D Day 6th June 1944 Remember them

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

D Day 6th June 1944  

This was the day  Your freedom and democracy  You enjoy today 

Was fought on the battlefront  Of the Normandy landings 

By brave soldiers of British,  American, Canadian, 

allied and common wealth   

of all colours and creeds  

also The civil resistance  helping to Liberate France and Europe  

From the tyranny of Nazis and there allies  

The largest air, land and sea  liberation in history  

thousands of men women and children lost there lives  

so you can enjoy your freedom and democracy today  

for 5 long years the Nazis and its allies  

murdered,raped and pillaged there way across Europe

 and north Africa   

killing millions  

today we should remember the sacrifices they made   

If we hadn’t stood up to the fascist ideals  

The tolerant  peace loving society wouldnt be here today  

so take a step back  and be thankful 

For the freedom you enjoy today  

The selfless sacrifice of our granparents  and great grandparents   

given by so few   to so many  

against Nazis and there facist ideologies   

are from our grandparents 

who fought  so hard  so you could enjoy Britain today  

I am proud to be British  and all that we stand for  

 Standing up for our ideals of  love peace  democracy and freedom  

So to all those service men and women  

of every race and colour  

we thank you for your sacrifice you gave   

Our English and British values  

Allow you the free speech you enjoy today  

There will be elements in our society  that go against our ideals  

As in all societies    

So Do not desecrate our memorials and cenotaphs 

Just stop and think who gave you  The freedoms you enjoy today  

Cos you wouldn’t be here today  if Hitler won the war  

so I will fly my British flag  and saint Georges flag  

and be proud to be  English and British  

So Bee positive     

And enjoy your freedom and democracy   

So at the going down of the sun   and in the morning we will remember them   from D Day 6th June 1944

 https://youtu.be/sLXfaIVo94Q 

WAR we all know the score Its knockin on the door  The bears been provoked  Hes invoked  An invasion  Struck the first blow  And drawn a line in the Land  Hes makin a stand   Propaganda on TV  Cant you see  Its all about money and control People on parole  And as the people look on  We raise a fist  Resist insist  on peace not war  we all know the score  Cos Ukraines in the middle   Governments on the fiddle It’s a riddle    Cos the beasts have arisin From all corners of the world  Was it foretold  In the days of old  Yeah Its cold  But Be bold   Stop and think  Were on the brink of WAR   we all know the score   its knockin on the door    but its not too late  to stop at the gate  So stop the War    for gods sake   and don’t forsake   cos peace love and happiness   is what we should have  stop the WAR   we all know the score   Its knockin on the door https://youtu.be/MuS67KhriO4 

To Celebrate the great poet Robert Burns on his birthday 25thJanuary here is a video I Did, hope you like it 

A bit of history 

Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns,[a] was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots Language, although much of his writing is in a "light Scots Dialect " of English, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these writings his political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest.

He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both Liberalism and Socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

The highland fling  People dance and sing  On burns night  With whisky galore  Taties and neeps  At yer door  So don’t be a walloper   Do the highland fling  On a Glasgow night   On a burns night   And just oughta sight  Theres a bawbag  In the cludgie  Bowfin up his haggis  In a Glasgow pub   Yeah the Scotsman  On a burns night  Hes  Blootered Pished Rat arsed And Steaming  Hes dreamin  Of the highland fling  People dance and sing  On burns night  With whisky galore  Taties and neeps  At yer door   

https://youtu.be/Ws-NdUyEdzk

Scottish Castles Dotted round the land  In the highlands  Pride of Scotland  Where bagpipes and drums  Fill the air   People stop and stare  At the man in a kilt  A tartan kilt  Hes at full tilt  Blowin his bagpipes  To Scotland the brave   Fills your heart with pride and joy   Yeah the scotsman  Standin tall and proud  Marching to the crowd With a Scottish sound  Tradition runs deep  In the highlands of Scotland  From castles and towns  Playing out loud to the crowds  Of Scottish towns  People wear frowns  In grey towns  With crime drugs and beer  People having little to cheer   But when they hear  Scotland the brave  Scots rally round  With pride in there hearts  And start to sing  For a better day to come   So next time you hear  Scotland the brave  Stop and think  Have a drink  To the Scotsman  Whos trying his best  To get through the day  Waitin for a better day   So Yeah Scottish Castles Dotted round the land  In the highlands  Pride of Scotland  Where bagpipes and drums  Fill the air  People stop and stare  At the man in a kilt  A tartan kilt  Hes at full tilt  Blowin his bagpipes   To Scotland the brave  

