New portrait..titled "Millennium Woman", size 16x12ins.  After two recent drawings of 18th-century women, I wanted to capture modern confidence. Bare feet, a relaxed pose, a direct gaze. The floral tattoo is very much now and non-negotiable. It is her story on her terms. Medium, Cretacolor Nero pencils on 200gsm Ryland art paper. The velvety blacks from the Nero pencils made all the difference for the hair and shadows while keeping the skin tones luminous. #PencilPortrait #ContemporaryRealism #CretacolorNero #RylandPaper #FigureDrawing #MillenniumWoman #ArtistOnInstagram #UKArtist #DrawingOfTheDay #KeithBoldyArt

Supporting artists Fabulous ink landscapes by artist Claire Leach

Beautiful watercolour painting by artist Erika Kocsi

Not my Daily Diary Monday 15th June 2026 #DementiaAwareness It was a gentle start to the day. The temperature was a pleasant 16°C when I got up. The sky was cloudy, though there was a hint of sunshine trying to break through. It was a shame I couldn’t quite match that brightening mood. We got through the night okay enough, but the evening was tough. Chris was so unusually anxious, her words coming out with a stutter that stayed with her all through the night. I’d planned to do some drawing, but instead, I just sat and held her, which felt like the only thing that mattered. By this morning, it had rubbed off on me, I felt anxious too, stuck with this lingering sense of doom and gloom. I just couldn’t shake off.   I decided a bit of retail therapy was exactly what we needed. I suggested to chris that our trip to Merry Hill, wouldn’t just be for our usual Greggs sausage roll and latte. I wanted to look for a new dress for her, something lovely for her birthday in July and the party we’ve got planned. I hoped it would lift both our spirits, though I know deep down Chris won’t really settle until after her sister’s funeral on Wednesday. That’s been playing on her mind. Earlier on, I had no set plans for the garden. I dead-headed the rhododendron, such a shame the stunning red flowers only last such a short time. Then, somehow, I got stuck into clearing an overgrown patch behind the white bust. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Now I’m looking at it thinking I want to redesign the whole space… Trouble is, I’ve not a single clue how to go about it yet. That job took me all morning, and with the green bin still waiting to be emptied, I’ve just got piles of garden waste stacked up ready to shift later. By half eleven, I managed to coax Chris away from her beloved Chateau DIY on the TV and got her ready to go out. I was so relieved to hear her voice back to normal, such a difference from last night. Merry Hill was busy, but I found parking easily enough. We made our way around, and as always, people were so kind and polite when Chris was in her wheelchair, smiling, stepping aside to let us pass, always so thoughtful. It really does make getting out and about so much easier. I knew Phase Eight had a sale on, I can hear you calling me a cheapskate, but even their sale prices are higher than the regular price tag in most other shops. Still, they do make beautiful clothes, and we both spotted one we loved straight away. Sadly, they didn’t have Chris’s size in stock, but it wasn't a problem at all, we ordered it in store to be delivered straight to the house, so that’s sorted. When we got back to the car, I got the fright of my life, the tailgate was wide open! My heart skipped a beat, thinking we’d been broken into, but nothing was missing at all. I must have left it open when I took the wheelchair out earlier… I certainly don’t remember closing it. Just another little reminder to slow down and pay attention, I suppose! Back home, Chris slipped straight into her comfy onesie. There was football on one of the main channels, so Chris watched  afternoon programmes on BBC while I got dinner ready. We had fish, sole fillets, mini roast potatoes, and petit pois peas cooked in vegetable stock with plenty of butter, just how we like it. It was delicious.  Once I’d washed up, dried up, and tidied up the kitchen, it alwayslookeds such a mess by the time I’ve finished cooking! The gloomy feeling I had earlier had completely gone. Looks like retail therapy really did work its magic, after all. This evening, I sat down to do some drawing. I’m no pencil landscape artist, that’s for sure, and I think I might be heading for that creative block I was half-expecting. It’s feeling like a bit of a struggle right now. I hope you’re having a lovely day or evening, wherever you are in the world  Keith and Chris xx

There is no point in wishing things can be different. We cannot change the past. We can only accept the change and move forward.

Seeking original artworks for curated hotel and luxury interior projects. If you are an artist, gallery, or art dealer with available pieces for sale, please get in touch.

