New paintings and regular art updates.
Tuesdays #bandofsketchers prompt was renaissance. Since the statue of David by Michealangelo has been in the news lately I thought I would try and draw his head. I really need to get some new felt pens or fish my watercolour paints out of wherever they are hiding.
Footrest with paint pawprints. The cat jumped onto my pallette on the way up to sit on this footstool a few years ago. I could have cleaned it off, but it makes me laugh every time I look at it. Luckily it was acrylic paint so it was easily wiped of the cats paws. When I look at the photo now I’m happy I kept it (upstairs covered in sketchbooks now).
How has technology changed your job?
When I first started using technology in art it was at a conference and there was a stand with a digital drawing screen. It was a large flat screen with a stylus attached with a wire. There was a limited pallette and you drew by picking brush sizes and colours. I have always been an artist, but because it was a science based conference no one knew. I started drawing a horse I think and the people on the stand were surprised by what I could do. But I was hooked. As soon as I could get a small drawing tablet I did. I even had a digital drawing I printed off exhibited in a local Open Exhibition because it was not something they had seen before. Since then I’ve got bigger and better tablets, drawing with styluses attached with wires and then wireless ones. Now you can draw on a phone screen with your fingers. I’m glad I went to that conference.
When I was young we used to see
Children’s programmes on tv
Chigley, Trumpton, Camberwick Green
Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb were seen.
Then came the Herbs and a dog called Dill.
Parsley the Lion, I remember him still….
The theme music that we would sing
The Clangers, and Magpie, fun they’d bring
Puppet shows galore there were on TV
Like Stingray and Thunderbirds you’d see.
With Bill and Ben
Wild flowerpot men!
So much to remember from years ago
When I was a child…Memory fast not slow!
How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?
If I can help somebody I generally will. I do think about it though. I have gone out late at night and picked up a friend because she missed the last bus home, I have helped people out even though it inconvenienced me. Why? That’s the way I was brought up. Fair shares, kindness, modesty were things that we had drummed into us. Don’t be selfish, don’t be jealous. We were not perfect, but we could see that if you helped others it makes the world a better place. Yes there is a risk of getting ripped off, but I don’t give money away, I’d rather help.
Talking about scams, a man stopped us in the street outside our house. Can you give me the bus fare to a maternity unit several miles away? I have gone to the wrong hospital in this city and my wife has just rung to say she’s having the baby! Instead of offering money I said I would drive him to the right hospital. Needless to say he turned us down! Strangely another man stopped us with the same scenario a year later. I couldn’t resist offering a lift too, and when he said no I asked him if he had a brother who had the same problem a year ago. He walked away…..
I just came back from choir practice.
We were singing quite a sad song and suddenly things got a bit too much and I found tears in my eyes and rolling down my cheeks. I know I was tired, and my arm was hurting, but I’ve never really done that before. But I stood my ground I could have gone out of the room but I wanted to carry on singing, so I kept my head down, tried to dry my eyes, and kept going.
I’m glad people let me get on with it, I know I would have got even more upset if someone had come over to speak to me and really blubbed! Emotions, it’s bad how they can creep up on you.
Red admiral? Settled on a poppy flower. Internet image, couldn’t find the author. Hope it was OK to base my drawing on it. Sundays #bandofsketchers prompt was Settled. Felt pens again. I loved getting the bright reds and greens, a really jazzy contrast of complimentary colours.
What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?
Play chess better. I don’t understand how people can work out several moves ahead. I only know the basics, I learnt from playing against my father as a child. But I don’t know how to castle and I rarely play. I don’t know where our chess set and board are.
When I watched a film about chess players in the 1970’s I was amazed and impressed by them. But they were protégés and must have had some sort of mathematical minds so that they understood the game in great depth. Then of course computers were introduced which started to beat humans. So I would like the ability to beat a computer like Deep Blue. An ambition I’m sure I will never have!
To flowers
And plants
Geranium, poppy, fushias
Petunias and surfinias
Mounds of green leaves
Hidden tomato plants
Surrounded by scent
Wild and cultivated
Hanging baskets blooming
Like overflowing fountains
I hope summer is here soon.
I am sad to say it’s been too cold for my orchid plants this winter. I have some on a windowsill that have just about survived, but hubby bought me some a month or do ago and the only room was in the kitchen. But it’s drafty in there and the leaves are starting to yellow. I tried not to water them too much in case they started to rot. I think I need to repot them all.
Orchids need orchid medium, not soil, they like their roots loosely potted I think and they grow ariel roots to draw moisture from their surroundings. They also prefer clear pots so light can get to their roots. You are supposed to spray mist on them but I never remember to do it. I must try and rescue them.
Mallaband-Brown