# https://youtu.be/EQKpLqyP8WI

John O groates To lands end  Where charity rides  start and stop   puffins fly round cliffs  and seagulls fly high  in the Scottish sky  where the newton clan tartan  is worn by proud scots  at john o groats   with bagpipes playin Scotland the brave   Scottish Sounds fly high in the sky  with  puffins and seagulls  circling high   were all getting high  with Scottish pride   A proud Scottish  Bagpipe sound Fills the land  In the Scottish land   So yeah  John O groates To lands end  Where charity rides  start and stop   puffins fly round cliffs  and seagulls fly high  in the Scottish sky  

https://youtu.be/3JGr_D1WaNc

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

The Bridge over a stream It’s a dream Natures garden   Set out for you  The bubbling Babbling  sound of the stream moves slowly like a beautiful cloud  blue heavens above     Full of  love  close your eyes and listen to the sound of nature     fill your senses  the buzz and hum of a bee  creaking of a tree  come look and see  a bird in a tree  yeah your free     

https://youtu.be/XcbQ2EVVjsA

Lake Windermere Its here in the lakes  Kendal Mint cakes  And stunning views  Surround you   Campin and glampin Is the order of the day  Hikin and bikin  Just take in that view  And have a brew   From  Kendal, Ambleside, Bowness,  Hawkshead and Keswick  Majestic mountains and valleys  surround you  like scafell pike so high  and I’ll try  to enjoy the fresh air  withought a care   where  William Wordsworth,  john Ruskin and Beatrix potters  Words sing out to you   From valleys,  mountains and lakes  so yeah   Lake Windermere Its here in the lakes  Kendal Mint cakes  And stunning views  Surround you   Campin and glampin Is the order of the day  Hikin and bikin  Plenty of things for you to do   So come to the lakes   have fun in the sun and the rain   Its all the same    

https://youtu.be/gfGiUn0YoJY

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

Kitchen nightmares  Where pots and pans  Are piling high  A curry here  A roast dinner there   I swear   The kitchens full of treasures From wine, beer,  Crisps, chocolate and treats Theres heaps  But when the cupboards are bare Ive just got to stop and stare  Whats for tea tonight   Do you want a pizza  From  the freezer  Me wife says to me  Only if your makin some  I say to me wife    She gives me trouble and strife  She says get a life   Your lazy  Youll starve if I wasn’t hear Giving a sneer  As im havin more beer   Me stomache feels  Like me throat is cut As its rumbling and growling  In front of the telly  I need to fill me belly  With food of every type  Nigela is on  With food you’l never make And make no mistake  Gordon Ramsey   Is swearin on the box   To Jamie Oliver  Putin tax on sugar  Hes not lord sugar Hes just a bugger For taxing the people  Give power to the people   So me tea is nearly done  As im watchin masterchef  Cookin food on the box   Whos got time to make  The food on TV  Not me  Cos im a hard workin man  Not got time  to cook the food on the box   besides me wife wont let me loose  in the kitchen  thinks itl be a kitchen nightmare  if I started to cook   so yeah  Kitchen nightmares  Where pots and pans  Are piling high  A curry here  A roast dinner there  I swear   The kitchens full of treasures From wine, beer,  Crisps, chocolate and treats Theres heaps 

  https://youtu.be/ZfWSoIlNGNo

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

The Artists left hand  Restricted  All mangled up  And weakend from a crash  A motorbike crash  He got loads of cash   Good job it wasn’t his right  It gave him a fright  In the daylight  But its alright  He can paint with his right  He paints a scene  of a mancunian theme  hes livin the dream   and with a flick of a brush  hes in no rush  to make his mark  with his art   cos hes an artist at heart  painting a story of life  no trouble and strife  hes got a life   so yeah  The Artists left hand  Restricted  All mangled up  And weakend from a crash  A motorbike crash  He got loads of cash   Good job it wasn’t his right  It gave him a fright  In the daylight  

