Past Hobby.

09Jan
by patmcf

Hi everyone I trust you have all had a happy and safe Xmas break and are looking forward to a better year. I’m not a New Year person, a bit of a spoil sport as I’m usually in bed by my usual time of 10PM and I have never tried resolutions as I know they wouldn’t survive more than a few days. Having said that I have decided to become a little more organized and make sure I have completed things I start. I went to the Doc for a check on a minor problem and to my surprise he found out I had a few issues that would have me popping of the perch if not fixed! Funny thing is I have never felt better!

He did say with a few changes I would live until I was ninety! That may be the case but I can’t see me painting figures at that age I feel the hands might just get a bit too shaky and the eyes becoming so dim that glasses won’t help!

Some time back I mentioned that before I got back into dioramas, I did Decoupages. I did say that I would post some photos which I never did, sorry! Anyway I had completed quite a few but still had three big ones and some smaller ones that I had never finished. I sure most of you would know what is involved with doing a decoupage but I will briefly explain what’s involved for those that don’t- but don’t kick yourself if you don’t as it’s not something I would recommend you take up unless you wish to use the modern version and use resins; less hours but the finished results are quite different.

Ok! To start with you find your subject and gather the pictures you wish to use for it- I used a number of books and calendars. You then put a sealer over the paper and when dry you carefully cut it out. Then when you have all your images you proceed to stick them on your object- in my case I collage the pictures to create something like a scene/painting. After you have stuck all you pictures on you them proceed to apply layer, upon layer of varnish and then sand it back so the hollows are filled and the ridges aren’t damaged. I usually ended up applying around 100 coats! When done and it’s all nice and flat I polish it to resemble glass.

I have included some photos of works I have done and when I finish the rest I will pop them up to.  

I’m sure some of you will know the artists I have used, though there were so many even I can’t remember them, not to mention that I started this when my first daughter was born and she is now approaching thirty!! You might be able to pick my favourite artist, so bloody good- I have to say he is ahead of the great F.Z and that’s saying something! A big tilt to all these brilliant artists that made it possible for me to have some fun and make up my own stories.

PS. All other projects are on hold. Hopefully.

42 thoughts on “Past Hobby.”

  1. imperialrebelork

    Wow Pat, these are incredible. I’d never heard of decoupage before. Absolutely brilliant mate. Now hobby stuff aside you make sure you listen to your Doctor and take good care of yourself. When it comes to the hands and eyes just keep painting as much as you can and it’ll help.

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  2. Wudugast

    Wow, those are fantastic! I used to have a flatmate who did decoupage but the stuff she did was (not wishing to be too unkind to her but she’ll never read this) a bit rubbish so I never really appreciated how good it could be if done right. As for what your doctor had to say, you mind and take care of yourself – I’m looking forward to seeing what you’re modelling and/or decoupaging at 90!

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  3. rantingsfromunder

    Wow those are awesome! I’ve seen decoupage before on the telly but thought it looked a bit simple and really a hobby for the artistically challenged, but not your stuff! I’d happily give house room to any of those pictures, I’ve been a Boris fan since I was a kid, but these take it to a whole new level. absolute genius mate!

    Look after yourself, it’s easy to say, but not so easy to do (I don’t do all I should, and I know I’ll pay for it one day, but you know how it is, hindsight is 20/20 as they say). But do as I say not as I do!

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. patmcf

      Thanks Matey, I have found a great doctor in the town so I’m sure he will have me fit and healthy in no time . Now that I’m back finishing of the last couple I’m amazed I had the time and patience to cut out all those pictures 😳.

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  4. rantingsfromunder

    As the old joke goes….

    A bloke is at the doctors and says to the Physician “So what’s the prognosis then doc, am I ill?”
    “Well” replies the doc, “I can see you living past ninety”.
    “Great!” replies the chap “that’s wonderful news”.
    “Yes” the doc goes on “And if you re lucky you might even make two hours!!” 😁

    I’ll get my coat.

    Liked by 5 people

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  5. Dave Stone

    Great news that the doc’s caught the problems early Pat, and can be treated.
    Wonderful work on the Decoupage, I spot a lot of Boris, and Chris work in there, which are two of my favourite artists, sadly Chris passed away over the Christmas period.

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    1. patmcf

      Thanks Dave , thanks for passing that news on mate as I had heard that, brilliant artist. I was very fortunate to find a doctor as good as I had back in the city, I’m certain he will have me fit and healthy again in no time.

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  6. ericritter65

    I would have never thought decoupage could look like that!

    I too just did an annual physical check-up, it was the usual, lose some weight and let’s see where that blood pressure is in 3 months, arrgh. I don’t want another pill(s), but I fear as we age that is the norm, along with failing eye sight and shaky hands!

    Good luck in the new year and I wish you nothing my good health and a few completed dioramas!!

    Liked by 5 people

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    1. patmcf

      Thanks Ec ,you’re right these things do come with age ,I to will have to make some changes as I’m hopeless at taking pills I always forget. You right , it is certainly a different way of doing it and it only came to me when I took my wife to an exhibition of decoupage that I saw amongst all the normal stuff a picture a woman had done of a friends office 😳it was so real one would have thought it was a photo.

