This week I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked. The main reason being She Who Must Be Obeyed and I managed to get Covid and it hit us quite hard. Like a lot of people it started with a slight cough which neither of us thought anything of but then it hit us for six. Our bodies ached and everything seemed to require a significant effort. So much so we both spent a couple of days in bed doing the barest minimum. Just how much the vaccinations helped I guess we will never know but I don’t think either of us would have liked to have been worse with it. Even now, and after we had both tested negative, there is a lingering element to how we feel. Fortunately I caught it first and was feeling much better by the time SWMBO hit the canvas so between us we managed to function and get every day stuff like walking the dog done.
As a consequence it wasn’t until late in the week that a finally managed to pick up a brush and when I did I decided to go for a quick and easy figure, one that if I cocked it up could be abandoned or at least positioned in the background of the diorama. The figure I chose was the Beggar you can see below. He turned out OK given the circumstances and I don’t feel the need to strip him down and start over.
All being well I’ll get another figure done next week. Having been layed up for several days I’m behind on numerous jobs and need to give them some attention. I’ve also got golf matches (yes, I now play golf!) which need to be reorganised and played so tackling another mounted figure isn’t on the cards I don’t think.
One final thing for this weeks post. For the first time I used an Artis Opus brush and to be honest I was rather disappointed with it as the point curled over very quickly despite the fact that I use brush soap after every painting session. I have a few of their brushes so it might just be a rogue one, I’ll have a better idea further down the line and if I have a change of opinion I’ll let you know. For now though I very much prefer my Winsor and Newton series 7 as these brushes have never given me any trouble.
TIM
The Imperfect Modeller 
Nice work there, and it’s good to hear you are both on the mend now!
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Thank you. As for the covid we’re now very much better than we we’re. 😊
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sorry to hear that mate,I’m glad your on the mend, the expression on the first photos is probably like yours was when you had the virus!! Take it easy and recover fully soon.
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Cheers Pat. I’ve got to say the covid thing was most unpleasant but it’s pretty much behind us both now and hopefully it will stay that way!
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🤓👍🏻
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He’s great mate, and I hope you’re both feeling 100% soon
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Thanks Alex. Not quite a 100% yet but damn close now thank goodness. Made us wonder just how we would have been had we not had the jabs!
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Another great addition to the bunch. Hope everybody’s health continues to improve.
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Glad to hear you have more or less recovered from Covid, our family had it a few weeks back and it was odd I was unwell 1 day only but not in bed, working from home drinking Lemsip while the wife was more or less bed ridden.
The model looks great to me, I think he would look grand near your knights.
I also alway use series 7 now, they are just great.
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Cheers mate, all looking much better now compared to how things were. It’s very odd just how much it affects some people more than others, even in the same household! As for brushes, there is nothing finer than series 7. Well worth paying that bit more for. 🙂
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On the series 7 do you do every thing with that, I find I do most stuff with a number 0 series 7. But I’m struggling to find a decent brush for bigger areas, do you just use s bigger number series 7?
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For figures I use series 7 all the time other than for dry brushing and priming where I use cheap brushes or ones which are past there best. Most of the time I use 000 for the very fine detail, 1 for larger areas and 0 for everything else. I was given the Artis Opus brushes as a present. Nice looking brushes but on a sample of one inferior to series 7 in my opinion so far.
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Good to hear that you are over the worst and are picking up a brush again.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Yeah, Covid is a weird one; my uncle had all the symptoms and it hit him quite hard, but every test he took came up negative – whereas his partner remained fit as a fiddle but kept testing positive. Anyway, glad to hear you’re both feeling better and great work on that beggar.
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The more people I speak to the more Covid seems to have effected people in different ways. We’re just glad we had the jabs, goodness only knows now we might have been without the vaccine. Hopefully the ordeal will have given us greater protection in the longer term. 🤞
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Another opportunity to use those expressions I never use, this time it’s “nice beggar”! 🙂 Glad to hear that the dog still got walked when you weren’t well, it’s all about priorities! Nice to hear you’re on the mend!
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Thanks John. I’m glad I’m giving you the chance to air some of those expressions which have been dormant in you for far too long! As for the covid and dog walking, some things you just have to try and soldier on through but after each walk I was left wiped out! Both feeling much better now though. 🙂
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Late to the party I’m afraid, I really like the little beggar! (sorry had too), I don’t think he needs to go to the back, in these responsible times we need to recognise the homeless, not push them under the carpet! (right that’s enough WOKE nonsense ). Good stuff, and glad you are both on the mend
Cheers Roger.
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Haha Roger, very good and better late than never!
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That panhandler looks great to me! He will fit right in with all of the other minis you’ve been knocking out too. I’m sorry to hear about you getting sick and am glad you’re feeling better. I would imagine it is a little scary to get COVID even when you are vaccinated. Truthfully, I hope to not find that out!
That is crazy about the Artis Opus brush too. I’ve used 3-4 in a row now and I think I might prefer them to W&N but honestly, I haven’t really been disappointed by either yet, which I’m thankful for.
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As I say, I’ve only used one brush so far and in fairness it might be a rogue one. Hopefully I’ll find the others to be better and on a par with series 7. As for Covid, the rules have relaxed so much in the UK that it was inevitable that we, and everyone else for that matter, would catch it at some point. Thank goodness for the vaccination is all I can say.
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Glad you’re on the mend mate. Golf huh? You’ll have to play Marky Mark one day. The figure looks great
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I think I’ll need to improve a bit before I play Mark but yhe idea is a good one. You could be our Green keeper?! 🙂
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Haha or the caddy.
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Would love to play with you both – my game is picking up quickly (the golf school helped). Currently around a 22 handicap but hoping to get back down below 20 – fyi IRO lower is better. I think IRO could be the beer cart girl replacement 🤪. As for the figure another fine example of your painting prowess. Love him. As you know I’m glad you’re both better, and now you both have better immunity hopefully anyways- and hopefully no long term effects.
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If I was the beer cart girl there’d be no beer to cart as I would’ve drank it. To be honest I reckon I’d smash both of you when it comes to driving the ball but putting would be my Achilles heel. No patience for it haha.
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Well smashing the ball is fine as long as it’s in the direction you want and not in the woods. Besides that,I think you’d share the beer with us and get patience aplenty from the rest buddy.
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