New paintings and regular art updates.
Today Russia bombed towns and cities in Ukraine again. Even Russian speaking cities that were supposed to be safe. The Russians even bombed a shoe factory. My drawing is a poppy for remembering the dead and a shoe in Ukrainian colours. A single shoe, lost by its owner. What stupidity. How long will this violence, which is denied by the Russians, be allowed to go on. Give Peace a chance. Stop the war.
For as many artists that draw and paint dragons, there’s a different style, shape, pattern, technique or colours.
I’m studying an illustration course and my final report is about the mythology and history of dragon illustration. I’m having to find out more about them, from the possible link with fossilised dinosaur skeletons, to medieval bestiaries, to more recent art including children’s and adult fiction that includes either dragon illustrations in the books or on their covers.
Here’s a question. Does anyone know any interesting dragon stories I can investigate? I have Ursula K Le Guin, Terry Pratchett, Anne McCaffery, Cressida Cowell, J. R. R Tolkein, T. H White and other authors. Are you aware of more?
Thanks x
I’m writing this because I’m trying to avoid watching the news about Ukraine again. People are dying. Food and water is running short for Ukrainian people. Russians attacking them are not ‘saving’ them. I just want to cry. I will say it, I think Vladimir Putin is evil, or stupid. Or both. Prosecuting a war because he feels bothered by Ukraine wanting to join Nato, when they didn’t have an application in? Why murder people. Why be so appallingly evil. Stop the WAR. I’m just a little person in the UK, I’m unimportant, but I’m disgusted by what is happening.
Normal life? Hubby watching the TV, we have a small LED light that saves money, the heating is on timed to save money so he’s wearing his body warmer. Curtains are closed to keep warmth in. We are not in trouble but we are being cautious. We haven’t lit the gas fire fir two years but have a small portable oil heater instead. Todays #bandofsketchers prompt was normal life.
A strange looking dusk with red on its head. We only saw one of them. I don’t know what kind it is but I think it must be a male one. If there ever was an ugly duckling could this be it? No I’d say an interesting one! Medium sized, pink footed, friendly!
#bandofsketchers prompt yesterday was hero’s and heroines. This is Heroine in PPE. From an image on the Internet. They are real hero’s of the awful pandemic. Hopefully no one will need their help now. X
Why 🇷🇺 Russia?
WHY BOMB A MATERNITY WARD?
Women and children were injured in a Maternity hospital in Mariapol. 🇺🇦 Ukraine does not deserve that. Estimates that 16 or more hospitals have been attacked in the country. I want to swear. People are being promised humanitarian corridors to safety, but some of them have been shelled too. It is slaughter, it is murder. Russians? Are you being attacked? No! Leave your neighbours alone. More than 2 million refugees have fled from their country. I’m disgusted.
This is evil. This is inhumane. Initial reports said women and children died was changed to injured. Even so hospitals should not be bombed!
How can this continue? Millions fleeing a European country, desperate but defiant. Ukraine is still being bombarded by a bully. Women and children and the elderly are trying to escape. They have suffered dehydration and lack of food and power to get out if the country. In Ukraine the temperatures with windchill are due to be between minus 13 and minus 20 degrees Celcius. How can anyone survive in a basement with shells falling around them with nothing to give heat, no way of heating food, no fresh water. The corridors that Russia are setting up lead citizens into Russia or Belarus. Why would you want to move to your aggressors country? This is so difficult, we sit and wait for the next move and the next. This needs to calm down, not be further inflamed. Stop the Madness Russia, Stop the WAR! 🇷🇺 🇺🇦
Cygnet under the weeping willows at Westport Lake this weekend.
A Cygnet is the name of a young Swan, this will be one from last spring. It’s white feathers are starting to come through. As it moults after winter it should lose the brown feathers and become fully white. Like in the story the Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson, where the duckling is in reality a young Swan.
I wanted to feed the wild birds while I was there but the Wildlife Trust are not selling bird food. There is bird flu in the country and when they come together to feed it can spread between the geese and ducks and swans, moorhens and coots. So sad to see. Hopefully they will be OK and the population will recover soon.
Sunflowers and blue leaves, abstract pattern. Waiting for a resolution, no sign of peace or compromise. Women and children, old men and women try to escape. But their routes are snared with artillery and arms. Meanwhile the world waits for what? Who can guess… Time flies, slowly. Only a few days feels like a month of Sundays. I’m starting to avoid the news. So bleak. So much pain but so much bravery. My country? Keeping refugees out! Talking about security breaches instead of desperate humanity. Bean counters. May they be told to help instead of hindering. Me.. I’m just sad and confused.
Mallaband-Brown