Success

The oil painting above is an old one that I no longer have. It shows a fishing boat going passed the (as it was then) Texaco Jetties on the Milford Haven. The painting was about 4ft x 2ft.

I listened to a discussion on the radio the other morning about success. It got me thinking about the subject, well its something you do at 5am in the morning. In terms of my own personal life I measure success as the impact I have on other people. Basically my own family. We have brought up 3 good kids and that to me is success.

In terms of being a successful artist I don't measure myself against other people/ artists. I think to do so is a mistake although I do see others do it. No I am happy to be what I consider a competent artist. I can paint pretty well anything to a good standard after years of practice and experience. I don't need accolades or to be courted by the artistic cliques. I have sold hundreds of original paintings and thousands of cards and prints, so being successful is again about doing something that is appreciated by others. It is not about the amount your work can go for or how many prizes you win. It is about the self satisfaction of creating quality work that others appreciate.

Pilglas - Moorings by moonlight

The above painting sold this week. It shows the moorings at Pilglas near Llansteffan.
Alex and I have spent quite a few nights on a boat on the moorings here. When the tide goes out it is a magnet for wading birds such as curlew, oyster catchers..

 One night the wind picked up from the south east and it became really uncomfortable. It was quite safe but there was no way we were going to get a good nights sleep. So about 11.30pm we got off the boat and made our way ashore. The moorings are really muddy and you need to know where to walk. Anyway we got pretty filthy dragging our dinghy over the mud in the dark. We got in our car and drove home. Our eldest daughter was living at home at the time. Much to her shame we walked in as she was entertaining several friends we hadn't met before. We were soaking wet and wearing wet weather gear plastered in mud.
She said." Oh no these are my parents!"
A glance in the mirror confirmed we did look quite bad.
I think she may have forgiven us by now.

Sunset

I see many wise words and phrases on social media but if you ask Alex she will tell you I am not a great fan of instant "bumper sticker enlightenment". Its not that they aren't for the most part relevent but they just say the same things in a different way and by the time you read the next one it is forgotten. The only one that I ever really took to possibly because of the people I was dealing with at the time was,
"Oh, Lord help me to open my eyes and shut my mouth until I know what I am talking about."
Anyway I guess I am more of a picture person than wise old sage.

Wind and Rain

It has been a windy night and it reminded me of our sailing days. The painting above is of our last yacht Sapphire close hauled with full sail.
One occassion in an older yacht we spent 7 days sheltering under a weather shore from a strong easterly. We had two bow anchors out with all our chain. Although the wind was flying over the top of us we were safe and secure as long as the wind dindn't change direction. That week was spent reading and playing cribbage by the light of an oil lamp.  The only down side was taking the dog ashore twice a day this meant lowering the dog into a tender (dinghy) and rowing him ashore. This could be tricky but all went well.
Nowadays I am finally content to listen to the wind and rain from the comfort of the house although I wish the roof didnt leak, (something to be sorted when we have a period of dry weather!).
Today we are taking some work to another outlet.

Link one of my favourite groups I was fortunate enough to see:

Doors

Llandeilo from Ffairfach

I finished the above painting today. It shows Llandeilo from Ffairfach with the railway bridge.
I have done a few paintings from this side of the town in the past and I prefer the composition to the normal one chosen of the road bridge leading up to the church.
Off to collect the grandchildren now!

Talley Abbey

Bit non stop today. Out with the dog, breakfast, gym, off to see my mom, walk the dog, lunch then finish the painting above. This is a painting of Talley Abbey a ruin near Llandeilo. It was a monastery of the white canons so I believe.
I kept to a fairly limited pallette and painted straight from the off. I enjoy painting like that although it isn't always feasible.
I have mentioned I am learning to play the piano. Well I can now read the music in its simplest form and play most of the notes in the right order. My issue is and I knew it would be rythm, or time. I cant dance, Alex will say, "Can't you here the beat?" Well no actually I can't if I could I might be able to dance. I could never march far without getting out of step. When I go to a concert I am reluctant to join in with , "Okay everybody put your hands in the air..." I quickly find everybody else has got out of synch with me and are half a handclap in front or behind. So natural timing or rythm is an issue and even with the simplest of tunes it is hard work getting it anywhere near right and counting out 1,2,3,4 etc. All that being said it is a new challenge and so far so good (unless you happen to be listening to it of course).

Wales Lineout - Richard Hibbard

Yesterday we went to watch the game in Cardiff, Walas v Italy. We had to leave Carmarthen late as both our son and eldest grandaughter's boyfriend were working until 12.30pm. We had a full carload fortunately the Zaffira has 7 seats.. Vince is Italian and is the father of our grandaughters boyfriend so we also had full representation. Alex was still suffering a bit from a "late night " on Friday but was fortunately fine to drive back. We parked got the bus in and got to our seats with beer just in time for the anthems.
Great seats courtesy of our son. I was happy enough with the game although there were mistakes my only concern was the scrum which wasn't convincing. Anyway a win and a good start to the Six Nations. We had a good view of the lineouts and I have done a sketch of Richard Hibbard about to throw in with Mike Phillips ready to receive.
After the game we walked back to the car park as the Park and ride bus was outnumbered about 2000 to one.
Back in Carmarthen a lamb dinner was waiting and we had the pleasure of watching the England game. A perfect end to the day.