Almost a disaster!

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I decided to type my work in PowerPoint because I struggled with word documents jumping around and the text ending up half way on one page and half on another.

PowerPoint relies on slides, so you have to fit your text into a space which is of limited size.

I’d created a new one and went to start typing, and bam! A page of text just disappeared. What? Where? For some reason I couldn’t see the back icon, I couldn’t restore the page! Panic!

Then I remembered that I had copied the text into a word document because I couldn’t find a word count on PowerPoint!

Phew. Restored slide. Lesson learnt. Now all I need to do is stop the cat jumping on the keyboard!

Writing my Manifesto

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I decided to place some text in my writing while I actually decide what I want to put in my college manifesto, (sometimes you see pieces of Latin put in a document so you can tell how much space your writing will take up) . It has to be about me, to explain what I should be doing to support myself as an artist and illustrator and also how I can support other artists. So I intend to look at things like a Universal income for all. I know some countries are trialling it.

I know some artists who are on very low incomes who have had a slight uprating of their benefits, which has helped slightly, but are still living a hand to mouth existence.

I want to look at what is happening to arts in schools. Perhaps I should be doing workshops with pupils? The lack of spending on equipment, especially in the poorer schools, must be having a detrimental affect on children’s lives.

Finally, I have to think about supporting more community arts groups. I’m determined to support the Arts in a more productive way. Perhaps using my skills as an illustrator. We will see…

Cat stops play

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When your cat decides it’s been ignored long enough, and you have to switch off the computer because she’s walked on the keyboard and jumbled your writing up. Then got in the way so you can’t see the letters on the keyboard too!

So, decaff coffee time, sandwich time. Listen to the radio for an hour. We all need a break, otherwise you turn into something like Mrs Rochester in Jane Eyre. A mad woman locked in a bedroom, tearing out her hair (while trying to cite and reference books about the artist Hokusai)!

Cat’s rule in this house. And I’m not complaining! Back to work in a bit.

My manifesto at the moment

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It’s quite simple at the moment. I think college want something a bit more thought out though? Ideas anyone?

I know I left off world peace. Please forgive me. It’s a bit tongue in cheek (humorous) but why not. With everything so grim at the moment.

Anyway back to typing things up. Later x

Monday limerick

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On Mondays we write limericks at Esther Chiltons blog here.

Her prompt for us today was Zoom.

I decided to zoom past the obvious usage of the world and wrote this:

The telescope was set on Zoom
He could see the man in the moon
I’ll get in my rocket
With some cheese in my pocket
To feed old moony real soon!

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In a bubble

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I’m tense all the time. My hubby went out walking today with some friends and I stayed in ostensibly to get some college work done but really I want to keep away from possible infection. I don’t like it though. I’m constantly tense. I get pains in my shoulders from holding them tight all the time. I’ve tried to book some physio because I’m getting pain from a pinched nerve in my arm and shoulder…  But there are no free appointments. Hubby says he will pay, but I’d rather trust the NHS than go private?

So the tension continues. I’ve even found myself rocking backwards and forwards to comfort myself. I don’t think I’m depressed just physically reacting to the pandemic. Stay safe everyone.

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Mirrored cat

Playing with photo editing in my layout app. When you have a subject like a cat you can duplicate and mirror the image and make something interesting happen. Choose to mirror half the face and you end up with a strong stare. I could have made her nose look more natural, but I prefer the odd symmetry this photo gives me.

More thunder forecast.

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Could it thunder again?

Is it possible?

It’s forecast.

I sit waiting.

Listening for rumbles.

Bright flashes.

It’s rained heavily,

But no bangs and crashes.

No flashes or smashes

Pent up heat

Humidity.

Pressure is high

but falling rapidly.

If I sleep

Will I wake

To fireworks or whizz bangs!?

Pattern,USK S-O-T prompt.

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My friends at #uskstoke know my love of pattern so today’s prompt was for me! It took me a while because its been busy. I drew my cat in front of the sofa which has a bright throw over it. I didn’t get the pattern perfect and I had to rely on a quick photo to catch the cats face. Anyway I enjoyed doing this.

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Life drawing practice

I was looking for a spare sketchbook today and these drawings fell out of one of my old ones from about 3 years ago? They were quick sketches in a life drawing exercise. We were all given pages ripped from an old paperback and some pastels. Then we drew the model quickly when he arrived. One was just using shadows, another was trying to draw a mirror image, and left handed, plus different poses. I’ve edited the pictures to prevent embarrassment.

We have been including text in my illustration course. I’m glad I found these. Given me new ideas!

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