Sometimes I go a little abstract, and then I particularly like adding flowing lines and spirals. I guess I’m a pattern lover. This cat painting is acrylic on canvas. I did it in 2008. I do remember painting it but I don’t know if it was ever exhibited, I think perhaps I should have an archive but I never got round to it. I think I can see a hint of of illustration ideas in this. But then Ive always been disorganised. I am thinking of setting up a new webpage which will only be for illustrations so that I can add images that might be for sale, or look into doing tee shirt designs. I’ve heard of places like Redbubble , Spoonflower or Square, is anyone familiar with them?
Tag: Art
Trying to draw part of a painting with felt pens…
I struggled with this. I tried to draw a square for our Orme art group collaboration of part of a Pierre Bonnard painting. I thought it looked OK but when I see the pictures side by side? Hmm. I was drawing with marker pens and felt pens, some of which would smudge, others are permanent. Clearly I haven’t been able to blend things that well and also my drawing is not as delicate. But you can’t draw paint brush marks with a felt pen. They say a bad workman blames his tools.. I don’t know…
Old radio abstract
When I took this photo it was dark and underexposed. I decided to change it with a black and white filter but was going to delete it from my phone. Then I decided to put it through a texture filter, still not satisfied I added a lens flare to the handle. I’ve decided not to do any more to it.
The question is if you had to do something with the original what would you do? Here’s the plain black and white version.
Which do you prefer?
Following on from my last post
Each of these photos was put through the photodirector app I use and also Instagram. I do like the effects but only use a few of them. Some of the filters in Photodirector have to be paid for so I limit my use.
What am I trying for? A pleasant abstract distortion. Perhaps a feeling of movement. I might use a couple of filters, and cancel some of them if they are not working. I just enjoy being creative.
Red
Today’s sketch for #bandofsketchers, the theme is red. Not many trees in this country turn bright red in autumn. I think that’s because we don’t get cold enough weather to force the chlorophyll out of the leaves to turn them to brighter colours (is the red xanthophyll?) long time since I did O level biology!
Anyway these were on the road outside so I did a quick sketch and then filled it in. I’m afraid I cheated as it was so wet and windy so I did use a reference photo to try and get the right colours. Another sketch with permanent markers.
Wooden bottle ovens?
I have just got involved in an Art project. #theStoke2000 project. Artists are being invited to collaborate in painting wooden bottle ovens. These can have plants put in the top of them to use as planters.
Each artist will be producing an image that relates to Stoke on Trent and they will be used as part of a local art trail. I’m thinking of painting a plaque from the Falcon Pottery Works which is just round the corner from where I live. I think I need to get some more paints before we go into lockdown again. When it’s finished I will post a picture of it.
Flutter by
I like messing about as you know. In this case it’s a butterfly drawn with nail polish. I also used some felt pens to fill in the gaps. Yes it’s a bit strange, but I prefer doing this to just throwing the stuff away. At least the nail polish is locked into the paper and not sent off to landfill somewhere.
I will carry on doing drawings with them till they run out. They could be used to do illustrations. I wouldn’t use them in a children’s book! It might give them the wrong ideas and I am careful to apply a bit at a time to reduce fumes.
I did draw with boot polish once as part if a mark making class. It’s amazing what you can do…. Didn’t JMW Turner add mud and sand to his paintings?
No craft stalls
Craft stalls are not happening at the moment but I’m not that good at doing them, but I do miss them. Not only talking to fellow stall holders, but catching the eyes of people passing by and saying hi, hello, how are you?
I’m not good at selling, I get nervous, I don’t want to push. I don’t like being false and over friendly. I could start selling things on line, but they would have to be bespoke, I can’t make thousands of objects.
Currently I’m trying to come up with ideas for a 3d artefact for my college course. I have an idea that I might be able to make or get manufactured. But I need to think about sustainability and ecological issues. Got to do a presentation tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Celtic art illustrations.
Illustrations I did almost forty years ago of pre Christian Celtic art for my thesis.
This is in response to a post on the The Silent Eye by Steve Tanham this morning on Celtic Art. It was very interesting and informative. It reminded me how I was influenced by the patterns they created. It also made me think about the Staffordshire hoarde of Saxon treasure that was found in this area about ten years ago. Similar but different.
The skills of the artesans that made these was immense. In an age that had no technology except for the hand eye coordination of the makers it is incredible what they could make.
Age
Dry skin, wrinkles, aging, it is the culminative effect of life. Very few animals and plants can live longer than 100 years. But trees, for instance Yews, can live thousands of years, some spread out and as the centre dies the outer skin continues to grow. In the case of things like jellyfish, some of them can revert back to a younger version of themselves (not sure of the science). Then there are more complex creatures such as Tortoises which can live over 100 years, another aged animal can be Parrots, they can outlive their owners!
Age is catching up with me. My arms and hands continue to wrinkle, I feel like I’m old in some areas of my body, and still have some youth in other parts.
Mallaband-Brown 