I saw him .... and he saw me.

Pencil on Smooth Surface Cartridge Paper

While strolling on the beach in Torbay last year I saw this Gull standing at the waters edge picking things out of the water in his beak. I took out my camera, as you do, and took a few shots. With some 'in the can' I moved in closer ... and then closer still. He seemed quite happy to continue 'fishing' for his dinner, though when I was framing up this shot, he did give me an inqisitive stare. Out of all the shots I took of him, this is the one I like best.

I'm not very good at identifying birds but though I've been referring to him as a Seagull I suspect this chappy is more correctly known as a Herring Gull. I'm happy to be corrected if anyone out there knows for sure.

Pen Sketch

When in the office, I usually check my emails and forum while I'm having a sandwich at lunchtime, but today some unplanned maintenance prevented me from using my computer for a while. At a loss for something to do during my break I picked up a sheet of copier paper and a black pen. Looking around my office for inspiration, I decided to sketch my jacket that hangs on the wall nearby.

Yesterday I was looking at the fine pen work of Sue Pownall and in particular her hatching. Creating shadow by hatching isn't something I've done much of so this gave me an opportunity to try my hand at it.

Favourite piece

At the weekend my wife and I were out dining with friends and the conversation turned to art, thanks to a rather stunning drawing hanging on a nearby wall. My friend asked a few questions about drawing in general and then asked which of all my pencil drawings was my favourite, and why.

This is it ... "Glasses". It was very much an experiment with the concept that you need dark to create light, and I wanted to understand how you can put 'highlights' into a clear object to make it look solid. The background is supposed to be graduated from very light grey at top left, down to quite dark in the bottom right, but that hasn't worked as well as I'd hoped.

Running a very close second is "Newtons Cradle". Another experiment with highlights, this time trying to understand how to make something look silver. I chose not to have a background at all for this one and in this case I don't think that matters.

Though I discovered art through watercolours, and despite the fact that I spend much more time painting than drawing, for some reason I get a lot more satisfaction from my pencil work.

Artist Showcase

It is time for me to update my Artist Showcase again. Though normally a facility taken up by my forum members, on this occasion (as some of you have figured out) the 'victim' this time as a good blog-follower friend of many of us, Barbra Joan Araneo.

Most of you will already be familiar with Barbra Joan's work through our blogs, but if any of my visitors are not familiar with her, then please visit my Showcase and see her fine watercolours and stunning pencil drawings for yourself.

As always, if any of my blog followers would like to be showcased, please use this contact form to get in touch.

More than just a game.

Once upon a time, my Father taught me to play Draughts.

He explained the moves,
forwards not back,
diagonal not straight,
jump over a piece to take it,
get to the other side to be King'd
then become all-powerful and move all ways.
And we played our game,
our one-sided game,
as I floundered without strategy or purpose.
He did his best to let me win
but his task was hopeless.

And time passed by ...

And we played again, my Father and I.
I had an idea of what I was doing but lacked skill.
It was no longer annihilation.
Bless him he tried to let me win.
Sharp intakes of breath accompanied with
eyebrows raised as if to say "are you sure?"
"You'll regret that"
"Not the best move you can make"
as he did all he could to steer me towards victory.
Yes, I won but he worked hard to accomplish it.

And time passed by ...

And we played again, my Father and I.
I was confident in my strategy,
yet play as good as I could
his skills were greater than mine.
No false victories now.
No quarter spared.
No hints given.
Man against man
and the better man won.

And time passed by ...

And we played again, my Father and I.
It was close.
Very close.
Sometimes he would win,
sometimes I would win.
Single Kings chasing each other,
trying to win,
trying not to lose,
trying to avoid stalemate
yet preferring it to defeat.
Two opponents equally matched.

And time passed by ...

And we played again, my Father and I.
He was confident in his strategy yet
play as good as he could
my skills were greater than his.
No false victories now.
No quarter spared.
No hints given.
Man against man
and the better man lost.

And time passed by ...

And we played again, my Father and I.
He had an idea of what he was doing but lacked skill.
Not annihilation but close
as I tried to let him win.
Sharp intakes of breath accompanied with
eyebrows raised as if to say "are you sure?"
"You'll regret that"
"Not the best move you can make"
as I did all I could to steer him towards victory.
Yes, he won but I worked hard to accomplish it.

And as time passes by ...

I hope we will play again, my Father and I.
Could it be that I shall need to explain the moves?
Forwards not back,
diagonal not straight,
jump over a piece to take it,
get to the other side to be King'd
then become all-powerful and move all ways.
And shall we play our game,
our one-sided game,
as he flounders without strategy or purpose.
I will do my best to let him win
but will my task be hopeless?

Playing Draughts with my Father is more than just a game.


Written with deep affection for a great man.