Llyn Lech Owain in Spring

I was commissioned to paint this lake before. As I may have mentioned on the day I went there a heron was popping his head up from the reeds. On the original commission I "ummed and ahhed" whether to include the  heron in the end I didn't. The painting looked fine. However I liked the view so much I thought I would do another version this time with the heron. To be honest I am still not sure which I like the best. It's a lovely spot and one I will return to.

Whitesands Bay finished painting

And the completed painting of Whitesands bay is .......above. Spent a couple of hours cutting boards. It is always a pain wearing a mask and goggles. Then it takes just as long to clean up after.

I do worry about our education system. We went to the vets last week and were given 11 tablets for Jac and told to give him two a day for 7 days!!

Musical link just because I love this record and it fits.

Link

A new painting

I have started a new painting of Whitesands Bay incorporating the beach as well as the islands in the distance. My usual loose start on this occasion leaving the primer white without a ground.

We are still seriously looking at our commitments and I think the next thing to go is the vegetable patch or at least some of it. We don't have a large garden but digging and weeding the patch is quite a business throughout the summer so maybe some more fruit bushes and lawn (sorry grass it over).

Jac is going to see an animal acupuncturist for his leg. I am a serious sceptic about all things as you who know me are probably well aware. However she comes highly recommended and I am less convinced by the new ground breaking operation that we were offered. So we will see how it goes.

Completed painting of Towy Valley and Paxtons Tower

Here is the completed painting of Towy Valley from Paxtons Tower. I may well have this done as a print.

Today I have another painting on the go so some progress being made now.

Painting of Towy Valley

I have started a new painting of the Towy Valley this week. The view is from Dryslwyn Castle looking towards Llanarthne and Paxtons Tower. You can see how I have drawn it out with a brush in turps and below how I am now adding oil with medium working downwards. Any details go in at the end. 

High Tide Llansteffan

I finished this painting at the weekend. The tide is exceptionally high but we have seen it like this. IN fact we sailed out of the estuary on one of the highest tides of the last decade. On another occasion we stood and watched a good friend of ours sail in over Carmarthen Bar on a huge tide as he returned to Carmarthen. He is no longer with us but was a great inspiration and enjoyed life to the full despite some serious medical issues. 

Anyway the painting itself is quite straight forward showing those elements of space and tranquillity. That is about as much as I will interpret a painting. I leave it to others to delve into the usual psychobabble of justifying a painting. It is what it is.

My eldest daughter is learning to play the piano as is her 5 year old son. The other day she had a visit from her mother and father in law. After lunch our daughter and grandson were in one room and the grandparents in another. My daughter started playing the piano when she heard her mother in law say,

"Come on Philip our grandson is trying to play the piano lets go watch."

With that our our mildly embarrassed daughter quickly transferred her son onto the piano stool for the entrance of both grandparents.

Broadhaven

The above painting of Broadhaven sold yesterday. A lovely beach on the great coastal path. 

Yesterday was spent cuttng and priming boards and then watching rugby. In the evening we went to a Charity Dinner raising money for a cancer charity and WRU Trustee charity for injured rugby players.

 John Davies ex Llanelli Prop was the Master of Ceremonies and we had an enjoyable night. We took our second eldest granddaughter who was amazingly well behaved. She won the heads and tails competition and then gave most of the money back to the charity! Pretty damn good for an 8 year old.