A birthday card for someone special. Painting cards for family and friends can be like making a rod for you own back. When one is seen you get oblique and blatant requests for more – even my daughter complained about being left out and she doesnt even like the stuff I produce – funny old world. These days I am not doing as many, so there is less pressure. This one is of the begonias currently flowering on my decking.
Well someone once said that great art moves the viewer…
The troll is very moved. Hopping. Frothing.
It announced in one of its missives that it was angry. Then, in subsequent messages, it seemed to get lost for words, so could only issue one word expletives to express this rage.
But the fact remains that Troll was truly energised by my last offering causing it to pound the keyboard with its hooves in what might be described as a religious fervour. My paintings certainly seem to have moved the fascist art ayatollah. Therefore you must be viewing great art.
To tell the truth I think that this concept is silly. If you create a hierarchy – ie even good bad and indifferent – you need a universal, objective measure – there is none. There’s just different art.
Though not much different in this offering I’m afraid. My second go at the begonias. I also had a mad dash at some gladioli, see below. Hope troll is impressed. I’ve a reputation to maintain…
I had a painting of begonias that I liked, but it never sold ( see below) so I felt maybe I should do another version. As my floral paintings have been a bit hit and miss of late, I got hold of an old painting, turned it over and tried out a sketch on the reverse. Here it is. I was quite pleased with the result. There are a few things that I could and should change – so be warned the final one may be coming your way soon.
I was sitting on the decking, having a cup of tea and the sun shone brightly onto a pot of begonias. I was going to do this very loosely with only a couple of flowers picked out, but I liked the shadow on the container and included that. Once there was structure here the whole thing tightened up. Hopefully I have captured some of the sprawling, haphazard array of colours without it getting too fussy.
graham mcquade 