LAKESIDE, DONCASTER

A pen and watercolour sketch of the trees at Lakeside, Doncaster. For the colouring I experimented by using a sponge instead of brushes to apply the paint. Not a natural sponge but a piece of synthetic sponge used for packing. There are mistakes with the picture but I like the process so I may experiment a bit more.  

A BIT OF QUALITY TIME

What a great week end and managed to get a bit of quality time with ‘K’ taking snaps in Kingswood.

 

 

INSPIRED BY NATURE (IBN)

Here are couple of pictures that I was inspired to create after seeing some rock formations whilst on holiday at Tenby. I am not totally ecstatic (reasonably only) about the results but I think there is more to be gotten by this inspiration injection.

They are a little bit of an experiment. The observation will notice that in one the colour layers follow the rock form and in the other, the colour layers are horizontal. Now which do I like the best? My thoughts change each time a look at them.  May be I need to produce a few more pictures to help me decide.

Size 4" x 12"

Size 4" x 12"

 

Not sure about this one

This is a pen and ink wash on water colour paper with the larger flowers (Choisya - Mexican Orange Blossom) formed from torn water colour paper.

I am not sure I have archived what I had in my mind’s eye before I put pen to paper. Me thinks it maybe the greens. I have not achieved the green variations that the picture needs.  I always seem to have a problem with greens.  (Note to self, practice more)

I have also managed to get the photograph crooked. (Note to self, try harder next time). And in too bright light, I had to do this on the sunniest day that we have had this year (Note to self, think next time)

Marks = Zero.

 

WALLFLOWERS 2

Another picture inspired by wallflowers in K’s garden.

For the techy types - Water colour paint on smooth watercolour paper cut and mounted on rough watercolour paper.


size 5"x12"

 

SUZIE

A pen and wash picture on torn water colour paper of K&M’s dog Suzie

More Trees

Ink and watercolour sketch of the trees in Kingswood Bawtry.

Natrat Pattern

Looking at tartan patterns inspired me to produce this abstract pattern.  I thought of a tartan form and then deconstructed it, at bit like a modern chef deconstructs a cheese cake and gives you a plate with the ingredients neatly placed remotely to one another (what a con).

I have always been fascinated by Tartan patterns. I try to work out which of the interlacing colour layers are above and which are below. Hopefully my picture still has these elements.

Why have I called it a Natrat Pattern?  Because I have produced a backwards picture I have spelt Tartan backwards.

A while ago Rowena asked why I have a collection of stones on my windowsill. Well these stones in some way inspire me either by their colour or shape of both. One is a piece of flint, it is the colours that I like it and I have used these colours in my picture. So I think I will name my picture the ‘Mc Flint Natrat Pattern’. I added a couple of red and white lines as most tartans have these.

the flint



the slightly out of focus pattern

MORE TREES AT BURTON AGNES HALL

I have been at it with the mastic gun again, this time attempting trees at snowdrop time at Burton Agnes Hall again.

It completed it a couple of weeks or so ago but have been waiting for a sunny day, when not at work, to photograph it. Unfortunately the sun was bright and I probably did not have my camera set up right and most of the detail has been bleached out. Hay-ho I am not complaining about the sun, it can never too bright it is just that I am not used to it yet. (Just my feeble excuse for bad picky taking)

size 8" x 20"

DEAR MR LOTTO ….

Dear Mr Lotto.

When are you going to pick the six numbers that I choice on your piece of paper each week? When you do, I am going to open up an art gallery. Why? Well yesterday I had a real treat. K was setting up her exhibition with the trusty help of M. I had the privilege of being taken there. I have always had the dream of opening up a gallery, not necessarily a big one, but one that has real art work jewels.  Looking at K’s work reinforced this desire. A gallery where the world can come and stare, and buy if there want. A place where people leave enthused and refreshed.  A place where K’s art would always be on display. A place where M would come and rehang the pictures straight.

One can but dream. (no VAT on dreams yet, that's why I have a lot)

A CRINKLY PROBLEM

If you wanted to make a crinkle you probably would not be able to do so. I have been trying to spray paint a couple of picture frames white. Try as I might, using different makes and types of primers and paints, I always end up with some crinkling. To me this particular crinkle looks good and I feel some sort of inspiration creeping up. But I just wish the crinkle was not on the frame.

Hay-hoe such is life in the slow lane. (it is a first class crinkle though)

LOVE, BOTH SIMPLE AND COMPLEX.

We recently had the kitchen decorated and when replacing the objects and pictures my wife Patricia walked around the room holding a heart shape made from twigs, or willow(not sure which but some form of dried organic material). The heart was my wife’s Mother’s Day present from my daughter Kathryn.  We found a suitable place and a fixed a hook to the wall and hung it. There it stayed for a couple of weeks and I passed it several times a day but it never really came into my field of vision.  I am now recovering from a knee operation and my normal Billy Wiz speed of moving around has been somewhat retarded.  Yesterday I stopped and looked at the heart shape and started thinking about the meaning of it.  

The heart shape is the universal symbol for love. A very simple shape.  I then reflected that love can be simply defined but there are so many differing types of love that we all encounter sometimes in lives. There is the Love we have for our Mother, the Love we have for our Father, the Love we have for our for our wives or husbands or partners, the Love we have for our sons and daughters, the Love we have for our Friends, the Love we have for our Neighbours, the Love we have for our Pets and Animals, the Love we have for our God, the Love we have for Life and not forgetting the Love we have for the Arts.

The strange thing is that whenever is see a Tee shirt which uses the heart shape as part if its slogan I always read the slogan as -

I heart London or I heart New York.

I then have to replace heart with love; I have to do it every time.

I need a tee shirt with the slogan –

I heart (love) the person stood next to me holding my hand (but I do not always show it, sorry)

The way this heart wall hanging is made also reminded that Love is often complex, often complex beyond our rational understanding yet we all accept that Love is a basic life element, a passion beyond the earth, the wind and the fire. Sometimes with us but not know or understood by us, sometimes sadly missing. The way the hanging is made reminds that Love has its twists and turns, we cannot see where it starts or where it ends, where it is taking us to, it is interlaced, intertwining going this way and that way.  

To me this simple wall hanging represent Love in both its simple and complex forms.

Love is free, we do not pay any taxes on, let’s keep it circulating.

Love is exciting, if we let it be.

Long Live Love!

YSP

It was my daughter’s birthday two days ago and she wanted her family and friends to visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with her to celebrate her birthday. I always enjoy my visits to the YSP. Monday felt like I was the one getting the treat.  It was nice to be together as a family and the work on display was fascinating. The sculptures of Jaume Plensa are extraordinary and the knitted work of Donna Wilson is fascinating. Well worth a visit.

All in all a wonderful day out.  Thank you Kathryn

Jaume Plensa's Sculptures

Donna Wilson's work

Work of the Young Ones

I like the work of young children; it is so creative and unrestricted by the ‘norms’ that are expected of someone older. Their work is often almost abstract in its execution. This is another aspect that I like.

On Christmas day my five year old granddaughter presented my wife and myself with a picture that she had produced for us. It is our house and garden. My wife keeps our garden well stocked with flowers; my granddaughter has observed this and has added flowers to the garden. She has also added the greenhouse and the shed.  

I think this picture is wonderful, not just because my granddaughter has produced it but because, well I just like it.