Thursday 31 December 2009

CHELSEA ARTS BALL


Look HERE for Geraldgee cutting his rug at the best New Years Eve dance ever.

All the London art schools made floats for a procession in the Albert Hall which were then allthough guarded by rugby teams, demolished on site with great relish.

My own school had a very beatiful and topless mermaid on our float well protected from the young sports. If you helped with the making of the float you got a cheap ticket which is how I got in plus you got to aid the fitting of the mermaids tail

The crowds dancing were so vast you had to make rendevous points or get lost for ever. bars and food were up in the upper passages round the hall,at the very top were the casualities,by five in the morning that floor was full, to the sound of much groaning.

My most enjoyable New Years Eve ever!



STATE OF THE NATION

Wednesday 30 December 2009

Teresa Brewer............


And to think we used to dance to this..........God we were hot!

LATE EVENING....Top field...................Wales

Wacom Tablet

Tuesday 29 December 2009

MOMENTS FROM HISTORY.....the arts


PRESENTATION


The items here are Christmas presents from a very good friend in Japan.
No,they are not cakes or sweetmeats,one is a scarf,the other a face cloth.
This is the first time in my fairly long life that I've really enjoyed getting a scarf and flannel at Christmas and I've had a few!
The only snag is I will never be able to bring myself to unwrap them so will have to be cold and unwashed for the few remaining years.
Anyway,thank you Masako for the lovely presents from afar.


Monday 28 December 2009

Grass and sky

Wacom Tablet painting

POSTSCRIPT


Last painting in 2009

Its been a bad year on my painting scene, not much done and the studio too cold now to mess about in.
Has allways been that way with me,periods when I just cant get into gear and the imagination goes flat and I'd rather be on my motorbike or computer(or doing nothing)for maybe a year or two then a period when I just don't want to be away from the easel and bugger everything else. Complete lack of discipline I suppose,its a bit late to change that at my time of life.
You may have seen this one before,I've made several changes in the last couple of months but got to stop now as it's gone as a Christmas present to family.

Sunday 27 December 2009

POST CHRISTMAS BLUES

PLAY IT AGAIN SAM


My YouTube of the year. Linda Romay with the flashing flirty eyes, voice like an angel and dancing like a sack.
Take note of the handsome cheesecake partner with funny shoes who dances even worse than Linda and a background of Hollywood hopefuls getting sand up their bottoms.
If anyone knows of a better clip please post it to me?

Saturday 26 December 2009

Charlie Gee


Blogger in waiting

Friday 25 December 2009

West Mersea

Have just noticed "Musings from a muddy island"is back. A site with great photos of the island and many interesting thoughts.
Have put the link back in "worth a gander"(sidebar) and here

SMOKED OUT


Mine were "Capstan full strength" and I've got half a lung to prove it...

Wednesday 23 December 2009

SHOCK HORROR



Wayward niece realising she's forgotten to buy her uncle a Christmas present

Monday 21 December 2009

PAUL GAUGUIN 1848~1903


This music should have you dancing round the kitchen?

Sunday 20 December 2009

A WEST COUNTRY BEAUTY


With a hint of the east
Miss Sophie Jones

Email from Japan

Mei takes centre stage

SUNDAY CORNFEST


MISTY COTTAGE

I have reprinted this photo from "A LOCAL VIEW" as I think it's all a photo should be,and its not the only good one on that site. (click to enlarge and see it properly)

Saturday 19 December 2009

CHRISTMAS BOX


Edge of the Essex marshes

On the road to Mersea Island on the east coast. Marshes are on the right,the house on the left is where we lived in the late 40s. On high tides the sea would be just a few yards from the front door and I have sailed my boat across the road!
In the heavy winter of 1947 a snow drift covered the front of the house right up to the upstairs windows due to the heavy winds and all was dark inside.
We were cut off for a while until the road was cleared, the marshes opposite were covered in thick ice bought in by the tide..


Friday 18 December 2009

Thursday 17 December 2009

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Tuesday 15 December 2009

The magic of computers


One of my old boat paintings that I have put through my computer,changed it to black and white and raised the contrast.
I much prefer it to the original look as it now has the dramatic feel of the sea and sail.
I've never tried a monochrome type painting but think I might now have a go.

PLAIN LOGIC


BROWNS BRITAIN


WARTIME LONDON as a child


Piccadilly Circus, maybe the rush hour?There was so little traffic then,mostly only taxis and buses.
private motoring was out,fuel rationing saw to that.
A big advantage was that getting round the town was easy and swift,a bus would be the best way as they were usually frequent and to wait more than ten minutes rare.
The tube was the same and seemed more reliable than now but was usually packed and at night time shared with people sleeping down there to escape the bombs.
The tourists were nearly all troops on leave,mostly American and Canadian who were very friendly especially to us children and gave us a good supply of sweets and gum. The different uniforms and caps worn by the troops from all nations were also of interest to us.
Eros in the centre of picture was boarded up against shrapnel damage but was still the main visitors area,again mostly troops,Ladies of the night walked in nearby Soho but us kids knew nothing about that.
My father who was a cartoonist once had his work on those Eros hoardings advertising LCC evening classes.

Monday 14 December 2009

Sunday 13 December 2009

MANSCAPE


Doodle painting..very
mixed media

Tracked


Sas

My bestest friend Sas,from her 1960s portfolio.

Thursday 10 December 2009

Wednesday 9 December 2009

Dad has all the fun

OXFORD GARDENS

Found this weird painting up in my attic depicting my life
in London during the sixties. this is the interior of my flat
with wife,son, friend and a lodger,my feet resting themselves right hand corner!
PS I didnt actually have black walls.
Oil on canvas 1964

CHIT AND CHAT ON THIS AND THAT


BEACH PAINTING

Oil on wood panel. Much changed from start out(middle ground)as I wasn't happy with composition but now near completion

Tuesday 8 December 2009

INNOVATIONS


FIGURESCAPE

Studio photo~ 35mm Olympus OM4 scanned neg for edit