I should be painting.

Posted on October 17, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Blogging, Colours, Design, Life, Pattern, PortraitLeave a comment

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Blank period again. I look at paintings I did years ago and wish I could still do the same work. I dont know where I am going, but I know I can paint.

This portrait was taken from my own photograph and done around 2009? Not sure exactly of the date. I loved doing it, the colours, the puppet, the scarves in the back ground. I’m not sure where it went, I’m sure someone bought it. I havent seen the photograph in a while but I might do something similar.

I do have a couple of commissions and I will do them. I have had a busy time and I get tired.

Sleep

Posted on October 16, 2018October 16, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blog, Dreams, Life, Poetry, Reflections, SleepLeave a comment

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What is sleep, this spider web of thought,

Old choices or soft places? Violence or love?

Never forget your dream until its over then it’s gone.

Reality is there . Belief in normality that is surreal.

Fire and ice, pain and grace.

How we dream of troubles,of happiness of joy of hate.

Integrating thoughts or losing the agony of pain.

Value sleep it is an escape into dreams.

Jodrell

Posted on October 14, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Architecture, Cheshire, Jodrell bank, Life, Radio astronomy, Science, Space, Visitors centreLeave a comment

I still think this is one of the most exciting places to visit. Jodrell Bank in Cheshire. It is a massive structure whuch us dedicated to looking at the universe in the radio part of the spectrum. It has been responsible for some of the mist important radio astronomy since it was built in the mud twentieth century.

The telescope was built by the university of Manchester and is out in the countryside because it was away from the radio frequency noise of cities in the North and Midlands of England.

The complex has a beautiful visitor centre, cafe, lecture halls and science space full of fascinating information about the dolar system, our galaxy, and into the far out reaches of the universe. There is also an amazing arbouretum full of specimen trees and a map of the planet’s. I don’t have all the details or the prices for entry, but if you are ever in the area its worth a visit.

What a beaut…

Posted on October 14, 2018October 14, 2018 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Blogging, Cat, Humour, Life, Photos, Poem2 Comments

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What a beautiful cat, so sweet so cute,

Sitting there on the counter top.

Let me just get my camera?

Where is it, oh over there..

Just a sec, gotta get the settings right,

It’s dark in here so,

400 iso I think…..

Better get the focus right.

Ok, almost ready,

Ah you are a cute cat,

Head rubs and purrs,

Now for the photo. .

Hold still…..

He’s gone….

Barn dance

Posted on October 13, 2018October 13, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Barn dance, Blogging, Dancing, Fun, Humour, LifeLeave a comment

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Just back from our local barn dance to raise funds for the Penkhull Mystery plays. What a blast! I danced and laughed more today than I have done in ages.

It’s great when you get the dances right, but hilarious when you get them wrong! I started with one partner and ended up with someone else. No one knew how to heel toe then do split the willow or something. Talk about confused, the other groups got it fine but could we? The more we tried the worse it got.

Now I’m shattered but happy. During the evening I also won the raffle 4 times so I didn’t take two of them. Madness, then my partner won a bottle of whisky.

The band were great and the caller was patient with us. But we were awful.

Great fun.

She

Posted on October 13, 2018October 13, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blogging, Girls, Life, Mothers, Poem, Sisters, Thinking, WomenLeave a comment

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She may be a drawing, a face, a gaze from afar,

She is a woman, a girl, a mother, a sister.

She has feelings, emotions, can laugh and cry,

She sees you, cares for us, hates war and injustice.

She is equal not more, but not less, she counts.

Women and Girls, Mothers and Sisters

Men and Boys, Fathers and Brothers.

And

Any other genders that present themselves

Human.

Equation complete.

Noises outside

Posted on October 11, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Dark, Life, Night, Noise, Sleep, TiredLeave a comment

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It’s dark outside and I heard clunking noises out there a few minutes ago. I got a torch and turned out the kitchen light so I could shine it through the window Couldn’t see anything. Then I checked the front and back doors were locked. And tried to see through the side window at the front of the house. But staring out all I could see was the padlock on the gate.

Waiting as quietly as possible is difficult when the fridge suddenly starts up when you are trying to listen out for extraneous sounds.

Now I’m nodding off. It’s early in the morning and I can hardly keep my eyes open. I’ve not heard any more noises, except the cats chasing each other.

I can hear my heartbeat in my ear. I really need some sleep.. So I’m going to bed.

So this spooky tale has me going to sleep .. Not spooky at all really…..

Still life set up?

Posted on October 9, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Life, Photo, Still lifeLeave a comment

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Just found this photo…

Was it still life? well it certainly is still!

I see art programmes where all sorts of things are put on display to be painted. I guess you have to use what comes to hand, but sometimes you can be limited by what’s available.

Positive things about this? I like the strong shadows being cast, there are interesting almost double shadows in front of the cups and saucers. I also like the blue cast shadow of the flowers and stems on the wall.

The cups and teapot are mismatched but at least they offer a challenge in getting their shapes down accurately. The vase is good, and the flowers would be nice to paint. But why that old lamp? It’s not switched on, almost an afterthought? Maybe it was used at some stage.

Well I don’t know what else to say, we must all have random photos we don’t remember taking. Like old memories that suddenly spring to the surface. An old face remembered, or a phrase from a song, out of context now so that its meaning and history can only be grasped at.

Fuzzy brain

Posted on October 7, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, Blog, Design, Life, Painting, Reflections, WorkLeave a comment

Finished or almost finished? Not sure. I’ve spent the last two days painting this while having my studio open to the public. In the end you lose track of what you are doing. What you are saying. I can waffle forever but it stops making sense after a while.

I like people to ask me questions about art. But then I get nervous. It’s like a fog descends over my head and I can’t articulate or describe what I mean. I hope my paintings are pretty self explanatory but I still try and explain what I am doing. Artists on TV seem to be able to tell people what they are doing, but I can’t do that. I’m a painter not a public speaker…..

So anyway, I finished this painting today. It’s called mermaid.

Cold

Posted on October 6, 2018October 6, 2018 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Autumn, Blogging, Cold, Humour, Life, Spode, StudiosLeave a comment

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The chill cold of autumn has penetrated Spode studios this weekend, the high ceilings prevent the warm air produced by heaters in each makers studio from keeping the chill air out. As soon as you open your door it escapes like a hot air balloon. If we had our studios in the roof space we might be warmer. The studios are little wooden boxes like hermits cells sprung along both sides of corridors that meander off around corners Some of the studios are open, without false ceilings and these get even colder unless you put industrial sized hot air blowers on. The studios with windows are single glazed with either wood or metal frames. Some have louvers to allow air in. Even when they are closed they let cold air in.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining, just explaining. There are a few warmish spots, like the kitchen if you shut the door.

Each studio that does have a false ceiling also has a layer of insulation above it. So you can actually be warm there…. But walk along the corridor when it’s cold and your breath steams. If you make yourself a coffee in the kitchen it could get cold just walking back to the studio.

One architectural novelty are the curved, almost barrel vaulted ceilings along parts of the corridor. I have never seen anything like it before. Great waves of concrete curve like giant corrugated tin above you. But the wavelength is far longer. Its a very interesting building to work in… But did I mention… Its cold ❄

Which is why I have used a warm picture of autumn flowers to illustrate it.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Life