Writing my Manifesto

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I decided to place some text in my writing while I actually decide what I want to put in my college manifesto, (sometimes you see pieces of Latin put in a document so you can tell how much space your writing will take up) . It has to be about me, to explain what I should be doing to support myself as an artist and illustrator and also how I can support other artists. So I intend to look at things like a Universal income for all. I know some countries are trialling it.

I know some artists who are on very low incomes who have had a slight uprating of their benefits, which has helped slightly, but are still living a hand to mouth existence.

I want to look at what is happening to arts in schools. Perhaps I should be doing workshops with pupils? The lack of spending on equipment, especially in the poorer schools, must be having a detrimental affect on children’s lives.

Finally, I have to think about supporting more community arts groups. I’m determined to support the Arts in a more productive way. Perhaps using my skills as an illustrator. We will see…

In a bubble

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I’m tense all the time. My hubby went out walking today with some friends and I stayed in ostensibly to get some college work done but really I want to keep away from possible infection. I don’t like it though. I’m constantly tense. I get pains in my shoulders from holding them tight all the time. I’ve tried to book some physio because I’m getting pain from a pinched nerve in my arm and shoulder…  But there are no free appointments. Hubby says he will pay, but I’d rather trust the NHS than go private?

So the tension continues. I’ve even found myself rocking backwards and forwards to comfort myself. I don’t think I’m depressed just physically reacting to the pandemic. Stay safe everyone.

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Mirrored cat

Playing with photo editing in my layout app. When you have a subject like a cat you can duplicate and mirror the image and make something interesting happen. Choose to mirror half the face and you end up with a strong stare. I could have made her nose look more natural, but I prefer the odd symmetry this photo gives me.

Pattern,USK S-O-T prompt.

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My friends at #uskstoke know my love of pattern so today’s prompt was for me! It took me a while because its been busy. I drew my cat in front of the sofa which has a bright throw over it. I didn’t get the pattern perfect and I had to rely on a quick photo to catch the cats face. Anyway I enjoyed doing this.

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Life drawing practice

I was looking for a spare sketchbook today and these drawings fell out of one of my old ones from about 3 years ago? They were quick sketches in a life drawing exercise. We were all given pages ripped from an old paperback and some pastels. Then we drew the model quickly when he arrived. One was just using shadows, another was trying to draw a mirror image, and left handed, plus different poses. I’ve edited the pictures to prevent embarrassment.

We have been including text in my illustration course. I’m glad I found these. Given me new ideas!

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Brollies at the ready

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After a good, mostly sunny, day the weather forecast is talking about more thunderstorms tomorrow. I have my brollies ready as we might be going out. However I won’t be out in a storm. The safest place then is your car. It acts as a Faraday cage an will direct any lightening around the car body and safely away to Earth. Don’t shelter under trees in thunderstorms and don’t have your brollies up. The point at the top can attract lightening. If you can’t get away you are supposed to hunker down low in a ball if possible with your back above your head if that makes sense? See real instructions! I’m trying to remember old information. X

Portraits from Webinars

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I’ve started sketching people when I’m in webinars with them. It’s usually just a quick doodle. Most of the webinars are course work for college and I have my mic and camera off. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to draw people. It gives me a chance to draw new people at a time when I don’t get to see many of them. I’m keeping my hand in doing it.

Cloud bird?

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It was high up in the sky, a cloud shaped like a bird? No shaped like a white dove. A dove of peace.

All around the world people looked up and saw it. The symbol of peace.

We saw it one evening, then again the next day. It was happening everywhere. People were posting images on the Web. On visage journal and quick telegraph!

The government’s didn’t like it. They asked their troops and scientists to investigate. Look at the occurrences. Telescopes were trained on each cloud. Radar and radio telescopes. No sign of a reason. It was a mystery.

A week after it started it ended. People saw Elephants and crocodiles in the clouds, turtles and Teddy bears. But no mote of dust or speck of mist became a dove of peace. People started to miss them. Fights broke out between neighbours, children cried. The world had lost magic. Sadness flew round the world. Maybe one day there woukd be an answer.

Garden today

Just when I think the plants can’t get bigger we get torrential rain and they grow! And it’s hot, they are happy.

I think our back yard is full. The hanging baskets are pulling the old fence down. But I turn round and my hubby has snuck an Ash tree in! I love it. I hope some of it survives into the autumn. I will continue to post pictures as it grows.

We even had three ripe blueberries today.

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Green man?

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My morning glory plants are doing well. Not flowering yet though. They are in lots of places, but I particularly like the ones in this ceramic head I made years ago. It’s survived for about twenty or thirty years as has the female one further on up the yard… I’m not sure what colours will be on the plant. Looking forward to it.