Articles
Reproduced from BOSS Magazine
DOES LIFE BEGIN AT 60? |
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It most certainly does.
Since retiring at the tender age of 58 I have worked every day since. Sounds crazy doesn't it but this is what has happened to me over the past couple of years.
My bank employment started at the tender age of 15 at the Bank of Scotland, West Blackhall Street, Greenock where my initiation was aided and abetted by my first Manager, Mr Paterson. Funny how you always remember your first boss. I will always be remembered at that Branch because of my 3-inch heels, which churned up the lino at my desk. They never forgave me for that. From there I moved to Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow and then had a short break from the Bank to do various other jobs. The Bank took me back again about 4 years later when I decided to settle down, get married and have a couple of kids, which all happened within a few years. I left the Bank to bring up the children and glory be the Bank took me back again! This time at Hamilton, Carluke, Motherwell and finally International Business Centre where I had enough and decided to try a few more ventures.
Finally retired at 58 and with my interest in painting set up my own studio/workshop at New Lanark Heritage Centre. I now have my own little world where I can paint to my hearts content and also display and sell my originals. Then I added a computer/scanner/printer and a whole new world opened up to me. I now print my own cards, using my original paintings, can make keyrings, fridge magnets and small prints which I frame and sell. Then I decided to try a few other crafts such as ceramic and glass painting which proved popular, which spurred me on to trying a few other things like, calligraphy, decoupage, card making, dolls house furniture making and my latest ploy is silk painting. As you can imagine my head is bursting and I am trying to fill every minute of every day trying different things. My studio is full, my garage is full and my bookshelves are collapsing under the weight of the books, which I have bought to help me with different crafts.
However my main interest at the moment, coming up to Christmas is Pet Portraits. Over the years I have painted (on canvas) dogs, cats, budgies, rabbits, sheep and various other pets, not to mention houses, people portraits, landscapes. In fact anything from photographs.
So if you wish a portrait of your very favourite pet, be it animal or human all you have to do is send me a photograph and I will create a painting for you.
I look forward to seeing any of you at my studio in New Lanark where I am open most Sundays from fpm till 4.pm and some afternoons during the week.
So life does begin at 60 but the rate I am going I may not see 70!
Jean Duffus
Jean Duffus Arts & Crafts,
Dyeworks,
New Lanark Mills,
Lanark
ML11 9DB
Tel: 01555 663608
