Doesn’t everyone have a watering can on their desk?
In a few weeks time I am doing a wood cutting weekend workshop. I have not done woodcutting before; but that is the least of my worries. I don’t enjoy the school room scenario; I know that teaching techniques have changed in 60 years; but I am afraid the methods employed in those post war years were cruel and mean, I will not forget or forgive the harm they caused. Also, I don’t think well on my feet; probably a product of the aforementioned methods.
So I am getting prepared. I have already spoken with the teacher and of course have an itinerary. I have made some preparatory sketches, and made some tracings ready for when she says ‘Here’s the wood now get cutting’.
I am hoping she will not say that the garden shed theme is off!
Silent Sunday
Saturday … me and the Black Dog
Today; rather than gloom and doom that has beset be for the last few weeks (or so it seemed) I look towards … mmm bit risky to say something in particular! This is just Saturday morning, not a divine intervention. Suffice to say the dots could be filled with any of a number of things: holiday to Brazil, art classes, workshops, Spring, exhibition etc.
I realise, that things have been going on in the land of Nela Bligh (my alter ego); she has continued to blog daily; although occasionally when the gloom has been debilitating a reblog has appeared. I have attended various art classes, dabbled with acrylics cut lino, played with inks rollers and mediums and more, to wondrous effect. Some has even graced the cyberspace and can be seen in the clouds.
I have been to exhibitions, art sales, brought tool, paints and paper; some has been put to good use and the others will be used in the aforementioned dots
So what has happened? Iit is no good pretending the black dog has gone, the dear thing will be my faithful friend but sometimes a little angel appears …
These little Mother’s Day gift tags ready for a gold thread did it for me today!
This seemed so right to reblog for me today !
Friday’s library snapshot …
While considering a wood engraving course in April (I have booked a place) I am looking back at books and blogs for ideas … I came across … a bit out of my league yet but I can dream …
I came across these woodcuts in a book a week or two ago. As a result of recent revaluation of our stock in the library some books are being moved to the Special Collection.
I liked the book so much I have bought a copy … English wood-engraving 1900-1950 by Thomas Balston, London, Art & Technics 1951
I love the nautical feel of these woodcuts and would like to use them again my dad would like them.
Alphabe Thursday … Q is for Quartz
White paint can be made from many things; chalk, zinc, barium, rice or from little fossilised creatures in limestone graves.
The Dutch artist Jan Vermeer made some of his luminescent whites with a concoction of alabaster and quartz; both found in abundance in Spain and the middle east. The gritty substance reflects the light and makes it dance; the whole room is suffused in an extraordinary light streaming through the window. According to Victoria Finlay in Colour the young musician, wearing white as she stands to play a harpsichord; with a faraway look, dreams of love as suggested by the cupid above her head.
Wednesday’s Wise Woman … Violeta Para
This morning I was in the depth of despair. WordPress was not playing with me. I began to pout when I was not able find a way to post in my normal way I decided to ‘share’ an archive from my tablet. I wondered how Violetta would have dealt with the situation … She would have undoubtedly composed a song. I will not go that far.
Meanwhile, I have discovered that I gave some house keeping issues as regards my browser and I need to clear my cache and restart! It seems sometimes the browser saves wrong information and tries to use it every time resulting in screwed up web pages. I will I hope be able to rectify this later today meanwhile I sure Viotetta would have not this hiccough get her down.
‘From time immemorial
Hell was invented
to frighten the poor
with its eternal punishments’.
Violeta Para (1927 -1967) was a Chilean composer, song-writer, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist. She was responsible for the renewal and reinvention of Chilean Folk music, bringing it beyond the bounds of Chile onto the world stage and recognised by many as Chilean New Song (Nueva Cancion Chilena)
Violeta was born in San Carlos, a small town in southern Chile. To a poor family who moved from town to town to find work. This was rarely successful and as a result her father, a travelling teacher, became an alcoholic and Violeta had to abandon her studies to support her family. She began singing on trains, in restaurants, small concert halls and circuses.
After her father died; although this loss left the family destitute; her mother worked as washerwoman and was able to finance Violeta´s elder brother…
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Today …
For the first time in many months I am at a loss and unable post to my Blog in the usual way. My WordPress functionality has let me down or is it my laptop? I am unable to access my administration page, I can see my Reader, Stats, My Blog and Freshly pressed; but when I go further … all I see is a message saying ‘web page unavailable ‘ reload! I have sent messages to support but have had no response. I am going to work now so will try there. However if WordPress works there does this mean I have a problem with my Laptop at home? I have done all the other tricks restart etc but had no joy now since yesterday evening.
Oh dear I feel like a fish out of water … trying to think positively
and wonder what photo to ‘drop in’
I would value thoughts … and advice and meanwhile have another cup of tea!
Weekly photo challenge … Perspective
I have always had a camera; preferring not to be on the other side of the lens. I like taking photographs that tell a story; caring little about the technicality of the machine and the artistry of the result. I move the camera to the shape, colour and the story. Often spending a whole roll of film on a very small event. (in the days of film that is)
It was not until I had an all singing and dancing SLR two or three years ago when I succumbed to some lessons. I learned about focus, depth of field, perspective, exposure, shutter speeds apertures and loads more. All this was bad enough, but at the end of the session our attempts were scrutinised with a fine tooth comb it was more painful than having teeth pulled. I vowed then and there that never again would I allow my little slivers of life immortalized on the screen to be looked at so meanly. This morning; I took these photographs to record the onset of spring. Had I taken it last week there would have been quite a different picture; first of all the buds were not yet opened but the fence between had not yet blown down in the gales we had at the weekend. The fence would with its architectural devices to give depth and sense of perspective is gone. Instead there is light and in my opinion a less contrived and rigid perspective.
The night worker
We hear much about Rio de Janiero; the violence, the culture, the World Cup, the Olympics, the recent strikes, the Carnival … I hear other sometimes conflicting views that don’t always feel very comfortable for a Mum so far away … So I make up my own stories to help the pain.
Today is Monday. The day begins early as usual; with nothing much planned as Amy and Dudu have things to do – first thing. So, after breakfast at home, we meet Amy for coffee a bus ride away in Botafogo. Then we wander back through the streets of Rio; seeing sights that most tourists can only dream of -the architecture, gardens and parks, the coffee shops, street vendors and small industries along the busy streets.
And back up the hill for lunch.
Yesterday, we had been to Ipanema, it was beautiful -everything a tourist would expect, palm trees, golden sands, blue sky, crashing waves and Ipanema – girls and boys – honed and bronzed to perfection.
Around the corner we found a market selling crafts by local artists; beautiful and well made but expensive trinkets bearing no resemblance to the real Brazilian culture that I had seen so far. Paintings…
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Coat Hanger Doll's House 