Photo: sketchbook pages from 2017
It’s been one of those weeks - not everything has gone quite to plan. Not a bad week, in the grand scheme of things, not at all. I started with good intentions and an optimism. I was going to have a sociable week - which for me is quite something. I wanted to see my friend Maureen’s exhibition, see local friends, visit my sister. Alas, for one reason or another, I did not get to see many people or the exhibition.
I was disappointed to miss Maureen Nathan’s wonderful-looking show in London. My hope had been to share with you a few glimpses and my experience of visiting the gallery. It’s been a while since I have been into London and I was looking forward to a busy trip in. May I of course encourage you to take a look at Maureen’s work and follow her on the social medias. Maureen is an inspiring artist with a particular talent for printmaking, shapes and colour use. She is also a favourite Scrabble friend (we have been playing non-stop of years - yes I play Scrabble a lot, it is my stress-buster.)
I did get to see my dear sister (who lives just ten minutes walk away) and my niece S who is also an artist. S is starting out in her career and is already doing incredibly well, proving that talent will shine through if you have distinctive work to share with the world. Yes, of course, I am a proud aunt but more than that just in awe of how well S has established herself in such a relatively short amount of time. As we discussed when I visited, it seems that some young creators are experiencing a rapid rise to success - and more power to them. Her work is very different from my own and she works with digital media - if you are interested here is a link to her Instagram.
**
photo: faces painted in watercolour and gouache
I have been painting faces for collage works. These faces may become the starting point for mixed media figures. I have been exploring these in my sketchbooks, of course, for quite a while.
As you may see, I have already used one of the faces in my sketchbook. (the top face in the photo above). Some of the other faces may become the starting point for works that I will make on paper and offer for sale. I hope to be working on these over the days ahead (along with other projects).
Photo: more faces!
Some feel more ‘me’ than others, but once I get started on making their entire form - a skirt, arms etc.. things can change. It is intriguing to start with a certain mood in mind and see this alter according to how the collage evolves.
**
Small notes from this week
I walked about the neighbourhood noting all the wild flowers growing in the un-mowed areas. I love the names of some of these plants: bird’s-foot-trefoil, for example, a bright yellow and orange beauty is glowing/growing in abundance right now. Clover is having a very good year. I thought of taking photos, recording all the different colours and textures. I might do this soon -create a digital scrapbook - before the local council come with their strimmers and sit-on mowers.
*
More blackbirds in the garden this past week. Lady blackbird sits and calls - squeaksqueakpeeek - for five or more minutes at a time. She is such a beauty and inspiration. If I could be any bird I would be a lady blackbird. What would you choose to be? Do let me know below.
*
In a local shop, I pick out a variety of DMC threads - I am stitching a reproduction sampler. I have decided to use some of the colours stitched in the original work and a few of my own choices. The sampler will be a slow project for myself. I am following a chart - something I thought I could not do - but I am doing it! I am actually following a chart. Here is the one I am working on. Jacob of Modern Folk Embroidery is an excellent interpreter/designer of reproduction samplers….
I take my mix of coloured threads to the shop counter to pay. The woman looks at them and says: oh these are a bit different, something Victorian about them. I smile and say yes. I feel I may have got the colours just right.
photo: an example of another cross stitch project - a red alphabet sampler (my own design) which I have since completed
*
Thanks so much for reading here. I hope you are inspired and enjoy hearing from you. Please leave a comment, subscribe and share. If you would like to support these weekly ramblings then please consider buying me a coffee - and thanks to everyone who has done so already. It really does help out.
I’m a big Scrabble fiend too, but since losing my mum in December I’ve not played, actually she had lost the ability to play a few years ago, but it didn’t seem so noticeable. I feel an affinity with pelicans for some reason, I’m very tall and can seem very clumsy and taking up too much space next to more delicate birds. I really like your friend’s work and your niece is very talented but your work resonates with me. I hope you have a good week and look forward to hearing about it next Sunday.
I’ve always thought that I would be a little brown Carolina wren, hopping about close by the house, chirping and gathering moths for my little ones, building nests in out of the way boxes and bins.
As ever, I enjoy your musings, dear Cathy. xo