Good morning everybody and taking a quick look outside, it would seem that our lovely sun is having a day or two off duty. Still we will go out for a walk, as so far in this period of rather restrained living, we haven't missed a days walkies. But we must wait and see what happens as Liz tells me that she doesn't walk in the rain; apparently because she melts!!!

A few weeks ago I mentioned a sculpture of a Filey Coble (small local fishing boat). Well the work is fine, but the frame was awful, so that has been taken apart and the work completely re hashed. The last few coats of paint will be going onto that in the next few days, so soon you will see that.

When I get a little fed up ,what with everything going on at the moment, for me a trip to the seaside with my paints helps. So here we are still in the Scilley Isles, in this case St. Mary's Isle towards the north, near the ancient prehistoric village on the north west coast.

The village is amazing covering about fifty yards square, and comprises of approximately fifteen houses. The walls of each house are intact up to about three feet. You can wander around the small alleys and in and out of the houses; truly amazing. The place is on a slope, going down to the very near by sea shore; is seems that way of life here involved fishing and sea shore scavenging for food; whilst at the top right corner of the village is a chambered tomb, completely intact with its roof. What ever it may have entailed, the people certainly had a spiritual awareness and it was so important that the tomb held the dominant position over the village.

In the picture above, just a few hundred yards from the village, the small farm had an unusual tractor, all of its wheels were large and the track width of the wheels was very narrow, maybe the local lanes are very lanes? Everywhere on the islands is only a stones throw away from the sea, as boats and fishing clutter in the farm yards are a normality.

Oh well, must put the washing out. Hope the rain keeps off.

See you all soon

Duncan

Good morning everybody and today I am thinking about sketching. As you no doubt guessed, I tend to carry an A4 drawing board and a couple of pieces of paper ,plus a pen, around with me most of the time (the board is 3/16 of an inch MDF which weights in at only about 2 ounces if that, it slips easily in to my shoulder bag); so that when the chance arises. out it comes and a doodle is produced. The result is that there is a nice memory and a nice bit of relaxation. The following images were all done in the last week, when out for walks, town, breakfast or whatever.

I have reproduced them on the small size, because a sketch is often rather small; if they were larger, they would take longer to produce; so small is quick and A4 paper dose not take up much space to carry around. The first picture is of a small, wonderfully, quiet, neglected orchard on the edge of Horsell Common. Cows graze the area, so the grass is shortish and brambles are kept down, wild flowers and grasses were amazing. The second was when out for breakfast this morning in Guildford (full English, lovely). The next is of the Thames near Windsor. Following that a lock on the Wey navigation near West Byfleet (saw another grass snake just up river). Then lastly a picnic spot at Hatchlands stately home. All very different situations, all a chance to relax a while, whilst I was looking properly and incidentally enjoying the places more fully.

P.s. my wife Liz is very patient! and enjoys a good book whilst I draw.

See you soon,

Duncan

Good morning everybody and another super day is ahead of us. Great celebrations today as Liz has a hairdressers appointment! This is a much awaited event in our household and Liz is very excited; very excited indeed!

As for myself, I am meeting,  on opposite ends of a park bench, an artist chum for coffee that will be a good natter.

Imagery wise at the present my principal labors are directed towards an ink of an old beech tree. With all the undergrowth and overgrowth it is about the most complex piece which I have worked on so far and to be honest I am struggling. Three weeks into the work and it is just beginning to make sense in parts of the drawing. So lots of effort and learning going on and ahead of me; I must just stay at it; if I pull it off, it will be an amazing piece.

On a lighter note, a part of the last two days was gain spent in my memory, at Hugh Town's harbor on St. Mary's, one of the Scilly Island group. Maybe this group of islands must be about the most enjoyable place which I have visited so far. The people were friendly, the islands lovely, the weather mild to warm and the light had a super whiteness to it; perfect for painting. The colours just sang all day long. Nice memories.

See you all soon.  Duncan.

I am indeed such a fortunate man, having many friends who love me dearly. On top of that are three sons with whom I also have wonderful relationships. Among other roles, my boys feel the need to keep me on the straight and narrow, occasionally with advice, sometimes headed, by me, sometimes not. 

Well the other day I showed you my latest sculpture, entitled Nomophobic. I sinned. Completely forgetting  to tell you all, that the inspiration for the title originated from my youngest son; who told me of the words existence and explained the meaning thereof. Thank you Michael, am I forgiven?

Like I say I am a fortunate man, because yesterday for the second time in a few days I saw a stag beetle, it was on Hook Heath golf coarse. Walking every day we see nature all around us, this morning we saw a "Speckled Wood" butterfly, yesterday a "Small blue" butterfly. Its good fun when we get home to look up to identify what we have seen.

My ink work continues, above is my latest, number 465, which was finished after nearly three weeks work last night. It is one of a series showing deep undergrowth with many layers of foliage. Drawing subjects of this sort are immensely complex and difficult to produce, each one being fraught with various problems of ink use and layering of levels of work, one above the other. They are good learning exercises. To the right of this image is a beech tree, to the left a willow, with everything possible between, behind and in front, a little complex. When looking at situations in the wild like the above, I am amazed by just what is around us and what we are a part of and what we are allowed to enjoy. Life is tough, but it is also certainly most fantastic and we are privileged to be a part of it all. I must say, thank God.

See you soon. Duncan

Good morning and today has a sleepy start to events. Liz is still not really with it yet and I want to be still and quiet for yet a while. This is my favorite quietness, (apart from my short while spent in prayer each morning), which is to go into the study and start uninterrupted work, while the world still sleeps. I find myself there, its a constant, where I feel comfortable, it helps to keep me stable in trying times, lovely!

As promised here is "Nomophobic"; at last completed. This picture is of it unframed, as with the frame in place (glass and everything) it is a little tricky to photograph. It looks good in the frame, but here, in this situation, it looks best unframed. The word nomophobic is a newish psychiatric term for those who are unable to live without mobile phones, social media and other electronic devises and systems. The small dingy is full of calculators, mobiles. laptops, and an endless mass of office stationary and office IT equipment, with rather doggy wires  trailing through the water, (health and safety please be aware) plus other silly things. It represents the choice of small dingy which a business man would have on holiday, if he was nomophobic. It is important to chuckle and laugh a little at ourselves and with others.

While this is been written a painting is drying and awaiting a next layering of water-co;lour.; maybe you will see that soon, however as more important issues are at stake, I will turn back to that in a moment or two. As before before the return to the painting there is a mug of tea to finish. Now that is important.

See you soon.

Today Liz and myself took ourselves off to Winkworth Arboretum and I would like to show you three ways of reacting as an artist. And maybe, most of us can manage one of the  reactions, or at least have some fun and have a go.

Firstly we saw a family (above) having a picnic, result a quick, lightening sketch, not very clever, but caught the moment and feeling.

Second and below, we all carry cameras around with us all the time, just look at your phone. It is difficult to take a bad photo at Winkworth, well almost. But you don't  have to show it to anyone if it is that bad.

 

Then lastly have a go at a proper ketch, it don't have to be good, a sketch is a quick impression. You don't need expensive paper, anything will do, even an old envelope, or your sandwich wrappers and an old Biro is a pretty good marker. So just have some fun. The one below was ten minuets while we had lunch; its not great, but it was great fun.

So when you next go out for the day have some fun; try one of the three, you know, you might just do something  which you are proud of.

Duncan.