New paintings and regular art updates.
I wrote about going to see Warhorse last week, but I did a drawing because we were not allowed to take photos.
Then I found these photos on line. I think they are publicity shots which are allowed to be shared. If they suddenly disappear you will know why.
They just show the beauty and also horror of the play. Such strong sculptural images.
X
I don’t have any photos but I did a quick sketch from my memory of the horse in Warhorse that I went to see tonight.
The play starts with a puppet foal which is quite small. The story shows him being bought and then brought up on a farm in England in 1914. Suddenly the foal becomes a fully grown horse. He is sent along with thousands or possibly millions of horses across to be part of the cavalry in the First World War.
The story charts what happened to him and also his owner who enlists so he can find him.
The horses in the play are depicted by puppets which contain two puppeteers inside them and one moving the head and neck. In scenes where he is galloping extra puppeteers move the four feet. The horses move in realistic ways, flicking it’s ears, moving it’s tail. Rearing and bucking.
There are sections of horrific violence but through it all there is a strong streak of humanity. There are good and bad on both sides. I found myself enthralled The play seemed to fly by.
I need to mention the other puppets, the goose, swallows flying on the wing, and a first World War tank that were so well used to depict reality. You forgot there were puppeteers, you just saw the things they were meant to represent. If you get a chance to see it, its worth it.
Your claws in my knee
Your teeth nip my thumb
Your paws bat my nose
Cheeky cat!
You jump in the bath
You claw the shower curtain
You play hide and seek
Cheeky cat!
You shred the net curtains
You sit infront of the tv
You chase your brother… Fast!
Cheeky cat!
You play with my toes
You steal my breakfast
You ate all the trifle
You cheeky cat!
But I love you so much
You brighten my day
You make me smile
Cheeky, happy, cat!
Ow my legs! Our female cat loves sharpening her claws on my legs, she sticks her claws in my trousers and then arches her back and pulls down. Sometimes she gets flesh too. I found blood trickling down my leg earlier on today. I love her to pieces but as soon as I realise she’s doing it I have to brush her away.
She rushes round and plays all the time. She fights with our boy cat but only in play, she puts a paw on his head or he puts a paw on hers and then she pushes him away with her back legs. One thing neither if them do is the strong fast kicking movement so neither of them get hurt. And they only nip each other, there is no going for the scruff of their necks. Basically it’s like slow motion wrestling followed by fast chasing.
X
Sometimes it’s nice just to take a close up abstract shot of something. Shapes become more important than detail. Tiny pink petals almost look like butterflies and the straggly money plant, which is cast in shadow, raised its bulbous leaves up to the sky. The thin pale leaves of the spider plant are almost translucent in the light.
Then again you can play about with silhouettes in nature or draw dark doodles to make a pleasing composition.
Always explore, always enjoy, always create if you can.
X
Our female cat loves playing in the bath, chasing drips or drinking water out of the tap. She can be really silly and pounce on anything, including my feet! She doesn’t seem to mind if water drips on her head.
Both my cats love chasing each other. I’ve seen them hiding down behind a shoe then a swift pounce and they are off chasing. They also stand on their back legs and sort of box with each other. Sometimes they start washing each other then one decides it’s all too much and it results in a squabble.
But I would not be without them. I’m sure my blood pressure has improved since we got them.
X
Can I sharpen my claws?
Is it OK to scratch?
You don’t mind my paws
Do you?
Can I sit on the fridge
Watch you take the milk out
Is that cheese you are eating
Can I have just a bit?
Can I lick your face clean?
Are you loving my nose?
I am ready to preen
My whiskers and toes.
Do you think I am fat?
Do you love my long tail?
Can I sit on your hat?
After all I’m all cat. ..
