Newport and Carningli

I did the watercolour of Newport when we were on holiday over our wedding anniversary the year before last.
We stopped on a farmers field and were the only ones there. Mind you it was blowing a gale most of the time. We had lovely sea views when the rain abated. We even had to get up in the middle of the night to turn the camper into the wind to stop the wind lifting the van.
Anyway I heard this story the other day. A friend of ours was telling Alex that last year she had an off day with her husband. She showed him the cold shoulder and was off with him all day. Finally they went to bed with him mystified as ever.
She eventually said, "Well I can't believe it you've only gone and forgotten our wedding anniversary. Its the 6th today."
He turned to look at her and replied, "Yes it is the 6th of June today  but we were married on the 6th of July!"

Guildhall Square

I was talking last week about David Hockney and his digital manipulation, sounds bad doesn't it? Well I must admit I am not a fan but never let it be said that I am totally stuck in the past. I have tried my hand at computer generated and manipulated images. Truthfully they don't really give me the satisfaction of making an image from a selection of ground minerals and a surface of paper or canvas. I also get bored sat in front of a computer for more than five minutes. I tried it I didn't like it, doesn't make me a bad person.
Anyway above is my digitally manipulated picture of Guildhall Square Carmarthen.

Cattle on the Brecon Canal

Although the Brecon to Monmouthsire canal is only 35 miles long it runs through some beautiful countryside.
Much of this is in the Brecon Beacons National Park. We occasionally stop overnight near the canal and walk along a section of it. Years ago when the children were small we found a spoil heap from where the canal had been dredged and they had all sorts of fun digging up clay pipes and bottles. I think we gave them to  Ysgol Y Bannau, The Welsh Medium School in Llanfaes. I also presented the headmaster John Edwards with a painting when we left. It was a great little school which is no longer there.

The view here is near Brynych showing Pen y Fan and Corn Ddu in the background.

Today I am doing a bit of sketching after taking the dog out and Alex is having a well earned rest!

Abergwili Ladies

Here I promise is the last picture I will show from the series I did and yes it does include the Bascule Bridge
which can be seen to towards the bottom right.
The other day John said to me, "Mark you know that Stacey plays for Abergwili Ladies Football team, well her mom bought her a pair of shin guards for Christmas. Stacey was a bit annoyed though and said she would have to send them back as they had sent two different sizes. One was marked R for Regular and the other L for Large."
No its not true, ..... I think?

Bascule Bridge

The picture above is part of the same series I referred to yesterday however it does have a closer link to Carmarthen. The picture features part of the mechanism of the Bascule Bridge at Johnstown. The colours are cooler than the rest of the series.I no longer have the painting. The Bascule Bridge has featured in several of my paintings which I guess reflects my interest in mechanical things. I have in the past made working steam models and boilers and as I have said before I was interested in steam locomotives as a child. The remnants of that bygone age still carry a nostalgic interest for me even it seems in a fairly abstract work.

Hockney

The abstract painting above is one that for a long time graced one of the walls in our lounge. It was 6 ft by 4ft.
It was part of the series I based on Picabia's works. I saw a program about David Hockney a week or so ago. I was very much influenced by him when I was younger.
I enjoyed his fresh bright works such as the bigger splash which he did when he was living in California. He is somewhat critical of conceptual artists or artists that are not "hands on" such as Damien Hirst. I also find it hard to understand the concept of an artist who is not able to make or produce their own work.  I haven't physically seen his latest works which are digitally enhanced. From what I have seen on television they don't have the same appeal as his earlier paintings.
Anyway I have to walk the dog now and then do some work.

Link for The Bigger Splash
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/hockney/splash/

Cattle after the rain

I really like this painting and am surprised I still have it. There again it has only been in one gallery and then I retrieved it.
Still everyone has different tastes. The earth coloured palette appeals to me and reminds me of those familiar wet days trudging through the countryside under grey skies. For me it is still an optimistic painting as I am happy to see all the seasons and revel in the differing views that nature brings.