Ham-cat is still playing hard-to-get. I have tried enticing him with ham and cat-calls but he remains elusive (although my fella’s Pa did see him skulking along the driveway hedge the other day). I am not looking to domesticate him, but it would be nice to be friends. I decided if cold meats and “here kitty kitty” wasn’t going to work, I’d have to bring out the big guns…
It’s been a strange week in the studio. The relief of finishing my research paper and resuming painting, soon turned to frustration. I have a pretty clear of idea of the kind of paintings I want to do for my research project, and even what they will be about, but for some reason I am having trouble realising them. Below are a couple of paintings from this week; although I like them, they are still a long way from what I have in mind.
As well as painting birds (for some unknown reason) I have also been drawing them, along with hands. Hands are notoriously hard to draw, and while I don’t want the hands in my paintings to be perfect/realistic per se, I do want them to be expressive.
I have nearly finished the collage for the Manx Museum exhibition, there are just a couple of finishing touches to do. My fella and his Pa are making a frame for the painting I will also be showing, which is great, as they always make such beautiful frames.
This past week has been the most stressful of my course so far. It started off ok, but then I had a one to one with my tutor about my research paper, to discuss the draft I had submitted a few weeks ago. In reality she probably gave me some helpful tips, as to how I might bring my offering up to scratch, but what I heard was that it is crap and I need to start again. Since then I have been paralyzed with stress (the paper is due in 3 weeks), which I have sought to remedy by eating my feelings, which is a shame because I had just joined WW again and had lost .4lb (which I initially thought was 4lbs and some paper-writing-stress weight loss miracle). Worse still, I have hit a dead-end with my paintings, and have only scratched out a few drawings.
When I reach a painting dead-end, there’s only one thing for it, I have to stop for a while, so I can then start anew with fresh eyes/ideas. Thankfully, this week proved to be the perfect time to stop, as I have to make a collage for an upcoming exhibition. Collaging is one of the most comforting things in the world, next to jigsawing with my Ma, so while I’ve been all stressed and scoffing, I have been cutting bits of paper and sticking them together, which in and of itself has been an absolute delight.
The collage “Ellan Vannin” (Manx for Isle of Man), is for the Home exhibition at the Manx Museum in November. I made the original collage a few years ago, but before putting it altogether I scanned the individual sections, so I can print and re-cut/construct it at will. This one will be larger than the original, and is printed on thick matte paper, which will hopefully allow me to suspend the finished collage from the ceiling.
I have a new friend, Ham-cat – a feral black cat who lives in the hedge. Only my fella has seen him, but I have been leaving him ham, so I’m sure we’ll be best-buds soon. I am thrilled little Ham-cat has come along, as I’ve always wanted a cat. I am also very grateful, as this summer we saw a few “long-tails” (it’s bad luck to say the R-word on the Isle of Man, and if you hear it said or accidently say it yourself, then you have to pat your head and whistle to avert the bad luck), so hopefully Ham-cat will keep them under control.
I had a good week in the studio, and really enjoyed being back at school without the dreaded covid. I have a dual focus this term, namely, drawing and my research project. Even though my drawing has greatly improved, after focusing on it this summer, I now realise that when it comes to drawing, learning and improvement never ends. For this reason, I have signed up for a series of drawing workshops, joined a drawing club, and booked one on one sessions with a drawing tutor.
I have also kept up my morning drawing discipline, which this week has consisted of filling large pages with a variety of ink and watercolour drawings. I really enjoy this part of my practice, and try and keep it light and fun.
My paintings this week were sea-themed, no doubt influenced by my passionate love of Moby Dick, which I am still listening to on my walks to see the bobbers. I agree with Ray Bradbury’s assessment –
“Shakespeare wrote Moby-Dick, using Melville as a Ouija board.”
I also experimented with colour and detailing, with the hope that when I come to do the paintings for my research project, I’ll know the palette and detailing style I want to use.
