Toe Talk

When I visited Ilfracombe for a few days I’d stuff myself full in the restaurant each evening and then go for a stroll by the sea. One evening I found a lone stiletto on beach. It was dry, in good condition and nobody seemed to be missing it. I had a walk along the front and on my return found the shoe was still there. I thought to myself “I’m going to doing a painting with a stiletto in it one day,” took it by to my hotel room and put it in my case.

That was a few years ago and I’ve kept the shoe down the side of my desk. Here is a painting featuring stilettos.

Whenever I stay in a hotel and use the restaurant I observe couples. Some don’t say a word to one another through three courses – not a word (just stare into space.) Sometimes I see couples who are probably in the early stages of a relationship and talk in an animated way. It’s brill for a voyeur like me – the couple are so wrapped up with one another they don’t notice me. A few times I’ve seen couples touching the back of the other’s hand near the vinegar bottle and once I saw a woman who kept the toes of her shoes on the man shoes through most of the meal.

Anyway here is painting showing a couple sat at table. I’m trying to do shadows a bit better so I put light at the top right to cast shadows bottom left. Few details to paint meant it was done quickly. Another one for the spiders in the attic to crawl over.

The stiletto I found on the beach at Ilfracombe…

Holding the shoes found on the beach at Ilfracombe…

Adding a bit of gold to the stiletto trim…