Silent Sunday
Saturday and a lesson with Pythagoras
I have been having art lessons for a little under a year and do not pretend I will ever be a master. So while I have clever ideas it is still more difficult than I thought to put the them on paper. It is more than being able to paint it is also a mathematical equation.
This week for instance my teacher introduced me to Abstract drawing and the methods of Peter Stanyer and Terry Rosenberg. I found a book since called Composition by Cyril Pearce published in 1927 for his students of Fine art here at Reading University. After reading the chapter several times and get my head round the language and mathematical equations it would seem that ; ‘… the intersection of two diagonals of a pentagon gives the ratio geometrically, and some have supposed that the five pointed star which the disciples of Pythagoras wore was a symbol of their knowledge in such matters. Quite apart from speculation, such a division the ratio of 1 to 1.618 approximately, is to be found as one of the great proportions in almost every picture.’
So with that is mind I, with a ruler and a compass; not the three legged kind devised to secure the ‘golden’ measure between the two points (as discovered by Kepler). I attempted to divide my paper as described by my teacher and with a hastened pray to Pythagoras. Here are the results.
not yet complete and unseen by my teacher yet …. or Pythagoras for sure … but a nice experience
A snapshot from the library on Friday
Today I noticed a book destined for our ‘special collections’ nothing new in that, books do ‘become’ special in time and removed from the open shelves and to be cared for tenderly. This one called Borka; the adventures of a goose with no feathers written and illustrated by John Burningham looked new and fresh. It also looked vaguely familiar and after looking closely I realised it was a book that my ‘baby’ brother had borrowed from the library around 50 years ago.
Looking at the pictures and rereading the story it seemed only yesterday!!
You will agree I am sure the images and text are timeless. This 20th century classic will share the shelves at Special Collections with classics from the 18th and 19th century.
Alphabe Thursday G is for Goosey Goosey Gander
Goosey, Goosey gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs and downstairs
And in my lady’s chamber.
There I met an old man
Who wouldn’t say his prayers.
I took him by the left leg
And threw him down the stairs.
This nursery rhyme always puzzles me; so I wasn’t surprised to read that the first four lines don’t actually belong with the other four. How does that happen?
The last four are rather like a another poem which school children address to the crane -fly better known as a daddy-long-legs. While pulling off its legs they repeat.
Old father Long-Legs
Can’t say his prayers:
Take him by the left leg,
And throw him down the stairs.
I really hoped to discover that was a legitimate reason why children should sing such a horrible song but sadly I didn’t
I just hope that we encourage our children to care for daddy-long-legs and old men even if they don’t or can’t say their prayers; and say Thanks but no thanks to this unlovely song.
Wednesday’s Choice
For Amy and Martine … my choice for Wednesday too have a good day
Wednesday’s wood engraver …
We have a collection of Wizard of Oz books here in Special Collections. I am not overly impressed with the books and their illustrations; so I tend not to look to closely while there are other collections with wonderful images to share.
However, today I was fetching a few items and came across this rather nice edition of L. Frank Baum famous work.
Which is illustrated by Michael McCurdy (born 1942) who is an American illustrator, writer and publisher. He illustrated over 200 books, many written by himself. Most were illustrated with wood engravings and some with colour images. Those we see here may not be wood engravings but scraperboard; nonetheless lovely and a welcome change from the cinematic images and stilted cartoon characters that seem to be the prefered medium for this children’s novel.
Weekly Photo Challenge … Contrast
I have a beautiful tiny walled garden; more a north facing back yard. It is very leafy and green; it gets some sun throughout the day; but not enough for the sun loving flowers to survive. The ones that do best of course are the flowers that flourish in the shade. These plants are not so colourful; but since we have had a healthy mix of sun and rain lately, the bushes and greenery have ‘blossomed’ the flowers are struggling to compete nonetheless they do make a striking contrast at the moment ( in a delicate sort of way!)
Monday etc.
Today we had problems with our water supply at work; so much so we were sent home. Unfortunately, the problem was widespread, so once those of us who lived nearby got home we also found ourselves without water. It was, no matter how uncomfortable a welcome treat; so I did some wood engraving. Since my lesson I have not done as much as I hoped. So taking advantage of the good light I set to work. I found a tiny piece of wood: I am reluctant at this early stage to use the larger more expensive pieces of wood. I have a small selection of practice pieces that are fine. This piece is 6×4 cms and you will see not too much unlike my ‘other one but it was just good to practice the ‘marks’ I made with Chris. This is an early stage … before I dare to print it …. Watch this space.
A couple of weeks ago I …
A couple of weeks ago I went on a journey! It was to be a round trip of 10 hours and required an overnight stay and best of all; a day off work!
I was to met a man who would teach me the rudiments of wood engraving, and to embed some methods, so that I could at least start engraving.
Chris the wood engraver lives in Gateshead over the river Tyne from Newcastle about 300 miles from Reading where I live. I took the train after work on Tuesday and arrived in a cheap and not so cheerful hotel around 8.30.pm; a short trip from the station. It was fine for an overnight stay but it was pretty grim. The next morning I learned that the building had been a prison and a reform centre for young offenders in the 19th century. This might account for chill and gloom that loomed about the place. Luckily my sentence wasn’t going to be long. The next morning I took a trip across the river to Gateshead for my lessons. Unfortunately, I have a fear of learning and my relationship with teachers is fraught with memories of the dark ages. However, this teacher soon became aware of my discomfort and introduced me to his dog a beautiful Bennington puppy, his delightful daughter who need no further description and then tea!! We learned that we shared a love of tea; of the Chinese kind. As the ‘lesson progressed now a little more calmly (on my part; Chris remained patient and kind) the tea flowed; literally from Green to Oolong to Pu’erh. I then became more relaxed and comfortable. While I am not ready for the big wide world of wood engravers. I am a little more confident with the wood, tools and methods to carry on for a until I find a teacher/mentor a little nearer home. To find such a person might be difficult as he or she will also need to love tea!
Silent Sunday
Coat Hanger Doll's House 