New paintings and regular art updates.
A relative just knitted this blanket for winter as a Christmas present. I’d ask her to make me one but I think it would take her too long. Maybe I could by extra thick wool and large needles to make it grow faster?
I’m going to ask. I admire her tenacity x
What profession do you admire most and why?
I admire the skills and knowledge you need to practice medicine. That’s not just doctors and nurses, but radiographers, sonographers, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational health, and not only those that deal with human health, but veterinary experts and their skills and knowledge that is essential to the care of so many animals. Without these skilled people how would many of us would survive? We would be plunged back into the pre industrial ages or further back in time perhaps to the dark ages, where scam remedies and quackery might take over.
Having knowledge of basic first aid is a good thing too. You never know you might save someone!
What are you good at?
I often write here about Art and other activities I’m good at, but one of my favourite things is solving TV crime mysteries. I’m relatively good at it, I often know who the guilty party is well before the end. I have to stop myself saying who it is though, as its an irritating thing to do if I’m watching with someone else.
I would imagine that the makers of films and TV shows want people to guess so they include clues, but unless it’s a programme like Columbo where they show you the guilty party straight away it can be more of a challenge.
It’s a bit of a niche skill though, reality is not the same as a story. Life isn’t a tale we tell ourselves. I don’t think I would ever want to be a real detective, it would be too messy and upsetting. I just enjoy the fantasy of being good at guessing the criminal !
Wire woven mobiles in my window. The first thing I look at in the morning. One was to celebrate my hubbys 65th birthday, the other Ygdrasil, the tree at the centre of the world was a gift from my friend. I wonder if there will be any more?
Wire weaving is a brilliant skill, I think my friend was featured as a maker on one of the TV sales shows a few years ago. This sort of work takes agility and dexterity.
Creative people deserve recognition and support. In a world where councils, running short of money, are going to close art galleries and libraries, I wonder what people are meant to do to learn and enjoy the arts? Maybe the richest 20 MEN in the world should share some of their wealth more, even if we go back to Victorian values like philanthropy. Art is in our DNA it needs preserving!
What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
This was a painting I did a few years ago, it’s of the upper story of Cheddleton Station, in Staffordshire, England.
I still love painting, but my health is affecting what I can do at the moment, I really want to do more. And somehow the anxiety over it is making me struggle to start. Because I’m worried whether I will be able to do a good enough job. I know I’ve been doing a lot of digital art, but it doesn’t have the same quality to me as actually painting.
I’ve spent years being an artist and I don’t want to stop. I admit some of my work isn’t as good as I’d like, I paint fast and rely on my skill to pull things into shape. I’ve certainly put in the hours to get to a good standard. But I wish I could go back in time and make better decisions about my art.
I haven’t stopped, but I might not do as much as I used to, I’m just hoping the physiotherapy I’m due to start will help.
What skill would you like to learn?
I started learning pre covid, but I couldn’t afford frequent lessons. Then the pandemic happened and I stopped learning. I thought I would pick it up again, but I’d got out of touch with people.
I don’t know whether I will try again, I need to make a decision because if I don’t I will never know if I could have done it.
So I’m going to have to get my trumpet out when I’m well and see if I can make the right noises. It’s not just my mouth, but my arms need to be in better condition to be able to hold the trumpet and manipulate the valves. If I can’t I won’t be able to play it.
If like other skills it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something, it means it’s highly unlikely that I will ever be much good. But I can try.
Mallaband-Brown