Preparation/procrastination

Got up not too early with the intention of doing a days work in the studio. Tidied it up, moved some stuff around, dug out my old sewing machine - the new one is on loan to a friend in an equipment swap - cleaned it, stripped it down and serviced it, put it all back together, tested it's limits and ready to go for it now.

So how much of that was preparation and how much was procrastination?

Hmmm. Will ponder as I get the stuff out to sew with.

Eventually.

Bad Day

Nothing good happening today.

Went to car this morning to go to college and rear windscreen had been smashed and the offending brick was sitting on the parcel shelf.

Then things got really out of hand with their living room windows getting smashed and them threatening to set fire to my car and my house after.

Police involvement all day, stress levels beyond through the roof and I'll probably have to move out of my house to be sure of my and my son's safety.

Just like to say that for the past nearly 2 years I have been subjected to daily insults from these "people". Every time I come out of my house, or my car, I am verbally abused by them. Eventually you just can't bite your tongue any more so you answer them back, and then damage gets done to your car or your house. Which is worse? And why don't the police do anything despite the constant complaints to them?

This is my car. Depressing isn't it?

OMG

I don't often post links to music, it being such a personal thing and difficult to really give people an idea of what they will listen to, but today I feel I must bring this woman to everyone's attention.

Her name is Laura Marling and she is just wonderful.

Listen to her latest single here.

There's lots more of her music on youtube. Try her out. You honestly won't regret it.

I have to add that I am SO enjoying the recent new folk music. And now I sound really old.

The Human Form 2

So painting is hard. I'm struggling, but I've borrowed some books from the library and I'm trying to read everything about painter's techniques and them put them into practice. It helps when I can see the paintings in the flesh.

Just that happened on Tuesday when I went to the Graves Gallery in old Sheffers town. I'd been peering at a Walter Sickert painting for hours trying to figure out how he'd painted it from the description of his technique and it just wasn't going in. Then I stumble in that very painting when I'd gone to see something completely different. Joy, happiness and wonderment as I actually got to be an inch away from the painting and got look really look at the brush strokes and how the underpainting was visible in places, the lightness and looseness of the top painting. Fantastic. I'm never going to assume local libraries and galleries don't have something worth seeing in the end.

This is the painting I was looking at. It's just astounding in real life. Its called the Soldiers of King Albert the Ready. Painted in 1914 by Walter Sickert.

This is my latest painting. I've clearly got a very long way to go. I'm gong to try some underpainting in the style of Walter Sickert. Eventually I will get it, it's just a matter of persevering and practicing other people's techniques.

Presentation and essay.

Been trying very hard to make a start on the written work I have to complete, but struggling to get it underway.

Mainly it's probably because I've not written an essay in15 years. I've never written an art essay. I am a bit daunted. Where do I start?

I have loads of info now, lots of sources and interviews with my subject matter, Jenny Saville. I'll be comparing her with Walter Sickert. The shock of the subject, taking it away from the traditional subject matter using traditional techniques and paint to create expressions and images which contradict the prevailing view of the society in which we do and did live.

Ooh, I think I may have a start. Off I go!

Unproductive next day

I tried to get up early to go to the library to make a start on the essay.

Just didn't get there. Had a bath and fell asleep on my bed for another 2 hours, cuddled up with my dogs and cats. My hair was completely dry by the time I woke up.

I did get to the library, but that was a less than good experience. Not enough books, none of which were available, the only ones that were available weren't much use and two boys decided to have a LOUD conversation at the table next to me.

Went to the public library, which was mercifully quiet and borrowed a couple of books, both immensely useful, and came home.

I visited my sick friend, who feels like a fraud because she is feeling very well despite not being as mobile as she would like. Came home and finished the felted piece I started yesterday. What do you think? I'm quietly pleased with my first ever embellished piece.

And now off to bed again, after a small snack.

Unproductive Day 4

I believe that irony is now the colour of the day.

For an unproductive day I haven't done too bad!.

A collage and now a felt painting too. Not complete, but ticking along nicely.


Much more work to be done on this, especially as its a borrowed embellisher and I will probably have to give it sometime next week. I must have one of these. Soon!

Unproductive Day 3

So the collage is finished. Not sure if I want to add some paint on top, or maybe some oil pastels.



I'm really pleased with how this has gone. I thought collage would take me days. I may start a bigger, more ambitious one and see how that goes.

Watch this space. But only if you don't have stuff to do, obviously.