New paintings and regular art updates.
Thursdays #bandofsketchers prompt was chopped. I could have drawn a can of chopped tomatoes, or a tree chopped down. But I wanted to play with ideas so I sketched a loaf chopped in half, I was using the various digital drawing apps that I have on my phone. Seeing if I could import the image between each of them!
Excuse the wrinkly wrist! My friend gave me this Buddhist charm bracelet this week. I’m not a person that believes in superstition, but since I got it things have gone well.
That said I still say “hello Mr magpie how’s your wife” when I see a single Magpie (a friend got me into saying it). I try not to walk under ladders, even if that forces me into the road. And love black cats (They are lucky in the UK). So no I’m not super superstitious, but clearly I do have some latent suspicions!
Anyway I’m wearing the charm, wish me luck! Lol
What do you think gets better with age?
Thinking about this question is a challenge. As I age I know I’m not getting physically better, but I hope and believe that I have better knowledge now than I did in the past. I try and keep up to speed with many things. I would say I’m a generalist, not an expert. My brain cannot take all of that information in, but I can try.
I think you always need to be willing to learn. Why not? Why be afraid of finding things out? It makes life more interesting.
For instance, the images that The James Webb telescope is taking of the universe really interest me. Our eye on the universe has got so much better in recent years. Then knowledge about chemistry might help us reduce or stop some of the carbon dioxide emissions that are causing global warming? Changes in computing and AI might help with human health?
And knowledge should be something we all seek. Having knowledge can give us a personal key to what is going on in the world. Avoiding fake news and fake facts. Being wary of things that are too good to be true (They probably are). There is a lot to sift through. But I think its worth seeking out true knowledge.
He’s still an outdoor cat really. He comes in and snoozes for an hour, but then he goes back out again, on patrol, dozing by the shed, or under the neighbours car. His abscess has gone down now and his eye had opened up again, but he gets into scrapes with other local cats (not our other two). He will always be an outdoor cat really, especially in the summer. He finds places to sleep but they change depending on his mood, on the stairs sometimes, or on our sofa, under the hedge, in the summer house. I love him but wish he was a bit more settled.
Editing a digital drawing that I made in Artrage. I used photodirector to create several variations, then incollage to create a compilation of them so you can see the steps I took.
Does it look like a good portrait? No. Its more of an abstract idea. I could try using this on an actual painting, I will have to decide if I can do it as this is a finger painting again.
Digital drawing of David Tennant from ten years ago. Drawn at a now defunct website called Sketchfu. I’d come in from work and go and draw on line to relax. I’ve always loved the BBC Sci fi series Dr Who and David Tennant in the modern era, and Tom Baker in the classic series were my favourite Dr’s.
A doodle, I liked it, only a simple finger painting exploiting the tools in Artrage.. I might do more to this, but I just left it as it is for now.
I wonder what coming generations will think about how we treated the world they will inherit. Weather forecasts are saying southern European countries will experience the hottest summer temperatures this weekend, up to 48.9°C, about 113°F. About 60,000 excess deaths in Europe were recorded last year from heat related causes. What are we doing?!
So keep your eyes on the world and do your best to cut global emissions. Thanks.
Love of pattern
Shape and colour
Make me happy
Gives me joy.
Intricate design
Swirls and grids
Makes me excited
Somehow lightened
And restored
What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?
Early to bed, early to rise, just isn’t me!
I think my circadian rhythm is out, because over the last few months I’ve gone to bed later and later. Then I eventually sleep for a few hours, before waking up around dawn. Then sadly I look at my phone! Spend an hour or so catching up with videos and messages, before falling asleep again and waking up in the late morning.
I don’t want to be this way, I sometimes need to be up and out earlier, but insomnia and an overactive brain can see me struggling to sleep. It doesn’t help that I have to wear a mask at night to help me breathe. I also do have painful joints and my arm is still very shaky and sore (I sound like a wreck!).
One thing to do is to think the word “the” over and over to yourself. This was recommended by my friend and it works when I remember to do it. “the” is a word with no connotations, it interrupts your train of thought and gives your brain time to disengage (at least that’s what I think!).
Anyway hope you all have a good night’s sleep. Best wishes!
A few years ago I did a painting of the bone and flint mill in Etruria. I exhibited it in a small exhibition and I ended up getting four commissions to paint it again!
I had to give each painting a different name, not flint mill 1,2,3 and 4, but slightly different wordings for each.
I only remember this because the photos appeared on Facebook memories. It shows, I think, that I AM a real artist, just because I’m not doing much at the moment. I have paintings to finish, but dear old artists block keeps biting me in the bum. Things I have to do get in the way. Life gets in the way.
Mallaband-Brown