The Tiger

The Tiger

On my other blog I was talking about intelligence. It is a really strange word when you think about it. It causes so much snobbery among certain groups of people. They are proud of what they have learned and some even go as far as to look down on those less intelligent than themselves.

The tiger must be one of the most intelligent of hunters, but do not ask it to do multiple division. It has no need for that.

I have to confess that being one who was told to leave school at an early age I have at times in my life been proud of my future university achievements. Not intelligent enough to sit higher qualifications at school I ended up part of the writing team for the same examinations.

What keeps me on my feet is the fact that I have many friends who might still not have the same qualifications, but they can sort my car and build my walls and repair the electrical fault.

When it comes to art! I have a great love of tiger paintings, almost as much as I have for floral art. I have seen some marvellous paintings of tigers that allow me to see I have much to learn.

The wonderful thing is I have found this blogging friendship where it is easy to look at the wonderful work of others, and to learn.

I thank you all once again.

The Tiger

He has one thought in mind, the kill.

Or so it would seem, as he intently stares upon his prey.

Slowly but surely putting his knowledge to the test.

He does so to survive.

To provide for his family.

Those to whom he will pass on his knowledge.

We each have our talents and our skills

Our learning and our wisdom

How we use it is the question

To gain or benefit us all.

This blog is linked to my other  I Think I Might Be Intelligent

The Killer

The Killer

I have been having a terrible time trying to get back into painting. For a time it was the constant pain and the need to take strong medication. Then when I was ready to paint again, I found I had lost everything I had ever had. I painted, one after another, only to bin them.


So many of you have taken the time, and given me some very good advice. You have either posted a comment, or sent an email. I am so grateful, hence my thoughts on my other blog about how precious time is. That you have time to give me makes me feel humble.

On the basis of the advice given I have in the last two days or so decided to a few things. I have changed back to pastel, and may try again some watercolour. I have materials to hand, but have no urge to feel the need to paint. If the urge comes on I will give it a try.

So here is the first. I looked at a pastel paper and thought I would do a fast and quick sketch. I decided to do it in one fast movement of colour. It is not the best tiger I have ever painted, but it is certainly not the worst.

It well probably go the same way as so much in the past few weeks, but at least I have got something on paper. What is more I feel brave enough to share it with you.

So please feel free to be as critical as you like. The painting took 25 minutes using pastels on white pastel paper.



This blog is linked to my other where I use this artwork as an example of one who surely kills:-

The Killing of Precious Things

Tiger Pause

Tiger Pause

I chose to add this painting today because the Tiger has the ability to concentrate one hundred percent on the chase and the catch. Every movement and action is done with slow deliberation. I tried to capture this in this facial portrait of the tiger.


This was one of two such paintings of a tiger I did. Both were hanging in one of the places I hang paintings, and strangely enough both at the same time. Normally I would not have done this but I think a painting had sold and the only other painting I had at the time was this tiger head. The other one had been hanging for a bit and although many people had said how much they liked it nobody it seemed wanted a tiger hanging on their walls. Having said that there was one lad who had said to me on more than one occasion that if he had some extra money he would buy it, but right now he had so many other things needing his attention it was out of the question.

So there they were both hanging. A few days later a gentleman popped into the place and it just so happened I was there with my wife. So it was a Friday night because that is the only time we really go out for an ale. This man sat down beside us and said he wanted to buy the tiger painting, but he could not take it just now. I thought, not another one who wants but can’t afford. It turns out that was not the case he paid me there and then and said he would collect it in a few days. He gave me more than I was asking for it saying, “The labourer is worthy of his labour.” He continued, “Anyway I have just had a nice win on the horses.”

Why did I break my unwritten rule about making art affordable, yet taking more than I had asked?  Well he had just made it possible for me to give the other tiger to the young lad and his wife who liked it so much. He received it and I could in all honesty say I had not given it away for free so his pride remained in tact. I knew tha had I offered it to him for nothing he would have refused.

This painting was done in pastel.



This blog is linked to my other blog where I used this artwork:- The Art of Concentration