FUJI

A well deserved win.... a great example of good composition... FUJI

A superb photograph of a very distinctive landscape.....a well deserved win. 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

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..

An incredible study......many congratulations Roger...... FUJI

Another great find Paul......there is always something, if you know where to look.... I used to leave half logs on top of the soil in quiet corners of our tiny gardens ...after a few weeks they always have something underneath of interest, no matter the weather. Wooclice? My reason gor not eating shrimps or Prawns....Woodlice are direct relatives.... FUJI

Watch, Listen and Wonder....

Well done that man.... Great to see a mono shot....shining through..... FUJI

A fantastic image....great stuff BP.. FUJI

Hi Steve-D Good to see you on TIPF again.... ... Heath scares come sfound more often as the years take their toll.... I’m doing my very best to ignore them all just lately.... thdn my good lady has one.... thankfully surgery on her eye put that right last week.... ... Try to let all of that slide by.... get your camera/s out and forget the rest.... because I never go out without a camera, I have made many friends around town...other folk stop to ask what I’m up to....so my card with info is handed out... I’ve also altered my appearance by abandoning the previous ritual of the morning shave...so have a set of promising whiskers in the making....causing lots of comment and finger pointing ....all good fun.... The pic here was taken three weeks ago... so shows whiskers in development....... FUJI

A superb architectural study.... .... Well done Strav. FUJI

It just had to be.... one of the best on here fir a long time.... Well done Rye... GUJI

Love the light in this.... Congratulations Ryeland. FUJI

This is a ....First Class ....insect study.....textbook perfect in my eyes..... many congratulations John. FUJI

Well done Dee ! reminds me of the old song...... DONT FENCE ME IN ..... But it will mean that both you and your Guardians will be able to enjoy your own patch in safety and peace of mind....... in my very early days as a jobbing joiner.... I erected miles of garnet fencing on contract.... ... I hope yiur naking those guys a. Cuppa now and then ? FUJI

Hi David 2 ....a very warm welcome to the TIPF Community.... .... All you have to do now is to get posting and to get commenting, seriously, or, in fun.... banter is welcome, as is serious photographic discussion. FUJI

CONGRATULATIONS Rye..... well done you.... A Tiger’s intense stare indeed....beautifully captured.... FUJI

Congratulations Cheryl..... a well deserved win...... a fantastic shot. FUJI

We all live and learn, at some point Fogey.... Since the appearance of YouTube, I now use it as my Free tutor, on almost any subject....likewise when I wanted to turn threaded lids on my wooden boxes, my pal loaned me his DVD .... I discovered that by wearing headphones with a small screen on my lap, I absorbed teaching of all kinds very quickly, because it can be stopped, started and repeated ad- finitum ..... most of my current ....Watercolour skills have bedn learned this way.. Now to bird and wildlife photography.... I practiced a great deal trying to capture our resident black-headed gulls in flight.... a tricky business because they fly so fast. eventually I worked out, my own, best way.... shutter at least 1000th .... Aperture not more than F8. or less than 5.6....ISO to suit ambient light... but over 300 .....with...Tracking Focus..... then...pan with the bird you are targeting... Study birds like gulls and their flight patterns become repetitive and fairly predictable, so you can anticipate where best to catch it against the best background.. Likewise insects, during macro shoots.... I don’t do wild animal shoots so can’t help there.... Now....ask me about....Street Photography....or....DIY or Vinrage lenses... HAVE FUN ! FUJI

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

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