New paintings and regular art updates.
Decided this is finished, not going to overwork it. I added a moon and its shadow. I wanted to keep the colours fresh and interesting. I liked the idea of tipping it at an angle. We tend to have images of planets on a horizontal plane because that is the way the solar system rotates ‘on the plane of the ecliptic’, but if you were on an asteroid skimming past you wouldn’t necessarily be travelling in the same plane as the planets.
What has eight eyes and whiskers? A Catopuss. When you play with photos you can get some very strange effects. 
This is the original photo, a bit over exposed but cute. He’s got those big eyes that just melt your heart. So OK I just wanted to ost something funny and weird!
Belly dancers at the Heritage weekend at Newcastle-under-Lyme today. This was after the Mock mayor ceremony which went really well considering I was wearing a large white wig and it has the effect of turning me into some sort of old English sheepdog! I delivered my speech on the steps of Newcastle-under-Lymes’ Butter Cross, which is outside the Guildhall. After we had done the performance we walked around the Lancaster building on the other side of the cross. We had to process and I started saying Good Afternoon in a posh voice to everyone to keep up the character of the Mayor. Returning to the Butter Cross we had photos taken with the real mayor. They might follow if they are not too embarrassing.
X
He was a mad cat,
Jumped on kites,
sat in the middle of the road.
Climbed shelves,
ran round the local shop.
Climbed the curtains,
chased dogs
Mad yowling,
Running round at high speed.
Pouncing and preening.
Playing…
Someone was asking for ti’s on how to start drawing today so I gave this response.
Choose good quality things to draw with. If you use pencils try softer ‘b’ numbers not hard ‘h’ ones. It’s nice to see the marks you make. Also choosing a combination of thin and thick nibbed black pens means you can have different sizes of marks. Choose a sketchbook that has at least a hard back if you can. Not too big. That way it’s easier to hold and it doesn’t slump mid drawing. Finally you could practice making marks with them. I started drawing copies of things when I was a child. I chose something I liked. It helps your hand eye coordination. You don’t have to do that though. Everyone will do things differently.
I suppose I could have talked more about what to draw, but I think basic equipment is important. If you draw something but it looks weedy and thin it it can put you off. Like when you use cheap paints. You don’t get a good effect, you can’t really see the result and you might have to scrub at the paper to get the marks to show up.
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In Victorian times Newcastle-under-Lyme was a rotten Borough. The citizens of the town decided to choose their own Mock Mayor and Mayoress. There is a famous painting in the Brampton museum and art gallery depicting the scene. A man stands on the market cross steps with a wooden staff and a horse tail switch. His wife is falling off a donkey. Mace bearers with cabbages on sticks are in his retinue. The town crier and other mock officials officiate.
So me and my hubby were asked to join in and have ended up being chosen to play the mayor and mayoress parts. Then we found out the mayoress was played by a man! So I had to find a dress to fit him. The thing is he suffers badly from anxiety so he took a lot of persuading. The thing in its favour is that he enjoys acting. It takes his mind off the anxiety. It’s because he’s laying a character. It’s hard to explain. If he is just being himself his anxiety is through the roof. But as long as things go OK when he’s acting he’s OK. If I am not there he can’t do things… Anyway that’s just how things are.
The Ceremony recreation is on Saturday. I’m hoping I don’t fall off the steps, fluff my lines, forget where to stand, plus support hubby…… Eek!
I almost missed this today. We were invited up to the bridal suite in the Potbank Hotel to draw the views from the top room. The windows look out over the Spode factory roofs and beyond….
By the time I got there I was very late. I only had 45 minutes to draw. So I drew the view with the iconic Spode chimney first, looking out over Stoke Minster and part of the town hall. Then in the last 15 minutes I drew the cupola? of a building, its prominent as you look over Stoke. Turns out its an old co-op building. I only found out because as I was leaving I bumped into another urban sketcher who had not been able to get there in time. She had done research into what it was.
I might not have done as much as I wanted but it was fun. I would like to go back and do more.
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It’s on again! My hubby shouted from the kitchen. He’d been outside to check round the garden, and found the back light of his bike was flashing. But he’d turned it off after he’d found it flashing earlier. It was one of those multi function lights with different patterns each time you press the button.
Well has anyone got into the garden? I asked. No one can get through the fence, and why would they want to switch a flashing rear light on. I don’t know, he said but I’ve switched it off.
The next night he was checking round the garden again. It’s on again! He said excitedly. Well it must be broken, bring it in. It’s probably got rain in it.
So last night I walked in the kitchen, it was on again. I pressed the button on the back. Eventually it switched off. We went out for an hour and when we came back it was on again!
I know what to do. So I opened it up and loosened the battery, then I put the front lens back in place. As I went to walk away the lens popped off and landed on the floor! It made me jump! The outcome? It’s in the bin!
I suppose it would happen. I decided to do a self portrait….. I seem to do them once in a decade. The last one was a drawing about ten years ago.
I’m not sure if painting myself as a Green woman will work, but hopefully it will compliment the portrait of my hubby as a Green man. I’m thinking of offering to do them as portraits for people who are interested in the pagan world.
I’ll share more as it progresses. X
Al**a play this
Al**a play that,
Al**a lower volume
Favorite tunes
Let’s dance!
Play music
Jump around
Remembering the 80’s
Having fun
How we danced
Remembering a life
Now gone…
Mallaband-Brown