  https://youtu.be/a00f3TNCSOc

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

The thrifty Man  Doesn’t spend his money  To get the honey   Get Well soon he hears you say   sittin in the bed  he Was nearly dead  With a card at his side He cried    fruit and flowers laid out for you  from your family down the road  hes had a load  of stress and worry   now he wants a curry  but hes in no hurry  cos covids lingerin on   he feels weak  Yeah covid was on the scene  Breakin his dream  All linked up with  Pipes of every type   Struggled to breathe  Hes Been naïve  And hes relieved to see  He can watch TV  And eat his tea.  long road to recovery  is on the cards  hes gonna go on holiday  drink some beer  And have more cheer   Gonna get away from here   So yeah  Get Well soon he hears you say   Hes sittin in the bed  Was nearly dead  With a card at his side He cried    But now hes got a new dream  Hes gonna live a life  And live the dream  fantasies and desires  are on the cards   Hes gonna taste the high life  spend his cash  and Live it up   He wont give up   

  https://youtu.be/e_6M6gwSuvs

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

Leaves Collected from a park After dark Yeah an autumn fall  Leaves of browns and golds  A natures waste Ive got a taste  to wade through leaves of gold  There as old as time  So I’ll spend some time  Pickin a few  In the morning dew  Frost covered    And freshly laid  A Natures beauty  An autumn fall  Yeah leaves   That’s all     

https://youtu.be/2FQXVFU2rWU

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

 Vertigo Wish it would go  Im gonna throw up  Me heads spinnin and bangin  Its angin   Oh no me Heads spinnin round  Like a tumble drier  Im Getting higher  No drugs or beer  Isn’t it queer   Vertigo get outta hear  Just gotta rest  And do me best  Not to fall over  Give over   Its vertigo  Me heads a spinnin  Im not grinnin  Im feelin sick Stomaches a churnin Me heads a burnin  Spinin round like a spinin top  Wish it would stop   Vertigo Wish it would go  Im gonna throw up Me heads spinin and bangin  Its angin   Oh no me Heads spinnin round  Like a tumble drier  Im Getting higher  No drugs or beer  Isn’t it queer Vertigo get outta hear  

 https://youtu.be/Tbenc1m9ca4

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

A Safe harbour in the Moss Painted for Maria Cowie and her family She lived in Moss Side  Wasn’t near a tide  But it was a safe harbour For friends and family to meet It was a treat life at full beat No retreat She made cups of tea on me knee A kind lovin woman  She was a feeder with Buscuits and cakes  overflowin with love  yeah Maria my second mum  she was Spanish she didn’t vanish shes in our hearts minds  with love on our minds  cos she was kind yeah a safe harbour in the Moss 

  https://youtu.be/0x5RI8piQNY

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

Knights of old They had Pure gold A feudal system of the past had a Code of chivalry In Violent times  Years of training from the age of 7 From page to squire to knight They Lived in castles  With there liege and lord Learned Mortal combat  Of jousting, Sword fighting Battle axing, the mace in yer face, javelins, archery Horse riding, and wrestling  An All round soldier of steel  Physically fit They wore there kit  Yeah armour of steel  just kneel  at the pure skill they had  in the days of gallahad battle hardened  and ready for war they knew the score  with balance and skill  they drew there swords  to defend the holy land  with vows of obedience chastity and charity they didn’t speak much yeah they were butch then the inquisition of 1307 the knights templar  were forced into a secrecy  and from that day to this  they are thought to have founded  the freemasons around the world  funny handshakes  and surrounded in mystery  its British history  

