Friday 15 April 2016

A family day out

Hello. I think you might have guessed why I wasn't around yesterday, a trip down the motorway to Burton on Trent. I must say, that the four lane stretch on the M1 is now running smoothly and the journey was done without any hold ups. It's about time it was finished, it has been under construction for what seems like years, and it was getting very tedious to pootle along at 50mph through the roadworks. The traffic in Burton has not improved though, the town seems to be ever sprawling outwards from the centre, new builds bringing more vehicles clogging up the roads. I have no desire to move back there. 
Rocky came with me, and after a cup of coffee and a chat to Auntie Pat, I left him with her while I went to the library to meet Uncle Stan. He was happy in his bed. They have a new rescue cat which was very curious to see a dog in the house. 
Stan likes to chat, think that's where I have got it from, I found him installed at a table near the exhibition, ready to talk to anyone who wanted the meet the artist. 
It was difficult to take good photo's because of the sunlight beaming in through the vast windows, and the reflections bouncing off the pictures with glass on them. Some I have seen before, but he has some older and newer ones that I haven't seen. He uses a variety of medium, pastel, acrylics, and oils. Some forty pictures are for sale, all the proceeds are going to the Air Ambulance.



The detail in this one is amazing.
A few abstracts.

Shame about the reflections on this one, he has got the skin tone perfectly.

This is what Stan does best, talk. He has been a gents hairdresser for most of his life, at one point having a string of shops. In his later years he scaled the business down to one shop, finishing up with a few of his regular customers coming to his house when the last shop was sold. He didn't need to work, he carried on because his customers were his friends, and the money was donated to Air Ambulance. It wasn't until he was in his late eighties that he finally did the last haircut. 
The exhibition is on in Burton Library until Saturday the 23rd of April.


I am very impressed with the library, it was a hive of activity. Spread over two floors, there are meeting rooms for hire, and the food in the cafe is excellent and reasonably priced, I am told.

Back to the house for a late lunch. Pat had made a lovely vegetable curry, far better than anything I can rustle up. Stan was whacked, so I left them to their afternoon nap, while I went to visit sister. A couple of hours there for a catchup. Sister was whacked as well after spending all morning getting the caravan ready for their forthcoming trip.

A quick dash up the motorway brought me to Tesco at about 8pm, had to pop in to see if there were any yellow stickers as my fridge is almost empty. Lucky me, there was some fruit and veg. I spent £11, which will see me through next week.

Bits and bobs to do today, need to walk because I missed yesterday. Need to tidy crafty room.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

34 comments:

  1. You and your Uncle Stan look and sound like two peas in a pod! This looks like an amazing exhibition. Thanks for posting so many pictures.
    B the way..."while I went to the library to meet Uncle Stan. He was happy in his bed." I read this three times because I was baffled - was Uncle Stan ill? - it wasn't til I went on to the next paragraph that I finally got it that you were talking about Rocky! LOL!

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    1. I misread the same way! I love how iona writes, and I can vividly see Rocky in his bed, the curious cat poking around him.

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  2. I really enjoyed looking at the photographs, and your commentary of course, which I always do. Enjoy your weekend.

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  3. What a fabulous day and how talented your uncle Stan is. There is a bluey picture in your pics that I particularly like the look of I love the colours.

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  4. Wow! Your uncle Stan is an amazing artist. To think he was a barber all his working life with this amazing talent. Is he self taught as well. I'd buy some of his work in the blink of an eye.

    Thank you for sharing and glad you managed some yellow stickers on the way home.

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    1. This ^! I totally agree. Congrats on his showing, too. Wonderful talent!

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  5. It was lovely to read about your trip Ilona. Uncle Stan is so amazing and what a success he seems have been all his life with the hairdressing businesses etc. His paintings look wonderful and we were glad you included some close-up photos. We can see that you follow him in artistic ability. Do hope he sells lots to help his cause. Dear little Rocky seems to have had a good time too.
    Wendy (Wales)

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  6. Your Uncle is a really good artist. He also is able to do such a variety! I find some artists do the same picture or close it over and over

    My favourite painting is the one where you mention about the detail - it is amazing.