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    1. patmcf

      Cheers mate I’m certain things will be fine with such a good doc I have found in town. The mermaid one was done for one of my brothers in law but the daughters said , no way as they wonted it , I’ll let them squabble over it when I pass ninety 😅😅😅.

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  9. Marvin

    Glad you’re getting sorted, Pat. We should take care of ourselves better!

    The Decoupage is fabulous and I can really appreciate the work and thought gone into it. Not quite the same thing but in a similar vein, my daughter (when she was small) and I used to cut out and create collages together on my day off with her from piles of magazines. We used to make separate ones too and I got really into the choices, themes and placing of my images – real artworks! Maybe I ought to have a go at decoupage one day?

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. patmcf

      Thanks mate I’m sure the doc will have me fighting fit in no time . That’s great that you did collage with your daughter, my girls were right into it also when young. I’m sure you could do a sterling job doing one along military lines , I was going to do one for a cousin of mine about the ACW but unfortunately my desire to do more decoupaged faded away and just left me wth a great pile of prepared pictures that eventually stuck together and were rendered useless 😳😅😅😅.

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    1. patmcf

      Thanks Jeff , it does as you would know one has to let each coat dry , it’s fine at the moment as with the warm weather I can get two coats done in a day, it’s the sanding back that puts most folk of doing them 🤔😂😂😂

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    1. patmcf

      😅😅Thanks Ann, it started of in France in the seventeenth century and was done on furniture like bookcases and chairs , don’t quote me but I seem to remember it came into vogue when they were unable to get the black lacquer screens, boxes etc that had mother of pearl pictures stuck to them , an art form from Japan.

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  13. theimperfectmodeller

    Brilliant work Pat and I can only echo the comments of all the other bloggers. Always nice to have more than one hobby even if it is only to break things up a bit. Unfortunately growing older is a pain in the arse. The simple truth is all we can do is keep our fingers crossed, do as our doctors tell us and hope for the best. Sadly hobby days will eventually come to an end as our bodies start to let us down but until that happens we party on and have as much fun as possible. You’re a determined guy so the prognosis of you only living to 90 is probably a little pessimistic I’d say. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. patmcf

      😅😅😅Thanks Dave , I’m sure the medical folk here will have it all sorted soon enough , just need to make a few changes 🤔. I think the end of my modelling days will be relief ! No more cuts from new blades, wire penetrations , and of course it may end when the dithery old hand squirts super glue all over me and I get permanently glued to the modelling table 😫

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  15. Mark A. Morin

    When it comes to aging, and as we are close in age my fellow retiree, stay active. I see many older golfers and they last a while – my golf buddy Bob is 89 now. The key is staying active in mind and body and regular visits to a physician to get the things that can be addressed before they become too difficult. With that said, none of us will last forever, so all any of us can do is to make the best of it – as I know that you will do. As for decoupage, yours look fantastic – it’s something I have done but the sanding and the varnish fumes are not exactly healthy! Still, with a respirator no problem. Anyways, at least if you get glued to the modeling table you’ll be where you want to be anyways! Best wishes Pat!

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. patmcf

      Thanks mate , your mate has the right idea, one of my daughters boyfriend came up for Xmas and wanted to play golf something I hadn’t done for years, we had a hit and it was fun 😃might get back into it as part of my new fitness regimen along with the gym. My new Doc will certainly make sir I’m around for some time yet 😉. As for the decoupage I decided to use water based varnish from the very start as it doesn’t yellow with age or give of those nasty fumes you mentioned humm I still have to wary of my old mate Super Glue 😅😅😅.

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  16. Kuribo

    I wasn’t familiar with decoupage but I think the ones you made look awesome! Though to be fair, I don’t think my wife would let me show off any work that had that many naked ladies on it 😀 Do take care of yourself as best you can, mate! There are more dioramas to be built 😉

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. patmcf

      Thanks mate I’m not surprised that don’t know it as it something that isn’t done anymore due to the labour intensive method to get a good result,I had to laugh mate as I have a another big one I did on request but in the end the price was to much for them so I had I was left with it and it’s entirely of naked women 😳I’m not sure if my girls will let me put it up🤔😅😅😅

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  17. lordcommandereloth

    These look splendid so really classic pieces in there. And I don’t know what you mean about not painting when your 90, I thought TIM was at least into his 100s and still going strong 😀
    On a serious note its good to hear the doc pick that stuff up, just make sure you listen to what they say!

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    1. patmcf

      😂😂😂I’m sure he would love to hear that matey!! I treat my old body like my car, get it fixed before things becomes big problems so I do what I’m told 🤔. As for the Decoupage thanks , I’m glad you like them , I don’t think you will ever see this old style again as it has long been superseded by technology and no one would bother, maybe small ones but not theses monsters that are about 3’x2’and take up to 2 litres of varnish to complete 🤓

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  18. Azazel

    Good to hear you’re looking after your health, Pat. I need to make a few changes and get back into the swing of how I’d gotten pre-covid myself. The Decoupage looks fantastic – very much like professional prints.

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. Azazel

        Yeah, I’ve not even been managing that much lately due to some (minor-ish) injuries that aren’t enough to keep me from work, but are enough to prevent the gym. :/

        Liked by 1 person

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