Postcard Auction

Entitled Tranquility

This was one of my entries for postcard sized entries for a charity auction to be held by a school catering for students of secondary age. These are youngsters who may have emotional problems or have suffered domestic abuse, and now need a stable and calming background in order to study and reshape their lives

The school wrote to me and asked me to provide artwork for their auction. I was very happy to help, not because I am a supporter of charities generally, quite the reverse, I am not known for helping people. This is the sort of project that I enjoy doing, so not exactly selfless

This is a fundraiser obviously and will take place during their summer break. The school is run as a charity and depends on donations from private donors. I feel a certain weight of responsibility on my shoulders and can only hope that my entries don’t let them down.

The initial reaction has been encouraging from the school who have received my entries, and are very pleased with them. An old friend of mine, John Griffiths, stage actor and writer, whose last book I illustrated, has already laid down a bid on one of the pictures, so we hope for great things

Midday in a Galician village

Just occasionally, going through folios of old paintings, I come across something I haven’t looked at for years, so much so that it looks new. Certainly I have never written about this one, as it was painted long before I started writing this blog

We were on our way to Santiago de Compostela, by coach so we couldn’t claim to be pilgrims. You still have to make the journey on foot or on horseback before you can do that. Nevertheless we had been making a most enjoyable journey from Madrid taking in cities like Burgos and Leon, when we stopped at this village, somewhere in Galicia. It was long ago and foolishly I didn’t keep a note of the name. All that I remember was that it was midday and it was very hot.

It was midday, and the sun was baking the ground we trod on. The place was deserted. Only the English were milling about. There were no mad dogs to be seen. The words of the Noel Coward song struck me immediately. Anyone with sense had taken cover, either eating lunch or probably having a siesta.

Later on I was moved to make this little painting. Siesta time, deserted streets, hopefully I have captured the intense heat. I will let others judge. Anyway nice to find it again