I’ve been running my affirmation campaigns driving the results towards “general peace and calmness” along the lines of what I experienced as a young boy growing up in the 1960’s. In those days, my Summers were filled with a calmness, a warmth and an unhurried lifestyle that reflected everyone around me. And after the extremely hectic life of the last decades, I have finally decided to put my foot down and yell STOP! at the top of my lungs.

And of course. My affirmation campaigns always work.

As a result everything is really slowing down all around me. Everything is slower. Calmer. Better. Kinder. Softer.

I do not know how great this influence is, and whether it can cross the oceans and influence other MM readers, but there is a great noticeable difference around me and my reality.

Everything is so much slower. So much more relaxed. It is unhurried. It is not frantic. It is soft like soft butter, and slow like a tranquil Summer pond, and peaceful like a bubbling brook under the deep shade of deep dark trees.

Back in the 1960’s, as a boy, the only thing that I needed to worry about was the big tureen of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove and filling the house with the luscious smells, the occasional slam of the screen porch door in the kitchen, and the dogs in the back yard wanting to go for a walk. In those days, the only concerns that I had were my friends who wanted to ride their bikes with me and go exploring in the woods, and my sister talking on the phone.

This is a “feeling” an overall “quality” that permeates everything in my life right now. And since it does, I find that art from one hundred years ago seems to resonate with me. And this is one such artist that painted those times. And when I view these paintings I can easily see how calm and unhurried those days were.

I hope that they register with you all as well.

Stanhope Alexander Forbes

127 artworks

Irish , Social Realist painter and draftsman

Born 11/18/1857 – Died 3/2/1947

On Paul Hill

1922. Oil on canvas. 89 x 119 cms | 35 x 46 ^3/4 ins. Currently located at Penlee House | Penzance | United Kingdom

Look at the picture. Notice what the children are doing in the background? Notice the pace of the boy leading the horses. Notice the way the horses are behaving. What about the weather.

It’s all calm.

It’s all unhurried. Pleasant. Easy. Soft. Clear. Nice.

The Fishermen’s Expedition

61 x 77.5 cms | 24 x 30 ^1/2 ins
Oil on canvas

Yet another calm, and relaxed scene. You can almost hear the splashing of the water against the wooden hull of the boat.

The Drinking Place

1900. Oil on canvas. 174 x 152.5 cms | 68 ^1/2 x 60 ins. Presently at Oldham Art Gallery | Oldham | United Kingdom

I like this late afternoon image. The horse drinking from the cool pool. The man on the horse pausing for a rest. The deepening gloom under the trees. Really lovely.

Off to the Fishing Ground

1886. Oil on canvas. 119.5 x 156 cms | 47 x 61 ^1/4 ins. At Walker Art Gallery | Liverpool | United Kingdom

It carries you off. Have you ever been on a fishing sailboat? Well this was what it was like. I do love the way he painted the water on the deck. And the details on the sails.

A Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach

1885. Oil on canvas. 121 x 155 cms | 47 ^1/2 x 61 ins. City Museum and Art Gallery | Plymouth | United Kingdom

Again. Just average people having an average day. You can just imagine this, can’t you? A calm unhurried life. No one screaming at you through media to buy! Buy! Buy!, or news about some great pronouncement for war, laws, or taxes. All is just devoid of all that bullshit.

The Huckster

1917. Oil on canvas.

I really love the colors and the proud, broad strokes. Obviously the idea of a horse and wagon carrying produce is well before my time, I do remember my grandmother in Pittsburgh getting fresh vegetables delivered in a horse drawn wagon with radial tires. Of course this was in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

Home-Along: Evening

1905 . Oil on canvas. 120.6 x 180.9 cms | 47 ^1/4 x 71 ins. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery | Bristol | United Kingdom

Dusk is my favorite time in the night. Here in Southern China, when the sun starts to set a cool breeze develops and the temperatures drop to nice manageable levels. People go outside to play, chat, have a meal, or just to sit. It’s really quite lovely. I love the collie in the lower left hand corner of the picture.

Amongst the Pines

111.8 x 137.2 cms | 44 x 54 ins
Oil on canvas

This speaks to me. I can’t for the life of me understand why. But it does. Maybe it reminds me of the pine groves near the lake in Erie. Or perhaps a forest trail, or the edge of a gold course. What ever, it’s a really calm and pleasant image. Having this painting grace my living room would be really lovely.

Women’s Royal Naval Service Ratings Sail-Making: Onboard HMS ‘Essex’ at Devonport

1918. Oil on canvas. 106.6 x 137.1 cms | 41 ^3/4 x 53 ^3/4 ins. Imperial War Museum London | London | United Kingdom

An interesting painting and would make for some great conversation. I really love the artist and his style. It effectively captures the mood at the vision at that time. Really quite lovely.

The Seine Boat

Another powerful painting. I wonder what they are looking at. Calm. Unhurried. Relaxed. Thoughtful. What happened to the human race?

The Terminus, Penzance Station, Cornwall

1925. Oil on canvas. 111 x 137 cms | 43 ^1/2 x 53 ^3/4 ins. National Railway Museum, York | York | United Kingdom

A lovely vision of a busy train station. Not really “my cup of tea”, but actually well done and calm. I just cannot imagine anything being as noisy and boisterous as your would find today.

Through the Marshes

1927.Oil on canvas. 64.8 x 74.8 cms | 25 ^1/2 x 29 ^1/4 ins. National Railway Museum, York | York | United Kingdom

Another lovely painting. I do love the colors. Isn’t this a lovely view? Doesn’t it just calm your soul? Doesn’t it make you feel good, and well?

The Little Smithy

1894. Oil on canvas. 61.3 x 77.2 cms | 24 x 30 ^1/4 ins.  National Museum of Wales | Cardiff | United Kingdom

I’ve never been in an actual smithy. I walked by one in an Amish community, and it did look a little bit like this. I also, as a boy, used to play in an old boarded up shed that at one time was a blacksmith. (You could tell by the faded letters on the front of the building.) We used to go root around in there getting old newspapers, old bottles and crocks.

The Pond

Oil on canvas. 49 x 61.5 cms | 19 ^1/4 x 24 ins. Newport Museum and Art Gallery | Newport | United Kingdom

Again. Lovely colors. Relaxing. Calm and pleasant.

Conclusion

I do hope that you enjoyed this nice visit to my art presentation. I hope that it means as much to you as it does for me. In any event, have a great day. Spend some time with your little guys (pets) , friends and loved ones, and go by yourself a Snickers candy bar. Enjoy the little things.

Do you want more?

I have more articles like this in my Art Index here…

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