On Friday night, my dear friends and I had one of our ladies-nights at our favourite cocktail bar, Fynoderee. We were two-women down from normal, but we still had a wonderful time. As you can see by the photo I took, I was a bit wobbly by the end of the night.
This was my last week of the Anam Cara School of Drawing. To wrap up the experience, I drew a series of illustrations I’ve called “Lane & Mabel”. I think they are adorable, especially wee Mabel, and if I was going to pursue illustration, I think this is the direction I would go in. For now, though, I want to use my drawing for the paintings I have in mind for my CSM research project. I realise I am limited in my abilities and am by no means an excellent drawer. But I have learnt a lot in the past 3 months, and am nearing proficiency in some aspects of drawing, which I hope, when paired with my other artistic skills, will result in some effective paintings. Three wonderful things came out of my self-imposed drawing school.
An increase in my drawing skills.
The realisation that when it comes to drawing, the learning never stops.
Last week I had a driving lesson with my fella’s Pa, Mick. I actually got my licence when I was 18, back home in New Zealand, but made the monumentally stupid, inconvenient, and very expensive mistake of not getting it changed to a Manx licence within the first year of moving here, so I have to sit it again. Before my fella came along, I wandered the streets with my trusty, old-lady shopping trolley, and thought I’d shuffle around like that till I eventually shuffled off. But taking up with my fella altered the trajectory of my life (which looked set to include said trolley and several cats) and inspired me to big-pant-up and get my licence.
Before having lessons with Mick, my fella would take me driving. It soon became apparent however, that he was unable to iron out my bad habits, one of which was not listening to him, and the second, gesticulating at errant drivers. There was only one thing for it, he’d have to bring in the big gun, his Pa. So it was, I set off with Mick for the big smoke, under strict instructions to do what I was told, and keep my hands on the steering wheel when other drivers failed to abide by the road rules (which of course are fresh in my mind having recently passed my theory test), or, if I really couldn’t help myself, I could wave.
Mick and I had a great time. He kept me entertained with plant-hire and traffic-management stories, and I managed not to kill us. Most of the lesson went well, except for the tricks (i.e., reverse parking and emergency stop, both of which I messed up), and we were nearing the end of proceedings, when suddenly, the steering wheel seized as we were going around a roundabout. Technically the power-steering switched off, but it was such a marked difference I thought it had seized. Anyway, long story short, the car broke down and we had to be towed back to Ramsey. It was great fun riding in the big tow truck, and all in all it turned out to be the best driving lesson I have ever had.
The week in the studio was productive as usual, with lots of cats (including some naughty ones), which I am now thoroughly sick of drawing. I am going to be winding up my drawing school over the next few weeks, ready for my return to painting and resumption of my course in October. It’s been invaluable to take this time out of my usual studio activities, and I am excited to see what improving my drawing skills will bring to my painting.
Another thing I worked on was a collage. It is based on one I did some time ago called Ellan Vannin. I had the presence of mind at the time to scan the individual sections, which I was able to print, recut, and reassemble. This has allowed me not only to make it bigger, but also make it in such a way that it can be suspended away from the wall. I am really pleased with the results so far, and will continue to tweak it over the coming weeks.
I have more photos of the the results, but my internet is so painfully slow, one will have to do.
After going out for 41/2 years, it suddenly dawned on my fella and I that in all that time we haven’t spent a day together where he’s chosen the day’s activities. This isn’t by fiat, rather a default position that goes something like this.
Me: What do you fancy doing today?
Fella: Whatever you fancy.
Me: Ok, lets go to a cemetery, stop off at a bog (as in sodden peat-rich ground, not loo), and visit a magic well.
Fella: Sure thing Kiwi Fruit (note how he separates the words).
This meant only one thing. It was high time for Geoff Chooseday. And what, with his new found power, did he choose? Not being waited on hand and foot and a Star Wars marathon (as I suspected). No, he chose making me breakfast (a nomelette to be precise, which is an extra tasty omelette), trimming the hedge (with me helping), and hosting a barbeque for our respective parents. He made a lot of people happy with his choosing, not just himself, cause that’s the kind of fella he is. Sure, it was no well visit, but our hedge looks amazing!
