Another of my memories from childhood. Painted from my imagination. It was difficult working out where the light from the lamp and the fire should fall. Here is a drawing I made in preparation.
Fergie was an amazing cook. He never had any problem going to sea on the trawlers as a cook. He would also get work as a cook/saw doctor in the lumber camps.
He enjoyed peeling potatoes for some reason. I have painted him doing just that. He would sit like this a lot. Hunched over. Sitting quietly, smoking a cigarette. Perhaps he was reflecting on life? When he was sober he was a good role model. He wasn't an alcoholic but when he had money from one job or another he would binge drink to oblivion. I loved Fergie.
Fergie peeling potatoes.
Oil on canvas board.
20in x 16in
Fergie peeling potatoes.
Oil on canvas board
20in x 16in
Thanks for calling in. I am pleased you are still stopping by.
I am not wishing to tempt fate but I have to say I am feeling very well. No angina for a while now. Perhaps the no sugar, no cakes or biscuits diet is doing some good. I have refused the tablets the doctor offered except for a daily aspirin -supposed to be daily but more like 'now and then' when I remember. I am walking easier and for longer too. Mia the German Shepherd is pleased about that. I stroll along, stopping frequently to take photographs.
Did I mention I saw a psychiatrist recently? The reason was to try and assess any damage those traumatic years have caused. Not my idea. Lawyers for the council trying to wriggle out of things. That was a month ago. I haven't heard anything back about it. She - the psychiatrist - said she was going to read my book. She already knew a frightening amount about me. I wondered how she knew so much, but then remembered I had told my lawyer lots of stuff and he had passed it on. She had my medical records too. I had forgotten so much about the mental issues I had gone through over the years. I think my mind shut them out, or maybe all the pills I was taking blotted out the bad things? Anyway, as I say, I am feeling well at the moment.
Here are a couple of paintings I have recently done. They are memories from childhood. Happy ones this time. I paint them without reference to anything except memory. I quite like the naivety this produces, although I am striving for more of a looseness in my work. Maybe I will keep this style in my works from memory and try to attain looseness in my other paintings particularly the portraits. Nobody has the time to sit for a portrait these days. I am thinking of advertising for someone to sit for me. Maybe a small payment will attract someone?
Mum is a princess and she lives in a bender tent in the forest with Fergie and Scamp
Oil on canvas.
16in x 12in
Mum and Fergie moved into the nissen hut next to Alec's wagon. She was happy there. She made it cosy and made a vegetable garden.
The Wagon and the Nissen hut.
Oil on canvas board.
20in x 16in
I am very pleased with the easel I made. It is great being able to afford to buy plenty of paints but I am still in the habit of being too frugal with them. A habit I need to break I think.
Here is a song for you. It sounds sad but it doesn't reflect how I feel. I am happy. I just felt like singing it.
My friend Jon came round today to teach me some guitar techniques. Somehow it ended with me playing the blues on the harmonica. I never was able to get the bluesy sound before but somehow I managed to bend some notes today.
