White Park Cattle

I had to take my computer to the repairers this week so we were without the PC for a while.
It is now back (statement of the self evident!).

When we went to see David Cowdry's exhibition I was taken by pretty well all the paintings but the one that really caught my eye was of a Newton House White Park Cow. He really is brilliant at painting wild life.

I have never undertaken a painting of White Park Cattle but I have thought about it and even gone to Newton House to sketch them (examples above). Having seen his masterpiece I am not sure if I am inspired or intimidated. Maybe I will have a go.... but there again probably not.

Boathouse Laugharne

I finished the above painting of the Boathouse Laugharne today. It is a small oil painting measuring 6 ins x 6 ins and will be framed in 3in wide moulding to give an overall size of 12ins x 12ins. This size has sold quite well this year. Its a bit of a squint to paint this small but no real problem.

karate competition

Yesterday one of our grandsons was competing in his first Karate competition. Alex and I went along to watch. We were interested from the point of view that it was our grandson but both of us having done karate for a good number of years were interested anyway.

I was impressed with the organisation and discipline. I feel that karate is an excellent way of teaching young people self-discipline as well as a strong mind. Anyway I found myself really enjoying the competition and even had the odd stupid life crisis moment thinking,
"Yes I wouldn't mind having a go at that again" reality bites, err no perhaps not.

Anyway we were all very proud as he won a silver medal in his Kata ( a series of movements mimicking fighting an imaginary opponent). He then won a bronze medal in Kumite (sparring with another competitor). I would have been proud if he had just competed but to win medals in his first competition was great.

Dryslwyn Castle and River Towy

I have finished the painting of Dryslwyn Castle and the River Towy shown above. The painting is about 36ins x 18 ins. I did place a heron in the water under the left bank. It looked okay in isolation but drew too much attention for my liking, becoming the subject as opposed to part of the subject of the painting. So I got rid of it. There is a red kite over the castle and some sheep in the fields in the background. I am pleased with the painting which gives a great sense of space, and autumn sunshine on an iconic landmark in the valley.

My next painting may well be a moonlight painting as I haven't done one in a while and the other morning I was out with the dogs at 6.30am and we had a fine walk under the light of the moon. I was prompted to think yes thats what I will do next.

Link be patient and wait for add to clear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e80qhyovOnA

Last chance to see David Cowdry's Exhibition.

You can see that the painting is now coming together (well I hope you can). I have detailed the forestry or at least I have given that impression. I have added to the clouds and put in shadows.
I have yet to decide on the foreground. I could put in a heron or a large tree on the left or I could leave it. Any of the options will probably work ok. I have yet to complete the river and the finishing touches.

I forgot to mention Alex and I went to see David Cowdry's exhibition at Aberglasney. Brilliant as usual a real treat. If you get a chance go but it finishes tomorrow so a last chance really.

Stage 4 Dryslwyn Castle

The next stage of the painting of Dryslwyn Castle is shown above. I am starting to detail different areas of the picture. The contrast for the shadows is being added. It may not look a great deal of change but there are several hours work there from the previous stage.

I mentioned yesterday that Alex and I had visited one of our daughters the weekend. I didn't say that after we left our son in law's parents were coming to stay there. Now I did some of the cooking when we stopped and so had good reason to visit the fridge. I noticed a large white jug in there containing some sort of liquid? It had a rather nasty heavy green crust on it. To be truthful I did think about throwing it away but decided it might be taken the wrong way.

Anyway I gave it no more thought.

However after we left and our son in laws parents arrived. Our daughter was out but left a note to say she had left soup in the fridge for them that only needed warming up. You can guess the rest.
Yes they warmed up and ate the contents of the jug (which was actually homemade soup at one point in its life cycle but that had been well over a week ago). The actual soup was on the lower shelf. Fortunately they suffered no ill effects well none that I am aware of.

Quick vignette

When we were at our daughter's I caught this sketch of her relaxing in her dressing gown. It is always easier to catch people when they are reading or nodding off!
These type of sketches are hardly portrait material but quick and loose vignettes. Nice to capture the moment.