I had another enjoyable and productive week in the studio. This week I focused on drawing people sitting (a few examples below). I also bought some new watercolour paints (I use a Japanese brand called Kuretake), so was able to change the palette. The new paints are a range of blacks, which give the various colours a lovely muted tone, as seen the last 5 images. The paper I am using at this stage is just cartridge, hence why the paint looks a bit streaky. Still, it’s a lovely treat to add a bit of colour to the drawings, and it gives me my painting fix.
After 3 frustrating weeks at my self-imposed drawing school, I finally turned a corner this week. Not only am I enjoying drawing, but I am starting to like the results. A few changes helped facilitate my new found enjoyment.
I switched from pencil to pen, which means no more fussing about lines, and rubbing out the ones I don’t like. Once a line is down, that’s it, I have to live with it. This alone makes drawing more relaxing and enjoyable, plus, I think errant lines add to the character of a drawing.
I switched from using other people’s sketches as a reference to using photographs. While using sketches is a great place to start (as you can see where to put individual lines), there’s no satisfaction in the result, because the drawing is not really yours.
Once I began drawing from photographs I was able to start drawing friends and family, which makes me very happy.
One of the people I love to draw the most is my mum, I think because her lovely personality comes out in the drawings.
Sitting in the gardenOff to see AngelaEnjoying a pub meal
Of all the drawings I did this week, my favourite is of my fella when he won the Isle of Man Field Archery Championship. Sure I made him 6’3″, but I think I did a pretty good job nonetheless.
Since my corner-turn, I can’t stop drawing. All my sketch pads are filling up, and when I walk down the street, I keep seeing people I’d like to draw. It’s such a relief that I actually enjoy drawing, as well as show some aptitude for it, as it would be impossible to make the paintings I have in mind without it. I have big plans for my drawing, so I still have a long way to go, but the progress I made this week makes me hopeful. Of course, the biggest win is that I enjoy it.
I have called some unique places home – a Kombi van, a disused ugg boot factory, a broom closet in a rundown theatre – but nothing compares to the one-of-kind magnificence of Anam Cara. I am utterly in love with this place and would gladly sell my soul for it. Unfortunately, no one’s in the market for a slightly jaded, long in the tooth ephemeral essence, so I won’t be possessing it anytime soon. Not that anyone can really possess a place like Anam Cara, it belongs to the sea, and the sea is coming for it. That’s what makes it such a beguiling place to live, its fragility in the face of the big blue wobbly thing.
Although I’d dearly like to stay here until I’m a little old-biddy without a tooth or sensible thought in my head (or until the wobbly thing is lapping at the front door, whichever comes first), it doesn’t belong to me, so I have to content myself with my apportioned time, which I’m thrilled to report has been extended for another year. That my apportioned time has coincided with doing my masters is a remarkable confluence of my heart’s desire, and I can’t ask for better than that!
It’s been a productive week in the studio. I finally started drawing figures, and discovered that the best time to draw them is when I am talking to my dearest friend, Lauren, in Australia.
These little figure-drawing exercises are very handy to do, as they get you used to human proportions and where to put everything to convey a given stance. It’s only now that I’ve uploaded them that I’ve realised that the middle picture looks a little risqué, that was completely unintentional…honest.
I also managed a figure painting this week. I particularly like the stance, which was referenced from a fashion model picture I found. It’s not perfect, but I like most of it enough to not meddle with it. It’s a good start, and gives me hope that if I keep practicing my figures over the summer, I’ll likely have some really good paintings at the end of it.
I won’t have to pluck up the courage to ask my fella to extend my Weight Watchers subscription for another 3 months, he’s got eyes! I’d like to blame stress, but my fella’s Victoria sponge making ability and the jelly bean dispensing machine I have learned to break into are the real culprits. As always, sugar is my downfall, and when it comes with cream, light-as-air cake, and a knob-turning contraption, I can’t get enough! But when I bent down the other day and the button on my shorts went flying, I knew it was time to dust off my WW app once again – that time being next week of course.