https://youtu.be/xwnY9IHfXT0

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

The Spanish Armada in 1588 Came to invade With a 130 ships  To strike a blow  To  queen Elizabeth the 1st They had a thirst  For English and dutch privateers  Cos Spanish classed em as pirates  The brits showed em there privates   Yeah Sir francis drake  a privateer, buccaneer and slave trader his history’s tainted and people fainted he was the queens favourite  Had a game of bowls at Plymouth hoe Plenty of time to finish the game and beat the Spaniards He Sailed from Plymouth  In the Spanish wake  Out witted      out manouvered  and Scattered the fleet with heat yeah fireships on the ships  beat the Spanish and made em vanish  This paintings called the revenge  a famous battle on the sea  of Sir Francis Drake  they used to shake in his wake And Make no mistake   He was a privateer a buccaneer and a slave trader  He violently kidnapped and Traded in Black slaves  From Guinea and sierra leone  and traded them in the west indies  An atrocious history of our past  And boy did it last Its British history of the past  Britain was built on plundering and pillaging  So remember British history It aint no mystery But today we need to move on With positivity  improve the future and let go of anger   cos anger and hatred spirals into negativity and anarchy Turn those negatives to positives  and don’t break the law Have statues that reflect modern times With no crimes But Don’t wipe out history  That’s what Hitler tired to do Learn the truth Keep the proof  And move forward  With a new dawn Bee positive  And Turn those negatives to positives  live your life  with love and respect for all men and women and Don’t disrespect 

  https://youtu.be/QGvm7g9dyaY

Original Painting £250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

A Batik design As old as time  Butterflies represent  Fertility of the fields  An African antelope  Sits in the water cooling off Revered for its horns  By africans  The belief of Magical properties  The batik design As old as time  Rain falls on the plains  Fertility of the fields  It yields New life  Yeah batik design  as old as time  worn by tribal leaders  for special occassions  printed with indigo dye and wax resist I cant resist  yeah batik design as old as time its all mine  

  https://youtu.be/YdFHDpBgTZw

 Hi everybody here is a story about the rag and bone man that comes down my street. hope you like it 

Check out my website 

andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A3 Limited edition Print £50 contact me 

The Rag & Bone Man

Comes down our street 

Tannoy a blazin

With Steptoe & son 

any old iron 

Ringing in me ears 

He says cheers 

As he jumps out the van 

Hes the man 

That picks up me scrap 

One mans rubbish 

Is another mans gold 

As hes out in the cold 

Hoofs another fridge 

In the back of his van 

Yeah hes the scrap man 

Trying to make ends meet 

On a Manchester street

Shuffling his feet 

To the scrap mans beat

Hes jumping up and down 

On the top of his van 

Makin more room 

Of waste of every type 

Wire 

and old mans pipe 

Hes starting to gripe 

Any old iron 

He shouts out loud 

Amongst the crowd

He Needs more metal 

Listens to heavy metal 

Cos hes an hard man 

A working man

Does all he can 

To feed his family 

Put money on the table 

Yeah Lives in a caravan

A gypsy of a man 

Does all he can 

Yeah The Rag & Bone Man

Comes down our street 

Tannoy a blazin

With Steptoe & son 

And any old iron 

Ringing in me ears 

He says cheers 

As he jumps out the van 

Hes the man 

That picks up me scrap 

One mans rubbish 

Is another mans gold 

hes out in the cold 

lookin for gold

https://youtu.be/iVIH-eFPuLA

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Pulp Fiction by Andrew Alan Matthews 

A3 Limited edition Print £50 contact me 

andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

Pulp Fiction 

An act of fiction 

A bad Ass film

So Make some room 

Settle down 

quarter pounder with cheese 

Jeez

Freeze 

Cos Hes a bad mother fucka

And yeah 

hes a looker 

Gonna hook ya Right in 

Take it on the chin

Cos hes a real smooth dude 

not rude 

or crude

movin and Grooving

to the sound of the song

a bad mother fucka 

and a looker 

Yeah Pulp Fiction 

An act of fiction 

A bad Ass film

So Make some room

movin and Grooving

to the sound of the song

cos hes one

bad mother fucka 

and a looker

hell stick you in the cooker 

https://youtu.be/TiARS0NbC0I

Hi everybody here is a commissioned painting of peonies. As I have come from a background in textile Design and worked on designs for Liberty design, Laura Ashley, Sandersons and all the major textile companies in the UK, I have done this in a textile design Manner, the video is a nod to a dad who loved his garden and flowers 

