10:01 pm by admin.

Naomi is someone who right from the start knew that art was where her future lay. When I was researching her I soon realised that she was someone with a wide variety of talents. People, in general, tend to fix their sights on one thing and go for it, but Naomi searched until she found where she wanted to be and I think, after a few twists and turns she has arrived there now.
Where I think her strength lies is in the fact that she refuses to be corralled into a cage. She meets all her challenges head on and masters them, learning from each twist and turn along the way. Having said that, her journey has not been easy but I think even she would say she would not have done it any other way.

But enough wittering from me let her tell you herself

Hi Naomi,

Thanks for doing this as I am sure you’re busy.

Q. “Have you always wanted to be an artist?”

A. ” Ever since I was tiny I assumed I would make my living in art of some sort. I always was drawing and painting.  A great way never to be bored as an only child.  My certainty took a bit of a hiccup when I left art school after my foundation year and did a university degree in art history instead, and then worked in Sales and Marketing  for 10 years, but it all stood me in good stead for the art career I have ended up with. “

Q. “What did you parents think of your choice of career?”

A. ” They gave me unending love and support; my father was an enthusiastic amateur artist, as well as being an actor, so was delighted that I continued the family tradition.  My parents were not quite bohemian but not quite mainstream either, so the prospect of my possibly not making shed loads of money didn’t faze them. They just wanted me to be happy. “

Q.  ” You work in illustrating, restoration, on canvas and other areas why so many?

A. ” I wish I had done illustration at art school, as I have ended up doing a lot of that.  But when I got back into art, when I returned to Northern Ireland 25 years ago, I started by doing what is poshly called faux finishes – acres of marbling and so on, then that progressed to murals, and I sort of got a name for being able to paint and plagiarize anything.  And I call myself a commercial artist so I’m happy with that – and I do love the variety . Low boredom threshold, maybe. “

Q. ” Do you find it difficult switching back and forth from one style to another? “

A. ” No. Adore it.  I love looking at different sorts of painting and figuring out how it is done.

Q. “Apart from you web site do you advertise or does your reputation precede you? ”

A. “Word of mouth has always been my main work provider, but times have changed and I am conscious of the new way of marketing – hence the website which is beginning to pay dividends. www.naomimcbride.com if anyone wants to commission me. “

Q. ” Was it hard in the beginning? ”

A. ” Oh God yes.  Phoning up people who have never heard of you and trying to describe to them a process they also have never heard of i.e. marbling – I was the first to reintroduce it to N Ireland back in the ‘80s.  Excruciating.  But folk here are kind enough not to put the phone down on you, and eventually I got a job and it snowballed from there. “

Q. “Over the years you have received quite a few prestigious commissions, if you can could you pick a favorite? ”

A. ” The painting in Antica Roma, the Italian restaurant on Botanic Avenue.  I     was very proud of that and sad to see it go.  And the  restoration work I’ve been involved with recently ,a former chapel in Lismore, Co Waterford , St Peters Pro Cathedral and recently the paintings behind the altar in St Malachy’s.   It’s wonderful to see painting coming back to life, and also I have happy memories of the clients, the people on site, the whole experience… there are many such commissions. “

   Q. ” I have seen some of your canvas work and it seems you like to do some ‘In the style of work’ is this especially difficult thing to do without falling back into your own style? “

A. ” No.  I’m much happier working in other people’s style.  I would have made a good forger. If anybody has a decent  forging offer, just call me.

   Q. ” Tell me about The Dodo Pad.

  A. ” This is a wonderful, week-at-a view diary, with drawings, riddles, jokes and flights of fancy based on obscure anniversaries noted on each page and then illustrated.  It’s been going for 40 years and is a venerable institution and the brainchild of a well-known  English writer and illustrator, the late  Sir John Verney who devised a diary in which you could doodle while listening to boring people on the phone.  Hence Lord Dodo of Doodle and the Dodo Pad.  I am the current compiler and keeper of the eternal flame, and I haven’t enjoyed doing anything as much ever in my life. Available in Waterstones Belfast and at www.dodopad.com

 
  Q. ” Do you get much free time and what do you do to chill out? “

A. ” Not much really.  I seem to fiddle around in my studio a lot.  I adore to cook for friends, and then go hill-walking with my husband to burn it off. And listen to music.”

Q. ” What is your preferred medium? “

 A. ” Oil is bliss but usually too slow to be practical.”

   Q. “What about the future? ”

A. ” Planning the next week is as far as I usually get.  Apart from when I win the lottery and can advance my plans for world dictatorship and put a few things right.
I just muddle along really,  and am grateful to have spent the last 25 years doing what I love and having met a great bunch of people along the way.”

Posted in Northern Ireland, Belfast, People | No Comments »

03:35 pm by admin.

Saturday night had all the promise of a good night and I must say that’s just what it turned out to be. When we arrived at Ian’s  house, Ian being  the host and birthday boy, we were ushered through to the back garden. Maybe I should say at this point that the garden is a very steep affair set in four levels.
The first level is a sloped flower bed.
A set of steps led to the second level, where Ian had erected a marquee with tables laid out with lots of food, the finger sort, so that you could eat without sacrificing your drinking hand. The third level is on it’s way to being a shrubbery with a raised pond.

This led to the top level, which is actually higher the the house, where Ian has built a large shed which is perfect for sitting out of an evening to watch the sun set over the mountains.

