Poppies

 I thought that it being the day after the official day of remembrance and a few days before all the official marches and parades. All the political manoeuvring and pomp that surrounds such a day. I would do my own simple thing and share some of my poppies with you.

Some years ago at this time I wrote the following words.

POPPIES

I was low, in dark despair,

Caught in the time warp of my own

black and lonely abyss.

No thought beyond my own.

No care beyond the cares of selfish me.

My only thought was why?

Why me?

The beating drum of ME, ME, ME.

and MY, MY , MY.

Drowned every sound

except the selfish hammering in my head.

Then there before me,

blood red in all their glory.

A field of poppies.

The vibrant hues pulled me from the pit,

Back into the reality of creation.

I thought of years of blood,

poured forth in such a field.

Wars fought, that I might have this day.

Free to wander along the way.

There before me in all their glory

A simple field of red.

I heard the birds rejoice in glory

and no more thought of ME.

And in the sound of silence,

the beating drum went still.

And I drank again the deep refreshing joy of life,

and left with thankful heart.

How precious each beating moment is.

This blog is linke to my other. It iIs Not As Even As It Seems

Motion and Emotion

Motion and Emotion

I painted these three small canvases in Spain during my summer holidays. It was at the time when Spain was doing very well in the world cup. The place was full of the red and yellow of the flag and the joy and the emotion of the supporters. It was a good place to be, so much fun and emotion.

I tried to capture this feeling on the canvases. I used tissue paper and cooking foil to create texture.

I painted them using mainly my fingers. I loved the finished works and a further two paintings using the same methods followed on my arrival home.

None of these paintings sold and I again felt that my liking of the paintings must be misguided.

Yesterday I got a message to tell me that this triptych had sold. So there is still hope that the other two will still find a home and be loved as much as I love them.

Maybe it is just that it takes somebody who thinks and looks at the world the way I do to appreciate these for what they are?



This blog is linked to my other. Nothing Wrong With My Eyesight.

Autumn

Autumnal Hedgerow.

This painting was done after one of my walks along the coastal path. As I walked I caught sight of the plants in their autumn colours at the side of the hedgerow. I came home and painted two such paintings.

I really did enjoy painting them. I used thick acrylic paint and most of it was done using my fingers. The other one sold this one I brought home yesterday from one of the places where I hang paintings.

I am aware that autumn is almost over here and that it was a year ago I painted this and I still have it.

In the course of the year it has now hung in two places, maybe I have to accept that it is not right. There is something about it that makes it a painting nobody wants.

I just wish I could put my finger on what it was because as I have said already I like it.



This blog is linked to my other.Now Who Is That?

The End of the Line.

They Make Me Smile

I have been considering this blog for some time now.  I am not painting at anything like the rate I was when I started this. Then I could be doing two or three paintings a week. Now I am lucky if I am doing one a week. The real reason is that I realised just how bad my health and wellbing had got. I was sitting about painting writing blogs taking paintings to inns and while there having one or two ales.

Yes I was selling art, but at what cost? I was overweight by a long way. I was having to use an inhaler throughout the day.

As most who read this blog will know I have got that in hand now. I have managed to run off 39lbs of the weight and am feeling so much better.  I intend to keep it that way.

I am going to continue to paint and hope to find more time in my life to do it. But I feel that I can incorporate the sharing of my art as it comes along on my other blog. So I will be doing only the one blog from now on.

I am aware that this blog has the most followers, I do not know hwy that is the case because most people who comment on the blogs read both.  Those who do comment have become dear friends to me and I do not want to lose you. I would be very grateful if you could come and join me over on the other blog.

I will leave this open for a bit with the link to my other blog live. For those who decide not to jump over can I thank you very much for being so kind as to look at this blog. I thank you for your support and comments and wish you well for the future.

I have brought it to a close with a picture of a painting that sold yesterday and gave me hope that there is life in my art even yet.


This blog is closing down please join me on my ongoing blog the link is below.


The Day Life and Thoughts of Being an Artist and a Barstool Philosopher.

Self Portrait

Self Portrait

On my other blog I was talking about the art of loving yourself. Now by that I did not mean thinking you were the most wonderful thing since sliced bread, I meant simply being aware of your inner worth and being.

To be able to do a good self portrait, I think, takes an amazing depth of honesty. It is, in my humble opinion the most difficult thing to do.

I have, as you know painted others, some of them I am pleased to have done. I have also painted myself and I am not so pleased with that.

I wonder if I will ever try again.

The reason I ask this of myself is because I was asked by a family member yesterday if and when I was going to make a better portrait than the one I have already done.

I am aware that I did not make a good job of this first attempt. Because of that I am a bit wary of going there a second time.

Can those of you who have done a self portrait offer any guidance?

I am also aware that I would never hang such a painting. There seems to be something not right about hanging your own picture .

Now if I had children still small and living at home this sure would keep them well away from the fireplace.

This blog is linked to my other. Positive Thoughts- Not Always