Kinzua Bridge State Park, Pennsylvania

《守艺》：平阳木版年画 Keeping Crafts Alive: Pingyang Woodblock New Year Pictures... youtu.be/yc6sQqsCMM8?si=jGQ-… 来自 @YouTube

Yokohama view 山手　十番館 元町から谷戸坂登り丘公園入口を右折　突き当たりの外人墓地を左折すればこんな風景に出会えるはず #油彩 #アート #イラスト #カフェ #art #アニメ #artwork #美術ネットワーク #geijutunowa oil on canvas

Supporting artists Oil on canv as by the artist Ojifu

Not my Daily Diary Sunday 14th June 2026 #DementiaAwareness  This morning, I woke to light cloud and a nice breeze, and when I checked, the forecast promised no rain at all. Perfect for getting outside! My first job on the list would be to water all the baskets and pots. My hands felt much better after resting, and I reckon that the dose of codeine I took last night really did the trick.  Before I could go out, though, there were a few things to sort indoors. I laid out all my medication for the week ahead and got some chicken out of the freezer, too, and I planned to cook it in hunter’s sauce for dinner later. I hadn’t even made it out the door when Chris called down. She wanted something on the bedroom TV… Château DIY, of course! I think she’s properly addicted to that show. Don’t get me wrong, the bits I’ve watched are really enjoyable, but I just can’t believe every single château renovation is done entirely by the owners themselves. Watering took me a full hour, but it was worth every minute. It’s only been a week since I planted everything, and already the hanging baskets and pots are looking absolutely lovely, such a good start to the summer. Next, I weeded the path by the fountain pool; long grass from the lawn had spread over it, so I spent another hour weeding and clearing it back. By the time I finished, the sun had come out, and it was turning into a beautiful day. I thought, why let Chris sit in front of the TV all afternoon? It's much better to get her out and go for a drive in the country. I had a quick shower, I woke her up and told her my plan. She was all for it, as usual… though that can sometimes change once we’re on our way! Today’s destination: Dudmaston Hall, a National Trust property just 25 minutes away in Shropshire.  We took the country lanes, which we love, winding through the prettiest little villages like Bobbington, Claverley, and Quatt, all so charming and peaceful. When we arrived, it was absolutely rammed! Hundreds of people were there, and I struggled to find a parking spot… until a wonderful volunteer stepped in and made space for us, nice and close to the manor house so I could easily push Chris in her wheelchair. On top of everything else, there was a vintage sports car show on too, no wonder it was so busy!  First stop, the Orchard Café. We had coffee and a delicious slice of lemon drizzle cake, though I was a bit gutted they’d sold out of Victoria sponge, I’d been looking forward to that!  Dudmaston has such incredible history, there’s been a manor house here since 1127, with the current hall built in the 17th century. Amazingly, the same family has lived here for 900 years, passing it down through generations. In 1978, Lady Labouchere gifted the hall to the National Trust, but the family still lives here, keeping that wonderful tradition alive.  We were out a couple of hours, but Chris soon said she wanted to head home. She didn’t take much interest in the house itself, but she really enjoyed her coffee and cake, and that’s what matters most. Just getting her out of the house and away from the TV for a while was a success in my book. Back home, I got dinner ready. To be honest, after being out all afternoon, my heart wasn’t really in cooking… but I’d got everything out this morning, so I carried on. We had chicken and sautéed mushrooms baked in hunter’s BBQ sauce, served with Chris’s absolute favourite, bubble, and squeak. I was so happy she ate every bit, and we both really enjoyed it.  This evening, we struggled to find anything worth watching on TV, as usual! Eventually, we settled on a programme all about the secrets behind our favourite chocolate bars... riveting stuff.  I managed to do a bit of drawing later, but only for an hour. My hands were still aching, and holding a pencil just got too uncomfortable.  Have a wonderful evening or day, wherever you are in the world  Keith and Chris

Fun comic creations!

Elephants help each other in distress, grieve for their dead, feel emotions like us. This is Nosey making her first new friend at her sanctuary after working in a circus for 29 years.