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 contact me 

andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

Peonies Picked 

In the summer time

A Gardeners delight 

In the sunlight 

A Dads Garden

Awaits you 

suburbs 

Of Mancunian Town 

Where people get down 

And frown

But this Dads got a crown 

Of a flower garden 

Haven 

Of birds, butterflies 

blue Mancunian skies 

Where the greenhouse 

Stands 

gleaming in the light 

gardeners delight

in the sunlight 

yeah this Dads retired 

In a Mancunian town

now hes snipping 

and clipping 

hes trippin 

in the summer garden 

his favourite flower 

cut off the bush 

just hush 

peonies placed on a table 

inside the house 

ready for display 

hooray 

it’s a summers day 

yeah

Peonies Picked 

In the summer time

A Gardeners delight 

In the sunlight 

A Dads Garden

Awaits you 

suburbs 

Of Mancunian Town 

Where people get down 

And frown

But this Dads got a crown 

Of a flower garden 

Haven 

Of birds, butterflies 

In blue 

Mancunian skies 

https://youtu.be/Mob1SWo7Nww

Original £1250 or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 

Contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

This is Amsterdam by Night  what a sight

A bridge over a canal at night  Its alright

The Netherlands capital

venice of the North on lockdown 

yeah a global pandemic is on the scene

stay clean

so lockdown could be lifted

then well be gifted with

canals, cycles And arts

Yeah theres culture 

anne frank, Rembrandt and van gogh 

so don’t scoff

but on the dark side of town 

red light district a sight to be seen

so come and see after lockdowns lifted 

and well be gifted

with a slap and tickle

so don’t be fickle

have a giggle

theres rumpy pumpy

don’t be frumpy

and don’t be grumpy

theres live sex shows

peep shows

something grows

in yer pants

yeah a lap dance

theres porno shows 

who blows

and who knows

yeah bi, gay or straight 

oh no its too late 

theres lights, sights and frights

under those heady street lights

yeah men in tights what a sight

yeah fluffy pillows

and wobbly bums

theres cumin and bummin 

ganja and weed

sowin yer seed

its gripin and tripin 

yeah theres pros in windows

flashin there tits and bits

yeah anything goes 

in Amsterdam

they don’t give a dam

it’s a wham bam 

thank you mam

bi gay or straight

its not too late

handed on a plate

space cakes in coffee shops 

are on the scene

its obscene

its a dream

oh il have more cream

yeah space cake 

and rumpy pumpy

in Amsterdam

they don’t give a dam

its a wham bam thank you mam

but keep your distance man 

until lockdowns lifted 

then well be gifted 

in Amsterdam

so come visit man

https://youtu.be/8iF8hnooXWM

Hi Everybody here is a painting and story of Liverpool Docks, hope you like it 

A3 Limited Edition print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A bit of History

In 1715 the first ever commercial wet dock opened in Liverpool, the Old Dock, originally known as Thomas Steer's Dock. The Albert Dock on Liverpool's waterfront was an architectural triumph that opened in 1846 and was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick and stone.

The Albert Dock was incredibly innovative due to its design that included warehouses, and at its peak, in the early 19th century, it had 40% of global trade passing through. The decline of the Liverpool Docks was largely due to its incompatibility with the rise of containerization.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

Liverpool Dockers to Shoppers 

In a modern scene 

Dream of a day 

can all get away 

from Ferry cross the Mersey 

To lands far away 

picket lines of the past 

Dockers 

Stood aghast 

Rebelin and yellin 

Justice for the dockers 

With CK T shirts 

And Liverpool reds 

Rock bands 

Stood together 

Through rainy weather

Rock the Dock Album

Brought sunshine 

To Dockers 

strikes of the past 

Aghast 

Made it last

And Today 

I stroll along 

Liverpool Docks 

Clicking away 

on a hot sunny day 

with shoppers 

walkin and talkin 

the Liverpool way 

I can see chips n dips 

As Burgers n chips

Fill the air 

I stop and stare 

At the docks 

Where Liver birds 

On a building so high 

Look down

On the Fab Four

Yeah the Beatles 

Takin the floor 

Of Liverpool docks 

Tourists clickin away 

On a hot sunny day 

So Yeah

Liverpool Dockers to Shoppers 

In a modern scene 

Dream of a day 

They can all get away 

Ferry cross the Mersey 

To lands far away 

From picket lines of the past 

Dockers 

Stood aghast 

Liverpool it’l last 

https://youtu.be/bHV31nDg9ZA

 Here is my Thankyou to my wife and daughter for being there for me and loving me unconditionally,  also putting up with my daft videos. Ha ha

Family Love and GPT Review 

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

Family Love 

Step inside the gate of life,
My wife and daughter
Make a happy life.

