New paintings and regular art updates.
Going back to a haven in the sun, a place where I was happy, a home from home. I won’t give you a clue, just a generic photo. I hope the weather will be bright. I might take my paints. Now I need a break, a rest. Somewhere to breathe. To be calm, to listen to water and waves. Cold weather may affect things, I’m hoping not too much. May not be about much this coming week.
After extending my exhibition at the Waiting room gallery it finished today. I’ve collected the paintings and one at least is going to a new home.
It was a pleasure to work with Frank Foy and Allison Dias who run the gallery. Despite unforseen problems they were very helpful and I look forward to working with them again.
The waiting room gallery is welcoming to artists, it is reasonably priced and they have good knowledge of art. Visit if you can.
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Seen on a walk in 2018.
Dont let me in,
You walled up your heart,
there is a gate
But you locked it shut.
Tight chested
I sat, waiting for you
Asking to be let in,
But you said no.
You said go.
You locked me out
And threw away the key.
I was looking for an image to paint yesterday and found the oldest green man that has been found. I think it’s French, or what became France, as it said it was 1st or 2nd century. I painted it yesterday and it was in the craft fair although it didn’t sell. I think I will do a bit more work on it…. 
why? Because I think I’ve made it too green. Which is strange as its a green man….
A shout from outside. My hubby had gone outside to feed the stray cat….
There’s a problem, a catastrophe.. The pear tree had blown over in the heavy rain and wind we have been having…
The tree has been gradually leaning more over the last couple of years, and each crop of pears has grown. Till this year we counted over fifty pears. But that of course pulls on the top of the tree.
We had propped it up with some wood, but that had snapped in half. What to do? We tried using an old exercise bike near the roots…
We also tried to pull as many pears off the tree as possible as they were now in reach. My hubby normally shakes the pears down which may be why it’s leaning!
Finally we used the step ladder to prop it up a bit more. I don’t know if it’s salvageable, the trunk is split. It’s a shame if it has to go as the pears are very tasty. They were just starting to ripen, but the weather has been mad. We weighed the good pears (disposed of the split one’s). 11.7 kilos. Not sure what that is in pounds but I think it’s around 24 pounds.
I’m going to share some of the crop with friends….
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I think this is my last painting for the craft fair, I’m getting too tired. This owlet was on a calendar and I couldn’t resist painting it. I think it is so cute. X
I find painting feathers and fur difficult. You can’t paint every strand of hair, tuft of fur, or every feather but if I can get a good impression of the details, that will have to do.
My cat on top of the microwave, despite putting stuff on it to try and keep him off, and a cucumber it courgette growing in the kitchen window ledge. It’s like a greenhouse in there. Grown from a random seed planted a couple of months ago. I saw the flower yesterday and it was open this morning! The cat behind it is a metal doorstop, I put it there agas ago and liked it so left it there.
I think I must be content with chaos.
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For as long as I can remember, if we see a big, hairy, spider in the house, we call it Boris. Nothing to do with politics, its kind of a tradition. I don’t see him very often, but as the nights cool down he tends to scurry across the floor (might be a she?). I think there is a mating season for spiders. The only problem is the cats, they are quite expert at catching spiders (mainly in the bathroom) if Boris was to be spied by one of the cats, we’ll I wouldn’t give him much of a chance of escape. There is something about the look on the cats face, concentration, anticipation, that does not bode well for any spiders in the vicinity.
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The British Ceramic Biennial has some hands on workshops that are free and open to the public. Last week I made a flat back pot using a mold of a boat with Donald Trumps head in profile and a pair of boots walking in the other direction. There is also a lion with a union jack, a monkey, and other figures and plants. There are other pots shown above. Each of them has been designed by an artist, so they are possibly controversial, maybe a bit tongue in cheek.
Today I painted glaze on my pot that had been fired. I didn’t remember to take a photo of it, but I have taken photos of some of the larger pieces now they have finally been fired.
I’m glad I had a go, it’s definitely worth a visit.
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I’ve got to get on and paint. I’ve been distracted recently. I’m going to get my paints and brushes out tomorrow.
This is a close up of my Holly and Ivy painting that I started a couple of weeks ago.
We live in a world where art can be worth millions or pence, where there is no set price for anything. If you buy a TV they generally are a certain amount of money. If you do a painting of a TV then it seems to depend on who painted it, how well known they are. Whether there is a resale value. It also seems to depend on scarcity and if the person is alive or dead when generally the art is worth more. It’s a funny old world.
Anyway all that said I think art is important and I will keep making it.
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Mallaband-Brown