Patterning again

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Black and white drawing I decided to colour in. It reminds me of the paisley pattern that used to be on the underside of my Eiderdown as a child (like a duvet but thinner and filled with eider duck down). The covering was either silk or nylon? Some sort of shiny material. The Eiderdown was quilted if I remember, to stop the filling moving around and going lumpy. It had the Paisley pattern underneath and a dark green top if I remember. I think that’s what got me into patterns in the first place. There were so many more a few decades ago. Not minimalist like now.

Looking and strolling hand in hand.

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Aren’t the backs of people interesting, watching a woman looking at a steamroller, or a couple walking along the canal towpath, hand in hand.

When you try and sketch figures quickly you have to remember their positions because they are sometimes moving. It’s easier when they stand still for a while, but that doesn’t mean they are motionless. Heads move from side to side, or the weight moves depending on which leg they are standing on. Then the arms move, hold, wave about. A few quick lines are not always enough, but I try.. Two or three minutes tops for these, then colour added later.

Celebratory Mouse Mousse

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My friend bought me this mousse Mouse today from a Greek cafe as a gift. I was going to keep it till tomorrow but then I got the news that I have got my painting in the local art exhibition and I just had to celebrate.

He had (yes he’s gone) a chocolate sponge base, chocolate mousse topping and mouse shape, a shiny chocolate ganasche covering and chocolate buttons for ears and a tail. Then two white icing dots for eyes. It was very sweet to look at and eat.

We will go back so I can try some of their savory food. I fancy a Greek salad and stuffed vine leaves.

News!

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The Conservative Party are in turmoil. Several tory party cabinet members have resigned today. I won’t go into details, but the prime minister has been found to be telling untruths about certain issues. Watching the house of commons at Westminster today it was clear that he is unable to offer sincere apologies that are believable. He just doesn’t seem to care about either his political party or the members of the public who voted for him. When you watch Tory MPs get up in the House of Commons and tell him to resign you know it cannot carry on. What will happen? Who knows?

Three counties open

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I’m very pleased to say I have had my painting ‘coast’ accepted in the three counties open exhibition in Burslem School of art later this year.

Burslem School of Art is famous for teaching artists their skills in the early twentieth century. I think Clarice Cliff was one of their students. I know the artist Arthur Berry studied there before becoming famous as the potteries ‘Lowry’.

It’s great that a physical exhibition will actually be held this year. I hope many people will be able to come and see it.

Almost full

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My lovely soft covered sketchbook is almost full. The paper in it is thick enough to stop most ink getting through and slightly shiny. I really prefer it to ring bound sketchbooks because you can draw across two pages without the rings and perforated paper getting in the way.

It only has a couple of pages left fir me to draw on. I think this sketchbook won’t just be put away in a drawer but will be treasured (until I start a new one)! ❤️

Sweet

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Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was sweet.

I tried to draw smarties (the British version of m&m’s?) but my shaking arm made for wobbling lines, so they are more like jelly beans perhaps? Then I had the idea of adding reflected colours on opposite sweets, but the colours are too dark. I also wanted to add shadows from various directions, like there was different coloured light illuminating the sweets, so blue grey shadow on one side and turquoise blue on the other. This could have worked better but I used felt pens again. And the sweets are egg shaped! Oh well I tried!

Hair

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I need a haircut! It’s been two years since my last one and my hair is all split ends and straggly. It means that I shall have to have about four inches cut off because I like the length. Its taken me decades to get it this long! Plus I need a fringe cutting back in. These days I look like a dandelion. Very fluffy like an old English shepherd dog when it’s washed. I’m not showing my face, and I’ve added texture to my hair, it’s never been sleek and shiny, but as I get older it had got more like hay!