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

A very warm welcome Fogey ....from one fogey to another... FUJI

Congratulations Roger..... FUJI

An incredible capture.... congratulations BP FUJI

Congratulations Polly.... FUJI

Well done you Denis.....enjoy every minute...... Just what we used to do, from our 1973 VW Camper. FUJI

Very well done John......a well deserved win. FUJI

Cheers! James .... FUJI

Currently I am seriously studying the work of a very talented Japanese watercolourist named Yuko Nagayama... she has an amazing ...freestyle way of developing her works, with lots of water, intense pigments plus incredible observation of her subjects. So impressed have I been that I acquired two of her books. Both printed in French, but with Google-Translate on my phone it is no problem. I’ve just invested quite a bit of my pocket money on Daniel Smith pigments and incredible hand-made papers..... as well as five books..... Must keep the old brain working. FUJI

WOW! A wonderful, and totally unexpected surprise.... it was one of those photographs that just HAD to be taken.....that simple plate of prepared button mushrooms ..... I honestly, stopped dead in my tracks..... then went to fetch my camera.... FUJI

Thank you all......we rarely see him just lately, so yesterday was a bonus..... FUJI

I had the rare opportunity to shoot these portraits of our grandson yesterday... he is in the middle of his first year at University, he has been working on course work from home all summer. He, at last, could drive across to see us with his dad yesterday.... ...he has grown into a very pleasant young man ....we are very proud of him. FUJI

Congratulations Rye....a worthy winner. FUJI

Hi, Ryland.... it’s difficult to know what to say, except that my thoughts are with you........we have no pets now since our 18 yr and 22 yr old cats passed on... just remember the good times.... thank you for sharing the photographs. FUJI

A well chosen winner Polly.... Congratulations Stravinsky FUJI

Hi Polly, Thank you! I follow this excellent tutorial by Chinese Artist Chang Khee Chee, for creating my version of his way of fining KOI by wiping out from the original background wash of random colour washes... all done on saturated watercolour paper..... it’s great when it all comes together. FUJI

Watercolour time again.....testing a new paper called..... Claire Fontaine....it has a unique moon-crater-like surface, that keeps colours bright, ... that is my third portrait of of Robbie, the late Busker, who sadly passed away last year.... FUJI

Congratulations David.... a worthy winner.... FUJI

Congratulations Rye.....it’s an absolute cracker of a macro shot. FUJI

You had a very difficult task this week sjr.......but you chose right..... An incredible set.... Wdll Done Rye. FUJI

Well,done Denis...... enjoy every moment, you have earned it. FUJI

It just had to be ..... a top flight bit of creativity..... FUJI

Can’t go wrong..... they are of..... Air-Cooled V-dubs ;-)) You are right about other photographers.... my ex-pro Leica owning pal is hardly speaking to me currently........I thought it was as a result of lockdown... but no.... my cheap used gear is producing top-notch results currently. FUJI

Sitting in my armchair at 04 :10 ...... I decided to use Google Earth....Street-view to explore the amazing streets of Hong-Kong.... a virtual walk around tour, with fascinating glimpses of every day life plus amazingly different architecture and street scenes. I do this every so often, just to while away a little time.... or when I’m bored. I Also get nostalgic by dropping in on very familiar places visited during my lifetime.... some not seen for years.... memories are given a real old stirring.... I can recommend ...Google-Earth .... street view very highly.....fascinating stuff...... you can drop by Dee’s place.... look in on Rye’s patch..... or fly off to an old holiday haunt.....or explore the dusty streets somewhere out East.... Some places haven’t allowed Google video cars to record.... but satellite views can make up for it somewhat. GUJI