Thursday 15 April 2010

Field of Dreams

Field of Dreams


This painting was the one I mentioned yesterday on this blog. Somebody asked me if I would show it today. I am not at all happy with this painting in the sense of my being aware that it is far from an accomplished piece of art. Let me put it into some context.


I had from time to time made small attempts at painting with a little measure of success but never enough for me to give it any serious thought. I was retiring and at the same time both my daughter and my son were scheduled to get married. My family have never ever done things by the book; I have no idea where they get that from. So at my daughters wedding my son played the role normally taken by the bridesmaid. The reception took the form of a slow considered meal people swapping seats between courses so that by the end of the meal we all knew most people present. I made a speech during one of the breaks between courses. At my sons wedding my daughter played the role of best man and made the best man speech. I was persuaded to make a full blown after dinner speech which seemed to go down well. After the speech my son presented me with four art brushes. They were brushes of quality and I decided to give it a shot.

This was the first painting I did using them. He liked it and asked if he could have it? It still hangs on his wall in his home. So it might not be the best but it was the first step for me on the road to painting who knows how many more steps there are yet to take? One thing for sure I will always remember this one.



This blog is linked to my other where I take the story of Nettie a bit further:-The Next Big Step for Nettie

4 comments:

  1. Ralph, I love hearing about your family. It is so very obvious that there is a lot of love in your home. I love the painting, quite honestly. There is such a lushness of life to it. Not coincidental, I shouldn't think.

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  2. Love this story Ralph, and it's a familiar one to the destiny with our creative side.
    I painted, drew, created all my life, but put it aside while doing 'life'. And it's been a learning process again for the last 20 years. And isn't it nice when your art is so appreciated just because you did it.

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  3. I like hearing that your family tradition is to be untraditional. Taking the road less traveled. Did your children learn that from you? I love this painting and the story behind it. To have used the brushes given to you by your son when painting it and then to have him request it is touching. I'm sure it gives him a lot of joy to walk past it and think of both his father and his wedding day when he presented you with those brushes.

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  4. "At my sons wedding my daughter played the role of best man and made the best man speech."

    - Well, that not what you come across at every wedding you attend but it's not totally unusual to have a best "woman" instead of a best man. I wonder if that should be called a best woman's speech.

    By the way, you have a nice family. All my best wishes to you all.

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