The Boatyard

The Boatyard

Yesterday I told you of the “pair” of seascapes I sold that I still see as a pair even though they hang on walls almost 200 miles apart. On reflection when I look at this painting I can see now that they never really were a pair apart from the fact that they were both on the same theme of fishing. Well that was how I saw them at the time. A little further thought on the question posed to me a few days ago by Katherine. Do I find it difficult to part with sold paintings?


When I started painting I had a few thoughts in mind. The first was that this was not going to be another of my obsessions, I failed miserably. Second my art was going to be self funding, it has been to date and I enjoy being able to look at art catalogues and visit art stores and know that I can make a purchase without feeling I am taking anything from the family budget. My third and most important of all was that I was going to try and make art something that people who might never consider having art in their home could afford to. I think to date I have had some success on this. I have sold a lot of art, I make no claim to this being good art or exciting art but it has brought pleasure and for that I am happy. Most of the art I have sold I have sold to total strangers and that warms me. Many of them have become friends and that is even better.

This painting and its partner made it possible for me to paint more and to have my art in even more into people’s lives. I remember them well the art and the people. I remember the painting and the packing and I get pleasure in it all. One day I will stop painting but whenever that is I will know I have left something people have had pleasure from.

This was painted using pastels on pastel board. It and the I used yesterday were painted at the same time on the same large sheet of pastel board the cut apart and framed in identical mounts and frames.

This blog is linked to my other one where I use this artwork:-Fear of Nothing

Early Morning Fishing

Early Morning Fishing

This painting was chosen to add to my blog today because of what it depicts. I have often watched people on the seashore in the early hours of the morning casting their lines and then patiently waiting. I have watched anglers on the canal banks when I have been out running sitting in the same spot for hours patiently casting their lines into the water and waiting. I have friend who do this and they tell me there is nothing more relaxing.


I have never ever been able to grasp this, and yet it seems to be true. Once or twice I have tried but all the time my head is full of what else I could be doing. So when I see people on the beach as I run past in the early morning I look at them with mixed emotions.

This painting was done in pastel. I did it and another seascape and framed them in identical mounts and frames. I thought they made a nice pair of seascapes. They were bought by two magistrates who both liked them. They had agreed that they both liked the two of them so they were not concerned which of the two they got. They spoke to me and asked me if I could just wrap them in bubble wrap and give them one each. I am not sure who got which but on the pair now hangs in a home in Aberdeen the other down south of Scotland in Hawick. Pair of paintings hanging miles apart but in my mind still a pair.

Yesterday Katherine asked if it is hard to sell art. As I sit and remember this pair I realise that even though I no longer see them for real I still see them hanging as a pair as fresh as the day I framed them. I still remember painting them. So are they really gone?


This blog is limked to my other blog where this artwork in used:- The Slow Drive