Byron - another picture completed!

The smallest pub in England

We visited Bury last week, the first time for a while. I bought a book and a few bits from the art shop while Ann looked for holiday clothes. She found very little - the shops have removed their summer things, and replaced them with drab winter gear. Everywhere is quiet; customers have deserted the town. The Nutmeg, billing itself the smallest pub in England, that can normally only take ten customers crowding together at the bar and was always busy, has been forced by the new regulations to put tables on the pavement, but even there, there were but two customers. 

Our two gardeners have been slaving in the continuous rain for eight hours. They insisted on coming, despite the weather. It wasn't raining when they started, and hoped Ann's description of the weather was pessimistic, but they are just starting out and need all the work they can get. They did a brilliant job though.

I have been working on a portrait of Byron, as a commission request from Ann. He only has a black coat flecked with white and brown, so compared with subtle skin tones it didn't take too long. I finally finished it this afternoon as the gardeners buzzed outside with their lawnmower and hedge trimmer. I do love working with oils though, as the colours seem to shade so well and give such crisp outlines.

A portrait of Byron