Last year I carved this piece out of a lino block. It was an image of the quintessential beach goer of a certain era - and still around in places. I found the master block for this the other day and have reprinted six of these images using Caligo black ink on mulberry paper. The print itself measures 4 x 6 and has a generous border around it for framing. The whole piece measures about 7.5" x 9.5" and can be purchased on my 'Under $50' tab on this blog.
We all have or have had an Uncle Vinnie. He's pushing 60, is portly, jovial and professes to be a champion swimmer in his younger days, but now paddles up to his ankles at the seashore while watching the world go by in his Hawaiian shirt and rolled up pants. Vinnie was in sales and has the patter to go with it, striking up a conversation with anyone lingering within earshot. Vinnie was always 'the best salesman they ever had' and his stories are told over and over and over. With a few drinks Uncle Vinnie gets a little louder, but then with food added to the mix, he generally sleeps soundly on the sofa or armchair, drowning out the television with his snores.
You know you want Uncle Vinnie to come for a visit, don't you...? Tell me a story about your 'Uncle Vinnie' in the comment section and on Sunday, September 12th, I will draw a name from the comments received and the winner will receive an tiny print of a colourful version of Uncle Vinnie. This is a 3 x 4 print, enhanced with watercolour on handmade Indian paper.
Let the reminiscing begin!
6 comments:
Jeanette, I am afraid *I* am the Uncle Vinny in my family. I'm not so portly, yet, but I'm not much of a swimmer. I keep my shirt on and wade in up to my knees and watch the kids play. Then I walk back up the beach, sit in my beach chair under an umbrella, pick up my sketch pad and a pencil, and watch the girls walk by...
we could be twins ;-)
Wow! You know my Uncle Vinnie! He gets around doesn't he. I hope he didn't bore you too much with the story about how he won, singlehandedly, the award for most sales by boring his customers to within an inch of their lives or the one about .... my eyes are glazing over just thinking about it.
He came down to visit us in Dorset this summer and on a trip to the beach he insisted on wearing his string vest and a knotted hanky upon his head. He fell asleep in the deckchair and some 'mischievious little blighters' stole his hanky resulting in a rather unfortunate sunburn. It did nothing to deter his enthusiasm with the port after dinner however, he's 'British after all'.
Ahhh, you're in the running then Ernest.
Cees, another Uncle Vinnie?
Lisa, it seems your Uncle Vinnie gets around! Let's see if I can send him back to you on Sunday. :)
Uncle Vinnie is my brother Tom who lives in Minnedosa, Manitoba.Tom stands on his deck and looks proudly over his property and family, very much in the same stance as Uncle Vinnie.
I say Uncle Vinnie hails from the prairies.
~Sandy
My "Uncle Vinnie" is my Uncle Tony, who is long gone from us now. Uncle Tony was a WWII veteran, having survived the storming of the beaches of Normandy with all limbs intact. Uncle Tony never told war stories, didn't tell too many stories at all, actually, but had a smile that would melt the heart of this young niece (and God-daughter, i may add), every time he was near. I miss him dearly.
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