Occasionally I post something 'inspiring'... thank you fellow bloggers.

Kiril Kundurazieff blogger of previously The Cycling Dude, and now the Mad Macedonian just sent me a very thankful email as I found his holy grail, the oldest bike store in the world - Pearson.  He has also gifted me the 'Very Inspiring Blogger Award'.  It's pretty cool to hear from people who enjoy what you do and in this case the Velopaint blog as well as the painting.

"This award is bestowed upon those bloggers the giver believes inspire through their writing."

Here are the rules for accepting the award:

RULES:
1. Pay it forward. Award the Very Inspiring Blogger award to 4-7 fellow bloggers along with a specific reason why you are inspired by their blog.
2. Promote. Thank the blogger who gave you this award and the bloggers who inspire you by linking back to their sites. Bonus if you include specific URLs of special blog posts that inspired you.
3. Add it. Add the Very Inspiring Blogger award badge to your site.
4. Talk about yourself. Last but not least, list a few things about yourself that others may find interesting or surprising. Make sure the number of things about you equals the number of nominees (step 1).


My nominees are:


In the Studio, On the Shore - Tina Mammoser (The Cycling Artist)
I discovered Tina years ago when looking for my own online name, she then blogged as The Cyclist Artist.  The point being she was cycling to the landscapes she was painting, in particular the the coastline of the UK.  Originally from Chicago she now resides in South London. Her work is tremendous.  I have a couple of her paintings on our walls.  The glazing she does is almost mystical, it's an understanding of paint and colour I will never have.  Tina updates her blog frequently with developing work, the art business, her continuing geological studies and more. 


Lottie and Doof  - Tim Mazurek
I love baking and I guess cooking too but mainly as a host.  It's quite a form of relaxation for me.  Especially when cake is involved.  Tim Mazurek is the writer and photographer behind 'Lottie and Doof'.  A couple of times a week a new post arrives via RSS and I click over to see if it's something I want to eat, or cook for someone else.  Generally if it's a baked good it gets saved in a folder.  The recipes are generally pretty amazing and not exactly too exacting to make.  Tim lives in Chicago and does have a hometown lean to some news and reviews, the website contains a searchable listing of recipes, reviews of great Chicago restaurants and a top ten etc.  Go look at it, go make something.  Home cooked food is always worth it.

Lines and Colors - Charley Parker
Lines and Colors is written by Charley Parker, artist, cartoonist and illustrator in Philadelphia.
Daily he will post about an artist and their work, a particular painting or detail from one, web based arts resources etc.  It's the full gamut too, from concept art to Renaissance painting, animation, newspaper comics, whatever.  Every now and again there will be an absolute gem of a painting or artist I doubt I would have discovered otherwise.  It's a blog of muse and inspiration.

Rouleur Derby - Luke Seeman
Not technically a blog I guess.  It's yet another online fantasy cycling league.  Except the emphasis here is on fantasy paramutual betting on real races.  Not that any gambling is involved either as that would be illegal, it's all for fun people.  It has been put together by Chicago Cycling lynchpin Luke Seeman who can be found at any cycling event within so many miles of the city, including Louisville, Kentucky this weekend.  Go join us for this season, it's not too late and the more players the better.  I would point out that in 2011 I finished in 2nd place but then would it be remiss of me if I did not also point out I was dead last in 2012?

Mark Bayliss
I know Mark from my time with Addiscombe CC.  He and his brother Stephen were the 'going pro' riders in the club.  I guess it's ten years later and I rediscovered Mark vie his blog a couple of years ago as he was posting about his training and competing in events such as the Marathon De Sables.  You know ultra running, triathlon, big endurance stuff.  I love that.  Really captures the imagination, so to have someone I know giving an insight into what is involves is just so inspiring.  Not that you will catch me doing much more than 30 minutes of running on a treadmill.  Last year he set a new record for the Arch to Arc, running 87 miles from London to Dover, swimming across the English Channel and then cycling 181 miles to Paris - all in 73 hours.


Four Things about myself:

 1.  I am Welsh.  I grew up in a small village on a hillside on the border between England and Wales.  Aged 20 I moved to London, the big city, at 34 I moved to another, New York and at 38 to my third and maybe last metropolis, Chicago.  Last unless Denver or Seattle get a say in it before I retreat to something a little less urban.  The further I get from Wales, the less Welsh I sound, the more Welsh I feel.  Tomorrow Wales start their unlikely defence of the Six Nations rugby championship.

2.  I trained as a Theater Designer at Wimbledon School of Art.  For 5 years I designed and built sets and costumes for fringe theater productions.  Then I found a gig that changed my career direction.  Designing for conferences and trade shows you get to work with clients like Nintendo and Birkenstock, they paid good money, you got travel (mainly to Munich) and sometimes had the odd perk thrown in. 

3.  I have been driven a transit van out of the borders of London under the escort of the Police anti-terrorist force.  I worked for Labyrinth productions and Dogfish-Solutions who 'started' the guerrilla advertising tactic of projecting monumental size images onto the sides of public buildings for all to see.  This had it's own drawbacks after September 2011.

4.  EDIT:  So aged 40 I have never owned a car and currently haven't owned a tv for 4 years.  Not really a Luddite though.

Anything else you would like to know....?

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