New paintings and regular art updates.
From 2018, I don’t remember making this collage of blossom against a pastel sky, but thanks to Facebook it just popped up.
I like it, but it feels a bit too diffuse and fuzzy. Maybe the horizon between the two miffored images could have been placed higher or lower so that it became more defined. But it certainly feels watery. I do have fun doing these.
Smallest house in Great Britain, in Wales, is it in Caernarfon? (I’ve just been told its actually in Conway) If I remember it’s one up one down. If you spread your arms out it’s only just a bit wider than them (it’s smaller on the inside). I remember there was a woman called Carole dressed in Welsh traditional costume standing outside. We went in (squeezed in) and were amazed at how small it is.
I wouldn’t be surprised if some flats in big cities are actually smaller than this, although I don’t remember seeing a bathroom in it. It’s on the seafront between the castle and a bigger building than it if I remember correctly. It might be worth Googling it if you are interested. I didn’t realise how long ago it was that we visited it, hence the hazy memories.
Not sure which rehearsal this was. The figures are not recognisable. I must have been bored! Either waiting while the panto stars rehearsed or waiting while pet of a choir learnt their part of some song or other. Looking at it, I must have been using quite thick nibbed pen. Fun to sketch x
Doodle from 2018. I think I’m sharing this again because of Ukraine. Ever more sad news. More death and destruction. More madness. I needed to see something calming and this fit the bill. I could probably filter it and change it to a gold fish in a blue or green pool, but where would the fun be in that? Digital doodle in a sketching app.
Walking around the world museum in Liverpool three years ago, I was so impressed by the travelling exhibition of the Chinese terracotta warriors. Obviously only a few if them were represented in the gallery, but it gave a strong example of the creative and military civilization behind these figures.
There were crowds at the gallery, people shuffled round and many of the exhibits were partially hidden by bodies that strangely mimicked the warriors remaining in China as they stand within the archaeological dig there, rows and columns lined up. Humans used to congregate. They group, they press against each other, travel together . That feeling of community has been lost to some degree because of Covid. Will they ever do the same again? Will we go forward in time to a freedom we do not enjoy now? I don’t know.
Three years ago I was drawing pictures for Inktober. I did do drawings for the whole month. I must have visited my sister and drawn my impression of driving in the dark. That’s something I hate, people driving behind you with their headlights full on. (the two white dots on the drivers mirror) this was from my memory.
Since I’ve been doing an illustration course I have amassed a large collection of drawings and sketches. So many memories. Even during lockdown, I have recorded images. I’m not sure where to store them all!
I decided to reduce the size of my photos (optimise them). I have an anti virus software that does this for me. So I pressed the button and 1852 (or so) photos later the size reduced and I deleted the big files.
But now after clearing all the empty files I have found that they’re all saved under the same date! 18.10.18.
About 2018, hubby and I visited a steam fair at Chelford near Jodrell Bank in Cheshire.
It wad a lovely day out. Lots of country market stalls selling everything from honey to shoes. Lots of mechanical stuff for farmers and people who like to ‘tinker’.
The photo is of a miniature train that was running alongside the main exhibition ring of the fair. We took a short ride on it.
Tractors and steam engines were being displayed. And around the ring were steam gallopers and traction engines, plus food stalls.
Wouldn’t be allowed now!
From ssummer two years ago. A reflection and mirrored image of the canal surface at Middleport. Taken when we went to see the ceramic poppies that were used to decorate the bottle kiln at Middleport pottery. The art work of thousands of ceramic poppies travelled round Britain in 2018, to celebrate the centenary of the end of the First World War in 1918. If I find a photo of the poppies I will share it.
This was my drawing of the Dorothy Clive Garden on 6.5.18. It’s recently reopened but with a booking system so you have to book morning or afternoon slots to visit. There is a self service system at the cafe. I hope we can go one day next week if the weather improves, after a month or more of sunshine we have been having rain for the last few days. Good for all gardens including the Dorothy Clive.
It will be lovely to see different landscapes, beautiful flowers, and peaceful water features.
When you draw a place you are interpreting the world in a different way to simple photographs. That’s why I enjoy it. Trying to tame nature and describe it.
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Mallaband-Brown