Part painted panto hat

This was used as a prop in the local village hall pantomime a few years ago. The hat was a large teacup and saucer made out of wire and paper and glue. Once it was made I had the task of painting it with a classic spode pattern of Greek or roman figures. I might have some more photos somewhere, but this gives you an idea of what I was painting. It was held in place on the panto dames head with a big blue ribbon and bow. I miss rehearsals for the yearly panto. It was restored about ten years ago after several years absence. The largest ausiencevwe had was 180, and we do four performances over Thursday, Friday and two on a Saturday. I miss the stage fright and the fun. We used to do the performances in February to coincide with the school half term.

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Bauble paintings

One of my bauble paintings that I did a few years ago. I did quite a few of them and they were only two inches by three. I was trying to paint old fashioned glass baubles. You don’t get them much these days. Sometimes they had a curved hollow in them with a reflective surface so they glittered in the light of fairy lights. It was a memory from forty or fifty years ago. Old fashioned and nice…..

Acrylic on canvas, with ribbon on the back so they can be hung on a Christmas tree.

Jupiter swirls

Painting I did of the gaseous swirls of one of Jupiter’s polar regions. The photos were taken by NASAs Juno probe. I was amazed at the colours and patterns on that fantastic world and had to have a go..

It’s a large acrylic on canvas. I think I painted it two years ago and it was included in an exhibition called ‘blue’ at Spode Studios, Eleanora Street, Stoke-upon-Trent, which is one of the six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent.

lobster painting

A blue lobster I painted earlier in the year ( I used a stock image off Google to work from) I’ve now got to paint a purple crab to accompany it! I find it quite difficult holding my phone as I cant always print images off. It’s also interesting that I have reverted back to my old signature, I had started signing things “Mallaband-Brown” simply because my name is so long its not always easy to fit my full name on. Also it is meant to be my brand (my blog is called mallaband-Brown too). There are so many things I should be doing to improve the look of what I post. For instance this image is twisted slightly, so the edges of the canvas do not line up with the edges of the picture… I guess I should pay more attention, but my brain is more involved in the actual painting than being neat!

Time to draw or paint square 6.

I’m doing a collaboration with the Orme art group. I have already done square 2, not very well, but I’ve also volunteered to do square 6 too. Today I went out and got some new permanent markers and some gel pens, so I will try and come up with a copy of the image. It’s a painting by Bonnard, but I can’t remember the title.

We have already done copies of a Picasso, a Monet, and a Matisse if I remember rightly. Fingers crossed 🤞

Dresdener Streizelmarkt

Today I joined #uskstoke for half an hour and painted this watercolour for the Saturday virtual sketch out. There were only a few of us but it was a nice chatty time. Good to catch up with people. I liked the colours and interesting architecture. Painting the letters was most difficult, trying to add white paint on top did not work brilliantly.

Falcon works

This is the falcon I am painting on the planter for the Stoke 2000 project. I just need to get a better image of it. I shall go out on a bright day and see if I can get an image with some good shadows on it. The bricks are also a mixture of reds, oranges, and burnt brown colours. I might take the pattern round on the sides. I hope to bring the planter to life.

Started painting a wooden planter..

I’m part of an art project to paint wooden planters. Each artist is producing a different piece of work. I got this a few weeks ago, but I didn’t start because of my bad shoulder. The planter was a bit heavy to work with as it’s solid wood. Now however I’m doing physio and the exercises seem to be helping. It was lovely to pick up a brush. Now all I’ve got to do is finish it! (and get it back to the project in time).

an old painting

unfortunatley I only have this small file of a painting I did at college over forty years ago. It was a painting of a fellow student called Ann. I was really pleased with it and only parted with it because a friend really wanted it, I also gave my ‘friend’ a few other paintings for Christmas and birthdays. I found out later my ‘friend’ and her husband burnt them on a bonfire because he did not like them. Suffice to say I am no longer friends with her. I cant tell you how upset I was when I found out….

Oil on canvas about 1981?

Online lecture

Just watched a lecture by one of our fellow students. It was fascinating to watch. About watercolour and ink and how to use it. She showed us how to use salt and also cling film to add texture, masking fluid to preserve white areas and glue mixed with paint and ink to created textured backgrounds. I will certainly have a go at using some of them.

She also showed us her sketchbooks, she mainly does abstract work, but also does realistic work, (she showed us a lovely painting of a friends dog). It’s great that students are adding to the teaching experience at college….