Variety is the Spice of Life

Here are paintings #20, 21 and 22. 

The first is for my granddaughter's, Lauren, 27th birthday (she wanted seabass for her kitchen)

                               "Seabass"          John Simlett
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
14 inches x 10 inches

This is for my granddaughter Cadey (5) who wanted me to paint the famous "Hello Kitty" for her, I claim no originality or copyright here.

"Hello Kitty and Cadey"    John Simlett (from the  Comic Characrer)
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
8 inches x 6 inches

This is for my 'grandson (ish)' Jordan who wanted a PS3 controller ... I was half way through it when I was told that I was doing an Xbox controller! This is a big No! No! it seems, the fan groups are in opposition!!

I had to start again.

"Jor-Tron"
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
8 inches x 6 inches

My next project is Knights in Stained Glass Windows! 

I still haven't caught up with all your blogs, sorry, but life is really getting in the way at the moment!

Back in the Land of the Living.

I haven't been very well, followed by granddaughter, Giselle, being rushed into hospital ... but all are well now. Give me a little time to catch up with you all.

My second granddaughter, Lauren, has her birthday in July and as a present she wants a picture of sea-bass for her kitchen, and it's on the easel ready to roll. When I was a young 'seafarer', bass were simply, bass! Research shows me that seabass is a term introduced by the restaurant industry to enhance the  dish.

When Lauren was 5 (23 years ago) she sat drawing with me and she explained to me that when she drew a bee, people would say, "That's nice dear, what is it?" This annoyed her and so she designed a bee made up of circles: a head, a body - striped, and circles for wings. People now said, "What a lovely bee." This story stuck with us and when we write to each other we sign ourselves with the bee she designed, with a dotted line showing the path it has flown with a loop-the-loop in it. I thought I would paint her a sketch of a bee and copied the "Red Clover Fairy" by Cicely Mary Baker.

PICTURE # 17 "Laurebee"

"Laurebee"     John Simlett (After  CM Baker)
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
8 inch x 6 inch
 (20cms x 15cms)

My eldest granddaughter, Jade -Lauren's sister, is to present us with a great-granddaughter in October. It is her birthday a few days after Lauren, and so I thought I would paint her a sketch of CMB's, "The Acorn Fairy," as I know she is using acorns as the theme for the new 'nursery'.

PICTURE #18 "The Acorn Fairy"

"The Acorn Fairy"     John Simlett (After  CM Baker)
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
8 inch x 6 inch
 (20cms x 15cms)

Painting #16

Here I am, 9 weeks and 16 paintings into learning how to paint. I finished this about 2 hours ago.

This one is going to a new home in Oxfordshire to join #14 & #15 

               Geisha (1800)    John Simlett
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
32 inches x 12 inches
(81 cms x 30 cms)

SOLD

Up! Up! and Away

We have just returned from a reunion with my old Squadron. They have just been reformed with a brand new aircraft....

The Voyager KC30 aircraft. of 10 Squadron RAF

We were shown around one that had been delivered 24 hours earlier and it smelt exactly like a new car! It was interesting to note that one of the Deputy Commanders is female as is the Chief Engineer. No reason why this should not be the case, but it is pleasing to see equality operating.

We were wined and dined for two days and had a great time.

Unrelated to our reunion: I'm amazed to report that in my 8th week of learning to paint I have just sold the 3 Japanese paintings I have just completed. Also a print of one of them and a canvas of the high heel shoes!

Here is Painting #15 ...sold in 12 hours of finishing!

                                                              "The Reader"                                      John Simlett
14 inches x 10 inches
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

Painting #16 is still at the printers ... but is sold! 

I'm not trying to boast but sharing the totally unexpected consequence to learning to paint with your support and encouragement ... many thanks  guys!