New paintings and regular art updates.
I’m swimming in a sea of loss
Dashed against rocks
Spinning in a whirlpool
With weeds tangling my feet.
Around me are grey souls
I don’t recognise them
But they reach out to grab me
Hands come close
Trying to drag me down
Must try and float
Look for the surface light
For the blue sky
For a rescue boat.
Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was public. I did two versions of public baths, a sketch and then added a digital filter. Not sure which is best, pretty scrappy. I’m trying to keep going despite recent events.
The plants are turning red in places, golds too. The rushes by the lake have dark heads. We are just starting to head into autumn. I took a photo through the glass on the balcony of Westport Lake Cafe. The cafe is a few meters above the lake. It is curved wood like a boat standing on massive metal legs. It is built into a slope because of the way the land falls away. The entrance is at ground level on the side opposite the lake. There is a white curve in the just above and to the right of the middle of the photo. That’s a reflection. Not sure what caused it.
What is it? Speckles and brown curves, white outlines and blue grey centre?
It’s my empty hot chocolate cup, duplicated, twisted, cropped.
Looking at things, and seeing something interesting in them can be quite exciting. Putting things together in a new way can create something new.
Taking my mind off things. I drew a series of spirals then filled them in with different colours usin metallic and non metallic felt pens. Using the colours in sector’s around the spirals in contrasting colours. It took me an hour, and gave me some relief to how I’m feeling.
Trickle down economics, the latest big idea of our UK government. Lift the cap on bankers bonuses, reduce taxes for the rich, reduce national insurance that will affect the tax burden more on the richest than the poorest (if you don’t earn enough to pay tax or NI in the first place cuts won’t affect you, you get zero benefit). Cut corporation tax for the richest. Our Prime minister, Liz Truss, says she wants to increase productivity whilst previously calling UK workers lazy and saying people must work if they can (in a gig economy). She says she doesn’t mind being unpopular! They have reduced the income if the poorest people on benefits. We are the sixth richest country in the UK and yet we have thousands of foodbanks where people have to depend on donated food. This idea is madness.
The cat just came in, had some food, then collapsed in a heap on the floor, snoring loudly. He’s placed himself in the way so I will have to step over him when I go back to bed (came down for a drink). He can relax anywhere. Meanwhile the middle sized cat is sleeping near my feet and the small cat just came in and ran upstairs after having some food. I think turning the kitchen lights on signals to them I am up and about.
On 24th of February this year Vladimir Putin said he didn’t want to annex parts of Ukraine 🇺🇦, and yet now he’s trying to set up referendums to get the areas he’s taken over to vote to be absorbed into Russia. He can then threaten Ukraine more if they try and take those areas back.
Meanwhile victims of Russias torture and killing are being found in the areas in the North East of Ukraine that have been liberated. Innocent civilians that had their hands bound behind their back and were shot in the head. Or the survivors that were beaten or electrocuted. The loss that they and their relatives must feel must far outweigh any normal grieving? The world is awful. May this terrible war end soon.
#bandofsketchers prompt today is Private, with feelings of sadness. I want to just hide myself away, but there is a chink of light as I peep through the curtains. I will gradually try and get out again, but for now, I want the curtains closed.
When you lose someone it is complex and confusing. Especially when it is a sudden event. First there is disbelief, and that keeps flooding back. I keep wanting to talk to the person who is gone. Then I swear at them! Angry with them. Asking why did it happen? It’s unbelievable and shattering. Everything is on hold, I can’t decide what to do for the best. I’ve talked to lots of people, shared some of my feelings. I hope that’s the right thing to do. Life seems bad at the moment but at least I’m still trying to cope. Sleep is another problem. If you see me here late at night I might just be trying to take my mind off things.
Mallaband-Brown