New paintings and regular art updates.
There’s people I need to speak to, but as the days go on I get less likely to reach out. Its like I’m encapsulating myself against the whole world. Retreating into myself, hiding away? So nothing else can hurt me. Keeping busy where I have to, but really all I want is to put my head under the covers and escape from the world. Self protection, I hope it’s not selfishness. I don’t know if I will feel better soon. Am I being lazy? No, definitely not. Just torn apart.
At the moment I’m up and down. One minute trying to plan things, the next remembering what has happened. Disbelief is my main emotion. That and loss. I feel like writing things down is helping a bit, so I’m here, blogging and sharing my thoughts. I hope that’s OK for people. I’m gradually working things out, grateful that I have hubby, friends and family there for support. When you lose a relative it’s a shock. I have cried, I will cry again, how long for, I don’t know. Its turmoil and chaos sometimes, then I calm down for a while. X
On Saturday 24th September 2022, Art and Minds, a new gallery at unit 3 Harper Street, Middleport, will be opening to the public. It is also going to offer support to service men and women.
I was pleased to be offered some wall space there and have five small paintings that will be on display there including paintings of poppies (for remembrance) and two relating to industrial archaeology.
The gallery is in amongst a group of shop units and the Harper Street entrance is directly opposite the entrance of the Middleport pottery in Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. If you are visiting there why not pop across the road and come and look at the new shops there. X
I’m swimming in a sea of loss
Dashed against rocks
Spinning in a whirlpool
With weeds tangling my feet.
Around me are grey souls
I don’t recognise them
But they reach out to grab me
Hands come close
Trying to drag me down
Must try and float
Look for the surface light
For the blue sky
For a rescue boat.
Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was public. I did two versions of public baths, a sketch and then added a digital filter. Not sure which is best, pretty scrappy. I’m trying to keep going despite recent events.
The plants are turning red in places, golds too. The rushes by the lake have dark heads. We are just starting to head into autumn. I took a photo through the glass on the balcony of Westport Lake Cafe. The cafe is a few meters above the lake. It is curved wood like a boat standing on massive metal legs. It is built into a slope because of the way the land falls away. The entrance is at ground level on the side opposite the lake. There is a white curve in the just above and to the right of the middle of the photo. That’s a reflection. Not sure what caused it.
What is it? Speckles and brown curves, white outlines and blue grey centre?
It’s my empty hot chocolate cup, duplicated, twisted, cropped.
Looking at things, and seeing something interesting in them can be quite exciting. Putting things together in a new way can create something new.
Taking my mind off things. I drew a series of spirals then filled them in with different colours usin metallic and non metallic felt pens. Using the colours in sector’s around the spirals in contrasting colours. It took me an hour, and gave me some relief to how I’m feeling.
Trickle down economics, the latest big idea of our UK government. Lift the cap on bankers bonuses, reduce taxes for the rich, reduce national insurance that will affect the tax burden more on the richest than the poorest (if you don’t earn enough to pay tax or NI in the first place cuts won’t affect you, you get zero benefit). Cut corporation tax for the richest. Our Prime minister, Liz Truss, says she wants to increase productivity whilst previously calling UK workers lazy and saying people must work if they can (in a gig economy). She says she doesn’t mind being unpopular! They have reduced the income if the poorest people on benefits. We are the sixth richest country in the UK and yet we have thousands of foodbanks where people have to depend on donated food. This idea is madness.
The cat just came in, had some food, then collapsed in a heap on the floor, snoring loudly. He’s placed himself in the way so I will have to step over him when I go back to bed (came down for a drink). He can relax anywhere. Meanwhile the middle sized cat is sleeping near my feet and the small cat just came in and ran upstairs after having some food. I think turning the kitchen lights on signals to them I am up and about.
Mallaband-Brown