West Pier, Whitby

Gone Fishing

Awakening

This poem was written on a day exactly like that depicted in this painting.
I was sitting on the pier in the damp, in the gloom, in the mist when suddenly I felt a lightness of spirit which was nothing to do with my surroundings. Then it started to rain.
So the poem was written in the Battery Parade cafe where I went to get out of the rain, to have a mug of hot milky coffee and likely a bacon and egg sandwich.

David

Awakening

I sometimes wonder why and where you go,
or is it me who is the one to leave,
for when I look I always find you there.

Why does it take so long for me to see
that you won’t help unless I ask you to,
And when I look I always find you there.

I’ve struggled this time, that’s for bloody sure
and reached a point that’s way and far too low.
But when I’d given in then there you were.

I have to say I put the ground work in,
and then you came, amidst the pouring rain.
I wasn’t looking, but that’s where you were.

You caught me by surprise, walking on the pier.
And now there’s work that really must be done.
For when I looked, it’s true that you were there.

Availability of Paintings

I do my paintings using Brushes App. They are done on my iPad. That means the original image is on a computer rather than on paper or canvas.

I print them off on a good quality printer to good quality paper (or canvas). I then have them mounted and framed and hang them on my wall.

I have chosen, almost from the beginning, to display them on the web as photos of the paintings. To put the computer image up would be tantamount to giving my art away and that does not seem right somehow.

I could sell framed copies (I have sold some) but to be honest I have no motivation to put in the effort and energy which doing that requires. I would much rather use that effort and energy in making more paintings.

I have also had requests from people who would like particular paintings on their own walls and I have invariably allowed them to use the computer image to print them off.

So, pondering all that, I have decided that the way forward will be  –

1. I will continue to display on the web using photos of paintings.

2. If you would like a copy for your wall then email me and I will send you a computer image.

3. If you do print it off and hang it on your wall then I ask two things –

A. You take a photo and email it to me. That would be nice for me.

and

B. You make a donation to a charity of your choice. I have no desire to know the amount (none of my business) But it would be nice to know which charity.

So that is the deal

David

Reality

If my reality
is an illusion
which I create
for myself

Then I owe it
to myself
to create an illusion
which is useful to me.

This poem is the first poem in my first book of poetry – ‘Walking into Eternity’.

It is also, if you like, my signature poem in that if I was doing a poetry reading I always started with this poem by way of introduction.

Given the nature of my Whitby Pier painting it seemed like the two made a perfect match.

I have printed this painting off at poster size and it is pinned on the cork board in my kitchen where I can see it every day.

David

Availability of Paintings

I do my paintings using Brushes App.
They are done on my iPad.
That means the original image is on a computer rather than on paper or canvas.

I print them off on a good quality printer to good quality paper (or canvas).
I then have them mounted and framed and hang them on my wall.

I have chosen, almost from the beginning, to display them on the web as photos
of the paintings. To put the computer image up would be tantamount to giving my
art away and that does not seem right somehow.

I could sell framed copies (I have sold some) but to be honest I have no
motivation to put in the effort and energy which doing that requires. I would
much rather use that effort and energy in making more paintings.

I have also had requests from people who would like particular paintings on
their own walls and I have invariably allowed them to use the computer image to
print them off.

So, pondering all that, I have decided that the way forward will be  –

1. I will continue to display on the web using photos of paintings.

2. If you would like a copy for your wall then email me and I will send you a
computer image.

3. If you do print it off and hang it on your wall then I ask two things –

A. You take a photo and email it to me.
That would be nice for me.

and

B. You make a donation to a charity of your choice.
I have no desire to know the amount (none of my business)
But it would be nice to know which charity.

So that is the deal

David

Whitby Pier

Having stood up the top and breathed in Whitby, I walk down past Captain Cook, have a milky coffee in the Battery Parade cafe and then walk the pier.

The pier is a very special place for me in Whitby.
I have walked it in all sorts of weathers,
I have sat on the benches and written poems,
I have sat on benches and just people watched.

And provided the weather is not too bad I always walk to the very end.
I think that to kiss someone at the end of the pier is very special too.

I could drive to Whitby, walk the pier, and then drive home again and be perfectly content.

I guess I am using colour here to try to depict what the pier means to me.

David

Availability of Paintings

I do my paintings using Brushes App.
They are done on my iPad.
That means the original image is on a computer rather than on paper or canvas.

I print them off on a good quality printer to good quality paper (or canvas).
I then have them mounted and framed and hang them on my wall.

I have chosen, almost from the beginning, to display them on the web as photos
of the paintings. To put the computer image up would be tantamount to giving my
art away and that does not seem right somehow.

I could sell framed copies (I have sold some) but to be honest I have no
motivation to put in the effort and energy which doing that requires. I would
much rather use that effort and energy in making more paintings.

I have also had requests from people who would like particular paintings on
their own walls and I have invariably allowed them to use the computer image to
print them off.

So, pondering all that, I have decided that the way forward will be  –

1. I will continue to display on the web using photos of paintings.

2. If you would like a copy for your wall then email me and I will send you a
computer image.

3. If you do print it off and hang it on your wall then I ask two things –

A. You take a photo and email it to me.
That would be nice for me.

and

B. You make a donation to a charity of your choice.
I have no desire to know the amount (none of my business)
But it would be nice to know which charity.

So that is the deal

David

Some Whitby Paintings

I am posting these paintings by way of a progress report really I guess.
They represent as much as anything else a process of learning. Not only about painting itself but also about how a painting looks when I transfer it from my iPad.
I have discovered I need to be aware of what it looks like after printing.
I remember hearing David Hockney talking about just this on a television programme.  I didn’t understand what he meant then but I do now.

Enjoy
David

Towards Sandsend

If I had known, before I started, how challenging this painting would turn out to be I might well have not started it at all!
But there you go – Story of my life really.
And if I was to do it again I would probably do it differently.  Story of my life again!

But it is what it is and I learnt a lot along the way.

Whitby Abbey

This is another painting which gave me real challenges.
Tikarma very generously provided me with advice and guidance without which the painting would surely have finished ‘in the garage’.
The quality of the finished painting is down to me – not down to the quality of Tikarma’s advice which was really helpful.
The other challenge with this painting was for me to understand how it would look.
It looks really good when printed on a good quality printer. (I don’t have a good quality printer but I know a man who does! :))

If you take two paces back from the screen you get a clue!!!

Whitby Pier

This painting was done just because it was tremendous fun to do!
What it is all about really!  🙂

Oh, and one other thing –
I don’t half get a good feeling when I see one of my paintings framed and hanging on my wall!!!