New paintings and regular art updates.
Tonight’s tea. I decided to have a mushroom omelette (closed cup mushrooms fried in a little oil, then a spot of milk and two eggs). Cooked until the omelette was firm.
The salad was salad leaves with grated carrot and red pepper, a few sliced cherry tomatoes, a sliced radish, a few slices of cucumber, a few sliced garlic stuffed olives, half an avocado, and finally a bit of light mayonnaise.
I’m just watching a TV programme called “glow up” about creative makeup artists. I decided to experiment and create my own “look”. It’s just a digital drawing in Artrage using metallic and non metallic colours. I wasn’t bothered about making it pretty. I was just playing with it.
What is your favorite restaurant?
Miso is a Japanese Restaurant in Stoke-on-Trent. It is my favourite place to get Asian food. I enjoy their Miso soup, sushi, bento boxes and sesame ice cream.
The restaurant is on London Road in the town of Stoke upon Trent and there is limited parking but there are three hours of parking at the local superstore. The restaurant is upstairs at the moment as I think the downstairs area is due to be refurbished.
The food is tasty and plentiful, it’s about mid range for cost. The plum wine or sake costs a bit more but you can have cheaper drinks.
It’s interesting that Miso was mentioned in one of Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club books. It must be good to get such recognition.
The garden is starting to bloom. The pear trees were in blossom a few days ago, and the cherry tree has come into flower over the last couple of days. Over in the hedge a plum tree is blossoming too.
The only trouble is it’s windy and as yet I haven’t seen any bees or insects about. I hope they get to the nectar before the petals blow away. If I’m going to get any fruit this year the trees need pollinating. Fingers crossed for the crop.
Sitting in the dark watching TV, the cat decided to jump up on the back of the chair. So I put my camera in selfie mode. I don’t look too good but I couldn’t focus in on the cat easily. She looks like she’s a bit unsure about the whole caper!
I’m busy trying to sort out some paperwork today, but I’ll be back later. I should get some photos in the garden of cherry and pear blossom if I get time.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I’m out of my studio, and I’ve lost my partner, but I don’t want to give upon life just yet. I’d like to future proof my life, make it more stable again. I don’t know how I’m going to do that but I’ve got to try.
I’ve always said I want to be around when Halleys Comet comes back. That’s not till 2061! I know it’s a big ambition to last such a long time, but why not? I’ve got to have some goal, yeah, the next ten years will be hard but I want to last longer than that!
Another semi abstract digital drawing that popped upon my Facebook memories, long enough ago that I can’t remember the apps I used.
I’ve noticed that if I draw profiles of faces I usually draw them facing left. That might be because my right hand might obscure the drawing of they faced right. I did ask some other artists and concluded the left handed ones draw profiles facing right? But the sample size (3 or 4 people) is far too small to draw an accurate conclusion. I also draw horses heads and other animals facing left. I do wonder why.
Artist ‘stuff’, paints, paintings, canvases, brushes, boxes, sketch pads, heaters, all my ornaments on the mantelpiece. Carrier bags. I’ve never been this cluttered. Some of its going to have to go. But it’s cheaper than renting the studio. I not letting many people in till I sort it out! But it’s storage not hoarding (yet!)
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
Three cats, birdsong, books.
My family is my cats, they keep me company, amuse and irritate, sometimes in equal measure. They are loving but also bonkers. Chasing each other around the house, up and down stairs, jumping up and sleeping on my chair when I’m out of the room.
Today I heard birdsong from the garden, the sun was shining and the wind had settled down, suddenly a blackbird started singing loudly. The song was thrilling, musical, lyrical. Complex and melodic. Blackbirds songs increase in complexity as they get older. It was beautiful.
Finally I’ve included books. I bought back some lovely art books from my studio. One is about Women Surrealist Artists, another about The Faery Garden by someone called Beatrice Phillpotts. There are more, images from Nasa about space exploration, micrographic images of plants, and other books.
These five things are everyday things that bring me great happiness.
All that’s left is a small bag of rubbish. My studio was a small space but I fitted a lot in it. Now my living room looks like one of those TV programmes about hoarders! I didn’t realise how much space it would take up and a lot of my paintings have gone to a friend’s studio for a while. I’m going to have to learn to throw things away. It’s not an exciting photo but it means a lot to me. Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford to go back. I’ve got to have some hopes!
Mallaband-Brown