Seaham shore

Nice one Michael love the foreground , successful painting mate.

Thanks Dennis.

Great marks and textures Michael.

Another great and impressive painting Michael! Love the knife work!

Terrific feeling of space Michael...great foreground work. Are you enjoying 'Band of brothers?'

Been there Michael, as I not too many miles away. Lovely painting.

Beautiful painting Michael, I like the variations of colours and marks in the foreground, and the great feeling of space.

I think you've captured the character of the place perfectly. great picture.

Full of interest this, Michael. Lovely texture and movement.

Thanks Carole, Satu, Fiona, Adele, Cesare and Willie. I really enjoyed the book Fiona. The picture of the boys scrubbing on the deck and the senior boy looking over them with a cane is poignant. I recall the Ganges boys telling me about 'cuts' - a punishment with cane strips across the back. Is that discipline or masochism?

Thanks Marjorie.

Glad you enjoyed the book Michael. A very severe regime on the Ganges, I wonder if it was orchestrated to break the spirit to then be re-configured in to a well oiled, well disciplined unit, or was it designed to cut the wheat from the chaff so only the cream went on to serve on one of His/Her Majesty's vessels. Wonder how many boy sailors, faced with the same regime today would get through.....doubt if the odds would be very high!lol

I think it is all that and more Fiona. One important result was that you become part of the 'brotherhood'. I imagine most went through. It's stronger in the Royal Marines. I went on the Police National Bodyguard Course, which is difficult. There were 4 ex marines on the course who had never met before. They immediately bonded and all the rest of us were lesser beings. When I was accepted for the Fleet Air Arm after the tests, I was put into a room and a Royal Marine came in and told me I was a potential marine and should join them. I had enough strength of mind to resist, probably because I knew it wouln't suit my personality. I am as much a loner as a brother, more a loner really. I like to be a bit looser than that - like my drawings. I'm certainly not a natural team player. I doubt whether I would have enjoyed Ganges. As you say, It's a different life today.

Great textures and I like the colours you have used.

Thanks Gudrun. I lost patience with it towards the end, then got brave and it turned out okay, quite different to the impatient stage.

Great drama !

Thanks Lynne. This isn't a pretty beach. All your work gets my admiration.

I worked with an ex marine, although I don't think the word 'ex' equates to a marine....once a marine, always a marine! The word 'hard' wouldn't come close to a description of his character. I've come through a few riots through my career and sharing this kind of experience does give you a camaraderie with those that shared the experience. Ref Wigtown air field....reply on my Somme posting.

I worked with a marine in Durham too. All he talked about was the RMs and we used to suggest that he should re-join. Were you a polis?

Same colour uniform but over the wall and the other side of the bars Michael.

Thanks Fiona. Instinctively thought you were there somewhere. You'll have seen some 'life' and had some experiences.

Lol...you can say that again Michael! All kinds of 'life', from the very worst to the very best and some experiences I could have lived without.....they will always be with me......like yourself, I expect?