New paintings and regular art updates.
Tribute to my lost sister, as a young woman. I promised it but it’s taken months to finish. Perhaps I can finally move on? It sat half done, staring at me. But I feel she is at rest. Art has always been my freedom. I can work through my feelings when I do it. Life has to go on, even though its sometimes really tough.
If you had to change your name, what would your new name be?
I was going to be Samantha, it was one of the names that my parents had considered for me. I suppose that might be the name I would choose? But why would I need to change my name? I hope I never have to.
To change your identity must be a drastic thing to do. I know you can change your name just by telling people, but to be legally accepted don’t you have to do it by deed poll?
Then, there are documents you need to have to identify yourself. Driving licences, energy suppliers, proof of address, background checks for some jobs. Even mortgages or tenancy agreements, or getting married or using the health service.
If you change your name do you tell friends and colleagues? What will they think? Maybe you are trying to get away from someone or somewhere. Life is complicated enough without a change of name. So no I’m not going to change.
I do know people who have changed their names for whatever reason. They were happy to change, but it just felt strange to me. I have accepted the new names but I still think of them as their original names.
The #bandofsketchers prompt today was weather. I want it to rain. I painted silver clouds, then drew over it with felt pen to try and create a bright cloudy looking landscape with rainshowers.
He came in to sleep
Curled up, paw over nose
Relaxed, snoring
Sweet curves and purrs
Paws stretch,
Twitch and flick
Ears turning fast
What does he see?
In his rushing dream..
A do not disturb sign
Needed to let him sleep
My pallette wrapped in cling film. I did a bit more on my painting today but my arms are aching and I want a rest. If you wrap your acrylic paint up to keep the moisture in it will stay soft and you can carry on using it. It saves wasting it. This is a trick I didn’t really know about until a while ago, I’ve always let my paints dry on the pallette so I’m glad I learnt about this x
Tuesdays#bandofsketchers prompt – sound. I went abstract with this, drawn in felt pens then adjusted digitally in photodirector. It represents the cacophony of sound someone with hearing difficulties suffers. Hearing aids boost hearing but also don’t differentiate sounds.
Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?
I was about ten when I read Old Yeller written in 1956 by Fred Gipson.
I only have a memory that it was set in the southern area of America, maybe texas. There’s a boy who is helping run a farm and he takes in a stray dog which he calls old Yeller because it’s yellow coloured. I think they had adventures, a bit like Lassie. But eventually the dog was bitten by something that had rabies and was infected. The boy had to decide what to do and I can see in my mind that the dog has to be tied to a tree so it can’t bite anyone. Eventually it has to be shot. I can’t remember what happened next, but I do know it really upset me. I guess that’s why it’s stuck in my memory. I think Disney made a film of it, but I don’t remember seeing it. I do think the book cover had a yellow dog, like a labrador on it.
I enjoyed other books, Nancy Drew, The Hardy boys, and books on myths and legends, but Old Yeller really stuck.
Collage of my dove of peace based painting. The dark line across the centre makes it look like the birds are reflected in water. I did this to show my support for Ukraine.
Hearing that the Russians have destroyed a dam in Ukraine makes me wish for peace even more. Villages are flooding and water levels are rising. The hydroelectric plant there has been affected anf the Nuclear power plant nearby is also at risk. This is awful. Inhumane, violent, innocent citizens will lose (have lost) their homes. It’s also an ecological disaster, destroying habitats that were homes to animals on the delta. How can Putin be so evil? Those responsible need to be bought to account. Give peace a chance.
See cloud man fly
As he floats by..
Oh my word! It’s been so dry,
There’s been no rain, I wonder why?
The clouds do roll across the sky
But squeeze them, they stay dry.
Most of May it wasn’t wet
Or if it was then I forget…
From sun-up to sunset!
High pressure domed
Across us roamed
Mild dry air
No rain to spare.
Just high uv
Sunburn you see
So let it rain
And rain again!
On my walk this morning I found this forlorn bench. It was just on a path on a patch of grass. I didn’t take a photo of its view, because it overlooks a car park and then some old buildings.
I did notice a Magpie (hello Mr magpie, how’s your wife is a saying to dispel sorrow caused by a single Magpie) and a little pied wagtail nearer the fence. I wish the street furniture was a different colour. The bench, bin and fence look somber in black, although that matches the birds. Maybe a nice shade of blue or red? Who knows….
Mallaband-Brown