Weekly Photo Challenge … Community
#postaday
Sadly as the rain and gusts of wind continued into the third day; I was unable to capture a romantic view of my community. So I must settle for a shot, snapped yesterday morning as I rushed to work between showers. On reflection it is rather more honest than the pictures I may taken had the weather been kinder at the weekend.
I live in Reading a town some 30 miles or minutes by train west of London. I won’t go on about the demographics of the town; but suggest that like other towns, it is invisibly divided into areas or communities; maybe north, south, east and west. We become familiar with our designated surroundings.
A week or two ago I ventured from my east side of town to the west and was a little offensive about its status. I have since apologised; as I stood guilty as the…
View original post 93 more words
Weekly Photo Challenge … Community
Sadly as the rain and gusts of wind continued into the third day; I was unable to capture a romantic view of my community. So I must settle for a shot, snapped yesterday morning as I rushed to work between showers. On reflection it is rather more honest than the pictures I may taken had the weather been kinder at the weekend.
I live in Reading a town some 30 miles or minutes by train west of London. I won’t go on about the demographics of the town; but suggest that like other towns, it is invisibly divided into areas or communities; maybe north, south, east and west. We become familiar with our designated surroundings.
A week or two ago I ventured from my east side of town to the west and was a little offensive about its status. I have since apologised; as I stood guilty as the ‘pot in the kettle saga’.
My friend, Reading born and bred suffered the silly talk of a migrant. I am one of many drawn to this busy and vibrant town for work and affordable housing 30 years ago. Suggesting that I came from the more favoured side of town; idle chat the like of which starts wars!
Nonetheless I enjoy my part of the town and the community I live in; a motley band of migrants making a living the best we can; putting our stamp albeit a little clumsily.
Another lesson as an artist!!
Already got some good advice … and bought some better pastes!
Last week as I stumbled along the artist’s road; I came across a book about Kurt Schwitters who is noted for his Merz otherwise known assemblage or collage. I have only recently learned about this art form at recent art fairs and I have seen some wonderful works in Art Galleries. Attempts I have made at school or with my children in the past bear no resemblance to those I have seen since and certainly unlike anything I had seen in Kurt Schwitters’ Color and collage. Nonetheless, I thought I would give it a go at the weekend.
I would value thoughts and ideas for progression
Another lesson as an artist!!
Last week as I stumbled along the artist’s road; I came across a book about Kurt Schwitters who is noted for his Merz otherwise known assemblage or collage. I have only recently learned about this art form at recent art fairs and I have seen some wonderful works in Art Galleries. Attempts I have made at school or with my children in the past bear no resemblance to those I have seen since and certainly unlike anything I had seen in Kurt Schwitters’ Color and collage. Nonetheless, I thought I would give it a go at the weekend.
I would value thoughts and ideas for progression
Silent Sunday
Saturday’s good wishes …
I was not brought up in a religious household, my father was a lapsed Catholic and my mother had no particular tendencies. There was no animosity towards religion and a god, but it was not talked about. Jesus was discussed only at Christmas and Easter. I have made ‘inquiries’ since on all levels but have never succeeded in finding faith in a particular graven image.
However I do value the strength of prayer, wishes or a blind belief that someone somewhere answers words of desperation. Moreover, I have learned that these words must be well calculated. For instance, I was and remain a bit of an adventurer. On many occasions I would go to my friends house after school for tea and the watch her coveted TV. It was often dark when I returned home; so I would call in the night ‘please get me home safely and spare me my mother’s cruel tongue and heavy hand!’
This of course was just too much to ask no one no matter how divine could defuse this molotov cocktail
So I have learned to ensure that wishes/prayers into the night or day are carefully worded; these too have had varying degrees of success.
My daughter as a child and now has adopted my routine or ongoing method of preparation and protection in potential dicey situations. …. like getting out of bed in the morning.
We, together would tactfully be grateful for the previous day’s delights and summon up some sort of grace for the ‘learning’ opportunity that hit us in the eye! We would then makes wishes; not for that coveted fashion accessory although that would be very nice. More perhaps based on yesterdays failings … ‘ may all students find the physics test less of a challenge please?’
Still many years later my daughter and I prompted by daily life, we still offer wishes, not for for ourselves directly that would not do! But, conveniently find a way that we are included. First, by adding a bit of gratitude and grace just in case and the add the well worn but meaningful phrase and ‘all beings’!
