well. I'm knackered! 1000 St Mary's Islands; whose idea was this? I was panicking a little when on my first countup on this, the concluding day, I only got 760 but then I found a big pile on a table and other folk were sticking further pistures onto card and I stopped counting at 1050, so we did it! Obviously the constraints of time: 1000 pictures in 4 weeks, mean that some are quite sketchy but there are a surprising number of very well painted paintings as well as humour, quirky views, novel views and good use of a variety of media. Some of the participants are displaying their art for the very first time.

Some of the results (there are too many to display all except at the Linskill centre) will be on display at Whitley Bay library from Monday and some at the lighthouse visitors centre from thursday. If you think you've seen it all regarding depictions of this landmark have a look and see if we haven't found something new.

I went down again to the island on my bike this morning and did a quick sketch bnut further on I descovered I'd lost my sketchbook, sad.

Still it may turn up.

NICE; there's a word some folk don't like, especially when used in relation to their paintings. Trouble is it can mean different things:

'that's nice' (I'm stuck here in front of someone's work and I can't escape without saying something:'that's, er nice.')

'that's nice' ( can't think of what to say..'nice''ll do..well nicely)

'that's nice' ( is it supposed to be the other way up?)

anywhey. I thought I'd supply, courtesy of the oxford compact dictionary and thesaurus some alternatives to NICE

AGREEABLE; That's a very agreeable composition. (bit boring if you ask me but you didn't so I won't say)

ATTRATIVE; what an attractive painting! (what is it?)

DELICIOUS? simply delicious use of harmony (do I sound a right plonker?)

PLEASANT that's a very pleasant representation (nearly but not quite as bland as 'nice')

SATISFACTORY youv'e made a very satisfactory effort there! (a bit school reportish-who is this kid again?)

DELICATE, what delicate brushwork! (get a big brush and have a splash about why don't you?)

METICULOUS, mmm.. very.. meticulous use of a difficult medium there mate! (what am I on about?)

anyhoo if you got this far you've got far too much time on yer hands here's a painting of something, why is it at the top when I'm down here now? Wellone' is a demo I did of tulips in acrylic on a red ground the other is another from my ivy periodwith a pebble that might have come from South Shields beach. The Ivy may have been donated by Ray from my St Aidan's class. bye bye

is it only me or does everyone find other people's babies funny looking?

anyhow; on the the main feature which i shall entitle THE PAINTING THAT WASN'T THERE!!!!

was it painters petulance? who knows but I have a thing about not having paintings hung 2 inches from the floor, it's just undignified. My first ever painting that was in an exhibition; it was at the Buddle long ago, my pleasure at being hung for the first time was greatly diminished whan I descovered they had placed it down by the floor and behind a table, it wasn't a great painting but..

Anyhoo this morningI took both umbridge (whatever that is) and my painting home from the library to sooth its bruised feelings and hang it high where it belongs.

This is a less successful painting done after one of the painting days I organise once a month, I took along a load of stuff for still life and a young girl painted thiss arrangement and thought it looked interesting so the next week painted it myself on a saturday morning, it could have done with more texture on the wood but not bad for a few hours painting. I don't know why I added the apple.

I also had an Ivy Leaf phase, I love variagated ivy, interesting to draw and challenging to paint, the inset is paintied rather than a mount.


The painting with lemons I considered a failure and sandpapered it to paint over but liked the 'distressed' effect so kept it. Colth could be better and the lemons are a bit too green in the shaded areas.


A new gallery has opened in North Shields, 'The Bakery' on ALbion road. Looks interesting.

these paintings were done last year one each saturday morning, it was my pebble period and I had fun going out collecting pebbles some from South Shields beach to paint.

GUITAR SOLOS

I forgot:

Martin Barre's solo in Aqualung

Paul Kossoff in the first track on Highway

Unknown soloist on the Carpenter's Goodbye to Love, ( soppy song saved by guitar.)

Pete Townsend My Generation from Live at Leeds.

anyhoo THAT'S IT fer today or at least for this lunch time.

another day another posting, yesterday I realised that I was thinking that my blog had to always be about art but unless I have missed something it can be about anything so today I am going to list a few of my favorite guitar solos along with the question which has occasionally exercised my waking mind: do women 'get' guitar solos?


Anyway here are some of the best:





Hotel California, 2 guitarists I think one being Joe Walsh not sure who does the first part


I'm Mandy Fly Me (10cc) another two person solo first part possibly Creme the 2nd Graham someone (I'm not good at names)


Since I've been Loving You Jimmy Page


All Along the Watchtower Hendrix


Baker Street who did this brilliant solo?


The battling guitars at the end of Abbey Road, Lennon, Mcartney and Harrison I believe


Since We've ended as Lovers Jeff Beck


Let's Work Together- canned heat that bloke who died in his sleeping bag I think


David Bainbridge in Ionna- that long track on journey into the morn,, one of the few albums my wife, Heather also likes but when the solos start I think its the best bit and she doesn't!


Clapton probably in Badge, though he has a few good moments.


who else, can't think just now so I will attach a painitng instead.


so long folks!