Helium balloon…

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What to do?

If we let you free..

You will drift up..

And up….

Taking your helium high!

High pitched gas.

Into the sky….

Your plastic body

Metallic coloured bag

of odourless atoms..

A death trap for fish

Or other animals

If we release you.

So thanks friend,

We will wait

For your gift to deflate.

Hisssssss….

Then dispose of it.

Responsibly…

Sitting listening…

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It’s quite cool today, so after going out for lunch, then coming back and doing a bit of gardening I’ve come into the relative warm (about 18.5°C) and I’m sitting listening to the Radio.

I’ve decided to try and keep the heating off as much as I can. It’s getting expensive and it’s not that cold yet.

It’s grey and showery outside. We had to cut the hedge back because our neighbours need access on the path round to their back yard and it runs past our garden. The trouble is one set of shears handle is coming loose and is held on with gaffer tape! When you cut branches with them they bend inwards so you can’t always get a good purchase on the twigs.

So anyway, the hat in the drawing was given to me by a friend when it was raining last week. I meant to take it back but forgot. Just dumped it on the pile of books by the front door.

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Tonight’s drawings

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I briefly went to an art city presentation tonight. It was good to see some old friends. I couldn’t stay for the whole thing but the number of people there was impressive.

I had my sketch book with me, so decided to do some urban sketching. The first drawing was hard because I started drawing the front view of  a man’s face. The trouble was he made eye contact! I couldn’t tell him what I was doing, so it was a case of dodging around and quickly glancing over at him. The other figures were easier, I round it hard to indicate it was crowded so drew partially obscured figures in the background to try and make it more realistic.

The second drawing was done in a large area where there were tables and chairs set up and a screen for video to run. I looked around and spotted this paper lantern, full sized, bull at the back of the room. I liked the way the structure contrasted with the regular bricks and metal grills. What an amazing lantern!

 

Pottery results

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These are my pottery pieces from the BCB, British Ceramic Biennial that is on at the China Halls at Spode until this weekend.

The two pieces are an ironic and unique take on staffordshire pottery flatware (with flat backs).

The first is a boat with Trumps head in it, feet in boots or socks heading in the other direction. There is a happy lion on the prow and the crucifixion at the top with people weeping on either side. Barrels and boxes are piled up at the stern where a white sale flaps in the wind. A monkey sits above the prow watching the scene. I named it Trump mania.

The second piece is called OMG, a couple stand caught in horror as something catches their eyes. Their hands over their mouthed in shock. I enjoyed adding details to the figures. I realise these are not the run of the mill figures, that is why it was even more fun.

Hoe Down?

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Who fancies coming to a Barn dance up at Penkhull village hall, Stoke-on-Trent on 19.10.19? It’s in aid of the annual Penkhull Mystery Play, next due to happen in July 2020. A huge community project that includes theatre, creative writing, music and FUN !

There’s dancing and spinning, hornpipes and all sorts of mad frivolities at the Barn Dance. Plus pie and peas (and a vegetarian option), oh and yes there’s a real ale bar.

The band is the Shropshire Heroes and the caller is the inimitable Baz Parkes who cajoles and explains the steps of the dances, gets the right numbers of people to join in and encourages people to miraculous efforts, including me!

So if you happen to be in Penkhull on the 19th and you are feeling energetic, why not come along?

Singing workshop

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Quick sketch of people singing at a workshop today up at Penkhull village hall.

We sand lots of autumn songs, including old English songs and a poem set to music by the poet Lemn Sissay and musician Anni Tracey. We also sang a French song written in 1945 and translated into English called Autumn Leaves. It was by Joseph Kosma and Johnny Mercer with arrangement by Greg Stephens.

We got on really we and had a lovely time. The teachers Kate and Penny were very patient and helpful. I enjoyed it

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But I can sketch….

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It’s day 5 of the one inch drawing challenge for October. I decided to draw what’s in front of me. A dining chair with a small box easle sitting on it a canvas with a half painted lion and my snowman mug (just big enough for a decent dollop of decaff coffee). Lots of old paint brushes in the tray of the easle. Books on the floor behind…. I don’t care where I draw as long as I can.

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