Not my Daily Diary  Saturday 13th June 2026 After the heavy rain we’ve had lately, it was so nice to wake up to a warm, sunny morning, just what you hope for in June. I knew I had a busy day ahead, and I was keen to get started. I headed out into the garden. I stood for a moment wondering, should I mow the lawn first, or water the baskets, urns and pots? I decided to water first. Even though we’ve had plenty of rain, experience has taught me that hanging baskets and containers never really get wet from showers alone. Watering took me a good hour Chris woke up while I was busy with the watering. I explained how much I had to get done, and she happily agreed to stay in bed with the TV on, watching Chateau DIY. First thing in the morning, she is so much like her old self. It’s only as the hours go by that her mind begins to wander and things become harder for her. Once the watering was finished, I got the mower out. This was going to be a big job, it’s been nearly four weeks since I last cut the grass, and by now it was thick, and quite tall. I certainly felt the effort as I struggled to push the mower through it. There was so much cut grass that I filled our green waste bin right to the top, and I was only two thirds of the way through! Then I remembered, I had a large tarpaulin bag, and today it came in handy. I filled that up too. Two hours later, the lawns were finally cut, and it was worth every bit of the struggle. The grass looked like a carpet of green velvet. I have to admit, though, my arthritic left knee and my hands were aching badly by the end, I definitely needed a rest. Chris was absolutely golden all morning. She stayed happily in bed, never interrupting, and let me get the job finished. Later, I got her up, showered and dressed, and suggested we head out to the pub, I was definitely ready for a pint of Bathams real ale! We went to The Old Gate at Heathton, it was busy with people enjoying lunch, but we were just there for the beer. I couldn’t help but notice how lovely it looked, all the summer flowers are now planted out, and the place was bursting with bright, vibrant colour. Sammy, the landlady, came over and joined us for a little while, and Chris entertained us both with her singing. After an hour or so, we said our goodbyes, but didn’t head straight home. I wanted to take Chris over to nearby Halfpenny Green Airport, as there’s something special there right now, a rare 1939 Dakota DC10, temporarily relocated here. This is the only aircraft of its type ever built, and during the Second World War it carried high-ranking US military personnel. We did get to see it clearly, though sadly it wasn’t parked close to the boundary and our view was a little blocked. Even so, I was so glad we went, just getting a glimpse of it was special. On the way home, we had two birthday cards to deliver by hand, one of them was for my brother-in-law Andrew, whose birthday is tomorrow. When we arrived, Jacky invited us in for coffee, and how could we possibly say no? Even better, coffee came with homemade scones, light, fluffy, and served the Cornish way, halved and generously covered with plenty of strawberry jam, and topped with a dollop of thick clotted cream. Absolutely delicious. When we finally got back home, I kept things simple for dinner: a mozzarella pizza from the freezer, baked in the oven and served with a fresh side salad, which we both really enjoyed. Football seemed to dominate the tv so we stuck with the BBC and watched the coverage of the King’s Birthday Parade, all the pomp and ceremony from earlier this morning. Later on, I sat and worked a little more on my drawing of Chris and me walking along a canal towpath. I hadn’t been able to do any work on it last night, Chris wasn’t at all well, and I spent the whole evening just cuddled up with her on the sofa, which is exactly where I wanted to be.  Wishing you all a lovely evening or day, wherever you are in the world.  Keith and Chris

Not my Daily Diary  Saturday 13th June 2026   After the days of heavy rain we’ve had lately, it was so nice to wake up to a warm, sunny morning. I knew I had a busy day ahead, and I was keen to get started. I went out into the garden. I stood for a moment wondering, should I mow the lawn first, or water the baskets, urns and pots? I decided to water first. Even though we’ve had plenty of rain, I knew that hanging baskets and containers never really get enough moisture from showers alone. Watering took me a good hour Chris woke up while I was busy with the watering. She happily agreed to stay in bed with the TV on, watching Chateau DIY. First thing in the morning, she is so much like her old self, I absolutely treasure this time of day. It’s only as the hours go by that her mind begins to wander and things become harder for her. Once the watering was finished, I got the mower out. This was going to be a big job, it’s been nearly four weeks since I last cut the grass, and by now it was thick, dense and quite tall. I certainly felt the effort as I struggled to push the mower through it. There was so much cut grass that I filled our green waste bin right to the top, and I was only two-thirds of the way through! Then I remembered, I had a large tarpaulin bag, and today it came in so handy. I filled that up too, and kept going.  Two hours later, the lawns were finally cut, and it was worth every bit of the struggle. The grass looked like a carpet of soft green velvet. I have to admit, though, my arthritic left knee and my hands were aching badly by the end, I definitely needed a rest.  Chris was absolutely golden all morning. She stayed happily in bed, never interrupting, and let me get the job finished. Later, I got her up, and suggested we head out to the pub, I was definitely ready for a pint of Bathams real ale!  We went to "The Old Gate" at Heathton. It was busy with people enjoying lunch, but we were just there for the beer. I couldn’t help but notice how lovely it looked. All the summer flowers were now planted out. Sammy, the landlady, came over and joined us for a little while, and Chris entertained us both with her singing.  After an hour or so, we said our goodbyes but didn’t head straight home. I wanted to take Chris over to nearby Halfpenny Green Airport, as there’s something special there right now, a rare 1939 Dakota DC10, temporarily relocated here. This is the only aircraft of its type ever built, and during the Second World War, it carried high-ranking US military personnel. We did get to see it clearly, though sadly it wasn’t parked close to the boundary, and our view was a little blocked. Even so, I was so glad we went. Just getting a glimpse of it was special.  On the way home, we had two birthday cards to deliver by hand. One of them was for my brother-in-law Andrew, whose birthday is tomorrow. When we arrived, Jacky invited us in for coffee, and how could we possibly say no? Even better, coffee came with homemade scones, light, fluffy, and served the Cornish way, halved and generously covered with plenty of strawberry jam, and topped with a dollop of thick clotted cream. Absolutely delicious.  When we finally got back home, I kept things simple for dinner: a mozzarella pizza from the freezer, baked in the oven, served with a fresh side salad, which we both really enjoyed.  Football seemed to dominate the tv, so we stuck with the BBC and watched the coverage of the King’s Birthday Parade, all the pomp and ceremony from earlier this morning.  Later on, I sat and worked a little more on my drawing of Chris and me walking along a canal towpath. I hadn’t been able to do any work on it last night, Chris wasn’t at all well, and I spent the whole evening just cuddled up with her on the sofa, which is exactly where I wanted to be.  I wish you all a lovely evening or day, wherever you are in the world. Keith and Chris

