Sheep in the Preseli's

The other day coming back from Pembrokeshire I had a good view of the Preseli's as Alex drove. I thought I must do something to include that. I thought I would frame it between two clumps of trees with a path leading into the painting. I then thought that sheep coming from within the painting towards the viewer would complete the composition.

So yesterday I thought I would give it a go. I decided on a light fluid style and after brushing in a few guide lines with burnt umber and doing a ground of burnt sienna went for it. The result a couple of hours later is shown above. It is pretty much finished. There are a couple of things to add but if I am not careful it will lose its fluidity.

A quick sketch of Alex

On Tuesday Alex and I went to Cwmderi Vineyard. We took the camper and had lunch in the restaurant. The food was excellent and very good value. A 3 course meal for £13.95 each. I should add we had a bottle of wine as well. We then retired to our camper to read and enjoy the afternoon sunshine. I took the rare opportunity to sketch Alex while she was comparatively still.
To get the right angles on the face it is often easier to draw a series of short straight lines and smooth them out after if necessary as is the case above.
Last night Alex went out with her mother for a meal with her mother's friends. There was a traditional Welsh Dancing Display which they both joined in and Alex was asked if she would join the group. I have to say she is a very good dancer so I can understand why. I think she would look good in Welsh National Costume so I will keep you posted!

Coffee Time

I do not drink coffee I do drink tea.  The last time I had a cup of coffee was about 8 years ago although I had given up long before that. Anyway some 8 years ago we were in a restaurant in Bristol with our family celebrating s family event. I had quite a nasty headache. Fortunately our daughter is very knowledgeable as regards medical issues and advised me to have a cup of expresso. As I say I didn't drink coffee and as far as I am aware I had never had an expresso before. I readily accepted her advice and drank the vile tasting brew. I have to say that within minutes my mild headache was gone. It was replaced by a migraine that hit me like a train. I had to leave the restaurant with Alex guiding me.

That was definitely the last cup of coffee for me.Give me a hangover any day!

Why I bring this up is Alex occasionally enjoys a cup of coffee and the other day I noticed she had bought a new jar with coffee granules in it. So when she asked for a cup of coffee I naturally used this new coffee. The problem was the granules didn't dissolve and merely floated around the top.
I pointed this out to Alex who responded, "You idiot those are toasted crumbs for my puddings!"

Anyway obviously many people enjoy coffee and the painting above is of 2 gentlemen enjoying their morning capuccino or whatever in Hay on Wye.

\\\\\\link obvious  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pULXnVTRynY

Venice

I have talked about the Venice Biennale previously. We have been to Venice in fact when the Biennale was on but felt our time was better spent enjoying the sights and doing some sketching for paintings like the one above.
I know it is questionable to be critical of something you haven't seen but if you don't want to do something why do it?  For example I have never seen the Sound of Music (and don't intend to either).

Anyway just to prove a point I was listening to the World Service at about 3.30am the other morning, (no, I don't sleep much). A poem came on that originated from the Biennale. I won't quote it all for copyright reasons (and also I can't remember it all) but it went something like this:

" I don't want a new car,
  I don't want a big house.
  I don't want flashy clothes.
  I don't want a big yacht.
  I don't want any material things.
  I just want money!"

I was quite amused so maybe I was being a bit too judgemental but there again maybe not. As the quote goes,

 "Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCkOmcIl79s

Picton Castle

The exhibition is now up at Picton Castle. Alex and I were up early for the off. The paintings were all up by 11 o'clock. So the Exhibition is now on until 29th June.  Jean Thomas is the artist in the other gallery. Her works are pretty amazing, large canvases that are full of sea birds and movement.
If you would like to come along to a private viewing a chat and a pleasant soiree on this Friday evening admission free please let me know by Thursday at the latest.

Llandefaelog Church

I saw a charity was asking for donations this week all for a good local cause. I offered to give a painting or print. I am happy to help with good causes in this way and often do.  As a rule they are all local. I will help Macmillan, the local hospice etc but I rarely give money to overseas charities. I like to know what the money is being spent on or how my donation will help. Perhaps I am wrong and unchristian but that is just the way I see it.
Anyway I did the little watercolour of Llandefaelog Church today. The colours haven't quite come out right on the image but I don't want to spend time on photoshop to get it right.

Old Cocker Spaniel

Here as promised is the completed painting of our daughter and son in law's old cocker spaniel "Shabby" kennel club name "Rimfire Rita".
You can probably see now why I was happy to paint her. She has a really interesting face as old age is coming upon her quickly. Of course the eyes are central to getting the character right.

This morning was a beautiful walk with the two dogs. I stopped on top of the valley to watch a sparrow hawk glide across the trees by Cwm Oernant Farm below me. You could see across to Mynydded y Garreg in the South and Green Castle Corner in the South West. Looking North East you could see the wind turbines out towards Brechfa slowly turning. Looking towards Merlin's Hill a field of this years calves were highlighted against the light. Each one was a rich dark brown silhouette with a golden outline of light.

Sorry I'm going all poetic. Breakfast calls.

Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV_oaJAyJBQ