FOOJ'S SILVERPOINT PORTRAITS AND WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS

[FUJI]

Cheers! James ....

 

FUJI

[Clicker]

Lovely work Fooj  and the  teacup in my opinion is absolutely stunning! 

Beautiful work  young man ...

[Fogey]

My Life!, Fooj

You are a veritable source of surprises and no mistake.  You Sir, are a very talented man.  Have you had any training at all in fine art?  Or is it a case of developing a natural gift over the years.

[FUJI]

Hi, Fogey,

I thank you too for your interest in my Artistic ventures....it’s a long story, but I will cut it to appropriate size...

As a wartime brat.... my means of escape were my paintbox, brushes, drawing books, I don’t remember, not being able to read...having  an innate need to learn and to do.... arithmetic of any kind was to be my downfall academically... apparently I suffer from.....Discalculia ...I failed my 11 plus so was written off.

But that didn’t stop my love of Art and Woodwork....aged 15 I left school to become an apprentice carpenter/joiner......I could often be seen with oils and easel painting local scenes.....during National Service in Germany I took a series of Art courses...followed up by more on demos..

I gained an Art A level.... attended evening and weekend classes....was accepted into my County Arts Society, after submitting works.....I slowly gained a reputation in our two local amateur theatres as a...Set Designer/Painter....I created sets for all kinds of shows during my spare time for many years.... full size canvases if you like....all the time working as a busy joiner, a husband and a father, to three children.... the odd commissions came my way for paintings, or glass engraving, but not enough to make a living.

The next twenty five years saw me have a break from Art... I had taken Teacher-Training...followed yrs later by Social Work training..I worked with and for adults with severe learning disabilities...another huge chunk of my life.

After 15 yrs I became disenchanted with the system, not my clients... I took a very bold step.... I became a professional researcher, maker and demonstrator in all things....Wooden Toys... I designed toy-making courses fir Schools, museums and historic sites... became very well known for reproducing exact replicas for display and handling collections... My huge toy collection and library was purchased by Warwickshire Museum Service....I illustrated and wrote my book.... I thought that was it....when Disney Home Entertainment called my to Hollywood to help relaunch the 1938 Pinocchio animated film... my wife and I spent a magical week as VIP guests in Hollywood....then I retired....a pro wildlife Artist pal of mine asked if I still painted... negative was the answer...not fir years.... he persuaded me to acquire materials.... it didn’t take me long to get going again....now I can’t flippin’ stop...I’ve spent a fortune on the best of materials...paint at least two pictures a week.....love Still-Life and Portraiture..... My Photography-Art and Wood Turning ...continue to keep me with it and alive....

if you Google my name...Cyril Hobbins.... there is more....here are my latest efforts

 

 

[Denis]

Your selfie (pic 4) is the fooj we love,know and admire, and add respect to that too. I will be down to purchase one of your paintings next year, but looking through your many posted examples, I might be a while selecting one!

I too have been diagnosed with Dyscalculia Cyril, it is what stopped me from continuing in the Butchery trade as I could cut meat but not sell it, I couldnt work the till !

 

The shop manager said if I continued to give customers the wrong change then I had better find another job, So I answered an advert to drive a lorry....

[Clicker]

I sent Fogey along to see this page Fooj... I  am so glad I persuaded you to post your paintings here ..I especially like it when you post the portraits alongside the photos of those people when it’s possible as it shows just how well you capture the likeness. Having said that I am growing particularly partial to your still life studies  ... these latest additions are really  nice as I love your treatment of glass ware ... You need to exhibit really .... 

[Fogey]

I stand in awe of you Fooj, and that is coming from another failed 11 plus student who suffered dyscalculia and passed A level Art and A level English  language and literature in later life.

So let me see; you are an artist, illustrator, author, photographer, teacher, social worker, carpenter, toy maker, wood turner and still going strong at 82.
Ummm!  what do you know about cooking?

[FUJI]

3 hours ago, Fogey said:

I stand in awe of you Fooj, and that is coming from another failed 11 plus student who suffered dyscalculia and passed A level Art and A level English  language and literature in later life.

So let me see; you are an artist, illustrator, author, photographer, teacher, social worker, carpenter, toy maker, wood turner and still going strong at 82.
Ummm!  what do you know about cooking?

