New paintings and regular art updates.
One thing I did do yesterday was make a couple of pieces clay that might be used as part of a tiled piece at the BCB (British Ceramic Biennial in September at Spode in Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent. They will be fired up and someone else may end up glazing them.
I made lots of marks using old buttons and metal rings. I tried to give them a three dimensional look. I hope they won’t explode on the kiln.
It’s good finding different things to do when you are having a day out.
Three crosses in Stoke Cemetery, seen on my walk today. I’m interested in the celtic patterns on them, some more pronounced than others. This ancient design style is subtle and complex. I want to learn more about them again. I wrote a thesis on pre- Christian celtic art for my degree, but I would love to learn how to draw the patterns. I get lost in the patterns. I need quiet and concentration I think.
Tuesdays #bandofsketchers prompt was decay. It took me a while to find a subject that I liked. In this case it was a photo I took of an old bottle oven and fencing / boarding reflected in the Trent and Mersey canal. This was near Dolphin boats in Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
I used Boldmere colouring pencils for the drawing which made it paler than the photo. I could use some watercolour washes to increase the depth of colour but I quite like the way this is blended. One thing I didn’t include was the debris floating in the canal after so many windy days.
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I went for a walk today. Over to the Trent and Mersey canal to Etruria, then down the arm of the Cauldon canal to Hanley Park, through the park and down into Stoke and home. That is the furthest I have walked for years. I think I was scared of walking and distance. I am learning I can do it…. Next week I want to walk six miles up our steep hill. My friend went on to go a bit further, but I needed a rest. My feet hurt.
Out and about. A local street I have not walked down since March. Got to it by going up our very steep hill. It was only a couple of miles but I’m shattered. Black and white sketch taken from a photo. I wish I had drawn it in situ, but I didn’t have my sketchbook with me.
The plant really was growing out like a triffidcacross the pavement. I really liked it. Very interesting.
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This is from last year or the year before when I was taking photos at Spode and manipulating them in the layout app that I use to mirror and duplicate photos.
I haven’t been down to my studio at Spode for months with the lockdown, it just didn’t feel safe. The studios are not easy to socially isolate at, with mixed toilets and narrow corridors. I need to go back and build my confidence again. I’m still paying the rent though. I won’t give up on the idea. Just wait! I hope I will soon be creating there again
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Looking in and looking out, mirrored sky shining. The window frames flaking and peeling. Put through a mirroring filter and you find a floating tower. Could it be magic. What is art? Why is a photo? Can an image be trickery in a friendly way? Must it be cryptic.
See the world through an ant or a bees eye. See the world through the eye of a whale or a satellite.
Our vision is an average humans vision. At a cartain height, with colour vision like primates have. We don’t have slits in our pupils, or black and white vision. We don’t use echo location.
Photos are interesting to play with.
Grey and depressing, icy cold, big droplets of rain. Disappointing as well, I keep trying to get the car mended (someone broke my wing mirror, the glass is cracked, and someone must have reversed into my nearside wing, it’s all scraped and dented. But I rang up, and the mechanic, who is trying to find the right mirror rang in sick this morning. I will have to try again tomorrow. Then I collected some paintings from my studio to try and get into a local craft centre. But the owner has been inundated with local artists. He is interested in more work but needs to sell some art first. He has had people in but one comment he got was “is it really That much?” for one if the pieces in there. It’s the usual thing in this area, people don’t have money, or if they do they don’t want to spend it. It’s depressing (oh I’ve already said that)……
Apologies to Google for using their map? This is a new Art Centre with local artists work being displayed and for sale. I’m really pleased that I’ve got some of my paintings there.
Its Serendiparty Arts and Craft Centre in Campbell Place, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent. Open 10am Wednesday to Sunday. The owner Phil, is very welcoming.
If you look for http://www.serendiparty.com you should be able to find it.
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9 of my favourite images from 2019.
From top left to bottom right…
Dramatic mirrored image of a North Wales beach.
Lion I painted for the local lions charity.
Mural in a downstairs cloakroom. I can still climb!
Easter Island clay head I made at Etruria Artists.
My art stall at a craft fair.
The stray cat that we are looking after who needs rehoming.
Falcon works, two images of the pottery I painted last autumn.
Holding my green man painting and with my vase painting during my exhibition at Spode.
Finally, painting of a window with peeling paint, taken from a photo I took at Spode.
