THE LION IN WINTER

Well, the lioness in winter, I suppose, so as not be confused with the 1968 movie that starred Peter O'Toole, etc.
So, having survived jihadists and snow in Amman and Istanbul, here we are back in Mézin where winter still reigns supreme.
In an attempt to remain sane, and as a reason to get out of bed everyday, I'm back to painting regularly, having decided to concentrate on three main subjects: Animals, Portraits and Nudes.
If you want to see how I've treated these subjects before, here are some links:

ANIMALS
http://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-RED-WOLF-ENDANGERED-ANIMAL-SERIES/183452/2383410/view

PORTRAITS
http://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-ANDY-WARHOL/183452/2275293/view

NUDES - MALE
http://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-MAN-WITH-TWO-TATTOOS/183452/2733470/view

NUDES - FEMALE
http://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-TATTOOED-TORSO/183452/2733416/view

Finally, here's my latest effort in my ANIMAL series:

After the kill

ANOTHER DOG

Lynne's brother Matt turned 50 when we were on holiday in Hobart.

Needless to say, Lynne said (very endearingly): 'Darling, I've forgotten my brother's birthday. Can quickly rustle up a dog?'

Just what I wanted to hear when I was engrossed in my daily task of working out which beach to spend the day on.

Fortunately technology came to the rescue and Carol emailed a photo of Frankie for me to do a portrait from. (For anyone who's interested here's the genealogy: Carol is Matt's wife - Frankie is Matt's dog.)

Then Australiapost and the Royal Mail came to the rescue and got the painting of Frankie to Mat on time.

MAN IN A BLACKSHIRT

The drawing is three fourths and a half of what constitutes painting. Jean-August-Dominique Ingres.

I think he's got a point. A really big one. So it's back to the drawing board.
Here's my latest portrait in pencil. I try to think about it as painting with a pencil. Great fun, really, when you get into it. Why not give it a go.
All you need is a sheet of paper and a pencil. And a face of course. If faces are in short supply, just look in the mirror.

NEARLY AS OLD AS ME - TWO PAINTINGS OF SOWETO

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Trawling through an old file recently, I fount these two views of Soweto that I painted about 52 years ago. Nothing to do with painting in France, really, but here they are anyway.