New paintings and regular art updates.
Sketch of the Leopard Hotel in Burslem that was destroyed by fire in 2022. I just found this on my phone. I’d done several murals in the back room and was devastated when this happened. The pub was empty and it had been broken into. The wiring was tampered with.
There are some ideas to rebuild part of it using the historic frontage to keep it’s architectural authenticity. I hope it happens. #bandofsketchers drawing in felt pens.
Quick portrait I did today at a craft group I go to. I took my sketchbook because I just wanted to practice drawing. I find I get a lot of tension in my arms when I try and draw or paint theses days. It’s because I shake so much with the Parkinsons disease but something takes over when I’m being artistic. But if I hold a sheet of music when I sing I can’t stop shaking. Weird.
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
Are these everyday things? They are to me…
Art Groups I go to regularly. Being creative keeps my mind calm. When I’m painting or drawing I can put other feelings behind me. An art education improves creativity.
Having clean water to drink and use for washing. I realise many places don’t have the luxury of clean water. Even here there is a problem with some water companies, but at least it is clean and delivered by pipes to almost every dwelling.
Media, again the luxury aspect. TV, radio, Internet. We mainly have all these in the UK although some are more hit and miss in more rural areas where mountains and hills can block transmissions. We possibly take it for granted.
Our health service. Free at the point of use. Yes it is overworked and underfunded. But you don’t have to pay unless you go private and no one goes bankrupt paying exorbitant fees. I hope it survives all the problems going on in the country.
Finally Education. We are lucky that most pupils stay on till senior school and beyond to college and degree level. The pandemic had a detrimental effect on attendance and some children are being home schooled. I think that’s a mistake but as long as they get a good widespread education then hopefully they will be OK.
So this post is a bit random but all these things mean a lot to me. Art is my main one though.
Another digital drawing done with the Artrage app a few years ago. I think this was possibly done using a stylus, not as a finger painting. Why purple? I like the colour. It seems to include blues and reds within it, so that it can be cold or warm. If I could change anything on this I would probably erase the short stubby legs and just have it swimming with a reflection underneath it instead. Somehow it looks like it’s standing on ice…
I can’t remember when I did this but it’s certainly a few years ago. I do love spirals….
Fireworks, galaxies, water spinning in a plughole, staircases, tornadoes, cloud formations, patterns in art. Its a, recurring theme in my art and I also love celtic patterns and art nouveau designs….
Fond memory of a cat doodle I did eight years ago. This was on my Facebook memories today. There are other drawings but I won’t put them on here. I might use them later but I think this is the cutest one. The little bottle oven and tea set are the connection with where I live, the Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent.
I have lots of sketchbooks around the house with doodles in. I should find them all and look through them. What will happen to them when I’ve gone I wonder?
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I must have been about five when I realised I wanted to do art. I would make patterns on graph paper, draw and doodle and sketch. I know my mother started to collect some of my drawings. As I got older I put them on my walls. I even strung them across my bedroom held on by pegs because I didn’t have enough wall space.
When I was in my teens one of my paintings was sent to our twin town in Germany to be exhibited. My headmistress was given a drawing I did of my fellow pupils as a leaving present and I knew I wanted to be an artist as I told my careers teacher, not a nurse as she tried to persuade me. On to Art school to do a degree, and even 40 years later an MA in illustration. Now. I’m struggling. But iooking at different methods and skills. I’m not giving up!
Quick sketch of a Husky called Zorro, he was very lively so I had to try and build up a portrait as he moved around and jumped about. He was only young and will grow bigger. His owner had another one but she’s a lot quieter apparently. I’m going to the same venue tomorrow so I might do some more sketching.
All seeing,
Eyes wide
Light receiving
Shape taking
Interpret space
Watching orbit
Time grabbing
Glinting highlights
Blink shut
Shutter speed
Star seeing
Billions reflected
Light sight…
Well I got this wrong! I was trying to draw flowers but wrote spring instead of summer…. I can’t do a mother’s day drawing, my mom passed away many years ago. #bandofsketchers prompt summer or mother’s day. Anyway it’s fun to do these doodles.
Mallaband-Brown