Tea in the Sahara with me. by Martin Shaw

A touch of Come With Me to the Casbah about it - he looks just a bit too calculating; sort of chap you'd warn your daughter about, though there are those here who would over eagerly go with him.... Away with these strange fantasies..... it certainly IS useful to keep your old work, or some of it, and compare it with what you're doing now; always hoping you weren't better then. I destroyed some of my old sketchbooks a while ago, thinking "you might die soon, you don't want people discovering that among your effects!", but I've kept a few old paintings - concept better than execution, but then I can recreate them: which saves a lot of searching for new subjects if nothing else. Encouraged by your example, I'll show one of my early birds, if I can find it. Your painting has presence - that's the "something about it" to which you referred: I'm wondering what was in your mind at the time...

Thank you very much Robert. Much appreciated

Oh, you are so right about the execution in the past. I was better in some ways, but feel I have dragged myself to a different perspective, and improved as a whole I hope. Pretty sure I’m heading up, not conclusive though.

Very interesting commentary and it's a good early portrait Martin

I admire how you have painted the eyes, which betray all sorts of narratives, Martin.

Striking!

A stunning portrait. The details on the fabric are also very good.

Very nice painting.

Thank you