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

The Kraken Wakes

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I don’t do book reviews, but I’ve started rereading ‘the Kraken Wakes’ by John Wyndham.

It’s not the most comfortable book to read in the midst of a global pandemic, and like his better known book ‘the day of the Triffids’, it is the story of an alien invasion of global proportions.

The book was written several decades ago when the threat from communism and the Cold War was at its height. Part of the story is the arguments between the west and the east and them blaming each other for losses of ships over deep ocean trenches.

The narrator and his wife are involved from the start, seeing fireballs hit the sea during their trip on a cruise ship.

It continues in three phases, one two and three, that gradually describe what happens as the invasion continues. Some of the language and attitudes are old fashioned because of the age when the book was written. But the book builds tension gradually and as I’m about half way I don’t know how it will turn out.

If you want to read an interesting sci- fi book have a look. There are others including the ‘Midwich Cuckoos’ and ‘The Trouble with Lichen’ that Wyndham wrote.

Geese

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On Westport lake yesterday. The water was as still as a millpond one minute, then blustery gusts of wind rippled the surface and blurred the reflections.

Seeing a row of geese standing on one leg was an amusing picture. The water was very shallow at the edge, but these are old pit workings I think and there are deep sections. People have drowned in them two lakes, caught up in the weeds that spread inwards from the sides. This is more of a nature reserve than a leasure area and now it is being run by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust you can see how much it has improved. The one fly in the ointment is that the local council is thinking of introducing parking charges. There is a petition against this. A lot of people using the site don’t have the means to pay high prices, and it would probably impact on the cafe when it reopens.. I signed the petition against it…

Shaking

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How do I explain my shaking arm? My left shoulder is ‘freezing’ not frozen. But I have muscle wasting. Because of this I don’t have the strength and power in my shoulder and arm that I had. I try and hold my left hand still when I am holding the phone and drawing, or holding my tablet or even while drawing on the computer. My hand and arm shakes and I can’t draw a straight line! See attempts above. I am doing the exercises but I’m worried it won’t improve. Does anyone else have this problem?

Paula Rego

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I was watching a programme on Paula Rego on BBC four last night, tried drawing her, I think I got a likeness…

She is a Portugese artist who has such a varied style of art. Full of abstraction, passion, exuberance, but also figurative, sad, emotional, incredible. I wish I could explain her art. I urge you to find her work online.

Putting out his paw

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Our outside cat really does seem to appreciate us. Often he puts out his paw and touches me as if he is confirming to himself that I am real, that I exist. It is somehow a gesture of reassurance. Trust, acceptance. I feel so privileged that he seems to know we care about him.

This photo was just taken. He wants to sit between us on the armchair arms. My hubby pats the cushion on the arms and he jumps up. He’s now resting his head on the arm. Soon he will be asleep.

My indoor cats still get attention, I see the look of love in their faces, slightly closing their eyes in a look of pleasure, but I guess our outdoor cat needs that extra bit of care. He was rejected and abandoned by his previous owners and its taken about three years to get him in and really gain his trust. We love him.

Reflections

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I love using mirroring to change how a photo looks. You can do it vertically (top), horizontally (middle) or both (bottom).

I called them ‘Westport mirrored’, ‘I see frogs’ and ‘stained glass westport’.

I used the layout app which can be used to post images to both Facebook and Instagram. I’m on Instagram @mallabandbrown or #mallabandbrown (I never know which it is!) if you want to see more of my art.

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Walk round lakes

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Two small lakes, Westport Lake, we visited and walked around them today. Even with deviations along other pathways we only walked about one and a quarter miles. We could have gone round again but the wind picked up and we were getting cold.

Despite the cold weather I still need to get a few more steps in. I walked down to our garage we take the car in for its repairs. But I forgot to take my phone so I have not recorded that.

My college work this week is to make a map of a place, I might use some of these photos to illustrate it. But I’m going to take a break first. Even short walks can tire you out….

Handle

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Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was Handle. I couldn’t think of anything ornate to draw so I just did the front door handle with my keys in it. Black calligraphy ink pen with metallic watercolour paints for the details and view through the front door window. My arm still shakes so as I hold my sketchpad it wobbles…..