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Just got back from a walk with the boys to Wollaton Hall. Boys both fast asleep now, bit of a sensory overload for them I think, they didn’t know where to look or sniff, made a new friend Winnie the very attractive boxer (think Wolf asked her for a date he was very interested in her). I haven't been there for years, we used to bike there regularly when we were kids. Had a walk round the lake, with watering stops for boys and so we could sit down and have a ice lolly (us not the boys). There are are some beautiful large stags there , they were laying under the trees in the area tha

Just had a bit of luck. I was talking to a lady in the village about my artistic ambitions and she’s agreed to let me paint her in the nude. There is one proviso though - I have to keep my socks on so that I have somewhere to keep my brushes!

This morning my two grandchildren took my daughter and I to the bar for breakfast. ( they had two breakfasts) . Last night we took them out for a sushi meal. Well my youngest grandson ( 14) shook me on the amount of food he ate. He loves food and never seems to be full. I stopped after 5 different items but he went on and on and ended up with a soup. The other night we had a simple get together with friends and he ate plenty. He's a growing lad so hope he doesn't start growing outwards. Think I will have to remember these few evenings as when they start back to school it'll be all home

I suppose those of us who demonstrated a modest talent for art in our schooldays have never pursued it. The last drawings I did were for A level biology where I had to sketch the innards of a frog or a rabbit which I had just dissected. Like running, which I was good at, I’ve never done any since I was eighteen. I don’t feel inclined to take up running now but I suppose I could start painting just to see if I still can. Perhaps when I’ve done a few I could exhibit myself!

These pics of BK's are really beautiful. I love trying new things and if I don't quite know where to start I read on internet. I have learnt quite a lot and I never give up after the first failures. Years ago I had a knitting machine and made no end of childrens clothes in the hope of selling them which I did but the first results weren't very neatly finished. I persevered and made then professionally finished by attending a course at Mansfield . Same thing with cross stitch my first attempts were very messy because I was in a hurry to see the finished results. Then having seen someone elses

Went to the garage this morning to have new dash cam installed. It's very discrete (tiny) and you need to view the picture on a smartphone. All good and I reversed slowly out of the bay knowing full well there was a Mazda sports car close by but it obviously didn't register. Looking at phone and pressing buttons I was just in time to record myself gently scraping down the back wing of the Mazda. Stupid new tech!

Something to do with a slate roof tile on a rainy Sunday.

How boring, use your imagination.

Stupid people StavGirl. So many times the public have been told to keep well away from the deer, I’ve seen it mentioned in the local papers and on the TV, I honestly think that some idiots don’t believe the warnings are directed at them.

No Compo just sensible. A lot of things are nice to have but often not neccessary. We all have our weeknesses for gadgets.

The book inspired me Fly, it didn't teach me. Made it up as I went along. As with the bath tub, no plan, just winged it and put down what came into my head. B.

No to your question, but I've always thought the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is the ideal 1950s affordable Rolls.

This was my first attempt, way back in 1988. Absolute rubbish, but ' er indoors says I can't paint over it as it's a reminder of how I've progressed. Didn't have a clue then, that's why she bought me " Paint Roses and Castles ". B.

Brilliant stuff there B. Your choice of colours is spot on, and you've a real talent. Well done you.

You, you mean you can't......... nurse.... NURSE!!!

Sonny Liston had both reach and balance but Cassius Clay still knocked him down

May I take this opportunity to add my humble observations. Prior to picking up my brushes last september, after my sister in law asked to decorate a jug for her, I'd not done any painting for about twenty years. In fact, a lot of my paints had dried up. I've gotta admit that I have enjoyed splashing the colour again, although that bath tub was a bugger ! I very much appreciate all your comments on this thread and I am most grateful to you all. It gives me much encouragement and inspires me to do the best I can, ( even though the hands are a bit shaky nowadays). I thank you, one and all. K

Ah, the Darwinian death theory. Stops the idiots passing their genes on.

Are you going to paint her entrails ? Or is that limited to frogs or rabbits?

"Exhibit yourself?" What DO you mean, Phil?

"Ullo dahlin, get yer kit off n I'll give yer a quick coat of Dulux emulsion wiv me roller- any pertikler shade you like"?

