These Were So Faded I Was Going To Throw Them Out

…but then I figured if I used muted colours….

….they would look the part.

A Hunting We Shall Go

…a hunting we shall go…

…hi ho the derry o…

…a hunting we shall go.

…first proper finished art work of 2018…..

 

 

 

…(a horse was removed in the making of this “octopied” painting).

 

 

The Hills Are Alive

…with the sound of tentacles.

Central Otago Scene

…Central’ has for many years been the play ground for retired amateur oil painters…

…the charity shops up there are awash with these….

…(the octopus is a recent phenomenon)….

Update

…so I closed the shop 12 months ago today…after creating record-retail panic by telling everyone I was closing, but they’d get to see all the “out the back” stock, over three weeks, before I shut for good…..I managed to walk out debt free and with enough cash to take a break… ….played a confusing prank on everyone who wanted to throw me a “surprise” party on the last day…which included putting up the above sign and going for a long drive on a beautiful sunny day without telling anyone….(first bunk day in seven years!)…

…not sure who organised the party…but I have my suspicions…

….last customer was by far the worst ever…

…(badly balanced beverage…un-contained crumb producing thing on a plate…arrgh!!)…

…but he’s poorer for the experience…as I am richer : )

…stood on the same spot for seven years…

…then walked across the road and asked for a job at the supermarket…

…now I wear a hi-viz, drive a forklift as an afternoon/evening storeperson and take home nearly twice what I was earning from the shop….

…aaaand I still spend my mornings redistributing the left-over shop stock on the internet….

…which is why I have little or no time to sketchbook or draw or blog…

…but am finding the occasional moment to paint…

…based on current sales figures, the remaining stock should be all gone in 3-4 months…then, when my time is my own again, I’ll see if I can remember how to guide a pencil round a page….

…..sooooon.

 

The One Called Didn’t We Have A Lovely Time The Time We Went To Innsmouth

…well, didn’t we?

But wait

…there’s another.

…while you were out….

…trying to tidy some loose ends from 2017….

…get some of these things finished and into frames……bought a matt cutter….and some proper framing tape….

…let battle commence.