I mentioned the teacher who first introduced me to oils, `Deadly` Hedley Moore. Irascible during maths lessons (particularly when I was being put on the spot) he was nevertheless a gentle soul outside of class, and when taking extra-curricular art showed a fine eye and a sensitive touch with a sable brush.
Blinking through the smoke of an untipped cigarette permanently wedged between his lips he would start me off with a painting. This one was I think copied from some magazine. The base was a piece of wood, not gessoed, just paint applied directly using turps and no other medium. I must have been about 11 or 12 at the time, and all I can remember are two things. One, I think he must have done the lion`s share of work on this. I think I painted the `first layer` and then he touched it up with a judicious use of flake white to show the moon reflected on the waves, and certainly the cloud effect was beyond my skill at that stage. Second, he used the wood end of a matchstick to apply the black paint for the sailing boat. On the reverse of the wood panel (shown below) you can see workings for another painting. The panel was originally double the size, below was another painting I did, but for some reason I cut it in half and discarded the other one - another seascape and rather a poor effort. I keep this with me to remind me of where my love of art and painting first started. Through the auspices of a Prep School Maths teacher, in 1969.
3 Comments
NC
31/8/2014 11:11:06 pm
That is amazing. Did you ever contact him to let him know the impact he had?
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6/9/2018 05:40:19 am
I think we must have had the same teacher.....Mike Moore's dad. An influence on me too. He used to take us to Liverpool Docks for drawing and painting. Also taught me navigation. A massive influence.....Deadly Hedley!! Terra Nova 1966ish.....
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Simon
7/9/2018 02:29:44 am
Gosh. What a small world!! How did you find me?
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December 2021
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