Ha! Ha! That. That  me smile broadly Fogey..... part of my early job on joining the 100 plus-student Day Centre was that I teach cookery, crafts and horticulture at a reasonable level. All three subjects were a serious part of my Dip TMHA teacher training in `Wolverhampton... I attended dozens of serious cookery classes and went to a Horticultural college once a week, in between all the psychology, Sociologly and aetiology and teaching theory...a very intensive time of my life. I was in digs for two years.

I love cooking, can rustle up great meals, but make a mess so get banned from the kitchen ....never much liked gardening though .... like housework, it’s too repetitive...

I spent hours with a group of ten students, cutting grass and pruning... when my turn came on the staff  Rota.... 

That got easier when I became Deputy Manager....I loved that life, until major management changes above forced me to leave to become a Toy-Maker.

Likewise, the CQSW pro Social Work course was extremely intensive, character-building and scary, but I battled through until I qualified with reasonable pass marks... both as a mature student ...I was  in my early 50s for the latter course..... I loved my college life, except for the 140 mile round trip every day for two years.

no wonder I didn’t find time to paint during my time in Social Services......I loved my client group, I still love meeting my ex students in town now....all in their sixties ... TEMPUS FUGIT.

 

DENIS ...if you intend to call by...I need lots of notice please....

 

Cheers !   Thank you all for your continued interest....

FUJI

[Fogey]

Bugger!! 

 

[FUJI]

Just recently I discovered an American Watercolorist who produces works with incredible rich, velvet-like backgrounds...here I have adjusted three of my previous works.... I am liking the results a lot, so will dabble further when the weather warms up..

[FUJI]

I have also had a go at the intriguing Japanese Craft of......KINTSUGI....literally gold repair.... 

One tradition in Japan, is that, if a treasured  ceramic gets broken, it isn’t thrown away, instead the item is said to be in transition, to another life, bearing the scars of use.... They use traditional tree-sap lacquer as a kind of Araldite to join the bits, then a clay putty to replace missing bits....but...and this is interesting, they then highlight all the cracks and replacement bits with a real gold powder mixed with lacquer to produce shiny gold paint.

Here then, is my effort, using a KINTSUGI kit acquired from Japan... it contained the lacquer adhesive...but clear Araldite adhesive can be used.... it is best to get the kits because the gold powder is superfine...

My item, is one that I rescued in bits from a local antique shop over 30 years ago... my Artist’s eye had been attracted by the hand painted design and centre picture of cherubs... It is an early example of Italian Majolica....a very delicate ceramic basket with curling snake handles....Back then, my repair skills were very poor, but at least it saved the item from a skip... 

This time around...I carefully cleaned up the messy joins with a sharp blade... then, using an epoxy resin putty, I fashioned new parts to fill the gaps.... this wasn’t easy....they aren’t my best effort...

I still need to use a very sharp blade to tidy all the gold edges, but I am allowing a decent time fir every thing to cure properly first...

A very interesting project.... an enjoyable project, that really works....it’s well worth looking up on YouTube.

 

GUJI

 

[Clicker]

Well I knew you would be up to something new Fooj when I noticed you hadn't been around so often lately ... Glad to hear  you are keeping busy as usual ...   The oranges /satsumas really look good enough to eat  in both  your  paintings ..... and the repaired bowl is a very different take  on restoration isn't it .. a bit like the shabby chic  fashion of using the   flaws in painted furniture as an integral part of it's appeal ...  I'm always interested  in your creative adventures Fooj ...  keep them coming  

[Fogey]

I can't begin to say how impressed I am at your talent Fooj.
Your description about silverpoint was a real blast from the past, and took me back 50 years to when I studied fine art.

Credit to you, Sir.

[FUJI]

Currently I’m experimenting with a ready made… Silverpoint ….primer/ground…. It looks exactly like pouring cream after being shakeN , then left stand to get rid of bubbles…. I have experimented with just one coat on cheap wood pulp watercolour paper….as you can see ….it has a great …tooth…. so my …gold…silver and aluminum metal points all make marks.  The little Hare, I produced for the jeweller who saves me short lengths of silver wire… but has to charge me for even the shortest length of 22 carat gold wire….

