Saturday, 31 January 2009

What a week!

It's been a funny old week.... out of the metrolops for the first time in almost 2 years & fetched up in Cardiff - looking like noah-territory - for a couple of days... not done any work worth calling work while the uncertainties continue... and greatful for the break occasioned by the best part of 2 days spent in the always delightful company of my favourite young journalist, including a trip to the Cartoon Museum to see, inter alia, a great set of Giles cartoons followed by a delicious, lazy lunch in the 'dome' restaurant at the British Museum... then, to cap it all, an epicurean extravaganza last evening in the magnificent, majestic surroundings of Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, in wonderful company - a flame-haired beauty and her super-suave swain - to celebrate a 'very special' birthday of said flame-haired beauty who, it has to be said, looked drop-dead GORGEOUS!!!

And then it was today... and time for a rest, methought! However, itchy fingers prevailed & a landscape I'd been trying to begin was abandoned, scraped down and cleaned off to be replaced by this...


... it's the beginning of something... although I'm not sure yet quite where it's going...

... however, I think it's now time to try to eat a simple meal of spaghetti with oil and garlic, washed down with a bottle of fizz, while I listen to...
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Neil Young - Harvest
via FoxyTunes

Monday, 26 January 2009

Monday for Sunday...

Began this final part of the triptych yesterday but unable to finish [interrupted by great curry and appointment with new model]...

... like the second part, it may still require more work...

This is the whole triptych...

... now I'm exhausted... vicious pins and needles in my fingers and my eyes ache...

... lunch beckons... if I can summon the strength to go out and get it...

Friday, 23 January 2009

work, work, work... again!

Another good day in the towers...


... a companion to yesterday's painting but this will need a little more work before I'm content with it...

... now...
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... playing: Seasick Steve - Started Out With Nothin'
via FoxyTunes

Thursday, 22 January 2009

Working, working, working!

It's been another good day in the towers... theoretically this is just the first state but I may have done as much as I can do with it...


... and, now that the recipient has received this, I can show it...


... from the roof of a cafe in Djemaa al Fna in Marrakech looking out toward the Atlas mountains. 1991, I think it was...

... now for some reheated veg and couscous, accompanied by...
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Now playing: Alasdair Malloy, Brian Gascoigne, Gavyn Wright, Hugh Burns, John Giblin & Ute Lemper - Scope J.
via FoxyTunes

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

Wednesday's worth the wait!

Finally feeling I'm making headway with this...

... and there's a start to this...


... which soon became this and is maybe as far as it will go...

... which [also in the absence of gut discomfort] means it are bin a gud day in the towers... though somewhat overshadowed by someone else's disappointment which will not be gone into to here... just to say... if a certain special person reads this... massive cuddle kid...

... now, with fine cigars, champagne and...
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Now playing: Scott Walker - Bouncer See Bouncer
via FoxyTunes
----------------
... 'tis time to relax...

Friday, 16 January 2009

Workin' & Finkin' on Friday

Managed to get to a decent state of the second Canadian Landscape...

... and made a start on this still life...

... now for the News Quiz and a cold bottle of dog!...

Monday, 12 January 2009

Another great Goon Show!

Couldn't resist these two corkers from November 1958's "The Sahara Desert Statue", courtesy of BBC7 today....

First:-

Eccles:
Well, I'd better be getting back to the barracks. How far is it to the fort, Fort Bowels?

Seagoon:
13 miles.

Eccles:
13. That's unlucky.

Seagoon:
All right then, 14 miles.

Eccles:
You see? It was unlucky. I'm a mile further away now.

And:-

Captain:
How far from Red Bladder are we?

Bluebottle:
I think we must be within earshot.

Captain:
Why?

Bluebottle:
He just shot off one of my ears!

Love it!

Friday, 9 January 2009

still workin'....

... while on a roll... carry on...

... not sure whether to do any more to it...
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Now listening to: Kate Rusby - High On a Hill
via FoxyTunes
... while I decide...

Back from Distraction... again!

Taking a break from figuration while still struggling with doubts, I've been working on some landscapes from photographs brought back from Canada by my darling god daughter...

... this is the first one that's in a state to be seen...

... the others are not yet ready for display...
... and it's thanks to...
Martha Wainwright and...
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Now playing: Kate Rusby - William & Davy
via FoxyTunes
... for their company...

Now a well-earned lunch calls!

Thursday, 1 January 2009

2009 is here, 2008 has gone... any difference?

... first work of 2009...

... 'untitled [ocean]'...
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Now playing: patsy cline - crazy
via FoxyTunes