On life’s journey,
We find paradise
In the small things in life.

A laugh, a smile —
It might take a while,
But when it comes,

Love bursts through —
It’s the glue of life.

Yeah,
The small things in life:
Sitting together,
Chit-chatting

In cold or hot weather —
As long as we’re together,
We’re happy as can be.

Now and again,
Arguments occur —
A blur —

But we make up, shake up, wake up.

Positive and negative energies
At work,

Like a battery, we work:

Balanced
In life’s long battle,
The game of life.

My wife’s a rock in a storm,
She keeps me warm.

And my daughter —
Love without question,

So I ought to mention —

I’m a lucky man.

I thank the One above
For blessing me with love

On this journey of life,

With my wife and daughter by my side.

So yeah,
Family Love:

Step inside the gate of life —
My wife and daughter
Make a happy life.

We’ve got a happy home.
And life.

please write a review and critique on my painting of our happy home called a welcome home and the story of family love. 

ChatGPT said:

Thank you for sharing your painting A Welcome Home and the beautiful accompanying poem Family Love. Here’s my detailed review and critique:

Review of the Painting:

Your painting radiates warmth and affection — exactly what you intended by calling it A Welcome Home. The loose, expressive brushstrokes give the scene a lively, heartfelt energy. There's a charming naivety to the style — almost childlike — that suits the theme of family love and innocence beautifully.

The brick house is depicted with rich reds and earthy tones, while the sky above transitions between clear blue and moody grey, perhaps symbolizing life's changing weather — a clever touch that echoes your poem’s acknowledgment of life's ups and downs. The thick impasto texture adds physical depth, making the scene feel tangible and inviting.

The figure of a man (presumably you) with two dogs near the front door gives the painting a narrative focus. Even the stylized palm tree and vibrant flowers add a cozy, almost magical quality to the home setting. The open gate feels symbolic — welcoming viewers (and loved ones) into your private paradise.

Review of the Poem:

Family Love is deeply heartfelt and sincere. Its straightforward, conversational tone makes it relatable and genuine. The repetition ("small things in life") and playful rhymes ("make up, shake up, wake up") give it a rhythmic, song-like quality. I especially appreciate the metaphor of the family as a battery — "positive and negative energies at work" — suggesting that even in conflict, your family creates power and sustains each other.

The ending brings the poem full circle nicely, repeating the "step inside the gate" invitation. It mirrors the painting perfectly: the gate is not just a physical object but a threshold into love, warmth, and belonging.

Critique & Suggestions for Growth:

Painting:

• The style is loose and vibrant,      but you could add just a touch more detail to the faces and hands to make      the family members a little more recognizable without losing the      expressive energy.
• The colors and lines at the      bottom of the painting (near the gate and pathway) feel a little busy      compared to the more open sky. A little softening there might better      balance the composition and lead the viewer’s eye upward toward the home      and family.

Poem:

• Structurally, you might      experiment with slightly more consistent line breaks or stanzas. Right      now, the flow works because it's natural, but slight refinement could      heighten the emotional impact.

Final Thoughts:

Your painting and poem together create a powerful, emotional experience. They celebrate the everyday magic of family life — its ups, downs, and deep foundations. There is a sincerity here that no technical polish can fake. You should feel very proud of this work. It’s a beautiful testament to love, gratitude, and home.

https://youtu.be/cWPk5U2tysI

 Hello everyone here is a painting and video tribute to all the servicemen and women who sacrificed everything so that we can live in peace today.

