Back to hobbies again. As you know whilst at work I have only been home with Christine at a weekend which has left very little time for anything other than 'we' activities. Now I have retired I need to utilise the spare time so to jump in at the deep end I have decided to become an artist.


I first tried fishing and found that doesn't give me any fulfillment, it didn't even give me any fish I had to buy them from the supermarket on the way home so that has been relegated to the 'I may do that in the future' pile if I'm really bored. But now for painting - this, I am sure, is the way forward.


Now this may come as shock to some friends Mo, Sally, Gwen and even Judy considering the comments I have made about their interest in Art in the past but I have seen the light.


How did this interest start? I was discussing retirement with my colleague and friend Kev (he's the one with the guitar in the Cornerhouse on a Tuesday)and the subject of trying new activities came up. Because Kylie wasn't interested we started talking about painting. 'Houses?', I ask. 'No, watercolours' says Kev. With that he brings me all the gear to try this out on my trip to the Bahamas. Using my normal planning techniques I went to the Bahamas and left all the gear at home.


But not to worry Alex bought me everything I needed as a delayed Christmas present. I have read the book 'Step by Step Art School - Watercolour' by Patricia Monahan so I now know everything there is to know. I know all about flat washes, graded washes, wet in wet, lifting colour etc. How hard can it be put some paint on paper, pop a frame round it and there you have it - a 'Painting'!


Of course not being able to draw anything at all did not at this point seem an issue as I had read the book and was ready. But as I was about to start I cast my mind back to Hull Grammar School 1956, end of year report, which turned out to be the only year I took art in school, the art teacher Miss R T Farte's comment was 'I suggest Keith takes up metalwork'. On such comments major life changes are made, I never looked back, in the next four years I made a metal poker for the fire, we didn't have a fire but it was a good poker.



So here is me painting my first picture with, of course, the final work of art. Now I am certainly not an art critic but just look, not bad for a first attempt. It is of course the view from terrace, so why Christine thought it was the Lake District and David thought it was a Scottish Loch is beyond me. A signed limited edition is being produced for sale at £15 each. I can't part with the original, it will have pride of place in our Garden Room unless anyone comes up with £25 then it's theirs. Think what great bargains these will be when I become famous.

I think it's only a matter of time to my first exhibition, the man from Tate has been in touch but I'm not sure if that's Tate Modern or Tate & Lyle.


I can see a great a future in this painting lark and the people I need to thank are Kev for his encouragement and Kylie for not being interested. I must get back to the easel I can feel another masterpiece coming on.