New paintings and regular art updates.
A small painting I did about 7 years ago. My friend bought it from me at a craft fair. I don’t remember why I painted this subject, it might have been Halloween. I don’t know where the idea came from, but it feels likely that I was thinking of spooky stories. Its one of my small canvases from when I was doing more craft fairs. Just found in my memories on Facebook.
I’m a little perplexed. I’ve been reading a, Brother Cadviael book over the past few nights, to take my mind off things. They are a series of mediaeval murder mysteries that I like. So when I came to bed I thought it would be waiting for me, but it isn’t. I was hot and bothered last night, so it might have fallen on the floor by the bed, but I can’t see it. I also went into the other room this morning but it’s not there either.
Things go missing sometimes, and generally that’s not a problem. I sometimes think there are borrowers in the house ( like the children’s book, with characters called Arrietty and Pod?). But at the moment I just want my book back. It’s out of place, out of possession and position. It’s bugging me. So I’m writing this as another distraction. Mysterious and also frustrating. I guess I will have to give up and go to sleep….
Medusa sat and waited, it had been years since a human had visited her caves and she was simmering with anger. People had been told to keep away. They knew she was dangerous, no one that came into her lair ever escaped. She was surrounded by cowering statues that had looked at her face surrounded by writhing snakes and had turned to stone. She chuckled to herself as she heard echoing footsteps in the antechamber. Her next victim, probably a man, was on his way.
A glimmer of light struck the rocky walls. The man was carrying a flaming torch. All the better for her, the light would shine in her eyes and make her more visible. The slithering snakes were writhing in anticipation. A broad grin spread across her face. ‘Soon’ she whispered to herself.
A shield was the first thing she noticed as the man edged around the corner. He held it high to hide his face and literally shield his eyes. Then she saw her own reflection. Before she could breathe, whimper or scream the spell caught her. Ancient flesh transformed into stone. Persius was victorious, Medusa was lost, into infinity.
Looking down into the water I saw a reflected horse, brown and white with a dark mane. Pleased to see some life around me I looked up from the reflection, but there was nothing there. Only an old tree overhanging the water, flecked with red and brown leaves, that was all, then the sky and a wooden fence….
I looked back down into the water, it was murky now, covered with ripples from the wind, no sign of my previous vision.
I stood up and started walking around the path. The lake was not big and it took me ten minutes to walk through the grass and sedges to the gate. The lake was in a dip so it was soon disappearing behind me. Flowers and hedges shimmering in the sun. I looked back over my shoulder and saw a horses head appearing out of the water, it stepped onto the bank, it started to trot, gallop, it was moving fast towards me. Covered in pond weed, mud slipping off its coat, steaming in the sunshine. I RAN as fast as I could. I could feel its breath on my neck as I reached the gate and flew through it. I stumbled and looked up. Just the sky with white clouds scudding by. No water horse!
Using a simple filter can change images. I didn’t use the full strength of filter on this because the contorted lines it created was overwhelming. Instead I turned the filter down to about 40%, it gives the photo a bit more mystery I think…. Photodirector style number two filter.
Life has a way of messing things up. I was going to do something this weekend but it looks like I can’t now. I’m not discussing what that was, but life is complex and sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
Just when you decide what to do, a different situation occurs that you had no idea would happen, no control over. Then you have to weigh up the importance of one thing against the other. Perhaps the original situation was going to be very important to you. But now it becomes almost irrelevant. You have to rethink things and maybe change your mind.
I don’t know what will happen, I will have to wait till the morning to decide. As I say I’m not going to discuss this (please don’t ask) I’m trying not to be mysterious, just trying to make a decision.
‘Nah’ he said, ‘it’s not going to snow on Christmas day!’
His daughter looked upset, but her mum said ‘Dad is always right about the weather.’
She went upstairs to bed, it was Christmas Eve and she was 7. She believed her Dad but really truly wished for the snow to come. She wanted to get up and see if Santa had been yet, but it was only ten o’clock and Santa didn’t arrive till midnight. The stairs light was on and she tried to stare at it to keep awake. But she couldn’t keep her eyes open…
Suddenly she woke. The stairs light was off and she didn’t know the time, but there was a strange silence outside except for.. A scrabbling sound on the roof. A slithering sound, a tap and a rattle. What was it? And the sky was a funny orange colour. She had never seen it like that before? Soft noises tickled her ears again. She had a chimney in her room but the hole where there used to be a fire was boarded up. But she could hear something..
She looked out of the window, moving the net curtain to one side. The sky was still orangey grey and what looked like feathers were floating down… Was it? Snow? She put on her slippers and silently went downstairs. She saw it was five o’clock in the morning. Still dark and far too early for her parents to be up. Instead of looking in the lounge to find out if she had presents she walked through the kitchen and stepped out of the back door. Snow! Yes!
Suddenly a trickle of snow fell from the roof above her. Then a little avalanche. She heard scrabbling again so she looked up…. Just as the reindeer and sleigh leapt up from the roof and flew into the sky!
Ignore me
I’m not here
I’m not looking out
Peeping through the plants
A ceramic Puck
Dreaming of Midsummer
Nightingales and poppies
Magnificent oaks
To roam around
And be free…
What is that? I can see something. It’s dark but shining. Glowing from within. Like a coal surrounded by a gas flame. But it’s floating in the air and it’s big. Huge, still, hot, but not very, a sort of terrifying? No one else seems bothered.
Cars are driving around. People walking. I can see it but they can’t. I don’t understand. I don’t know what to think. Is it in my mind, my imagination? Am I hallucinating? I will try and get closer and see…….
What kind of eye
Looks out with a metallic glint?
Surface shining and gleaming
Like curved glass.
Robotic thoughts
Crash with emotion
Cogs meshed and unmeshed.
Indefinite or infinite ideas
Spiralling down into black depths.
Oily liquid lubricates
Diamond glimmers
Do you need love?
How do you reflect in that eye?
Mallaband-Brown