New paintings and regular art updates.
This was our garden about ten years ago. The trees are a lot bigger now and there is a lot more shade. There is a buddlea that is touching the side of the house about the quarters of the way up. The picture is an acrylic on canvas. It’s a bit blurry I’m afraid. I took the photo at my sisters house and was rushing when I took it.
I painted it in situ, sitting on a garden chair and holding the canvas so I had to paint speedily. It’s about 12 x 8 inches, so not very big.
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Two sketches. One yesterday at Astle Park traction engine rally, I drew this at the end of the day when all the vehicles has left the show ring except for this miniature traction engine. I could have just taken a photo but as it stayed still for quite a while I drew instead.
The second picture was drawn outside but then we went into the restaurant as we were being bothered by wasps. I took a photo of the drawing while we were inside. I didn’t realise it was so dark in there with a blue tone to the lighting. I adjusted it with a photo editor. It shows how long it took to get served, the place was really busy. The food was very nice though.
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I was playing with the masks you can use on Facebook and found one that turned you into a tiger. Then I decided to see how my face would look with one side mirrored. It looked interesting.
Today I was out at a traction engine rally. I had to take a photo of the big cat that was part of its decoration. I think he’s a lion.
But the image reminded me of something. Especially around the eyes…. I feel like saying Snap!
I’m in a bit of a quandary. I’d been asked to join a team to design a piece of art for an art project. I didn’t decide to submit my own application because I haven’t had the experience of putting in a proposal. I came up with an idea, but it hasn’t been accepted. What has happened is that someone else has come up with the ideas and I think I might be asked to paint them. I want the project to succeed and this is a community project so I need to be more understanding and co-operative even though my ideas are not being listened to.
I’m undecided as to whether to go ahead. The submission is tomorrow and I’ve just been asked to come up with a whole section of artwork, not my design. I’m having ideas suggested to me that don’t fit the brief. Ah well, I need to chill and try and come up with something.
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Digital drawing. Playing with the idea of being struck by lightning.
I used a sketch app with various pens. In this case I had to overlay different pen tools like a sparkler pen or a crackleur one. They gave too much texture so I tried smudging the marks, giving an out of focus look, then building up again with the crackling surface and then using a black spray can pen to take out some of the marks. I posted this on Instagram, but used the clarendon edit on that which gave the image a slightly blue tinge. I’ve posted both versions so you can see the slight difference that makes.
I still feel ill but I was pleased to go to the Art Lunch held at the Etruria Warehouse today.
A lovely lunch was organised by my friend Chris, with mostly vegetarian options. One thing that was really unusual was beetroot hummus. This was made with boiled beetroot and potato with walnuts, all whizzed together with garlic and a bit of vinegar. You could use lemon juice instead.
Sitting in the sun listening to musicians, with a beautiful lunch. Lots of cups of tea. Birthday cake because a friend is due to celebrate his birthday. Plus drawing some of the people who came. It was great fun. Both of us have come home exhausted but I’m glad we went.
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The hanging baskets were fine last week but when we came home two of them were upside down on the ground. The screw they had been hung on had given way under their weight and with heavy rain they had collapsed down onto the ground. Now they are hanging forlornly lower down the fence. They might grow and recover. I’m feeding them and watering them. Anyway the photos are of the growth of the other ones. Some are doing better than others. I really need to dead head them (take off dead flowers). It will have to wait till I feel better.
Here’s some patterns I did from them…
One thing I’ve missed this year is life drawing, but I’ve been too busy to go to my usual group and things were just happening at the same time. So I’m looking to go to another group perhaps.
This painting was done in watercolour several years ago. I’d been doing life classes and decided to exhibit some of them at Burslem School of Art before it was taken over.
I felt really please with the interest in the show and was amazed when one person wanted to buy 10 of them. Other people also wanted the same pictures but we decided the person wanting so many of them could have them. But at the end of the exhibition it turned out he didn’t have the money to pay. I was so disappointed and felt very let down.
Life has a tendency to do things like that. You just have to roll with it.
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My world is full of stuff
it’s mainly layers of paper.
Carefully stored in piles.
I might use that photo as an inspitation,
For a painting or a drawing,
I might need that statement,
I might read that book
Eventually.
But piles of stuff turn into columns,
Columns start to tower over you.
Idea. ” I’ll tidy up”.
Trouble is you have to deconstruct.
Build new towers to winnow out stuff.
So,
Some stuff to burn or shred,
Some stuff to give to charity,
Some stuff to read,
Some stuff to pile back up,
till I find space on a bookshelf……
I’ll just go and lie down in a darkened room.
This is my kind of pottery. The beautiful contrasting colours and patterns really appeal to me. This was in the Gladstone pottery museum last year, in the bathroom display section.
If I had it at home I would use it as a fruit bowl. There seems to be a bird or a parrot in the centre of the bowl. Beautiful piece.
Mallaband-Brown