"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?

Very Excited!

I said I was taking a blogging break, didn't I? I said I'd be gone for a week or more... but I couldn't stay away! In fairness, I have completed all my planning for my weekend teaching at Missenden Abbey and I've completed another assignment in my drawing module... and it is the drawing that has lured me back to the blog because I am so VERY excited... I think I have finally cracked it with my tutor! So forgive me if I blow my own trumpet a little but like I say... I'm VERY excited and I wanted to shout about it!

The assignment was to work on The Figure in the Environment. I dithered about what environment to choose and decided to stick to the familiar... the fields and woodland where I walk the dog. But what figure would I place in the environment? Well... I was always there... but I could only actually see my own feet. So... that is what I drew!

I produced several charcoal sketches of my feet, and sometimes my shadow, on various parts of the walk, not entirely sure it would meet approval.

At my tutorial two weeks ago my tutor liked what I'd done, thought it was "exciting" and suggested I took the sketches further by producing a painting. I wasn't too thrilled at the idea of painting, so starting with a quick pastel sketch to get down colours...

I made a stitched "painting". Stitched onto artist's canvas with some hand stitching but mostly free machine embroidery over a charcoal sketch, I made an A3 picture of A Figure in the Environment.

And my tutor's response... "I can't think of anything negative to say... it's brilliant." Did I mention I was VERY excited!

In True Oscar Fashion...

... I would like to thank everyone involved in The Importance of Being Earnest (I know some of you read this!). For the past three nights the cast have treated us to outstanding performances - I remained equally entranced every time I saw it. Fantastic... well done to all of you.

Yesterday I was out with the Young Embroiderers all day, followed by the last night performance and the after show party at our house. I've just washed the last of the glasses this morning (while the rest of my household catch up with their sleep!) and I'm thinking how wonderful it would be to put my feet up. But there is much degree work to catch up with plus planning to do as I'm away teaching next weekend (Beginners machine embroidery at Missenden Abbey... there are still places available) so I think if I'm to be sensible a little blogging break might be advisable. Maybe just a week... maybe more... but I'll be back before long.

Finding Time

No matter how busy... and this week has been busy... there's always time for baking.

Especially chocolate topped, chocolate chunk muffins.

However, the ironing pile seems to have grown.

The Importance of Being Earnest

The sets have all been built...

The lines are all rehearsed...

Costumes have been hired... or made...

Walls have been painted ...

Curtains have been made...

And the cast have just delivered a near perfect dress rehearsal...

The transformation from village hall to theatre is complete.

Now all we need is an audience!