    I note you say he stopped cutting hair in his late 80's. How old is he now?

    Cathie

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    1. Hi Cathie. He is 93, will be 94 in June.

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    2. What? 94 and a full head of hair? That is also amazing!
      What a good looking man.
      Cathie

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    3. Ha ha, amazing isn't it. He looks like he is in his mid seventies.

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    4. He does indeed! Is he an uncle by blood or marriage? You seem to have the same genes! JanF

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  7. What an interesting man your uncle Stan is the exhibition looks amazing can see where you get your talent from. My DD was a hairdresser for 35 years and ran her own shop and after selling it still does 5/6 elderly ladies once a week for they were clients in the very beginning of her career.

    Glad you enjoyed your day and got to see your family has well as the exhibition.
    Have a good weekend.
    Hazel c uk

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  8. how wonderful that you were able to go down there and see such a great exhibition. Your uncle is very gifted and so good that he is making money for such a good cause.

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  9. What a lovely day you had. I love to see showings of art. I once had the great fortune of wandering into a gallery killing time on a business trip and a late flight home, and was invited to stay for an artists new "unveiling." Food and wine galore, but the local artist showings in our library are pretty wonderful too.

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  10. Hello Ilona, amazing pictures your uncle makes. What kind of place is the number 5 pictures which is my favourite? Greetings from Someone in the Netherlands.

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    1. Hi. It is a workshop within the brewery. Burton is known as the beer town, years ago there were lots of breweries, not so many now. They made their own barrels. You can see stacks of wood on the left of the picture, and the finished barrels on the right. It would be at around 1930's or 40's.

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    2. Thank you Ilona, I have another question for you if you do not mind, I had a look in your photogallery and your no. 13 picture is amazing I wouldn't mind having a look at the same spot that you stood in making that picture. I am afraid the Netherlands is all flat so we don't have those views. Greetings from Someone in the Netherlands.

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    3. Hi. Yes, it was a nice view. I can't remember exactly where it was. I've had a look at my files on this computer and can't find it. It may be on the small computer which I use from time to time. When I next switch it on I will look there for it.

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    4. Hi Anon. I've found the picture. The village is called Kettlewell, it's in North Yorkshire. There are lots of fantastic views around there. The blog post is dated 16th June 2011. Here is the link to it

      http://meanqueen-lifeaftermoney.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/day-2-in-kettlewell.html

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    5. Thank You Ilona. I have a look at the post, maybe I can visit it one day as I also want to visit the Brontë museum which is also in Yorhshire. It is on my wishlist.

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  11. Uncle Stan's pictures a fabulous and he looks amazing for 90. Well done to him.
    Carolx

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  12. Absolutely love the paintings, Uncle Stan really is very talented. I hope he sells lots too. Ilona you look just like your uncle Stan!

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  13. Brilliant paintings, loved them. Linda J

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  14. The Brewery picture is just the sort of painting that my OH loves, wish we were nearer to go and see them all - and probably buy one too- what a brilliant artist your uncle is

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  15. Wow! He's such a talented artist.

    You didn't say what he thought of your tapestry.

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  16. Your uncle has wonderful talent as an artist. Now I see that creativity and talent run in your family ;-)

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  17. A talented man...Creativity runs in your family and you both enjoy it. Good on you both!

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  18. Very talented Uncle Stan! I see it runs in your family based on your recent works of art :)

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  19. Wow, what beautiful artwork. Tony and I can't resist buying paintings and have a huge collection. We just need more walls to display them. Oh and my walking is going great guns now that I have started walking to work. I average 7 miles each day if I am asked to go and risk assess a current walk..... and they call it work and pay me for it. I love my job

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  20. His artwork is quite beautiful. I love that they have a cafe in the library. Wish they had that here where I live in Florida, USA.

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  21. I can see from your uncles wonderful paintings where you get your talent. It must be genetic and run in your family. Your beautiful collage "Rocky's Place" is very creative.

    Gail :)

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  22. Wow, what talent he had! Beautiful work.

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