The process of making a pretend thrown clay pot

Posted on July 9, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Design, Painting, Papier mache, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, Pretend pot, Props, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Throwing potsLeave a comment

Started with a large flowerpot covered in glue and paper (Papier-mache). Then painted it with a base coat of pale orange / brown acrylic paint when it was dry. I had put a slightly smaller pot inside to bulk up the sides and it gives a nice ridge around the top as if the Potter was starting to thin out the sides. I’ve painted light and dark bands as I wanted to give it texture, partly to hide the crinkly nature of the paper and also to make it look like he is putting ridges around it.

I’m not 100% sure of the colour, perhaps it should be darker, it’s like a pale terracotta I think.

Papier-mache pot

Posted on July 8, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Clay, Design, Fun, Papier mache, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, PropLeave a comment

In the play we are doing this weekend my partner has to pretend to throw a pot on a wheel. We don’t want anything big, heavy or breakable, so I’m Papier-macheing a black plastic flowerpot. I had to buy some pva glue but only wanted just enough, not a great big tub or a tiny bottle. So instead of the adult craft section I found a bottle of clear pva in the children’s section at a craft shop.

Got home and started ripping up newspaper. This is many layers later, I’ve added a few layers about two thirds up to give it a slight bulge. When it’s dry I will paint it white as a base coat then a pale brown “clay” colour with shading to make it look hand thrown. I’m hoping it will look reasonably realistic.

Props and costumes

Posted on July 7, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Costumes, Design, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, Play, Props, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, What's on, White paintLeave a comment

It takes a lot to put a play on. Not just scenery but props and costumes. We couldn’t do it without the efforts of people making things, painting things white, gluing tea pots to boards, finding jugs and tankards, the infinite number of things that just help. So instead of pretending you can have something physical, like a coin to pay someone. Props make acting easier.

Then there is costume. Lots of things get re used, cut down to size, have material let in to make it bigger. Hats are made or sometimes built. Members of the cast bring in their own clothes to enhance the look of the play.

We might only be doing something that lasts 40 minutes but it’s taken a few months of hard work and planning to bring it all together.

Mystery Music

Posted on July 7, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Accompanying music, Boatband, Clay Chorus, Free event, Fun, Life, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, What's on in StaffordshireLeave a comment

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Where would the mystery play be without the music. This year as always provided by the brilliant Boatband and Clay Chorus choir.

I don’t want to give away the music or plot too much. But the singing covers dramatic action in the play. I know Clay have been learning the songs for a couple of months now and there are some poignant pieces to illustrate the conditions in the first half of the nineteenth century. We don’t realise just how much things have improved for both adults and children.

I think the audience are in for a treat this year if we all keep our cool and get it right.

Last year’s scenery

Posted on July 7, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged A year ago, Acrylic on hardboard, Art, Fun, Life, Painting, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, Scenery, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

FB_IMG_1562490907053 this is the scenery I painted last year. Two eight by four boards attached together to make an eight foot square panel.

In some ways painting on calico is more difficult because of the way the paint sits on it. However at least I’m not struggling to line up the two sections. I do love doing this. It makes my year.

Busy painting

Posted on July 6, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on calico, Art, Design, Part finished, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Willow pattern, Work in progress10 Comments

My friend took these on Friday. I was busy painting a willow pattern background for the penkhull mystery play.

I’m hopefully finishing it next week. I’m about half way through so it should be done on time. It’s a painting on calico that had been primed with white emulsion so the paint does not go on easily and it’s a bit wrinkled where the emulsion has dried. Anyway I will persevere. Then I’m hopefully getting some new paintings done for a craft fair and an exhibition in September. It’s all go!

Where was I?

Posted on July 6, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on hardboard, Blue, Design, Minton, Ochre, Painting on hardboard, Pale yellow, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, Red ochre, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Tiles, WhiteLeave a comment

An attempt at a Minton tile and my own design in minton colours, both for the mystery play. The one based on the minton design was hard to get right. It’s a bit wobbly. The second one has a bit of a Tudor rose feel to it. I started with the outside on the Minton copy and the inside with my own design. Im not sure it works, but when you put them together it makes a nice pattern. Hopefully they will like it for the play.

Most of the rest of the day was spent rehearsing and recovering from last nights show. These days I get tired more quickly. It’s annoying. Tomorrow is another rehearsal day. Only a week to go till the play.

Finished Friday

Posted on July 5, 2019July 6, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on calico, Backgrounds, Life, Methodist Chapel, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, Willow patternLeave a comment

I finished this painting of the old Methodist Chapel in Penkhull. I added some details including cobblestones reflecting the sky colours. The Chapel was built in 1836 about six years before the church was built on the top of the hill. Then of course I started something new.

This is a large image of a willow pattern platter. I’m a bit further on with it than this. I think I won’t be able to finish it till next week.

After this I went to sing at the church for the One night only show.

Tiny painting plan

Posted on July 3, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Busy month, Makers market, One night only, Penkhull, Penkhull mystery play, Rehearsal, Spode, What's on8 Comments

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Here are some of my older tiny paintings. I have a bag of about twenty matchbox sized canvases to paint in time for a makers market at Spode on 28 July. I’m still in rehearsals for “one night only” on Friday night and the Penkhull Mystery play on the 13th. Busy busy busy…

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Previous years mystery making.

Posted on June 30, 2019June 30, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged A few years ago, Art, Blogging, Life, making, Painting, Papier mache, Penkhull mystery play, WillowLeave a comment

A few years ago we did a mystery play which had to include the four horsemen of the apocalypse. This horse was made by my friend Kate and I painted it and another one in a Picasso style to give it an angular and aggressive look.

As time goes on and we get older we are doing less complicated making, basically because we are spending less time doing it. For myself I would like to do more. Anyway I’m off in a bit. Lots to do…

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Penkhull mystery play