Classic car for Christmas ?

A neighbour and friend of ours has an interest in classic cars and has just bought a new one (okay an old new one?).

Alex is quite jealous to be honest I am more for comfort and reliability in a car. Time was when we did our own servicing repairs .. Alex even changed the head and parts on our old Landrover to convert it to unleaded. We could strip a motorbike down to the crankcase in a day. I hav egot rid of my metal working machinery lathes etc as I am no longer likely to use them. I like mechanical things but cars now ..well I prefer to paint them..
Anyway its Christmas and I was thinking  maybe Alex would like a classic car ...
painting?  Okay maybe not.

The painting above was a scene I caught at a local show and is sold.

Painting of winter in Brechfa

Will it be a white Christmas ? I don't know I suspect not. Anyway the painting above is of Brechfa in the snow and is sold.

We picked up one of the little ones today and Alex is looking after another tomorrow whilst I finish the dining table I am making. I am keeping an eye on the weather as there maybe an opportunity to get out to do a painting. I have a couple of views in mind depending on the time available.


I was looking through the studio today and I think it is due for a clear out there are a number of paintings I am tripping over that have never been framed maybe after Christmas.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Now I do like Christmas and one of my favourite songs is "Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas" by Bing Crosby (although I believe Perry Como did it first).  I think it captures the true meaning of Christmas and the lyrics:

"A pair of hop-along boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben,"  

say it all. Yes I like a Christmas Carol Service ( although I haven't been to one for a long time) but I am more into the goodwill and giving particularly to the grandchildren.  I also get the lyrics:

"And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again!"

The last few days we have been in Ludlow where we met up with old friends from Newtown and had a very convivial time. Alex has bought a CD (yes we still buy CDs) its like the Italian four Amigos or something anyway they are singing opera about Christmas I think? Anyway its just.....interesting?

Link  Bing Crosby

Sunrise

It was another beautiful sunrise this morning as Jac and I came back from our walk.  The above is a photograph but could just as easily be a painting.

I got around to making mince pies last night and was quite good I only ate two. All the decorations are now up although Alex is put out that having taken so long to hang one set of lights they decided to turn themselves in to toast. Alex went to two of the grandchildren's Christmas shows yesterday. In one of them the youngest grandchild was a bit out of hand and was throwing his toy rabbit in the air during the performance which wasn't too bad until it landed on the piano keyboard during a song much to the astonishment of the teacher playing it.

St. Peter's Carmarthen Painting

This is pretty seasonal. I like Christmas although I am not particularly religious. The above is a watercolour of St. Peter's Church Carmarthen.

If you like watercolours and are looking for a stunning original believe it or not you can buy an original unframed but mounted watercolour by Wendy Powell Jones for as little as £15. I am a great admirer of Wendy's Watercolours and consider her to be one of the finest watercolourists in West Wales. Anyway she has a small number of paintings priced at £15 as well as larger works in Origin 23, King Street, Carmarthen.

This morning I spent 15 minutes looking for one of my shoes. Thanks Jac!!

Abergwili Painting

The watercolour above is a winter scene of Abergwili I did a few years back. It was a freezing day that day too. That being said the weather is apparently set to pick up a bit this week. So all being well I hope to get out next week with my oil paints and do some work outside.

Today is my elder brother's birthday so Happy Birthday Tony. We have some silimarities. Tony is an artist, lecturer, writer, intellectual and all round Bohemian. He hasn't been in this country for a good many years. I aspire to be a competent artist but am not an a writer, Bohemian, or by any measure an intellectual.

Right!  Alex is up and breakfast calls and then off to steward in the gallery.

Brecon Painting

After Christmas I have a bit of work to do. I have paintings of Brecon to do for an exhibition and already one new commission to start. I finished one commission yesterday and another painting was sold. I am making good progress on the oak dining table. Tomorrow I am in Origin Gallery. We are just helping out for a couple of days in December. Busy times but planning a bit of r and r (not sure what that stands for but having a break!).
Ah yes the painting above is from the bridge in Castle Street. (There used too be a great little butcher shop on the corner when we lived there but its all gone now.) You can see the old Gaol and behind it the tower of Brecon Cathedral. The painting is sold.