In a very short time people started to arrive and of course everyone was drawn to the top of the garden and pretty soon it got a bit scary :). Thankfully  hunger prevailed and some went down to the food. Linda and I stayed with the drink :) . It was great seeing some old friends, like Fred and Trevor and and Ann. There were lots more but not gonna start listing them all.
A good party is about seeing friends but also meeting other people and when the drink is flowing you tend to chat to people you’ve never seen in your life before. God, I even talked to my old boss.
As the night wore on and the craic was mighty Pauline, Ian’s wife, produced the cake which was laden with so many candles she had someone follow her with a fire extinguisher in case Ian didn’t have the puff, but he did,so a major disaster was averted :)  .

Pretty soon after that when we were sure the earth was safe once again I was talking to a guy ,Dale , I think, and he mentioned he did some fire swinging. No encouragement necessary, he shot off and got his gear.
That seemed a good time to break out the drums. A girl, I must apologise for not remembering her name, had brought a large African drum and I had my Bodhran along with two other small drums.
Well, we beat the hell out of them while Dale enterained us with a great display of very impressive fire swinging .

Later on, true to form Ian got the karaoke going and there was an equally impressive display of singing, on a par with Britain’s Got Talent. Simon Cowell has already signed up two of them, at least that’s what I’ve been told.

By this time people were having a great time.
Ah time, something we neglected to consider, so we shouldn’t have been suprised when we recieved a visit from the local PSNI.
Someone had complained, well it was about 2 0′clock and we were in the back garden. They were ok about, just slapped our wrists and we went into the house to continue having a good ,if somewhat quieter night.
Check out some more pics in my Gallery, link at the top of the page

I think Linda and I left about 3 o’clock. The only down side was we lost Sunday but all in all I was a great night so ,

Happy Birthday Big Lad and Thank you for a GREAT night.

Fifty and you can still get the police out to tell you to behave!!!!

Posted in Belfast, People | No Comments »

08:18 pm by admin.

David Toney

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Ivan | 

David Toney is one of those guys who you see in the street and you really don’t give him a second glance. Average height and build, smartly dressed, clean cut just like a lot of guys out there.
Except he isn’t average. At the age of 16 he took up a martial art and that was just the beginning.
He progressed through his belts quickly and finally achieved his 1st Black Belt. Now David is the Chief Instructor for World Ju-Jitsu Federation Ireland (WJJFI). He has clubs all over Ireland and a team of dedicated Black Belts looking after them.
He is kept very busy with the day to day running of such a large organization but he still found time to publish a book.
JU-Jitsu
A Path For Beginners
So I decided to find out a bit more about what make him tick and why he is held in such high esteem by all his students.

Q. ” How long have you been doing Ju-Jitsu & what made you take up a Martial Art? “

A. ” I was 19 and hadn’t done much in the way of physical activity since I’d left school and wanted to find a way to keep fit. I wasn’t much into football or team sports and was looking for something that would give me something at the end of it. Four years of going to a gym would make me stronger but 4 years of a Martial Art would give me a Black Belt.

Q. “Why Ju-Jitsu? “

A. “I went to the wrong room!  I thought I was going to a Judo class but ended up in the Ju-Jitsu class next door. It was a crazy class and the coach was a complete nutter – an English guy called Roly Beattle. He threw me over his head in the first class and I thought my back was broken. For whatever reason, I couldn’t wait to go back the next week! “

Q. “How long did it take to reach your first Black belt and how did it feel? “

A. ” Four years. I transferred clubs and trained under several instructors. Through that time, the people I’d started with all fell by the wayside, but I just kept going. “

Q. ” When  and how did you become involved in the administration of the NI Ju-Jitsu Association? “

A. ” I started helping in classes 6 months into my training and running my own class after 18 months (something that is just not heard of nowadays!) I didn’t start doing the whole admin role until the year 2000. “

Q. ” When you actually started running the association did you think it would be as big as it is? “

A. ” When I started training there was about 200 people training and it was based mostly in Belfast. The big growth was when we introduced structured Coaching Programmes. This meant that everyone was treated well from day one in the organization and every instructor had a set of guidelines to work to. The organization mushroomed after that. “

Q. ” You have become well-known in the Martial Arts circles. Who would  you say has been your role model and why? “

A. ” I don’t really have one person who I could say was my role model and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out. I would say my big sister Linda and you in my early life. Most, but not all, of my coaches throughout the years and of course Prof Clark, the head of WJJF Worldwide. I read a lot and I would be inspired by a lot of leaders, both dead and alive. “

Q. ” Over the years can you think of any particular reason Ju-Jitsu has been so successful? “

A. ” We teach the basics well. The instructors work as a team and don’t let egos get in the way. Success is built one step at a time and it has taken us 25 years to get to this point. “

Q. ” What would you say are the benefits of learning a Martial Art & Ju-Jitsu in particular? “

A. ” For me it has been life-changing, but for most it is simply that you can train in a friendly environment and not only keep fit, but learn to defend yourself to a high standard. I don’t know of any other activity that gives you the confidence and fitness that training in a Martial Art does. Why Ju-Jitsu? I believe it has it all: kicks, punches, throws, locks and groundwork. “

Q. ” If Ju-Jitsu wasn’t your full-time vocation, what do you think you would be doing today? “

A. ” I don’t honestly know. I would like to be in the property game (although it’s probably not that great at the minute.) I like the thought of buying something and fixing it up. I enjoy the process of seeing something improve – much like I see my students improve in my classes. “

Q. “What do you do to relax? “

A. “My wife would say I don’t relax! I would walk my dogs, go for a meal with my wife and my step-daughter, or play some pool with my sons. “

Q. ” Finally David, what’s next? “

A. ” I have just finished the photo shoot for my second book and hope to have it out by Christmas. I am also working on some DVD’s. We have a number of new clubs opening and the day to day running of the organisation keeps me very busy. “

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