Exactly my thoughts....

Exactly B, you can rarely teach that sort of thing. I was justified in suggesting that people could be inspired by reading a book, and unless one tries, they'll never know. So folks, Sawley Marina gift shop this weekend ! Maybe eBay ?

UUUUUUUUUUU.............RRRREEEEDDDDDDS

Mmmmm, never thought of that WB. Don't get me going on the litter that McDonald's generates. That's my pet hate !

That's because Worksop is much further north and Christmas comes much earlier up there.

Correct David,,and from Wednesbury,, the same as Billy Walker the Manager,,

After breakfast, we went to the visitor centre at Sherwood Forest, but it was pouring down, so I proceeded to Worksop. God, talk about Royston Vasey ! I foolishly contemplated parking for 4 hours, but settled on 2, as I had the correct change. Thank the Lord for small mercies. The market was on the Main Street, and as the rain had abated slightly we walked down one side, and back the other. Men shaped like Humpty Dumpty, and women with goatee's. Frightening ! Returned to the car, and still had over an hour left. Never again !

We used to live near Heath and Reach

Btw, to emulate.....To copy something achieved by someone else, and try to do it as well as they have. I would never suggest for one moment, that by trawling through books, one could achieve what Beekay has. For a start, he's probably had very many years practice to achieve those results. I was trying to give people the chance to give it a go if they so wish.

I'm a qualified fork lift truck operator!

I hope you find it, FLY. I've got all the certificates for 5 grades in ballet, a bronze and silver medal for tap dancing and a bronze for 'Stage branch' dance, but I don't reckon I could do it now !!! I know ...... that's totally irrelevant to this thread.... but just thought I'd like to tell you all as it's good to think back to things we've achieved in our lives.

I had one of my offerings exhibited nationally whilst I was at FFGS. Still got a certificate.

Well, whilst we're bragging about our artistic talents I do have an 'O' level in art!

Sorry, FLY. I read it wrong x

Margie's quite right. I could buy a book on canal folk art but unless it was painting by numbers I don't think I could emulate Barrie's finesse with the brush. You've either got it or you haven't!

No, I was just saying what is available if anyone wants to try !

I totally agree with you Margie. I certainly wouldn’t have the patience nor skill to work on the items that Beekay paints so beautifully (despite coming top in Art at C-Le-W I’ll have you know!). I don’t think that FLY’s comments were meant to be taken as they come across. One could say that if you read books on Brain Surgery you could be a Brain Surgeon .......

I was only offering the opportunity for people to try Margie. Who knows what is achievable until they try. Just saying !!!

In my opinion, most people would have to go some to come close to BK's work, no matter how many specialist books they had! It's not just technique that's necessary, you need flair as well to produce work like that. And it's not just roses and geometric patterns, there's the landscapes as well. I love your paintings, Barrie.

If anyone wants to emulate B's results, there's many books on Canal Folk Art, Barge Ware, Narrow Boat Art. Call it what you will ! Whilst walking to Sawley Marina several years ago, I noticed many books in the little gift shop there.

I love the canal boat art, Barrie. Worranexpert!

Let's see if I've got this right ! Getting it all wrong.

Voila !! Finished (apart from two coats lacquer). https://i.postimg.cc/28Yfcswr/ No idea why I can't open picture. B

Try Brylcream. The flies stick to the plates and make them illegible. I've got unkempt hair but a clean licence!

I have a beard. I've had it since I was nineteen (about 1964 -65, a picture of me at about that age, or a bit older, is on these pages). It is not an affectation, stupid or otherwise. My beard is there because I can't imagine anything more tedious than the ritual of shaving away facial hair only to have to repeat the whole procedure the following day. I trim my beard about once a month. The time it takes is just about equivatent to the time taken for one daily shave, or even less. Regarding personalised plates, no such thing here. You are stuck with the registration pla

Google jism.

You wouldn't want that coming towards you.

So here's me, semi-traditionalist....no smart phone, no fancy gadgets to go wrong in my basic car, second-hand computer the size of a small planet and books for reference. Grow my own veg and soft fruits, brew my own beer and cook from scratch every day and listen to Radio Caroline daily. What a boring old fart I must be!