A Visual Proposal

I propose a series of four images, identical faces filling the frame, only the light source changes in each image representing the passing of time. The figure remains the same, impassive, sitting quietly in a tranquil space, alone, staying still as the time passes.

A rare opportunity to take time to reflect, time to think. The stillness of each figure only emphasises the significance of the passage of time. Each image will be worked in charcoal and conte crayon in three tones onto a square of canvas which will then be stitched into with toning threads.

I would like to take some time for a rare opportunity to reflect... but I think I need to get stitching!

From One Extreme to Another

Yesterday it was wild, wet and windy... today unseasonably warm and sunny. Not at all like November.

But perfect for a long walk after lunch.

Which of course means guilt free cake for afternoon tea after all that fresh air and exercise.

Can I offer you a slice of raspberry and cream sponge?

Cosy

I've finished another pair of socks...

Perfect on a wet and windy November evening, after a day teaching, for relaxing in front of the fire... while I cast on the next pair.

A Rainy Day in London

It takes more than a drop of rain to put me off... so first stop The Royal Academy to meet my very special friend Jude to see the Anish Kapoor exhibition.


It was "interesting"... okay what I said at the time (referring to the sculpture in the picture above) using my honest artistic opinion... "It looks like piles of poo!" Actually some of it was interesting and very thought provoking and I loved the sculpture in the courtyard...

"Tall Tree and the Eye"... a fabulous stainless steel and carbon steel structure.

I took loads of photos of the reflections... of the reflections

Can you see me?

We then had lunch in our favourite restaurant before heading off to the V & A to see the Maharaja exhibition which I can thoroughly recommend. It is worth going just to see the fabulous jewels.

It also happened to be Jude's birthday this week and the very attentive among you may remember I bought this wool at the festival of quilts for a secret project...

Which I turned into this knitted and felted bag for Jude's birthday.

Couldn't resist making some little dangly flowery bits with the left over yarn!

After saying goodbye to Jude at the V & A I met Stewart after work at the Champagne Bar at St. Pancras before catching the train home. In his words "The perfect start to the weekend"... except I'm working tomorrow! Hope you all have a perfect weekend!

"Hello Cambridge..."

Last night I went to a gig... standing room only in the back room of a Cambridge pub along with several 17 and 18 year olds. I'd like to say it made me feel young and trendy... but it didn't. I thought most of the music (for want of a better word) was noisy and tuneless and the singing was more like screaming (apparently that is what all "Nu Metal" sounds like... which shows what I know.) But I did think this band was rather good...

Jacob's first gig with his band "The Restless Beards"

Over thirty years ago I saw David Bowie sing "Jean Genie" and last night I watched Jacob do the same... along with four other songs that they'd written themselves.

I was impressed! They were good... well done Jacob, Matt and Rory.

Do you think David Bowie's Mum came to see his first gig?

Assignment Four...

is all about the figure and light. Taking inspiration from such masters as...

Rembrandt...

Bonnard...

and Vermeer...

I've done a number of figure studies concentrating on light and in particular the strong contrast between light and dark. They have included the following four self portraits, each drawn with the light coming from a different direction, and each one appearing to be of a different person, none of whom quite resemble me!

All a bit scary really!... Just to prove I'm not really that scary...this is what I really look like!

Now I've got to use this research material to produce a visual proposal for a work of my choice... Eh? Any clues anyone???

Missenden Abbey

I've been visiting Missenden Abbey, first as a student and more recently as a tutor for about ten years. It is so familiar it almost feels like a second home... I've even had the same bedroom for the past three years! It is a lovely environment for teaching and learning and I always enjoy going there. This weekend was no exception.

I was teaching a beginners machine embroidery class to a very small but select group of ladies... all complete beginners. When they saw the samples I had put out on Friday not one of them believed this is what they would produce by Sunday... but they did and here's the evidence...

Such fabulous work and this is just a selection of what they have achieved this weekend. Well done Jane, Clare, Sharon, Gwen, Ann and Dawn. You were a lovely group to teach and you did really well.

The next beginners weekend at Missenden Abbey is 5th - 7th February... maybe I will see some of you there?