New paintings and regular art updates.
You know how it is..
You go into the garden
When it rains
And there are slugs.
What are they for?
They munch your broccoli,
Eat the hearts of your lettuce,
Nip the buds off peonies,
And eat your ripe tomatoes.
But they also eat old and diseased vegetables.
They help clear up leaves
In the autumn,
And they are food for blackbirds and frogs.
So not all bad then…?
When we went to the showing of Humanus, the film, last year, we got dressed up in fancy dress and make-up to look like zombies. I wore an air mask over my face to look more interesting. While I was putting the make-up on I decided to take a photo of my reflection in a mirror. I like the creativity of whoever made the frame around it. It was made of lollipop sticks stuck together making a star burst around the mirror. I converted it to black and white to make it more atmospheric.
By the way I’ve never been able to get the red face paint out of my hubby’s shirt!
Got up and saw one of the cats sitting on the windowledge in the front bedroom. She likes watching the traffic passing and seeing the pigeons fly up onto the factory roof. The picture is grainy because it was very early in the morning, about the same time I took photos of the dawn. Cats are curious creatures. They love looking at things, playing with their toys and chasing each other. But sometimes they have a quiet moment and just sit and watch the world go by.
I don’t do this often enough, but it is good to listen while I’m painting, ( not doing it at the moment). I’m just listening to ‘ the unbelievable truth’ a comedy programme on BBC radio four. It is about people telling a story full of lies about a subject while trying to sneak four truths past the other members of the panel. The winner is the one who spots the most truths.
It’s very very funny. You might be able to find it on the BBC Sounds app….
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I’m doing the January 64 million artists challenge on Facebook. 
Today’s challenge is a bit strange, write for ten minutes automatically. (when I write I think the words so that’s hard). Then either cut up or wet the paper to turn it into something else.
What I did was write in pencil on an old envelope to save paper. As I was watching an old film called the flight of the Phoenix I then decided to rip and fold the paper into a vaguely plane shape. Using rips and folds to hold it together.
I decided to change the colour to black and white because the background was a bit confusing. Plus it enhanced the writing a bit which wasn’t very clear because I was using a 4H pencil.
Spinning cups in the wind
Gale force blowing across the land
Pressure dropping
Rain falling horizontal
Waves whipped into crazy foam
Crashing over coastal roads
Trees bending over fences
Birds cowering in hedges
Cold is the storm
Ready to snow?
Gales are unfriendly
Viscious and fearful
Great, gusting blow…..
I’m doing an art challenge for January and today it asked for 12 books or films that you would say were your favourites.
I decided to draw a quick sketch rather than going through my bookcases to find things. Because I read such a lot it was hard to be specific so I have generalised some of my choices.
My list starts with the Sky at Night TV programme which was on the BBC tonight. I’ve been watching it on and off since the 1960’s which is a long time, but it’s been great finding out more about the universe as human knowledge has increased. No one knew about black holes when it first started, and it was before we went to the moon.
The second book could be anything about painting and drawing, either full of brilliant art or about exciting new techniques. I once bought a book from the National Gallery full of all sorts of art. I was enthralled.
Third is Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, I’ve seen the play of it but to my shame I’ve never read the book. There are a lot of classic books I would like to try and read.
Four. I was introduced to The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, by my hubby. He had a copy for his eighteenth birthday. We then heard the story on the radio. It was abridged but still ran for thirteen hours. A lot of the book was cut from the radio show and a it more from the films. I must read it again.
Fifth, any book on Art and Design. It could be about theatre design or clothes or architecture. As long as its interesting.
Six is any book about Evolution. I don’t think I could manage Darwins Origin of species. I have got the Blind watchmaker by Richard Dawkins, but I haven’t remembered to read it.
Seven (halfway-are you bored yet?). Any book by Terry Pratchett. From the Colour of Magic to Making Money, and all his other titles, this is fantasy fiction with a grin on its face.
Eighth, is a film, Spiderman, with Toby McGuire. I liked it because it was one of the first Marvel films. It isn’t a fight fest like some if the later ones, and again it’s fantasy, lights, special effects. My favourite things tend to be visual.
Nine is an old film, the Sound of Music. I saw it again on the TV recently. There is a lot more to it than I remember. And the songs are lovely.
Ten, almost there, Cats, not the musical, but Old Possums book of practical cats, by TS Elliot. It’s great to read McCavity the mystery cat, or about the Jellicles cats. I would recommend it.
Eleven is any book about Frida Kahlo. I didn’t really know much about her until I got a present about Women Surrealist Artists. When you find out about her incredibly difficult life, but see her art I just have such a strong admiration for her.
Finally, twelfth, any book on Anthony Gormley, artist and sculptor. He created the Angel of the North, a winged human up in the Newcastle-on-Tyne area. Its a huge sculpture next to the motorway up there. He has done other sculptures of figures emerging from the sea near Liverpool. His work is always interesting and thought provoking.
Looking at this list makes me feel like I am only dipping my toe into the things that interest me. Maybe some if the things will interest you too….
Dark was falling, the clouds lowering, fearful people cowered in their homes. The Dragon Lord was coming, he would take slaves this month and they knew it. Only in the morning would they go out into the world again.
Aging grandfather Drulk hesitated as he closed the shutters to the cottage. He had been lucky and his son and grandson had stayed safe. He was a blacksmith and so was his son. He kwew how to keep them hidden, using strong iron to stop the Dragon Lord sensing their presence. But his son had been on a hunting trip and this was the first time his grandson has gone along. They were overdue. No sound entered the cottage, but if Hirst, the Dragon, came to it they would hear its beating wings many seconds before it arrived.
A knock at the door, Drulk opened it carefully. His grandson stood there, shaking, his clothes torn. They have father, was all he could say.
Drulk held his grandsons shoulders, what happened, he pleaded. We were at the edge of the forest, I tripped over a root and my head hit the ground. Father was trying to help when the Dragon grabbed him in his claws. He is gone….
In Flar Castle, their son and father stood before the Dragon Lord. You are now my slave, you will serve me. Never, said Drulk’s son. I will not serve or help you…..
I’m not sure where to go with this story I don’t write fiction very often… Maybe I should say ‘to be continued?’ I’m not sure about naming characters, it’s hard to decide what to call them…
I am doing it again, I can see a crying clown!? On my tea which I’d a cornish pasty. (a pastry case filled with minced lamb, sliced potato and swede or turnip) the proper ones have much thicker pastry and are crimped along the top so they look like a bag with a curved, arching top. They are originally from Cornwall although Devon, the next door county also claims to have made them originally.
We had them for tea with a cup of coffee. The sauce is HP brown sauce. Slightly spicy, and the pasties have quite a bit of pepper too.
Sorry to reminisce again, but this time last year I was in the process of aintingvthis teapot. The pattern eventually covered the pot. It’s based on the burleigh pattern that they use at middleport pottery.
Middleport, by the way, is where they film the Great Pottery Throw down which has just started on TV again. Its very creative and interesting, maybe I can get some ideas for some new paintings from there? I’m thinking based on the various colours of their glazes. There were some really beautiful results in the first episode. Must ty and hat out of this slump.
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