Weekly Photo Challenge … One the way …
I spend much time in my ‘studio,’ very happily I might add. Nonetheless, from time and time I find the need to take a break, with a pot of tea and some inspirational literature, down the bottom of my garden. Those who know me well, will be familiar with my garden; it is tiny and positively jewel-like with engaging features. I am beginning to sound like a garden designer at the Chelsea Flower Show! It is less than 20 paces long and 2 strides wide and a constant joy! These snapshots give an impression ‘one the way’ to the bottom, a break and the return even if rain threatens and it did this morning I can usually have a pleasant interlude.
Monday, after the weekend …
A week or two back I attended an art class. I was particularly excited because the subject matter was Andalucia, in southern Spain. I have spent much time in this area with fond memories and looked forward to going back ‘virtually’ and making drawings.
However, it didn’t work quite like that; the photographs and images were beautiful and evocative of a time spent working in the mountains looking down on the Costa de Sol.
I spent a couple of hours and a reams of paper, drawing shapes and recording the colours and feelings. But, when I came to put them into a picture that afternoon I lost the impetus. I wrote the next day about my inability to play ; I suppose, while by brain wanted to get down to some serious business.
So a this weekend after the ‘other’ exciting events; I returned to my sketches and put together some ‘pictures’ they are not complete and may never be .. but serve as reminder of a lesson learned and often forgotten, about impermanence and the movement of life … it does not stand still and we can never go back!
Silent Sunday …
Saturday … welcome to the mutual admiration society!
This is Saturday,already a bright and beautiful May morning. I have much to be thankful for and today there are others I would like to send a big hug. They know who they are I hope.
For the last 2 or more years I have worked to become an artist, attending classes, workshops and one-to-ones. I have traveled the length and breadth of England, almost, even had lessons in Rio de Janeiro. I have sought out the right teachers and even masters to teach me their craft. ‘Teachers’ have found me, I have received endless amounts of ‘lessons’ good advice, and feedback from others artist, non-artists, and those not particularly interested in my artistic prowess or lack of.
This is beginning to sound like an award ceremony or a leaving speech, but believe me this is not the end of a journey but the beginning of a new path.
As I said I have been preparing to be an artist and at some point perhaps that did happen. However, there comes a point when one needs to show their works to the outside world. The only way this can happen (as I see) is to have a platform, for example a guild of artists who can support and manage artists and exhibitions on a grand scale to receptive audience regularly.
To ‘win’ this help an artist has to request or apply and acceptance is not a foregone conclusion. All guilds or societies have a reputation to maintain and future members are required to meet certain standards, for instance I am an associate member of my local guild and to become an exhibiting member I am required to submit a written request, a CV, several paintings and my work books. The preparation over the last 18 months has been busy, rich and wonderful and diligently recorded in work books.
However, as the day of decision got near so the doubts and fears, drawn from age old and previous rejection and failure, closed in and I had to call in some of the above mentioned helpers.
Nonetheless, I did get through the selection process, with amazing feedback and congratulations; I am now an exhibiting member of the Reading Guild of Artists.
Like I said, this is not the end of the journey, ‘we are not there yet!’ Thank goodness!
These images are from my work books, the paintings now framed do not photograph so well; and best viewed in the flesh!
A request from the Library …
The frog for Hilaire Belloc’s The bad child’s book of beasts by Pat Jaffe
This week I posted an image of a wood engraving by Patricia Jaffe. It was from a back dated journal of the Society of Wood Engravers; Multiples. It was, I believe an illustration in a book by Hilaire Belloc called the Bad child’s book of beasts; I hoped to find a copy, if not in the library. somewhere; but I hit a brick wall. Does the book exist? I would like to find out. There is at least one other edition with another illustrator … but if the frog is anything to go but this one will be lovely!
So, no snapshot this week just a request and a frog by Patricia Jaffe from Multiples dated late 1980s.
