Old Sally, world's best dog, in her advanced old age

 It is believed among those of us in a position to know, that Sally, who died in 1979, was around 19 years old.  As she was an Alsatian cross (crossed with what isn't clear) this is inherently unlikely.  However - I remember as a relatively small boy collecting her from the Godshill, Isle of Wight, RSPCA shelter for mistreated dogs; and sadly, I also remember, and wish I could forget, the last day of her life so many years later.

No dog is perfect - Sally had a cunning side; but her cunning was impressive - the way she snuck a gammon joint out of a cupboard, and sauntered out of the door with it before we'd noticed; the way she and her daughter (another long story there: she managed to slide back a bolt on our back door to let her boyfriend in) waited until burglars got through our kitchen window without alerting them to her presence: and then making them wish they'd chosen another career: mother, the blood!  

Both dogs then went back to sleep until the morning: a job well done.

If she wasn't perfect - she came nearer to it than any dog I've ever known.  She protected my young brother - if threatened, he'd only to call her name and she'd be there, of which he took full advantage.  She would grab hands and guide them away - push into any potential aggressor: 'you're not touching my little boy!'.

You can't but miss a dog like that, and all these years later, I still do.  

The Haven, blackthorn's out

 My first version of this was very like a picture postcard, the rustic view, the obligatory spot of red - I hated it.  I'm not very happy with it now, either, but at least it's a touch earthier.

Oil paint, Cremnitz White, Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine; Mars Orange, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Orange (Hue), Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre - and possibly a few other colours in small quantities.  I didn't care for the surface - a birch panel, ca. 12" by 17"; too smooth, even with several coats of roughly applied acrylic primer; but the real problem here is the subject - the area is run-down, and not very interesting!

Still - someone might like it, eh...?  Paintings I'm deeply un-keen on at the time can grow on me later; sometimes much later: this just isn't my usual thing, and perhaps that's my problem with it.  Do comment and let me know what you think. 

The Old Lifeboat Station, Winter

 Good grief - I haven't posted anything here for months.   

Well, that's partly because I had camera trouble, and partly because I'm bone idle, but here is one I did back in February.  Oil, 12" x 16". using Cremnitz White, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Mars Orange, Viridian, Yellow Ochre, and Cadmium Yellow.

It's based on Totland Bay, but I've taken a few liberties.