Like this week after months of separation, some anxiety and many such prayers, we will soon be together but still we don’t hold our breath. So while out this week my daughter offered good wishes to this graffiti ‘ may all vulnerable beings be protected for a while or a bit longer … I say amen to that!
Friday library snapshot …
Have a look in the library while it is quiet!
Margaret Pilkington (1891-1974) was a wood engraver active in the early 20th century. She was pupil of Noel Rooke at the Central School of Art and Design
Margaret had a younger sister Dorothy, they were very close and share many interests artistically, intellectually and socially. Neither married; but were mindful that while they were from a privileged family there were grave economic differences in the neighbourhood around them. She spent much if her life and money devoted to charitable works in Manchester.
The sisters were also involved in various projects such as the Pioneer Club for professional girls and women and the Red Rose Guild; which was developed from an exhibition Margaret organised for designer craftsmen in Manchester in 1920. The guild sponsored the Craft Centre of Great Britain when it formed in 1947.
Margaret like most of Noel Rooke’s students at the Central School was fully involved in the…
View original post 48 more words
Friday library snapshot …
Margaret Pilkington (1891-1974) was a wood engraver active in the early 20th century. She was pupil of Noel Rooke at the Central School of Art and Design
Margaret had a younger sister Dorothy, they were very close and share many interests artistically, intellectually and socially. Neither married; but were mindful that while they were from a privileged family there were grave economic differences in the neighbourhood around them. She spent much if her life and money devoted to charitable works in Manchester.
The sisters were also involved in various projects such as the Pioneer Club for professional girls and women and the Red Rose Guild; which was developed from an exhibition Margaret organised for designer craftsmen in Manchester in 1920. The guild sponsored the Craft Centre of Great Britain when it formed in 1947.
Margaret like most of Noel Rooke’s students at the Central School was fully involved in the early years of the wood engraving revival and a member of the Society of Wood Engravers. Margaret produced and exhibited over 100 wood engravings many were used to illustrate books; some were written by her father.
These engravings are from Margaret Pilkington 1891-1974 published by the Hermit Press.
Alphabe Thursday D is for Durer
Durer is is a very tenuous link to my self imposed colour themed Alphabe Thursday. But rest assured there is method to my madness. I really couldn’t think of an interesting colour that begins with ‘D’ so Durer seemed a good alternative.
Durer is famous for his powerful woodcut of a rhinoceros. It was in the first depiction of the exotic animal seen in Europe in 1515. It was of course misleading as the armour-plated beast had a horn on its shoulder. It did however, remain unchallenged for several centuries although other artists did try to paint rhinoceroses with varying degrees of correctness; such as Oudry, Ridinger, Longhi and Stubbs.
Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) was a German painter, engraver, printmaker, mathematician and theorist. His woodcuts were famed throughout Europe while he was still a very young artist; he has been known as the greatest artist of the northern Renaissance ever since.
I am not a devotee of Durer; only to me known for the Rhinoceros; I have now learned that his work does include altarpieces, religious works, numerous portraits and self-portraits, and copper engravings.
I searched for some colourful images to be in keeping with the aforementioned rule and found these lovely but not colourful examples of his work.
But I did find a thought provoking quote that does suggest that Durer did use ultramarine when painting.He famously wrote a furious letter from Nuremberg to whom I know not complaining that ‘ 100 florins barely bought a pound of ultramarine’ Today I am reliably informed by Victoria Finlay in Colour that ‘the paint from Afghan stones to a Renaissance recipe, costs around £2,500.00 for the same amount. However I am not sure whether this good or bad news … a florin in my day was 2 shillings which is now 10 pence so in Durer’s time 1lb of blue paint was £10.00 but we have since had 500 years of inflation!
Further reading The rhinoceros from Durer to Stubbs 1515-1919 by T.H. Clark
Colour by Victoria Finlay
On Wednesday a poem and wood-engraving
A year of birds ; poems by Iris Murdoch ; engravings by Reynolds Stone published by Crompton Press was to be a calendar, the collection consists of one poem for every month, each illustrated with a wood engraving. From the summer’s kestral to the Christmas robin, the April moorhen, long legged among the daffodils, to the owl on the wing on the November night.
Iris Murdoch, born in Dublin 1919 made her debut as a novelist in 1954 with Under the net. When she died in 1999; she ranked at twelfth on the list 50 greatest writer since 1945.
Reynolds Stone born in 1909, was her friend for many years. His reputation as an engraver, illustrator, and artist is unrivaled to this day.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 
