A few paintings

Dabbled in painting as a pre-Dip student at Folkestone Art School back in '64. Gouache paintings, not oils (couldn't afford 'em). Then gave it up and went off to study graphic design (big mistake) at Bath, Canterbury and the RCA. Didn't pick up a paintbrush again until last year when I tried my hand at painting in oils (still can't afford 'em). Although my efforts are rubbish, I rather enjoy it. Think I'm slowly getting the hang of this oil painting lark but I could be wrong. Have loaded up pics (earliest first and most recent last) just to see if any progress has been made. Hmm, obviously not much! Blossom pic (halfway down list) isn't finished 'cos the blossom disappeared before the work was completed. Hope to finish it this spring. And the last painting isn't finished either. Not happy with the foreground shadows (too heavy) so am working on it indoors from memory and a photo. This is the only time I've not worked from 'real life', or whatever it's called. Much prefer working in the great outdoors. But it's a bit too chilly at the moment.

Had a bit of snow last night

Fresh snow. Love it. Great for dogwalking round the forest out the back. It's always quiet and calm up there but this afternoon, with a blanket of snow deadening sound, it seemed more so. Quite by chance I heard a ditty on the radio this evening by my fave Glasgow combo Camera Obscura (ooh, I luuurve that wee singer Tracyanne Campbell!) which, for me, evoked that very same haunting atmosphere. Couldn't hear the words but I presume they describe emotional angst of some kind. Despite that possibility, I rather like it. Give it a listen and think of walking through a snowy forest with a couple of bouncy terriers. (Note Jock in the above photo rolling in the snow as usual - he's the little dot in the middle distance.)

New year, new blog

Happy New Year! Out with the old and in with the new. This marks the end of my old blog (and, hopefully, the end of being heckled by an anonymous saddo - two years or more of his snidey comments was quite long enough) and the beginning of this one. Somewhat surprisingly I'm typing with a clear head, thanks to seeing in the New Year with nothing stronger than a cup of tea. Had a bottle of champagne on standby in the fridge but when midnight arrived I couldn't be arsed to open it. Decided to save it for when Georgie next visits.

Started off the New Year this morning by giving the dogs a good long walk out in the back tracks and fields. All very grey and sleety. And deathly quiet. Stopped at the hilltop to take in the view but there wasn't one, just a mass of grey. Despite the bleakness of it all, I thought how lucky I am to be able to walk in such an unspoilt environment where I can breathe fresh air and experience the joys of winter in splendid isolation.

Standing cold and wet with sleet stinging slitted eyes that squint blindly into swirling mists may not be everybody's idea of fun but I certainly enjoy it. And so do the dogs. Good to return home though to a welcoming hot stove and a nice cup of tea.