New paintings and regular art updates.
I think I need a walk in a calm wood, something gentle and cool. A place with clear paths that are not overgrown and tangled. Somewhere for quiet thought and calm moods.
We may be going soon en plein Air to draw or paint at the Dorothy Clive Garden out in the countryside. I look forward to it, the quarry garden is depicted in the photo and it is a tranquil place for a visit.
The cat sits outside
In the dark
By the door
Looking at me.
I call her in
She ignores me
Her head starts to move
But not to come in.
She’s watching a moth
She’s sitting on the pavement
As cars drive by
Calmly watching
Flitting moths.
I shut the door
Give up
She’s happy.
When we sang at Bethesda Chapel last weekend this brilliant banner that my friend Kate had painted was on display hanging from the balcony.
The banner depicts an octopus, whale, fish, a ship and people. I meant to ask what it was meant to represent because I don’t think it was created for the Animal Apocalypse show, but it certainly was appropriate. It is painted in a lovely style, slightly abstracted. The colours matched in well with the colour scheme of the Chapel. Maybe it will be brought out again if we do another performance. X
The debate over politics continues. Boris Johnson has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party but remains as a caretaker Prime Minister for the next three or four months while his Members of Parliament decide who they want to select as their new leader. Several ex ministers have been suggested and some have even said they will stand. This will be the fourth Conservative Prime minister in six years. They have been in power for twelve.
Why write about this as an artist? Because things are getting worse not better. Cost of living, less rights, more poverty, poorer education. We keep getting told things are getting better? Really, I do wonder?
Cartoon I drew of Boris Johnson last year as a naughty schoolboy, hearing, seeing and speaking no art. It was about the cuts in art teaching and the creative industries. But I think it sort of works for what has been happening recently. Has he ignored or forgotten reports of one of his senior government members caught in a serious case of misconduct. In fact he has apparently also been caught out in several untruths, and today, finally resigned (sort of) as leader of the Conservative party but he hasn’t stood down as Prime minister. He seems to be staying on as a caretaker for the next three months while his party decide who will replace him.
Whether you love him or hate him he certainly is a character. When he was a child he said he was going to be king of the world. At Eton he apparently was displeased by his tutors displeasure with him. He was a leader of a club of students at University who were antagonistic towards poorer students. If you look up his biography you can find all sorts of things that he was involved in that caused problems but there are too many to list. These seem to have carried on into his prime ministership. Anyway things are changing, but no one knows if it’s for better or worse?
Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was soft. I decided to draw a mad soft tortoiseshell cat. It’s just imagined so it might be a bit deformed in shape! Felt pens again..
My friend bought me this mousse Mouse today from a Greek cafe as a gift. I was going to keep it till tomorrow but then I got the news that I have got my painting in the local art exhibition and I just had to celebrate.
He had (yes he’s gone) a chocolate sponge base, chocolate mousse topping and mouse shape, a shiny chocolate ganasche covering and chocolate buttons for ears and a tail. Then two white icing dots for eyes. It was very sweet to look at and eat.
We will go back so I can try some of their savory food. I fancy a Greek salad and stuffed vine leaves.
The Conservative Party are in turmoil. Several tory party cabinet members have resigned today. I won’t go into details, but the prime minister has been found to be telling untruths about certain issues. Watching the house of commons at Westminster today it was clear that he is unable to offer sincere apologies that are believable. He just doesn’t seem to care about either his political party or the members of the public who voted for him. When you watch Tory MPs get up in the House of Commons and tell him to resign you know it cannot carry on. What will happen? Who knows?
My lovely soft covered sketchbook is almost full. The paper in it is thick enough to stop most ink getting through and slightly shiny. I really prefer it to ring bound sketchbooks because you can draw across two pages without the rings and perforated paper getting in the way.
It only has a couple of pages left fir me to draw on. I think this sketchbook won’t just be put away in a drawer but will be treasured (until I start a new one)! ❤️
Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was sweet.
I tried to draw smarties (the British version of m&m’s?) but my shaking arm made for wobbling lines, so they are more like jelly beans perhaps? Then I had the idea of adding reflected colours on opposite sweets, but the colours are too dark. I also wanted to add shadows from various directions, like there was different coloured light illuminating the sweets, so blue grey shadow on one side and turquoise blue on the other. This could have worked better but I used felt pens again. And the sweets are egg shaped! Oh well I tried!
Mallaband-Brown