Spode

Posted on March 6, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Acava Studios, Acrylic on canvas, Batik, Exhibition, Fine Art, Life, oil on wood, retrospective, Spode site, WatercoloursLeave a comment

Have I mentioned that I have an exhibition at Spode, it can be viewed this Friday between 6.30 and 8.30. It’s at Acava Studios, up the yellow stairs, at Spode Works, Elanora street, Stoke upon Trent, ST4 1QD (I think).

If you are in the area and would like to come along you are very welcome.

It’s eclectic and interesting, with one work from 1982 that is an oil painting on an old cupboard door because I couldn’t afford a canvas. There are several portraits of my hubby from over our life together.

I’ve also included landscapes and portraits, abstract paintings, views of Spode works, and views of a nebula and Jupiter and Mars. There are also watercolours and batik prints. I’m interested in a lot of things and I hope this exhibition will show my explorative fine art practice.

Driving test

Posted on March 5, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged crossing, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1868, Driving, Failure, Memory, pedestrian, Test, TimeLeave a comment

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

When I failed my driving test I learnt from that experience, I learned that an unmarked crossroads should be approached with caution and you should stop to check if anyone else is coming and give way if necessary. Also if the driver next to you drives over a pedestrian crossing on a one way street, don’t assume it’s clear of pedestrians. If someone is about to cross- Stop!

When I did the follow up test my car would not start… It turned out it was an electrical fault. I sat in the drivers seat while people from the test centre had to give me a bump (push) start. The instructor told me to turn right, I indicated left! I apologised, explained the electric problem had flustered me. We started again, me convinced I had failed again.

We did the test, I passed! I was amazed, but I had learnt from the previous test.

Facebook not working?

Posted on March 5, 2024 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Annoying, authentication, Broken, error, Facebook, password, Stuck, unexpected error5 Comments

Anyone else having trouble logging in? I’ve tried my password, added the code they sent me, confirmed my phone number and authenticated everything. Then changed my password.

The response? ‘an unexpected error has occured’!

Then my friend let me know it’s not just me. Darn it…..

Slept

Posted on March 4, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Awake, Exhibition, Insomnia, Life, poppy painting, Sleep, TiredLeave a comment

Poppy painting, makes me think of sleep, soporific, ancient remedy. Beautiful but dangerous. Trying to channel art nouveau I guess.

Last night I wished I could sleep, all my strategies, thinking of healing, trying to relax, counting backwards,, none of them worked. So I got up after my sleepless night then went out and sang at choir. I could feel the tiredness spreading through me. This afternoon was hard, I was trying to arrange the paintings for the exhibition I’m holding. I feel like I’m having to rely more and more on others and I want my independence.

When I got home I had a bit of tea, but then whoosh! The sleep came without trying. It meant I missed this evenings choir practice, so I felt guilty, I just hope I can sleep tonight. X

Putting it up

Posted on March 4, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, eclectic art, Exhibition, Painting, retrospective, Spode, Studio, WatercoloursLeave a comment

I was at Spode studios today selecting the images I want hung at my Retrospective exhibition. They are a colourful and eclectic mix. It should be up tomorrow. I’m having a closing evening on Friday when most of the work will be for sale. However a few works that are of my hubby and myself are staying with me.

Sleepless in Stoke

Posted on March 4, 2024 Posted in Cat, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Awake, Cat, Counting sheep, Insomnia, Memory, Pain, Sleep, strategy, Thinking, Thought, TiredLeave a comment

I need one if those old fashioned ‘intermission’ films they used to show between films at a Saturday matinee at the cinema to relax my mind. Gentle music and the sight of a potters wheel twirling might help me to sleep. I’ve forgotten the various little strategies I use to try and fall asleep. Pain and discomfort have held my mind up like a theif of sleep. Haunting me in the night. A few, drowsy thoughts and I’m awake again, sometimes disturbed by a heartbeat out of turn or the patter of cats paws. I have things to do today and I didn’t want to be tired. 6am…..goodnight, I will try counting sheep

Moss ‘n’ grass

Posted on March 3, 2024March 3, 2024 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Environment, Grass, Group, Life, Moss, moss appreciation, Nature, Photo, soil, Time, TreeLeave a comment

Green moss spreads over tree roots, a grass seed must have blown in or washed there. It’s nestled in a small pocket of soil in the hollow of two roots. Good to see green when the world is mainly grey and brown.

We were on a walk on a dry day, but moisture from the previous days rain had enhanced the luminous colour of the moss, it was almost lime green in contrast to the darker grass. A real hint of the coming Spring.

I only took the photo because I joined a moss appreciation group on Facebook. Along with other groups, it makes you look differently and more closely at the world.

Paints, brushes, canvas?

Posted on March 3, 2024 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Art, Brushes, Canvas, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1866, Life, Memory, Paints, Poem, Poetry, Thought2 Comments

What are three objects you couldn’t live without?

I tell a lie,

I could live

But would life be worth it?

Colours swirl and fade,

Brushstrokes create

Patterned surfaces

Canvas grabs paint

Textures grow

Light seems to flow.

No, without my creative things

A life of sadness it brings.

Give me my paints,

I will build mountains

Canvas for landscape

Or face?

Who knows.

Brushes manipulate

Joy it creates.

Tall friends

Posted on March 3, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged always look on the bright side, Celebration, circus, Fun, Hubby, Life, Memory, stilts, tributeLeave a comment

We just held, a celebration of my hubbys life. He was always interested in acting and theatrical performances so when my friends offered to greet guests at the start of the celebrations on stilts and in circus costumes I had to say yes. They stood outside and looked funny and magnificent. They stayed and enjoyed the rest of the evening. A group of us sang ‘always look on the bright side of life’. A good friend read a eulogy and showed slides and video of my husband. We had almost 200 photos of him on the hall walls. People read poems for him including one specially written and ‘do not go gentle into that dark night’ we had a harmonica playing and a friend singing and playing the banjo. There was a lovely buffet laid on by the hall.

People also wrote memories of him on cards so I could take them away. The plan is to create a memory book of the celebration. I took some of my portraits of him up to the hall.

All in all it was a fantastic evening and I was very pleased with how it went. I think my hubby would have appreciated the occasion. X

I’m starting to

Posted on March 1, 2024 Posted in UncategorizedTagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1864, destiny, fate, Humour, Life, Prompt, Thought, TimeLeave a comment

Do you believe in fate/destiny?

Which way do the dice fall for you? Can you control your fate or is it out of your hands? I’ve always thought I have some control, some freedom of thought. I don’t know any more.

Am I fated to end my life cast away on a desert island, or skydiving on a Sunday afternoon? No chance, they are just random thoughts. But I can sometimes see a pathway I don’t like. I will fight against that.

Destiny? A destination that is foretold or preordained? Like a Princess who is destined to become a Queen. Maybe that is what my destiny will be… To be a rich and famous artist? Nah!

Mallaband-Brown

Author: artbychristinemallabandbrown