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Father's Day

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Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Miscellany

Published: 21 June 2010

Hits: 2117

An early morning, I find myself unable to sleep in. Not Father's Day in particular, but any day, in the early afternoon I'll die and want nothing better than to nap, sleep, pass out in my bed, but it's morning and I'm up. 

The flea market: great treasures today, found and not purchased: a made-in-china "Breguet", sharp but at $120.00 a bit steep...various games for the kids (Wii & Xbox), some jewelry, the rock lady had various finds resembling somewhat similar things I'd been ordering off Ebay (but not at the same price), an antique telephone for $15 but purchased for $10 (don't ask, I have my reasons...), other finds....all in all a good flea market day. I could have spent a few hours, but it's father's day and the kids, they have plans.

Well, not really. The daughter made me a bookmark in school, keywords placed on the blackboard and interpreted by the children for their fathers - My name, spelled out: "Respect - Get a new job, Organize - I need to see you, Different - Love ....".

Yep, I need a new job. 12 weeks until the new theatre season, and I should be resolved not to miss it regardless of the consequences. I have to mind the consequences, I've lived through them and they're too fresh in my mind to be ignored, the table hasn't sold (still get comments though) and I don't want to have to move again.

Time passes.

After the children have been repackaged, carefully returned to their more competent and well rested caregivers, I have my nap.

An Artist's Life

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Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Books

Published: 21 June 2010

Hits: 1710

Almost done, which is to say less than 100 pages to go. Given that the only time I find to read is on the bus I could hope to be done sometime next week...

But it's enough, certainly, to review it. It is, as the title might indicate, simply the memoirs of a rather successful English Edwardian Artist, member and President of the Royal Academy. There are sentences and paragraphs and entire chapters about horses, the author (Sir Alfred Munnings) really liked horses and painting horses.

But that aside, it's a good portrait (albeit heavily privileged) of the times. At the age of 14, when his parents were wondering what was to be done with a child that showed a strong inclination towards Art (and little else) he was apprenticed out to a Lithographer and learned the trade, using what little free time he had to take further night classes. By the age of 20 he left and began his career as a painter; shortly after experiencing no little success selling his portraits and horsey scenes.

It's an interesting picture of another age. His writing of paintings that sold for 250 Guineas, when the first country house he bought cost him $1750 Guineas, (7 bedrooms with 2 cottages for servants) should give you an idea of his success. The wiki article linked above will confirm it. It's also worthwhile in that he mentions (and judges) his contemporaries - the plays of Somerset Maugham, the paintings of Paul Klee amongst others.

It as well very much underlines the training and apprenticeship, that along with his talent, contributed to his success as an artist.

Not a great book, but a good portrait of the times, and a practical approach both to living and art that's often lost when we picture "Artists".
Worthwhile.

Garage Sales 2010 - Week 10

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Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Miscellany

Published: 19 June 2010

Hits: 2248

Choices, Choices.

The season is already drying up, and my enthusiasm is dampened, so I choose the "sure thing", an "Antiques and Collectibles" sale at Foothills United Church, 1 bus away, starts at 10:00 AM.

I'm first on the scene at 9:15 and sit down to read my book. Slowly the dealers arrive, trickling in...

You listen to them talking, one went to the Lakeview parade of garage sales, but gave up, "too many dealers" she said. She's a dealer too, but it doesn't stop her complaining.

Inside, a few scant tables, mostly littered with old Avon bottles, a couple of pieces of Medalta, some cool Uranium glass, with it's peculiar luminescence, but at $75.00 apiece I'm not tempted. There are as well folk-art styled "Antiques" from "Granny's Attic", wood trays stenciled with flowers and hearts and made to look old but really only succeed in being tacky. There's no jewelry or watches, no cigarette cases or lighters, lots of Toby mugs, loose plates, generally speaking a heap of rubbish.

From there across to the WIN in Bowness, no treasures today, then home, a dealer in conversation had dropped that there were no lottery winners and so I check my tickets, the cats dead, there's a Harley Davidson Rally on Memorial Drive, 100's of bikers with their police escort (because they need police protection?), and then back home.

This pretty much ends the worst season of garage sales ever. I put it down to my job and lack of car.