Jump to content

  2. →
  3. →
  4. →
  5. → MV Claymore 1955 as Poster Image



MV Claymore 1955 as Poster Image

Uploaded by Donald E. Meek , Feb 11 2011 01:36 PM

MV Claymore 1955 as Poster Image

This image of the MV 'Claymore' (1955) was painted in oils back in 1976, just after the 'Claymore' sailed for Greece as the 'City of Andros', later to become the 'City of Hydra'.  I was very much influenced (as I am now aware) by CSPC (Caledonian Steam Packet Company) poster art, which was infinitely more powerful than the weak images on contemporary David MacBrayne (and CalMac) brochures.  MacBrayne art, especially in its depictions of ships, was not very lively in the 1960s - the 'Claymore' was usually painted by an armchair artist with her derrick in the rest position!  My version seems to be saying 'Come to the Hebrides on a splendid ship!'   This splash-up did the rounds of my various garages for thirty years, and hid in the background with the rest of the junk until I rescued it and cleaned it up in 2006, thinking that it had perhaps more zing than I had first imagined!   All this pic needs is a strapline in gold at the base, like 'Sea the Hebrides with MacBrayne'.  Can anyone suggest a better strapline? 'Claymore Rules the Waves'??   Strong advertising images of car-ferries have gone wildly out of fashion. Nowadays you are lucky to get more than a peculiarly old-fashioned 'funnel' belonging to the 1960s.   Perhaps I should change that?!




    Guest
    Feb 11 2011 01:59 PM
    Many and a night i drunk on her Donald!!!  Great craic and a fine Painting..    8:)                                        JB

    westword
    Feb 11 2011 02:03 PM
    another braw painting, what wir yi thinking of putting it in mothballs, that saying :if only we could see oorselfs as others see us ; springs ti mind, keep it up for folk ti admire donald 8:)

    young ronnie
    Feb 11 2011 02:24 PM
    Cars getting slung aboard in the cargo net,beasts being driven down the "coo slip",folk going up the old red wooden gangway..she was a busy wee vessel at times that one.The modern day cargo/passenger loading of a Calmac ship is far too "clinical" for my liking 8:)

    ringnetman
    Feb 11 2011 04:55 PM
    Smashing picture Donald keep them coming.

    Donald E. Meek
    Feb 11 2011 06:48 PM
    Gentlemen, you are all so kind to me and my poor efforts!  Many, many thanks - I am almost lost for words....almost!  A most unusual condition for me, and I have cured it already!   8:) ??? Aye, John, the bar went full steam on that one; I can still here the Gaelic songs, the accordion, the clink and bang of bottles and glasses...a home from home, that boat, full of kindness. Before I found TP and similar websites, Westword, I had no idea whether my work was good, middling, or plain awful, and I tended to assume it was awful.   ??? ??? So I used to shove it in files and/or bury it below books etc.  ??? I am pleased that people can now enjoy these 'splashes'.  Ronnie, you have described the 'old days' (not so 'old' to us!) perfectly - lovely word picture.  I have a horse-box on the ship in this painting! I'll never forget the 'coo slip', going under the pier at Tiree on wild mornings, and in through the 'Claymore's' doors.  Yes, a whole way of life was expressed at the quayside when the 'Claymore' was around, and ships like her.  It is certainly 'clinical' now, as you say - more a 'roadway' than a way of life.  'Hands off' rather than 'hands on'.   ???   Many thanks for your encouragement, Ringnetman. More to come, I'm sure - and I may discover some more 'efforts' thrown at the back of a cupboard!  Many thanks again.  Donald.