Tag: Photo

Jupiter progress.

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Note the first photo is the latest version.

For some reason they came out opposite to how I posted them. Here are two parts of my Jupiter tryptich based on a photo Jupiter in the rear view mirror by Nasa. Taken as the Juno probe flew by Jupiter.

The challenge is to finish one panel by Friday. The other two will be painted on our Open days, 16th and 17th of November 2018 when we join with the Stoking Curiosity event. Run in conjunction with Keele University and Staffordshire University.  There are a series of talks and lectures over the two days based on the integration of art and science.

Given I love astronomy I decided on this subject. Forgetting that I don’t have a working printer and that my computer is on the blink. I have to thank Mike and Nick at Spode for printing me off black and white photos and then colour images. I would not have got this far without them….. So I’m struggling with the complexity of Jupiter. I’m working on an image from above one of the poles where the oranges and reds of the main bulk of the planet turn to sombre blues browns and dark greys.

My shoulders and arms ache. Although I’m just trying to get one panel finished I have to work across two of them so they fit together and I can orientate where the blotches and patterns are. Please don’t expect perfection..I will try to see how it comes out. If you are around Stoke for Stoking Curiosity come along. I will be in studio 21 at Spode.

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Dancing trees

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I thought they were holding hands but my friend said dancing. Imagine the branch in the middle is two arms entwined, clasped hand to elbow  Then the branches on the other side of the trunks are like outstretched arms, and the other branches higher up are like hair flying outwards as they spin each other in a dizzy whirl of autumn leaves..

An idea for a painting. I also like the way the hedge cuts between them and splits the composition.

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Peeling a palette

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When I paint in acrylic I generally use either a plate or a plastic tub as a palette to mix my paints in. But eventually it gets too lumpy and I peel the paint (which is like soft plastic or coloured PVA ) off the palette so I can start again without getting caught on lumpy bits of paint or bits that haven’t dried and muddy new paint.

But, have you ever looked underneath? It’s like magic. Beautiful colours that have not blended together too much. Plus often the surface is silky smooth as it takes on the same shape as the plastic tub or ceramic plate.

Then I take a photo, sometimes I’ll clone or duplicate it and make a pattern……

Dusty cats

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I love ornaments, but have an aversion to dusting, hence all of my ceramic cats are rather dusty.

The more I collect the worse I get. I added up the number of cat ormaments I had once and gave up after 50. I’m afraid I like collecting “useless tat”. Maybe one day I could use them in an art work. Or more likely they will sit and continue to gather dust.

I think each of these cats is a depiction of a Egyptian goddess Bast? I may be wrong.

Remembering Devon

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It’s been a few years since we visited Devon and I want to go again soon. When the Sun shines its glorious, the air feels clean and the Sun gleaming off the sea makes you feel alive.

These flowers were in the tangled hedge along the pathway to the shore. I only used my old digital camera to take the shot and I was pleased at how clearly it came out. The stamen were curved into loops, the pink petals had deep cuts in them making it look like they were two petals, not one. The sunlight just catching areas of the photo lifted the dark areas and gave it interest. I was also pleased with the slight blurring in the background.

The whole photo brings back memories of the sandy path and steps down to a small bay, the blue sky and sea. Sitting on a rock as the sea came in to the low cliffs surrounding the bay. And the view out over Plymouth sound. We must go back.

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He’s a good cat.

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It’s getting cold and I need to put the heating on, but my cat has decided to curl up on top of my feet. I’m sitting infront of a chair that I’m using as an easle and he is tucked under the chair on top of my feet and next to a box containing my paints. In the meantime my feet are warm as toasty, but my legs are cold . . But I don’t want to move him.

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Robin

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We saw a Robin at a garden centre yesterday. He was flitting through the plants and as I walked towards him he would move on. Then it got to the end of the row and just sat there so I quickly snapped a couple of pictures of it.

His (or her) red breast shone out against the dull brown of the dormant plants

I thought I would try and write a simple haiku to celebrate the bird…..

Red Robin here then
Gone with a quick flit of air
Wings take you away

I’m not sure I have mastered the style yet. But I enjoy trying.

Kittenhood

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My sister has a new kitten. She took it in because the person who had it had too many pets. Anyway it’s an apricot tortoiseshell. She only found that out after a trip to the vets.

It is such a sweet kitten, very friendly apart from when it bites your fingers

I forgot the joy of having a kitten, there is something lovely about an animal befriending you. Trusting you to look after it. At the moment it’s asleep and all curled up. It’s been a busy day and I think it needs a rest. I wish I could keep it but that would not be fair.

There might be a possibility of painting it though. Need to get some nice clear photos.

Still life set up?

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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.

 

Apples

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I really must use these apples up. We have had them for a couple of weeks and apart from stewing them I also made an apple lattice pie. But its that time of year when you get a glut of fruit. Im wondering whether to slice them up and then freeze them? Or maybe make them into apple sauce, or even chutney. But I dont have any recipes. I guess I could make something up…..

I made some cider with a friend last year, its still brewing as far as I know, but she moved away and I dont want to pester her about it.

Apples are interesting. I think there are a lot of old varieties that have disappeared over the years, leaving one or two surviving without people knowing where they are. Old trees in old orchards that have been neglected. But which might be an extraordinary discovery if one is ever found.