Have been footering about to little effect for the last few months.  Mostly due to a computer slowly expiring – the offender sadly now with the Great Re-cycler – and from having abortive trips in search of a 1950’s 350cc Matchless or AJS to suit my standards. All too demanding for the depth of my pockets it would seem…….Ah! well. One day one will appear just like this………..

So I’ve returned to the discipline of painting Aireys. One of my recent attempts there sold at the Guild’s show in July and folks seemed to think it a worthy attempt, so I’ve resolved to do it again in another form. For a start it will be a watercolour rather than in oils and a different view to the previous “Balkan Baroudeur”. I hope the terrain will look much the same though. The main aeroplane – once again a Halberstadt DII and it’s again confronted with a French Caudron G4. Or perhaps two of them again? There may be enough airspace! As is my pedantic wont, the Halberstadt was drawn by trial and error with no mechanical or digital help save for having a 3-view drawing and photos. This is a method I never tire of repeating in the current easily-originated world of Aviation “artists”.

So – Work in Progress of the current image. If I post now I’ll HAVE to finish it!

Self -praise, I’m aware, is no praise at all – so I’d best not admit I was chuffed with this one when finally finished.  It turned out to be the first of my pictures to sell at the Guild’s Annual show this year. As I’ve posted a “work in progress” of said Halberstadt here before I thought I’d post the finished article. Plus I need to get used to this damn blog thing again……….

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….and each in different styles. While my own quest for a “classic” and affordable British thumper continues I’ve been peeling-off from aeroplanes as art-subjects and leaning towards motorcycles. But beasts of a certain vintage as the modern motorcycle leaves me cold. My quest for a less “literal” style of art continues – although you wouldn’t know it from the first painting here.This is a BSA 500cc “Sloper” of the early 1930’s  painted at the request of the proud owner. Lucky man!

Sloper

Recently a pal got it touch having discovered a sad and neglected old BSA 250cc of the same vintage as the Sloper and sent me a snap of the hulk languishing in a cellar “somewhere in Scotland”. Unfortunately, after enquiries, the bike was confirmed as not for sale.The photo was however quite inspiring and led to the pic below. Pretty chuffed with this as a step forward in my search for a less photographic rendering. Watercolours again, but this time copying the photograph directly onto the paper with no pre-drawing in pencil. A dark satanic Beeza which remains in its cellar still. But a wee picture I’m pleased to say is mine. We won’t dwell on the somewhat increased fork-rake. Artistic Licence, see!