Abergwili

Well it looks like summer’s gone such as it was. With the approach of Winter I decided to do a seasonal scene. Abergwili with the brook and St David’s Church Tower just visible.

Today I went to the gallery to paint. I only had £1.30 so had just 2 hours to walk from the car park and do a painting. It turned out okay, I think.

I am pretty well finished with the work in the New Gallery other than maybe the odd day. So back to work now. Also the start of the Rugby World Cup to look forward to.

Alex is still just about keeping her sanity despite all her child tending duties this week, well she says she is.
Later the gym and maybe cut he lawns.

Clive Surman Photography

I had a very nice comment yesterday from Clive Surman a Photographer now living in Carmarthen. Thank you Clive. So the picture above is one of his. I have taken the opportunity to look at his work, which I hope you agree is excellent.

I recommend you visit his blog.

http://www.clivesurmanphotography-blog.co.uk/

Today I spent most of the day working on the new gallery in King St. The shop was rebuilt in 1932 following a fire and was fitted out in art deco style. Much of the original windows (rising sun) and other fittings etc are still in use.

Later this afternoon I picked up two of the grandchildren from school while Alex was trying to control one of the others.
I am anticipating painting tomorrow.

On the beach

Alex and I watched two young fox cubs playing first thing this morning. A wonderful sight. Then I walked the dogs. After breakfast I went to the gym while she babysat one of our grandchildren. This afternoon I am working in the new gallery, which is coming on well thanks to the efforts of the co-operative.

Origins (the old Origin Dyfed) is due to open in King Street Carmarthen on 23rd September. It has a fantastic display window and the premises themselves go back to Dickens. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful crafts and artwork on display. The wooden floor was sanded this weekend and has made a big difference.

The sketch above is in lieu of any painting as I am obviously tied up a few days although I have primed boards for a couple of paintings I must do this week. Actually triple priming boards and sanding down between coats takes a fair amount of time. The sketches are of people on the beach. I hope that was an obvious statement? They may turn up in future paintings.

Anyway its time for the dogs to go out again.

The Kings new clothes

Day off today. Walk the dog then the gym with Alex . Finish decorating the kitchen. Sunday Lunch with Alex’s Mom. Then this afternoon off to Parc y Scarlets to watch the rugby with our son.

The sketch above demonstrates the kind of pre-painting drawing I generally do. I use anything available the back of another drawing or sketch, or inkjet paper from the printer, which is cheap. I don’t keep them once they have fulfilled their purpose.

I listened to Gareth Wynn on Radio Wales at 6am this morning and he was having a dig at modern “art”. He was pretty funny depending on your perspective. For example he said something that went like this.

“I went to Haverfordwest to see a conceptual exhibition of hammers referencing man’s use of tools …”
No I was actually in B&Q.
I am surprisingly open to new ideas and like the works of talented artists like Anthony Gormley (Angel of the North) and many others but I believe that some artists that are trying to fool a lot of people including themselves. Anyway it’s way too early to get serious.

Polka Dot

The painting above is the one I finished yesterday to hang in the kitchen. I have made minor changes to it and taken a decent photo. As I write Alex is getting on with painting the walls. Strangely Alex doesn’t let me decorate in the house. I suppose its because although I start off carefully I get bored and the emulsion or gloss starts running down the handle and getting everywhere.

I have a commission to do an estuary painting, which I hope to start on this week. It is a subject that I enjoy and one that suits my style.

I can be quite expressive with my hands and arms when talking. Like quite a few people I use them to illustrate a point I am making. This can be quite useful to the listener well anyway its not normally detrimental to them.

However I do recall one occasion many years ago. At the time I had a job dealing with peoples complaints.
A man came in to see me from his work and wished to make a complaint. Although he was well dressed and spoke well he was a bit (understatement) obnoxious. Still I was paid to deal with him and wasn’t particularly bothered at the abuse aimed at me and everyone in general. I listened to him and took notes with my fountain pen (yes it was a while ago). At some point in the proceedings I started being expressive waving my arms to emphasise a point in his story. Shortly afterwards I finished dealing with him and sent him on his way. It was at that point I noticed the wall behind the chair where he had been sitting. The magnolia was covered in lines of splattered blue ink, which wasn’t great in itself, but they were interrupted by the shape of a sitting man.
I realised I had been holding my fountain pen in my hand whilst being, “expressive”.

I wondered if he would ever come back to see me again. Well he didn’t. Maybe he never worked out where he obtained the blue polka dot effect.
I didn’t feel guilty as I think my hand was guided by another greater power, one with a sense of humour and perhaps justice, well that’s my excuse.

When we were young

Today I finished the painting of the River Towy. The tiler has finished so the kitchen now needs repainting fortunately Alex will do that. The new painting can then be ceremonially framed (by Alex) and hung in its new space (probably by Alex).

The painting above is of Broadhaven in Pembrokeshire. It is one I finished last week. When we were there last autumn it reminded me of many seaside holidays I had as a child with a chill wind and grey scudding clouds. Hence the painting and I couldn’t resist putting a sheepdog with the children. The dog is like the one Alex and I had when we first got married. A lovely dog with who got on with our children (someone had to ).

Yesterday we got a lot done in the new gallery and it was nice to have one or two visitors drop in to see how we were getting on. Good to see you Pat.
Another commission arrived today so still busy in all ways.

Another day

As we are pretty tied up again today this is an early post. The tiler phoned last night and is coming today to tile the kitchen. We are also working in the new shop and have several other domestic jobs to do. The next exhibition starts on 24th Sept and Alex has some work to do for that.

The sketch above is of a rock outcrop in Gran Canaria. The landscape there is very interesting but of course the majority of the time people are restricted to the main resort areas which to be honest could be anywhere in the Med.

I must update my own website which is lamentably out of date. I have no difficulty motivating myself to paint whatsoever. Although I designed and wrote my own website from scratch I cant say it working on it gives me any great pleasure.
Time to take the dog out now.