Arras, Northern France #art #watercolour

Gm. Happy Saturday❤️ Golden Breath 5/7 left 10 tez Fluid calligraphic lines flow like memories through time, while golden bands symbolize fleeting moments and remind us that beauty exists in the present instant. objkt.com/tokens/KT1J7bnDFfS…

Not my Daily Diary Friday 12th June 2026 #DementiaAwareness  When I woke this morning, my plan was to cut the grass. We’ve had so much rain lately that the lawn’s grown tall enough to be “as high as an elephant’s eye”… well, maybe a slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean, and I bet you’re humming that song already! Anyway, it wasn’t to be. The grass was far too wet underfoot, and the sky was grey and threatening more showers. We’re promised wall-to-wall sunshine for Saturday, though, so fingers crossed I’ll get it done tomorrow.  First job on the list: put on that last load of washing I didn’t get finished yesterday. Now I’ve just got to wait for a rainy day so I can iron it all… which, let’s face it, probably won’t be long coming!  We had groceries to buy today, so my time in the garden was limited. I needed to get Chris up by 11.00, which left me just enough time to hang two lovely metal wall art pieces we bought from The Ironworks in Oswestry, Shropshire, a few weeks back. I hadn’t had a chance to put them up yet, so first I wove some artificial vines through them to give them a bit more life and colour. They look really good now, standing either side of the fountain. I’ve got a third one, a beautiful butterfly, to hang too, but that’s a job for another day.  At 11.00 sharp, I went inside, had a shower, and went to call Chris. I’d left Chateau DIY playing on the bedroom TV for her earlier, but she’d fallen fast asleep! I woke her up with a kiss… and yes, that’s another tune you can be humming now, too.   It seems my whole life revolves around song lyrics these days!  After a quick coffee and a slice of toast, we set off to pick up our friend Linda, who joins us for our weekly shop at Morrisons. First stop though, our local village butcher. We simply love their Cambridge pork sausages. They’re huge, and honestly, the tastiest you’ll ever find. From there, we headed to the supermarket; it was quite busy, and I had to wait a little while for a parking space. I spotted “Safari Man” there too, the chap I’ve mentioned before, with his brilliant Land Rover Discovery all kitted out for adventure. I’ve often imagined all the expeditions he must go on… Though clearly, he hasn’t set off on any of them just yet!  Once inside, I noticed they were pushing beer at bargain prices, obviously targeting everyone who’ll be glued to their screens watching the World Cup. It’s not really our thing, but I’ll still be curious to see how it all turns out. And of course… come on, Scotland!   Our shopping list seemed longer than usual. We’d run out of all sorts of essentials. Most important of all, though? We had to restock on Chris’s garlic dip. She absolutely insists on having it with every single meal, so that was top priority!  The shop itself was easy enough, and it’s always a bit of a social occasion, too. we kept bumping into people we know and stopping for a chat. We left the house at 12.00, and I was genuinely surprised when we got back to realise we’d been out for nearly two hours! Time just flies when you’re wandering around the aisles, doesn't it?  Once everything was unloaded and put away, I got dinner ready, eggs, sausages, chips, and baked beans. After eating, I washed up and then sat down for a quiet hour or so to recharge.  This evening, I carried on with my pencil drawing of Chris and I walking hand-in-hand along the canal towpath. At the rate I’m going though, I've only managed about an hour each evening, and with plenty of interruptions along the way, I reckon it’ll take me about three weeks to finish! Still, we’ll get there in the end.  We wish you all a wonderful weekend, wherever you are in the world. Keith and Chris xx

Fabulous detail in this watercolour from Japanese artist, unfortunately I can't translate his name.

Wartime fashions, June 1943.