Thursdays #bandofsketchers prompt was leaves. I took some photos at Westport Lake and I based this sketch on one of them. Some of the colours are a bit to bright but it was the best I could do with felt pens.
Leaves at Westport
Author: artbychristinemallabandbrown
I'm an artist based at the Spode factory site in Stoke on Trent. I paint, draw and create digital art. Contact me at mallabandbrown@aol.com
Dragon skull
I found a little skull on a walk a few years ago. Maybe a rabbit skull? Something with a printed snout. No teeth and no bottom jaw. I kept it as something to practice drawing on. Trying to get accurate details and shading. It struck me that I could use it as an idea for a dragon. I had an idea where the jaw would articulate, it would be a carnivore so teeth would be all along the jaw, (herbivores only have incisors and big molar teeth at the back). Now I have to think where the skin would sit and the size of its eyes….
Echolalia
The repetition of other people’s words or sounds is echolalia. When the toddler you babysit repeats everything you say, over and over again, you can call it “annoying,” or you can call it echolalia..
I looked this up because a friend would keep repeating what I said, what I said. I did not know why, know why…..
Apparently it’s something to do with psychiatric disorders or autism. I would not say my friend suffered from either of these. Perhaps it was a habit? I don’t know. It was incredibly annoying until I realised it was normal for my friend and learned to accept it.
A blob smiling?
My loaf has a smile ! It’s crusty on the outside, soft and springy on the inside. I had a slice with a bit of butter and honey. I’m really pleased as my loaves usually turn out a bit dry and heavy. I tried to balance the liquid content and the stickiness and this time I tried to knead it a bit more.
Tasty!
Making bread
I decided to make a loaf today. Its just gone in the oven for half an hour, gas mark eight. Today’s loaf is half a packet of ready mixed linseed oil bread and half strong white flower. To make sure I had the right amount of flour I tipped flour from the big bag of strong flour into the small half full one till it was filled (I don’t have scales). Then as the strong flour didn’t have yeast I added a level teaspoon of dried yeast. I mixed it with about half a pint of luke warm water and a teaspoon of honey. I should perhaps have added a bit of oil and salt, but I decided not to.
The photo is the dough after it had risen, doubling on size, then it was knocked back and allowed to rise again. I’m happy with how much it has expanded. I hope the loaf that comes out will be light and fluffy… We will see. X
Press green?
I found something out about listening to radio on the TV. You can press a button and stop the screen being illuminated. If you do that then you don’t have to look at the illuminated screen and it saves energy that would be used to display the image. Who knew? It’s probably something everyone could do. I should also turn the TV off at the plug at night so it’s not on standby, saving more energy. I will try and remember.
Still going!
What is going on? Begonias and Lobelia in November! I know some gardeners cut everything back and compost things after the summer. But I can’t do it. I love seeing things grow. The baskets will eventually die back. The tops of them are already looking a bit scrappy, but any sleepy and cold bee or hover fly can maybe sneak a sip of nectar. Our back yard is sheltered by the house, large bushes and a fence, I suppose the plants huddle together forming a microclimate. We also live towards the bottom of the hill so we don’t get hit by winds sweeping down from the north. It’s a haven. Looking forward to next summer. X
Birch collage
Birches growing tall
Straight trunks
Slim and elegant
Seen on Clarice Cliff
Deco pottery
Ceramic classic
Birches move in
Colonise scrubland
Sunset colours
In post it notes
Add atmosphere
Collage of landscape
Industrial memory
Red and black with white.
Some sketches from last year. Using various amounts of white along with red and black. I think I added white to make the images easier to see and read. The red is quite a dark tone and it’s hard to see against the black areas. I also think someone who is colour blind might be able to see the images with more white.
Looking back
I didn’t venture out today because its really cold and I’m still a bit unwell. I was scrolling through my photos from the summer and came across this double hanging basket next to the house. It grew and grew and was magnificent in July and August. Now? The frost came last night, a glaze of white on the tiled roof opposite. I think all the baskets will wilt, the delicate annual plants are starting to wither, but the slightly woodier ones like fushias are still there.
Photos of the back to follow, and if I get out into the autumn landscape before all the leaves fall I will post some shots of the trees locally.
