. A lovely couple from Cardiff came to buy it. Both sides of the estuary are very picturesque and make great subjects for a painting.
The rest of yesterday I spent at Parc y Scarlets watching Scarlets beat Perpignan. It was a nice event as it included a pre-match dinner and tea afterwards. Then home where Alex had laid on a large evening meal and drinks.
Today we went for a walk on Llansteffan beach and then got down to stripping wallpaper for the rest of the day.
Tomorrow hopefully I will be painting (and not the hall and landing).