Monday 29 July 2013

Art books: The calligraphic arts of Ogawa Toshu

I can't actually remember when I got this book but I did so because of the beautiful fluid works by the artist, also the subtle visual textures within the brushwork. I also love the narrative of the lines and marks to illustrate characters of the subjects such as a crane, snow, even crockery! I love using water based media myself, such as ink & watercolours so found these images so inspirational. A lot to learn here from a master of brushwork.

Sunday 21 July 2013

The Glass house cafe at Stydd gardens

A rare breakfast without our boys this morning was a relaxed affair and rather more civilized than we're used too! We headed for the Glass house cafe at Ribchester. It is inspirational and very cleverly designed, making something unique and beautiful from what was a simple greenhouse, but a large one at that. The gardens are also very beautiful with a fairytale quality.

Saturday 20 July 2013

Studio continued

Well it is coming on slowly, what was once a patio is now becoming a room. My little studio is taking shape and I'm getting excited and of course realize how incredibly fortunate I am. A way to go yet of course,  but high walls have been built and holes for velux windows have appeared, so hopefully this will mean space & light.

Thursday 18 July 2013

Stoneyhurst

I realise I forgot to actually include images of Stoneyhurst school on my previous post, the building I was calling more magnificent than beautiful. The photos were taken on a previous visit in the winter time, hence trees without leaves and grey skies. 

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Old stone

We had a Sunday walk around part of the outskirts of stoneyhurst school, a favourite location of ours because of ducks & geese for the boys and well just beautiful architecture for us grown-ups, or maybe a more fitting description would be magnificent. I just remember the front of the school and long drive were featured in the film Three men and a little lady, if you've seen that good old stalwart of a nineties (or eighties?) film you'll know what I'm talking about! We did the usual walk I do with the boys to the little farm down a lane just by the school grounds. Although not really very old by British standards it has a stone plaque on the side of one of the barns dated 1938, so I do wonder if it had an involvement in the second world war, providing provisions to the school maybe? The photos below are some of the battered and broken windows on the side of the stone barn, I just find them inspirational because of the composition of shapes and textures of the stone, a stone wall was nearby, I love the imperfect shapes locked together and small speckles of overhanging greenery invading another wall. All old stone.

Sunday 14 July 2013

To be continued

I made this printed bag (the print not the bag!) at a print day with the Make District yesterday. I am hooked! I have done print a lot in the past but the method we used here was so easy and very do-able at home. So there will lots more printing to come! The Make District is well worth checking out on line for their courses, although living in North West England would help! However there is also a lot of inspiring images of their work.

Saturday 6 July 2013

What summer feels like

Visiting an agricultural show takes me back to my childhood. We spent a few summer holidays on showgrounds because my father had a stand selling country clothes such as wax jackets and tweed hats. I have good memories of those times, the smell of the tents, brown grass from the sun, the living quarters in the back of the lorry with bunk beds, the long evenings with dad's friends eating a meal. So when I visit a show these days I get a feel of nostalgia, but of course it all feels different now. Britain was a different country back in the 1980s and it was reflected in the country shows too. But aswell as obviously not being ten years old anymore there is also something missing from shows these days, even large ones and it seems to be an aspect of the traditional. Back then there was no commercialism in shows really because country shows were so successful, they didn't need it. It's that nostalgia for the 1980s that most late 30 somethings have a feel for and I'm no different!
The longridge and goosnargh agricultural show gave us a feel of summer today. It's not a big show but reflects the farming community we have here. Of course two little boys were in heaven with tractors and farm animals, diggers and a giant inflatable slide! Maybe when they get older they will feel nostalgia for their own childhoods spent on our local showground.

Thursday 4 July 2013

Art books: Ian McKeever

Ian McKeever is an artist whose work I fell in love with while a student at Bath. His paintings have such a fluidity and a light quality that is magical. Being a painting student myself I was in awe (and still am!) at his handling of paint, how he created the veils of effervescent light. He truly understands the qualities of paint and how to make it work for him. These photographs probably don't do the paintings justice. If you can look at his website aswell.

Wednesday 3 July 2013

My mother's garden

Flowers everywhere in a garden that is so well tended by my mum and stepfather. They are true gardeners, here are a few examples of their bounty.