Bob Dreams of Holidays Past

Last night I saw Curly Bob pawing his way through his photo albums of holidays past. He hasn't mentioned where he plans to go this year yet. He allows me to use his holiday snaps  as subject matter for my artistic endeavours.

This one is from Bob's stay of a month or so in Antigua. It was painted in 2012 , in oil  on canvas, and is called "Paradise #2"

The Clearout Continues!

Bob  has spent the last week compiling a list of works suitable for posting and as soon as they have been photographed (for his album) they will be sold off to make room for new stock. I was unaware space was at such a premium in my loft and Bob is not allowing me up there at the moment as he says he doesn't want his work disturbed.

I know better than to ask twice so here is "Lighthouse #3", an oil on canvas from way back.

Clearing Out The Attic!

Bob's new  life of sobriety is taking it's toll. In a bid to keep him on the straight and narrow I suggested that he should review his managerial strategy for 2015 to stop his mind wandering towards excesses of honey, ice cream and much worse. He agreed my suggestion was sound and he has spent the last 2 weeks in the loft conducting an inventory of my back catalogue.

I could hear him moving boxes around and the occasional thud to reassure me he was still hard at it. He emerged yesterday with his results and conclusions. He felt a clear out was called for. Therefore  he has suggested that I post much more frequently over the next 2 months. As works are photographed and published they will be sent for sale until we have some room for new paintings done in 2015.

The first of these is "Island dreams #2", an oil on canvas painted in 2010.

Season’s Greetings To All Bob’s Fans!

Bob has asked me to convey his very best wishes to you all at the beginning of the festive period. His absence has been caused by personal problems which are now behind him hopefully. As soon as the bill for his extended stay in a famous rehab’ clinic have been paid I am told there will be money available for canvases and art materials.

Bob has plans of his own in paw but he has promised that he will offer guidance to develop my career as an artist. I have to admit that he has been spot on in his decisions on all art related matters. I would only consider his judgement to be “iffy” when it comes to almost everything else.

Bob has now abstained from alcohol for nearly a year and his binges on honey & ice cream are now few and far between. I am fascinated as to what his plans are but he has not shared these with me or anyone else as far as I know. He has been online, with my credit card,  several times this week but as he has his own account I don’t know what he has been buying. However he assures me all will be well.

Meanwhile he suggests that I start posting my work on a regular basis. Therefore here is “First Snow, Tryfan “, a work in oil from 2013 when we had a short break in North Wales. Bob felt it was quite appropriate given the weather.

We hope to see you all in 2015.

Christmas Comes But Twice A Year!!

I had heard nothing about Curly Bob's whereabouts for a long time and I was beginning to despair of ever seeing him again.

No doubt Bob's ever loyal fans will be as delighted as I was last Sunday morning. I was having my mid morning siesta following my daily workout(Doctor's orders unfortunately), when there was a loud knock at the door. The courier driver said he could barely lift the box and would I mind helping him carry it over the doorstep. After some difficulty the box was carried into the hallway. I couldn't help but notice the noise of glass bottles coming from within.

As I examined the box more carefully I saw it was marked "Very Fragile" and "This Way Up!" all over it. Strangely enough it was full of holes which had been made all over the box. After opening the lid I tipped it up a little and then a bit further resulting in an avalanche of empty beer, wine and pop bottles, ice cream cartons and honey jars(all empty). As I rummaged through the mountain of debris out popped Curly Bob!

Further rummaging revealed another bear who was introduced  as Da Vinci Bear. Apparently he was an emerging talent who Bob has taken in paw. They had met in one of Bob's many visits to bars, cafes and parties in Montmartre. Speaking of bars they both looked very much worse for wear and reeked of alcohol. Apparently Bob had arranged to have himself and DVB mailed to me to avoid "potentially embarrassing questions by the French Customs  authorities"( more like arrest and subsequent deportation..Ed).

Anticipating the efficiency of the French postal system Bob had packed a few extra supplies which was just as well because he has been missing in transit for over 2 months. Despite protestations to the contrary I put them both in the shower and after they had dried off they went straight to Bob's bedroom where his pile of Christmas presents were still unopened.

When he had thanked me for them we celebrated his safe return with yet another party. I managed to capture this snap of Curly Bob during the festivities .

However Bob was very mindful of how much time had elapsed since my last painting had been published. Wasting no more time he directed me to post "Hope #1", an oil on canvas from way back in my "pre Bob " period, to get things back on track.

"Hope #1", oil on canvas.

Disparu!!

As reported in my last missive, Curly Bob was thought to be on his way back home. However this  was not supported by any hard facts and in particular how he would manage to reach the U.K. without being arrested again for breaching the terms of his release from Avignon prison.

Apparently Paris is having an election to appoint a new Mayor. The 2 main contenders are both local women who are, like all Parisiennes, both intelligent and beautiful. Given Curly Bob's immense popularity and charm & savoir faire (Is this the same bear we are talking about? - Ed), both of the candidates have been seeking Bob's endorsement.

Rather than have to disappoint either of them he decided it was time to come home. Informed sources claim a cunning plan has been hatched to enable Bob to avoid the clutches of the Gendarmerie and paparazzi plus negotiate the hazards of Customs without his passport. Readers will remember it was confiscated following his arrest in the South of France.

Meanwhile his Christmas presents remain unopened under the tree which I have not had the heart to take down ( Gulp again!)
It remains to be seen whether this plot is successful. If it is, I don't know whether I will give him a hug or wring his neck!

One thing is for sure none of this has distracted Bob from his life mission. Before leaving Paris he emailed to ask me to post " Grasses in The Sun", oil on canvas from 2008.

Still Missing

.Hopes of having Curly Bob back home have been dashed yet again reliable sources in Paris(i.e. in the same bar) have confirmed Bob is alive and well but not yet ready to come home. Actually he is ready to come back due to a lack of cash but the Gendarmerie are still scouring the streets and bars looking for him.

The place just doesn't seem the same without him. I often pass his room and look in somehow expecting to see him there.

I have kept nearly everything as it was when he left for France. His little bed is next to the bookshelf containing all his well pawed bedtime stories (gulp). There is a poster above his bed of his all time hero, Yogi Bear and on the other side a poster inviting all bears to come to Jellstone Park. His stock of Koala Brothers DVD's are stacked next to his tv with bear friendly remote control (sniff).

It is true I cleared up all the empty honey pots under the bed and other evidence of numerous midnight feasts of which all bears are so fond.

At first it was a relief to have Bob away for a while. I took the opportunity to refit my studio and order art materials. I was even able to do some painting. Bob has never really grasped the concept that, to donate works to charity fundraising, somebody has to actually paint them in the first place.

Given the number of sightings of Bob , exclusively in bars, it is no wonder that many of the gendarmes allegedly searching for Bob are volunteers!Unconfirmed reports of late night parties in the Pigalle area of Monmartre, Paris suggest all is well with the curly one. I am not sure if it is the lure of hanging out with artistic degenerates or the rather exotic night life, (Probably both - Ed).

Anyway I expect him to come home to soon as he will want to celebrate his 2000th fan club member and 3000 hits on his blog. Both targets are expected to be reached before the end of next week.

As always, Bob has his paw on the wheel and has asked me to post "George" a work in graphite pencil on cartridge paper from my early days before he adopted me.