Most great painters produce one iconic piece that comes to symbolise their work. For Leonardo da Vinci it is "The Mona Lisa". For Vincent Van Gogh, it's "Sunflowers" and for Yorkshire Pudding, it's "Semi in the Suburbs".
Quite a few of the people who visit this blog have called for photos of my handiwork. After all, I might have just been making the whole painting project up. Anyway, I insist it was all true and here's the evidence...
Back of the house
Front of the house
Side of the house
The man-sized void at the back corner that gave me the willies
I joined the pigeons for a week
Close up of the pebble dash rendering - though painted, little craters remain
As art critic, Waldemar Januszczak said in "The Sunday Times", '"Semi in the Suburbs" speaks powerfully of our age. It looks to the west, the east and the south and is a tribute to the endeavours of the ordinary working human and what might be achieved through determination. It will be displayed in some of the world's leading art museums in the next two years, giving art lovers everywhere the opportunity to bask in the glaring whiteness of its haunting symbolism.'
Crikey. That was a challenging task. Glorious views from up there.
ReplyDeleteI have been "dressing" the house but not for sale.
DeleteWaldemar Januszczak is obviously a very erudite man and can spot a masterpiece when he sees one. Well done Mr. Pudding!
ReplyDeleteWaldemar Januszczak's name is a masterpiece. I mean, you don't want art critics called Tom Smith or Sarah Brown.
DeleteTrying to paint that surface may make you think it's a masterpiece maybe the chapel?
ReplyDeleteWell, I didn't quite understand your question Red.
DeleteIt's heartening to see that there are still craftsmen out there who practise the old trades with skill. A masterpiece indeed.
ReplyDeleteWell done Y.P.
It is an honour to be called a craftsman.
DeleteGosh. Well done that man. I wouldn't have liked the painting challenge on scaffolding.
ReplyDeleteWorking class blokes don't use the word "Gosh!" Dave. Thanks all the same old chap. Didn't I know you at Harrow?
DeleteGreat views from up there. A wraparound balcony would be good. You could both sit out up there and survey your kingdom.
ReplyDeleteI will have to get an estimate for the balcony. Thanks for the suggestion JayCee.
DeleteI want to bask in the glaring whiteness of the haunting symbolism, although I have no idea what that means.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, well done, Neil!
Waldemar Januszczak has no idea what it means either!
DeleteIt's looking fine. That man sized gap would give me the willies too. Are you going to go up there with a syringe and fill all those tiny craters? (cheesy grin here)
ReplyDeleteNo. But as we have got the scaffolding for three or four more days I will be going up again to keep on dabbing. The paint would be too thick for a syringe.
DeleteI would have mostly used a long napped roller. Maybe you did. I asked R's sister what they call the equivalent of one of a pair (house). She said a semi detached. Another coat of paint or three, the pebbles will disappear. Anyway, a job well done by a senior citizen. You have quite good views from you upper storey.
ReplyDeleteA mono-colour master work.
ReplyDeleteI am not a heights person so that gap made my knees quiver.
ReplyDeleteGood Lord! What a job! We all applaud you!
ReplyDeleteI woke up with vertigo one week ago (for some unknown reason.) Thankfully, it's gone. Weirdly, just looking at the dizzying heights in which you worked made me feel a bit unsteady again.
ReplyDeleteThe pigeons look impressed with all that white stuff.
ReplyDelete... this is the side of the house but you can see the front of the house ... and this is the Spanish Inquisition hiding behind the coal shed.
Wow! that was a huge job! Well done, Neil.
ReplyDeleteSandtex Glaring White?
ReplyDeleteWell done. I hope a beer or two is your reward.
ReplyDeleteWell done. Nothing completing a large DIY project to make you feel like a master craftsman. I believe that a master craftsman is deserving of a first class meal out to celebrate the completion.
ReplyDeleteI was commissioned once to do some painting on the outside of "our" church when I was a young man. I went up on the scaffolding, which was only about 6 feet from the ground, once but the vertigo sent me right back down and got me off the job. I commend you on your bravery and your artistic excellence.
ReplyDeleteThat looks scary as heck, being up on that scaffold, but you sure do have some nice views.
ReplyDelete