Past Times(Black Labradors) (LE195)

 Nigel Hemming Limited Edition  print of 195 copies numbered and signed by the artist. 

Like the 'In Retirement' series, Executive Stress, Homeward Bound and Past Times were not conceived as a series, it just happened. One led to the next and so on.

You may be interested to know that it is the same dog in all three images. His name is Dusty and he is a bit of a star in Nigels eyes.

As a further link to the aforementioned series, Past Times is a retirement work. We see the old boy enjoying his golden years, laid back in what we may assume is his master's chair. A rather wistful expression suggests that he is recalling his younger days out with the gun. A Pheasant embroidered on the antimacassar, the ceramic ducks that climb the wall and the figurine of the man and his dog, all point to latter day pursuits, while the clock rather poignantly ticks away on the book shelves.

While Executive Stress was criticised for being a bit dark,  and Homeward Bound has a Spring-like quality to it's light, Past Times has a warm, cosy, Winter's evening by the fire feel to it. As an Autumn release, it seems quite appropriate.
Nigel  loves painting old dogs. There always seems to be such a sense of 'been there, done it' about them. Furthermore, not many dog artists seem to want to paint the old characters. Hey ho!