So thankyou to you brave men and women of the War Years Generation and a reminder to everyone that War is not the answer.

so here is my message to all the leaders around the world, stop all wars it only brings misery to the people

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

VE Day, Victoria in Europe

80 years today 

End of the War 

Lets hear you roar 

Freedom from tyranny 

For everyone 

Millions celebrated 

Allied world

Pubs open till late 

No more hate

Joy and laughter 

Fills summer air

As Hitlers nazis defeated

Retreated 

Now Britain’s Treated 

Red white and blue 

The British flag 

flies over the world 

Sending a message 

Of peace and love 

Throughout free world

Street parties, parades

No more charades 

But war still ragin 

Asia, pacific

Be specific

millions dead or missing 

Genocide uncovered 

Recovered 

prisoners set free 

we can agree 

There sacrifice was not in vain 

They overcame 

Building life again 

So I’ll name 

Second World War 

generation 

changed course of history

no mystery 

Brave men and women 

defend freedoms 

we enjoy today. 

So remember

service and sacrifice.

On this day

Cos you wouldn’t have a life 

you live today 

So Yeah 

VE Day, Victoria in Europe

80 years today 

End of the War 

Lets hear you roar 

End all war

https://youtu.be/PkSWdqUArww

please write a review and critique on my painting and story of V E Day. 

Your painting and accompanying poem for the 80th anniversary of VE Day are deeply moving and evocative. Together, they form a powerful tribute to those who served and sacrificed during the Second World War, while also serving as a reminder of the cost of war and the value of peace.

Composition and Symbolism:

The silhouettes against the rich, fiery sunset are striking and emotionally charged. The central imagery—soldiers, a nurse or medic, a war horse, a dog, and a battlefield cross—creates a powerful narrative arc. The kneeling figure with a prosthetic leg, assisted by a futuristic-looking medic (highlighted with blue accents), suggests a bridge between past and future—perhaps honoring not only those who served in WWII but also those affected by modern conflicts and technological advances in medicine.

Color and Tone:

The use of a glowing sunset backdrop in oranges, reds, and yellows conveys both the horror of war and the hope of peace—a metaphor for the end of conflict and the dawn of a new era. The black silhouettes stand in stark contrast to the vibrant background, emphasizing the gravity of the moment and the dignity of the figures.

Details:

The poppies in the foreground tie in perfectly with Remembrance symbolism in the UK. The small detail of the cross planted in the ground adds emotional weight, evoking remembrance and mourning.

Text:
The phrase at the bottom—“At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them”—anchors the piece emotionally and historically. This quote from Laurence Binyon's For the Fallen is widely recognized and reinforces the theme of solemn remembrance.

Suggestions:

• The futuristic medic with neon blue accents is a powerful symbol, but consider softening the glow slightly or integrating it more organically into the color scheme to avoid it feeling disconnected from the otherwise grounded composition.
   
• The background gradient is beautifully done, but smoothing the transition between red and orange could enhance the realism of the sky and further elevate the atmosphere.
   

Your poem has a raw, spoken-word style that matches the energy and emotion of your painting. It captures celebration, reflection, and continued vigilance.

Strengths:

• Rhythm & Flow: The short, punchy lines and rhyme give it an almost chant-like energy that suits a public commemorative reading.
   
• Tone: You strike a good balance between celebratory (e.g., “Pubs open till late / No more hate”) and reflective (“Genocide uncovered / Recovered”).
   
• Honesty: You don’t shy away from the reality that, even as Europe celebrated, war continued in Asia. That’s an important and often-overlooked part of VE Day narratives.
   
• Modern Connection: Lines like “Cos you wouldn’t have a life / you live today” tie the past directly to the present, reminding younger generations why remembrance matters.
   

Suggestions:

• Consistency in Form: While the free-form structure is expressive, a little more consistency in rhythm or stanza length could enhance readability and poetic flow.
   
• Punctuation: Consider adding punctuation or capitalizing only at the start of sentences to help guide the reader more clearly through your intent.
   
• Ending: The last line “End all war” is a strong, clear message. You might consider bringing it forward as a recurring line or refrain for emphasis.
   

This is an impactful multi-media tribute that merges visual art and poetry with heart, history, and a message for the future. It honors those who fought, educates the present, and hopes for peace to come. Your unique voice and creative choices give VE Day a fresh yet respectful lens.

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