Painted!

My paintings from yesterday. The small ones have ribbons attached so they can hang from a Christmas tree.

Close up of one of the larger ones. Two bottle kilns side by side, at night, a frosty gleam on them and a patchy, cloudy sky with stars peeping through. The shape of the wisp of smoke mimics the curve of the moon. I used acrylics and glitter glue to give the frosty effect. The smallest canvases are about 1 x 1.5 inches. The bigger ones are around 6x 4.5 and 4.5 inches. They are on display at the Waiting room gallery, I’m pleased to say they are there with other works that I have done for the next week.

Illness

My body is literally a pain. From recent problems to chronic health issues, I have to admit things are mounting up. I want to get to 100 when Halleys Comet is due to be back in our skies, but I’m getting fed up. I think my mind is fine but things keep going wrong. Must be my genetic makeup. Fingers crossed I don’t get anything else. At least one thing I have is determination. I don’t easily give up. Here’s another lot of tablets? Fine, thank you. I am thankful for the NHS, I don’t know how I would cope without it!

Preparing to paint

Eight tiny and four small canvases waiting to be painted. Despite my shaking arm getting worse, and my right hand starting to shake too. Life has to go on.

I’ve been asked if I want a small table at a craft fair, and I said yes (foolishly). Now I’m faced with these blank canvases. I have an idea for some images, I just hope they turn out OK. The trouble is I’ve put this off for weeks and the fair is tomorrow. Luckily I have some old paintings waiting at my studio so I should be OK. I just need a bit of courage. X

Branches

Pattern made from tree branches manipulated digitally. I could list all the steps but that might be boring. I like adding different steps to see what the outcome is. I have saved a lot of these on Instagram @mallabandbrown

I add a lot of art there and here, it’s always there. I may not be painting a great deal but I do like playing with patterns. What I want to do is print out some of them but they didn’t look good on ordinary paper, the ink sunk in and was not very glossy. Perhaps I should use photographic paper?

Overgrown

A thicket, overgrown, a hedge tall and wide hiding the house behind it. Who lives there? No sign of movement. The gate locked shut. Curtains and boards up at the windows. Abandoned? Hidden, a haven for birds and wildlife. The smell and calls of foxes. But a house in need of care.

He looked through the hedge and wondered. Where had his family gone? Inheritance had finally happened and he was the only person found. He would start by cutting back the trees and hedges, but gently. He wanted to keep the wildness, but with some flowers and vegetables. It would take time.

He looked for a long time. Yes he could do it. Nature and garden would be in harmony. Life would be preserved and given its chance.

Sunset, twisted..

Take a look at me sideways on. I am a sunset with trees and a roof.

Twisted 90° and mirrored. I just caught the glow of the sunset as it fell behind the south west horizon. Another shortening day. In about three weeks we will get even shorter. Midwinter gloom will arrive and then the long climb back to light again. I will have to hibernate!

Found, tiny skull

I placed this skull inside a roll of sellotape to give an idea of scale. It’s sitting on an A6 sketchbook. I think we found it on a walk about ten years ago. I think it’s a rodents skull but the jaw is missing. I have it in my office room and use it when I want to do a still life (death)… A memento mori?

What is death, what happens when we die. To be left as just the bones. Oh sorry, getting a bit maudlin.

I am quite lost

My mind is a bit muddled at the moment. I am dealing with lots of ‘stuff’ and I feel overwhelming worry that I won’t get back on track. My life physically has been bothering me and I’m waiting for an appointment to try and find answers. I’m dealing with things for myself, my family and friends, and because I can put a good case for things I don’t mind helping. But when you persue various options and each one closes down it gets more and more frustrating. I wish I could herd cats, work out the best thing for us. I had to ask for help recently, and that was difficult. I’m a proud person and I don’t like to think I can’t cope. But you know those straws that broke the camels back? I think they are building up. Maybe I need to hibernate and look after myself, but turning away from others is not in my nature.