Mural of Burslem Riot

Posted on August 13, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Chartists, Fine Art, Josiah Heapy, josiah Wedgwood, Mural, Painting, Riot actLeave a comment

This is my mural that I painted to commemorate the Burslem Riot in the Leopard Hotel in Burslem.

On 16th August 1842 Chartists from Stoke on Trent and Leek met to fight for their rights to form unions in Burslem town. The police and army were called out and were based at the Leopard Hotel in Burslem with rioters gathered in the street outside in front of Josiah Wedgwoods Big House. The riot act was read in front of up to 4 to 5 thousand rioters. Josiah Heapy, one of the protestor was shot in the head and died instantly. Many of the rioters were also beaten and injured.

You can read a lengthy article in Wikipedia entitled the Potteries riots of 1842 which is very interesting. I really enjoyed painting this in about 2007. Just sad the hotel burnt down in 2022 .

I struggle

Posted on August 12, 2024August 12, 2024 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Awake, Cat, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2028, Insomnia, Meditation, Peace, Relaxation, Thinking, TiredLeave a comment

What brings you peace?

Last night I wanted a peaceful night’s sleep. I was tired and it was hot. I don’t sleep well these days

I tried to do some relaxation techniques but they didn’t work. I tried listening to the radio on low, but no use. Then I came downstairs and put the TV on quietly. Sometimes that works. Finally I found an app that plays the sound of waves, with video up to 11 hours. It promised peace and rest. I must have had it on too loud, I listened for a couple of hours. The only thing that happened was that I nodded off for a few minutes, then the cat jumped on the bed and woke me up again. Argh! Finally I came downstairs again and fell asleep in exhaustion.

Bravery?

Posted on August 12, 2024 Posted in UncategorizedTagged bravery, Facebook, Life, Memories, Poem, Poetry, Post, Safety, Thinking, Thoughts, WordsLeave a comment

I decided to write a poem on a poetry page on Facebook. Here it is.

I would like to be brave and post something here.

But my poems are mostly spontaneous.

An explosion of thought on the page.

My mind dances around thoughts,

Spiralling into nooks and crannies.

Flying across the landscape of my brain.

Hopefully landing safely and intact.

Cat on ledge

Posted on August 12, 2024 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Bedroom, Black and white cat, Buddliea, Cat, Ivy, Life, Sleeping, Trees, Tuxedo cat, Window ledge2 Comments

It was warm in my bedroom last night, so my cat who usually sleeps on the floor next to my bed must have decided to sleep on the windowledge where it’s a bit cooler. The ivy and buddliea growing outside help shade the stairs landing. I need to cut it back but it will be costly. Meanwhile the cat snoozes happily.

Umbrella design

Posted on August 11, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Art, Clarice Cliffe, Design, Fine Art, Murals, Painting, Pottery, the Leopard Hotel in Burslem, UmbrellasLeave a comment

This would have been 17 years old if the Leopard Hotel in Burslem hadn’t burnt down two and a half years ago. I don’t seem to have had much luck with murals. At least three were in buildings that were later knocked down. The risk of being a mural artist I guess is that if they are painted in old buildings they might not outlast you!

Medicine

Posted on August 11, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2027, Doctor, Medicine, nurse, profession, saving lives, skill, vetenaryLeave a comment

What profession do you admire most and why?

I admire the skills and knowledge you need to practice medicine. That’s not just doctors and nurses, but radiographers, sonographers, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational health, and not only those that deal with human health, but veterinary experts and their skills and knowledge that is essential to the care of so many animals. Without these skilled people how would many of us would survive? We would be plunged back into the pre industrial ages or further back in time perhaps to the dark ages, where scam remedies and quackery might take over.

Having knowledge of basic first aid is a good thing too. You never know you might save someone!

Close Encounters

Posted on August 11, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Adventure?, close encounters of the third kind, devils tower, Film, Richard Dreyfuss, Sci fi, Steven SpielbergLeave a comment

In 1977 a Sci fi film by Steven Spielberg came out that I have always loved. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I remember queuing around the block to get into the cinema. The story is of an alien encounter. The characters are all drawn to a place called Devils Tower in Wyoming USA.

It was made with cutting edge special effects. We go on a roller coaster adventure and complex plot line. The story was also written by Spielberg. It’s exciting and fascinating. I don’t believe in Aliens visiting Earth, but I love the story. I’ve watched it several times and Richard Dreyfuss as Roy Neery is the perfect odd ball hero.

The best thing? I’ve just watched it again for probably the 10th time. It cheers me up to see it again.

Insect faces?

Posted on August 10, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged Art, Colour, Design, Fun, Hydrangea, incollage app, Life, Pareidolia, PhotographyLeave a comment

Hydrangea duplicated, green faces seem to emerge from the background of bricks. Pareidolia at large.

Backyard

Posted on August 10, 2024 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Back yard, Colour, Flowers, Gardening, Hanging baskets, Humour, Olympics, Poem, PoetryLeave a comment

There’s not enough space

I can’t get past!

I have to hop over the hose

Skip over the empty pots

Jump into the back door

When I’ve watered it all.

I’m watching the Olympics

Thinking could this be

A new green event?

My art and friends art.

Posted on August 10, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged AI, Art, Artists, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2026, Digital drawing, Fine Art, Painting, Prompt2 Comments

If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

I’ve accumulated a lot of physical and digital art over a lifetime of being an artist. A lot of it is still in my house. I would set up a shop to clear some of it so it could go to good homes. I’m sure friends would do the same.

I realise people like to be clutter free, and now AI is creeping in they could press a few buttons and make something. But wouldn’t it be nice to have a creation made by a human that suits your taste and is created with love and attention? Go on, give an artist a try.