Art Post

Hello there

So, for today's art post we have not one, not two, not three, but four - unfinished - pieces.

The subjects of these portraits will no doubt be strangers to the vast majority of you, but they are four members of the current Saints RL team, and these are thank you pieces.

I mentioned on Cabin Fever (I think it was), that four players from Saints had sent video messages for Kim after she'd had her emergency brain surgery.  I got these through my pal Bernard Platt who is the official photographer for Saints (I only know one of these players - and that's only a little bit).  After they'd come through I asked Platty if he thought it would be welcome if I did portraits for them.  He told me that they do so much stuff for people, and they never get anything back.  Not - by the way - that they do it for stuff back, but Platty said he thought they'd appreciate it. So it's ultimately his fault.

I have a real odd feeling about doing art myself and gifting it.  I've done it a few times, and always worry myself daft over it.  I think mainly that someone will receive it and go "What on earth is that? Why has he done this?".  You know what I mean?  It's a weirdly confident move for me to do it, and I'd hate it to be over-confident.  

I also think I still feel a bit scarred from the Cannon & Ball pics I drew and had printed up for the statue fund, which I never heard about - or from anyone -  ever again.  That was a weird one, because I did ask.  It cost a fair few quid too, getting them printed and couriered, but it was to a grieving family I guess, and I'm also happy to consider that cost to be my contribution to Bobby's statue.  Still makes me feel a bit silly though, a bit embarrassed, and a bit sulky.

But anyhow, I've popped that to one side after my reassurances from Platty, and today (yesterday) set to work on these portraits.

They're all unfinished, because I am doing four portraits at the same time.  I decided I wanted to get the facial likenesses done in the first instance, and then the rest of it would be a much less stressful pursuit (notwithstanding that Saints had their most complicated strip ever this year).

First up, is Jonny Lomax. He's been at Saints for donkey's years, and is the one I know a little bit (genuinely hardly at all, but he would know me if I walked around the corner). The first three portraits are grabs from the Grand Final this year (the fourth player was injured and didn't play in that game).

Here's Jonny...

This, by the way, is the one I'm least convinced on at this stage.  It does look like him, but he was battered in that game (still won player of the match), and there may be a better screen grab to work from.

Next up is Tommy Makinson, another Saints great who won the Golden Boot a few years ago (essentially the award for best player in the world).  This was after the final hooter and he's holding up four fingers because this was Saints' fourth consecutive Champion win. FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.

These do actually look a lot better in person...

Next up is Konrad Hurrell (a big favourite of Kim's).  He signed for Saints this year after being a bit of a favourite at Leeds, before dropping off a bit for various reasons.  He was a high risk signing and it paid off big time.  He's been great at Saints, and also scored one of our Grand Final tries (against Leeds).

That was during the post match celebrations, he has the Tongan flag around his shoulders.

And finally we have Alex Walmsley, who was out injured in the Grand Final.  Really unfair for him, and he has to be proper hurt to be missing games.  He actually broke his neck playing for Saints about six years ago, and was out for a season.  you wouldn't have got me back on a pitch ever again after that, so that's the sort of metal we are dealing with here...

He's also a big favourites of Kim, and she was once utterly starstruck when we shared a lift with him at Saints' ground.  I was just well cool about the whole thing.

And that's the four in progress.  All of them will have touch ups yet, and of course I need to do the bodies and kits etc, but that'll be an easy enough (if time sapping) task.  

None of them needed to do those videos, they were all in the run-in to the end of the season, so the fact they took the time to do them, and send them through really quick, was so very much appreciated, and this is my way of attempting to acknowledge that appreciation. 

Not half got a headache from all the minutiae drawing today though.  I'll show you the finished things when they're done (I'll add them to another post, won't do progress pics etc, just the finished things as an add on to a different art post).

Hope you are having a smashing week over there.  Rob sent me several audio files of him farting today.  Lovely texts to receive they were.  I'm flagging it up as a warning for next Monday's Reboot podcast where it will all become clear...

Much love as always

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