New paintings and regular art updates.
I am sad to hear the leopard Hotel in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent has closed its doors and is being auctioned off.
It appeared on shows like Britain’s most Haunted TV show. It was very spooky. I was pleased to paint murals there over ten years ago and we were part of a zombie film that was partly filmed in there… Sad day
I decided to place some text in my writing while I actually decide what I want to put in my college manifesto, (sometimes you see pieces of Latin put in a document so you can tell how much space your writing will take up) . It has to be about me, to explain what I should be doing to support myself as an artist and illustrator and also how I can support other artists. So I intend to look at things like a Universal income for all. I know some countries are trialling it.
I know some artists who are on very low incomes who have had a slight uprating of their benefits, which has helped slightly, but are still living a hand to mouth existence.
I want to look at what is happening to arts in schools. Perhaps I should be doing workshops with pupils? The lack of spending on equipment, especially in the poorer schools, must be having a detrimental affect on children’s lives.
Finally, I have to think about supporting more community arts groups. I’m determined to support the Arts in a more productive way. Perhaps using my skills as an illustrator. We will see…
My friends at #uskstoke know my love of pattern so today’s prompt was for me! It took me a while because its been busy. I drew my cat in front of the sofa which has a bright throw over it. I didn’t get the pattern perfect and I had to rely on a quick photo to catch the cats face. Anyway I enjoyed doing this.
X
I was looking for a spare sketchbook today and these drawings fell out of one of my old ones from about 3 years ago? They were quick sketches in a life drawing exercise. We were all given pages ripped from an old paperback and some pastels. Then we drew the model quickly when he arrived. One was just using shadows, another was trying to draw a mirror image, and left handed, plus different poses. I’ve edited the pictures to prevent embarrassment.
We have been including text in my illustration course. I’m glad I found these. Given me new ideas!
X
This popped up on my Facebook memories today, it’s a mural I painted on lining paper on the wall in the Arnold Bennett suite at the Leopard Hotel, in Burslem, Stoke on Trent. It’s about 13 or 14 years since I painted it. It’s based on the Burslem Riot which happened at the same time as other riots were happening in the country about how people were being treated. I think it was organised by the chartists in 1843 (when they were trying to get the vote if I remember right). The riot act was read to disperse the crowd. A man called Josiah Heapy was shot dead by the troops and is remembered as a victim of oppression by the local elite. The main characters in the ainting were all based on people I knew.
Colour is my friend,
It holds my hand
Shines from my eyes
Visits my dreams.
Colours tickle my taste buds,
Get up my nose,
Flirts with my senses.
Colours touch my heart,
Play with my mind,
Cures my blues.
Colours are in me
Around me
Through me.
Are me!
Since urban sketchers challenge today was shadow, I could have drawn something like this. But we are not allowed to work from photos. Also the image needs to be in context, so not just the glass and table, but the surroundings. It makes for more difficult art, you have to think about what you are including. There are Facebook pages you can join and a monthly magazine that shows urban sketching from around the world.
This years annual urban sketchers meet up was cancelled because of the virus. It would have been in Leeds. Hopefully it will happen next year.
I’ve put 13.7.20, but it was actually 13.8.20, thirteenth of August. The prompt today was shadows, this is the view of the plants and buildings in the background from our side window. There may not be many more prompts because we have to come up with them ourselves, I wonder what we could come up with…..
I decided afterwards to add some dark watercolour to it, but then decided to add a few colours too. 
I also changed the date on it. Its still shaded. I think it looks quite nice.
Autumn Acers, painting from when I visited Jodrell bank a few years ago. I was just browsing my photos and thought how nice it would be to sit in their dappled shade this morning. Its already about 27 Celsius inside the house this morning, and hotter still outside . I’m up early to do some college work, but the heat is getting to me. The humidity is the worst thing. We had torrential rain along with another massive thunderstorm last night and more is forecast for today. Luckily I live on a hill, but i thought my car would get washed away last night because the water cascading down the hill started to look like a river. I would not be surprised if properties further down on the flat main road got flooded! So, yes, dappled shade in the garden is what I might be seeking a bit later on when I have a break. I’ll be back later.
Good, I seem to be back to the old fashioned WordPress. I just tried posting on my tablet and everything looked completely different! I think I was in ‘blocks’! Now I have a post you can only see half of, basically this little drawing of a little goose isn’t even showing up unless you press a button to show more. Why? Grrr! I’ve been using WordPress for a couple of years now and I thought I’d got it sussed.
Ah well, sorry to moan.
Mallaband-Brown