My outdoor Anam Cara School of Drawing got off to a good start, but then the gazebo blew over and it started to rain, so I had to move operations indoors, which, for some reason, bought it all to a grinding halt. Instead, I painted cats all week.
When cats pop up in my paintings, it is usually a sign I am stressed about something. True to form, I did have an external stressor this week. Not that I mind painting cats, I love those fluffy little menaces, and painting them is a real pleasure, hence why I do it when I’m stressed. Here’s my favourite from this week.
As relaxing as painting cats is, I have a paper to research and write, and an indoor drawing school to attend, so I better start carving out some real time for these two must-dos, or I will have whittled myself to a nub by the end of summer with only stack of cat paintings to show for it – not the worst outcome in the world, but doing my masters is a one time deal and I want to make the most of it.
My favourite uncle coined the name, not to be mean, but simply to describe what he saw in front of him – a little girl who regularly failed to comprehend the bleedin’ obvious. It was an affectionate nickname that also happened to be true, and now and then, continues to be so. Case in point, this week it finally dawned on me that if I want to paint bigger, I’ve got to draw bigger. Instead of doing this, I’ve been scratching out wee drawings in my wee sketchbook, hoping that when it comes time to paint on a big canvas I’ll magically be able to paint bigger.
Armed with this realisation, I gessoed (applied base paint that makes it easier to draw on) some A4 sheets of paper this morning, and rather than squishing multiple things onto a small page in my sketch book, I drew one thing on one sheet of paper. Currently, I am drawing hares, and I’m pleased to say, that drawing them 4 sizes bigger was no trouble at all.
I also decided to apply the same reasoning to the painting experiments. However, instead of painting a whole picture on big pieces of paper, I thought I would concentrate on painting particular elements on medium-ish pieces of paper (such as the eye below). The hope is to get better at the individual elements and eventually start piecing them together on ever bigger canvases. The great thing about drawing and painting larger things is, you can add more detail.
The weather on the Isle of Man this past week has been absolutely glorious, which has made being at Anam Cara nothing short of heavenly. My fella and I have been taking long evening walks to the Point of Ayre lighthouse, naming all the landmarks on the way, such as:
Speckled-ridge Highway (the pebbly beach leading to the lighthouse).
Smugglers Cove (a suspiciously abandoned jerrycan and buoy near the cliff edge).
Last Chance Rise (the last place you can leave the beach and ascend the cliff to the lighthouse).
Lovers Lookout (a discarded set on concrete steps that lead nowhere but provide a glorious vista looking back to the hills surrounding Ramsey).
Little Rock Cafe (a patch of ground between the heather that is scattered with little pebbles)
The Corryvreckan (a spiral like feature in the landscape that you have to circumnavigate, named after the Corryvreckan whirlpool off the west coast of Scotland, which, incidentally, George Orwell nearly drowned in 3 months before he finished 1984).
The Devil’s Garage (an abandoned concrete structure that looks like a car mechanic’s pit).
The Badlands (a wide, barren area with no vegetation but plenty of donut marks, of the car-wheel variety).
There’s other features too, but those are the main ones (or at least the ones I can remember). Naming them has made the walk a lot of fun, and it also makes me feel safer when I do the walk on my own, because if I come-a-croppa, I’ll be able to call my fella and he’ll know exactly where to find me. Though I don’t suppose telling emergency services that I’ve taken a tumble at the Devil’s Garage, between the Corryvreckan and the Badlands is going to be very helpful.
Walking in the Ayres is very inspiring, and I always have lots of painting ideas (most of which outstrip my current abilities, but I’m working on it). Having the walk right on my doorstep is, apart from meeting my fella, the most fortunate thing ever to happen to me.
bexODESSA 