Alphabe Thursday … B is for Brazil
B is for Brazil the home of my youngest child. She has lived there with her partner for several years. Her roots are here in UK, one day she may return but until then we live our lives as normal but as a distance. That distance cannot change it remains far and expensive if a crisis occurs; but like the proverbial bridge we have and will cross that when it happens.
The break has been difficult and painful but progress has been made and hand on heart I wouldn’t change it for the world; 99% of me is happy and enjoy our relationship over the ocean, our extended Brazilian family and the opportunity to ‘live’ in Rio during our summer holidays.
Of course that other 1% becomes unfairly weighted and overwhelming not just for me but her siblings in UK who miss her too! So today I celebrate Brazil, Brasil and her nuts!
Wednesday’s Wood Engravers …
Earlier this year I joined the Society of Wood Engravers, included in the subscription is the receipt of a quarterly journal called Multiples and I believe a monthly newsletter. I received the Multiples and you can imagine it is filled with articles, essays, poems, information about past and future events and illustrations; it is perfect companion to a cup of tea and a biscuit at the close of a busy day.
I came across some back issues in the Reading Room this morning couldn’t resist a browse during my coffee break and I scanned some images that I wish to share. I am going to search for the Bad Child’s book of beasts that looks like fun.
Weekly photo challenge … Broken
Broken was not a reason …
We live in a throw-away culture; items are discarded for a multitude of reasons and broken is not on the list. Things are binned (recycled) when the wrong size, colour, shape and even usefulness is considered long before ‘it’ becomes broken.
I come from a generation who finds this attitude abhorrent. My father made a living by salvaging items to build and repair boats. Wood, metal, engine parts, nuts, bolts, canvas sails and even upholstery fabrics, found about, bartered for or bought for a nominal price, sometimes left by the incoming tide, were put to good use. This was not unusual but necessary. My mother made our clothes from hand-me-downs and made good, those in need of repair, Bed linen and curtains made from most unlikely sources. She was able concoct meals; not perhaps wholly nutritious, but enough to fill our bellies from simple ingredients using a battered primus stove and salvaged utensils.
I, of course am the last to blab on about the so called good old days … nor want to return to those days of rations and uncomfortable lack.
However, they have left an indelible mark, I am reluctant to throw away or discard items that have lost their usefulness or even broken. In fact I am likely to rescue unloved items from a skip or dustbin. Some may call this shabby chic … perhaps merely shabby shabby but not not broken.
This month’s …
I subscribe to a monthly art journal called Artists & Illustrators; I have mixed feelings about its contents. Some months I struggle to find something that really ‘presses the buttons’ I am a new artist and eager to learn about others and with utmost respect some are just too clever and while their work is just fine, often it is not something I aspire too. Also, like most glossy magazines there are too many adverts for products that, no matter how new, better or WOW they might seem, are very expensive, and quite frankly are no better than the ones I bought last month! So the magazine is tossed aside for later (or not) when my mood maybe more receptive and that too also happens … like I said my feelings are mixed.
However, this month’s edition has reach the top of the ‘hit parade’ it is a joy and already well thumbed.
When, I returned to regular art classes a couple of years back, (the first since 1966) I began with mark making and we still return to it occasionally. My teacher gives me all sorts of tools and mediums and allows me to throw, dribble, spin, plonk, shake, stand, sit, crouch, straddle and even dance! The results have been used in stand alone works and some used in other more complex pieces, most put away never to see the light of day.
I don’t think I saw the relevance of this behaviour (remember I do come from old-school) as a serious artist; maybe only as way of practice and play, thinking perhaps real artists didn’t need such futile distraction; until now.
This month’s magazine is full of methods of mark making and ways in which we can apply paint and other mediums to a surface and ‘be’ artists. I still have long way to go and the likes of Jackson Pollack have nothing to fear … Artists & Illustrators … Namaste.
Silence on Sunday
Coat Hanger Doll's House 