As I was writing the introduction to our website, my wife and children pleaded with me to record some of my childhood adventures in paint.
As you know, I grew up in the U.K. but where do I start? ok I’m starting with with the gravest of matters……..
Requiem for Bluey.
Size 90 wide x 122cm. High
Acrylic and oil on stretched canvas
Bluey, our beloved budgie, over the course of a couple of years had almost , managed to pick up at least two words when he fell foul ( literally)to our new kitten “Ginger “ while out of his cage for a flutter.
He lasted for almost a week , sitting on his perch with his head tucked under his wing.We were all convinced he’d get better, and then, he fell off!
Picture three broken hearted children demanding that a proper burial service was needed.
Down we went to the very top triangular corner in neighbouring Elswick cemetery, where the wall was only about a metre high. Bluey was in a shoe box ,dad was in and out like lightning having dug a tiny hole for us to lay him in.…., all three of us , myself , Jimmy and Stuart…..heads bowed in reverence as we laid him in his final resting place. Such was the sad passing of our beautiful little budgie.
Always fondly remembered.
Check out other works from the 'Memories' series on the John Maitland - Selected Works page