The Effect of Snow

Today's puzzle, 20 February 2022, is another of Gibsons' excellent 'Panoramic' 636-piece examples - several have previously been described on the blog. As I have mentioned many times previously, Kevin Walsh is an expert at pictorialism and this jigsaw picture is a typical example of a hyper-imaginative approach to realism.

The puzzle title is Christmas Eve at the Station and an extremely busy composition is Kevin's interpretation of the title. It intrigues me which came first in Kevin's thoughts, the title or the composition; the former I think. The locomotive at the head of the stationary train is a 'Grange' class 4-6-0 type, No.6879 Overton Grange. She was one of 80 mixed traffic (MT) engines designed by Charles Collett for the Great Western Railway. Three cars are included in the picture - a Jaguar, a Riley (?) and a smaller black example (Note: if you can identify the cars for me I will retrospectively add the info' to this post, with your name). A cyclist and a small stationary motorbike are also included, with the latter's appropriately-clad rider holding a conversation with a lady as she is ready to exit the station premises. Other passengers are also included with a family trio observing the engine closely. Another lady is walking a small dog. (I'm sure this dog has been included in other jigsaws featuring Kevin's paintings). The main station building, the ticket office and background trees add to the composition. However, the most attractive ingredient in the composition is the covering of snow, resulting in an aesthetically effective picture and jigsaw. Thanks to Roy Lancaster for answering my request for possible id's of the red and black cars in the jigsaw picture - the red car is possibly an MG Y-Type saloon and the black example, a Standard Eight, or the more powerful Standard Ten. Cheers Roy.

Built for Speed

Today's post, 4 February 2022, describes a perfect partnership between the Ravensburger jigsaw company and the popular, accomplished artist, Kevin Walsh.

The title of the 1000-piece jigsaw is Built for Speed. The title is well chosen as the locomotive racing past Riston Signal Box - L.N.E.R. 'A4' class 4-6-2, No.4468 Mallard - holds the world record for a steam locomotive, at almost 126mph. The latter speed was recorded in 1938 on the descent of Stoke Bank, near Grantham on the East Coat Main Line. In Kevin's picture the Nigel Gresley' designed locomotive is heading an express of teak coaches, also designed by Gresley. The 35 locomotives of the streamlined 'A4' class, built between 1935 and 1938, were fast, elegant and extremely powerful, used mainly for the prestige passenger services from Kings Cross to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Rivalling the locomotive for interest is a father and son combination watching intently from a close, lineside viewpoint. A dog, two colourful lineside advertisements and a red classic car add to Kevin's, typically pictorial, composition.