The house cat belongs to an artist friend…. I was experimenting with different marks, and practising the use of chalk and gouache as shadows and highlights…

The Lynx was a much more considered work. Once again using chalk and gouache, in a slightly different way……doing this drawing has helped me to cope with the passing of my younger brother this last week. He had been in a specialist nursing home for four or more years…. We are all grateful for  his release from the  pain and torment of many years…..Still lots to deal with …..it is going to be a busy, emotional few weeks…

FUJI 

[Hatter]

Great work, Fuji - I particularly like the lynx.
I'm sorry to hear about yoiur brother.

 

[FUJI]

A huge thank you Hatter…. .. I find that …Silverpoint….is very relaxing and therapeutic…

 

FUJI

[Clicker]

 That is sad news Fooj ...  I am sorry to hear that.....I have  sent you  a pm . It's good to find solace in one's art .... it always feels therapeutic  to feel creative after loss in my experience ...

I Love #1     A really lovely  silverpoint portrait .... And good to see your additional work adding to this thread ...  

 

[FUJI]

Further to my very serious study of the very old, pre graphite pencil, way of drawing with silver and gold wire, I have ventured deeper into its  extremely fascinating history and method…..fascinating stuff.

The young Boxer pup you have seen previously as a photographic portrait taken about a year ago now; her proud owners have an enlarged version, pride of place in their lounge.

here thdn , is a work in progress preview of a Version using mainly silver or gold wire, with gouache and crayon highlights and graphite of crayon darks.

 

progress is quite slow and methodical, but deeply satisfying…. Being absorbed in creating it, has helped to take my mind off matters in hand.

We celebrate the life of  my late  brother at his  funeral  on Tuesday next week…. For him….a happy release from years of suffering.

[Clicker]

That's another fine capture of  this dog Fooj ....  You've managed that  slightly quizzical look  with just a hint of those ears being cocked as he listens ... Lovely work  Fooj ... Glad to hear it soothes in it's application and  having restrictions lifted in time for your brother's sendoff, I hope that enables all those present  to be able to comfort one another in a way that is at last more humane . .... 

[FUJI]

Thank you Polly.

 

 FUJI

 

[FUJI]

A silverpoint-Goldpoint-crayon-gouache-graphite …portrait of a friend done on a specially prepared ground…..

 

FUJI

[FUJI]

A self portrait straight of the easel….. 

 

silver point - gold point- crayon- gouache- graphite.   on specially prepared paper.

[Clicker]

That's really captured your mischievous nature Fooj ...it's a great likeness and the crosshatched shadow behind gives a great depth and three dimensional feel to the portrait.. You've got a proper twinkle in your eye as usual ... A lovely well crafted  bit of work  young man ....well done Sir !

[FUJI]

Hi, Polly,………

…..A huge thank you.

This way of drawing is really beginning to grow on me because it has a very special feeling of permanence about it, yes! It takes time, but, for me, that is good.

FUJI 

[FUJI]

At the request of Polly, I present here examples of my Woodturning.

I have been very lucky in obtaining quite a large stock of fairly rare English Boxwood…. Not so rare as a garden hedge, but as a fairly large and very old tree…yes. my son,  tree surgeon was tasked with cutting it up after it fell into a road….

if you look at the bottom of the pendants photo, you will see a section of the raw material …it is extremely fine grained and very heavy.

The lidded boxes and the pendants have what is called a…chatter-pattern….made with a thin flexible blade that vibrates as it digs into the revolving workpiece.

The pendants are made from the box offcuts, again using a chatter pattern filled with gold paste….the white infills are surprisingly a mix of baking powder and superglue… bring them together and there is an instant chemical reaction, resulting in a stone hard , textured fill….

Woodturning is just one of my creative escapes…. Photography, painting and writing take up the rest of my time, unless reading or sleeping…. I do listen to a wide variety of music, but I usually sleep not long after it starts…

I am currently having my fourth….Photo-Book…printed….I created it using the free…Open-Office..software…..then…BookprintingUK do the rest…

I enjoy meeting a wide group of friends in my home town, and two ther photographer pals who take me along on Street Shoots…and another, a pro Artist meet weekly to discuss our various projects and to put the world to rights…

FUJI