Category: art

#644 theoldmortuary ponders

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Yesterday I went back to the Arts University Plymouth to catch up on two exhibitions that I had missed during the Private View last Friday.  The BA( Hons) in Painting/Drawing/Printing and BA( Hons) in Fine Art. I have a BA ( Hons) in Fine Art. But it was the Painting/Drawing/Printing exhibition that I enjoyed the most and which inspired me to wind back the years and just do a traditional watercolour today. I was also reminded today on Facebook that before we had dogs I had cats as my painting companions.

Harry assisting thegardenpainter
The painting Harry was helping with. Private Collection.

Cats are very different art assistants to dogs. Cats are contemptuous of the creative urge and would not be involved were it not for the soft surgical drapes ( discarded unused from sterile procedures) that I used to protect the lawn and patio. Harry loved the warmth of a surgical drape but really couldn’t care about the art created as long as he remained undisturbed wrapped in plastic backed soft fabric.

The dogs rarely experience the calm of a traditional watercolour painting. I only ever do them on foreign holidays. So today was a complete surprise to them as I sat drawing for a couple of hours and then quietly painted sat in the same position for long parts of the day. Usually they feel actively involved as I move around the studio to find all sorts of different bits and pieces to add to an ongoing painting. Sometimes they can persuade me to cuddle them or find a treat. But me, just statically painting is something they never witness. Unlike Harry they were not prepared to curl up and sleep, involved but not involved. The dogs decided to sleep on my feet, alert to any movement I might make towards the kitchen. Almost unconsciously I then kept my feet very still. Which is fine until I needed to move and then they, the dogs were grumpy and my feet were surprised by the sudden return of blood flow.

We managed to avoid me tripping over a dog or two with feet barely registering my intended movements but it was close at times. The painting and the days chores were achieved. The blog is late, the only casualty of a retro art day.

The painting the dogs were helping with.

Thanks to Facebook reminding me of what a gentle art critic Harry was. And yes King William IV really did pose with a saucy leg position. See official painting below. Floodlighting is a modern addition.

#641 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art1 Comment
©paradoxd3signs

Yesterday we went to the Arts University Plymouth for their Graduation Summer Show. Unusually we knew no -one taking part, none of the lecturers and I was not writing an official ‘piece’ for any publication. The Private View of these things is not entirely about seeing the art. It is about people watching and catching snippets of conversations. Arts students are endlessly fascinating.  Creative young butterflies just emerging from degree courses that have allowed them to grow up and be who they want to be. At the Private view we get to see their parents and grandparents. For the most part normal non-arty people. Proud and excited that they have an ‘artist’ in their family. Puzzled and surprised by being surrounded by art and artyness.

In the bustle of a Private View it is often hard to appreciate everything about the work or the artists who interest you.

The poster at the top of this blog was the image of the night for me. High up on a wall, it was easy to see above the heads of people and the displays.

Like all good art, it makes you think.

A few blogs will come out of this event but only when it is easy for us to concentrate on the actual work on show. I’m sure we missed some gems last night. I am unable to attribute this last image but will do so when I can. A gorgeous fold of wallpaper in the outstanding Interior Design rooms.

Of Course Good Girls Make History

Define Good

Define History

We all make History

As for snippets of conversation, I love this 2 second video. It is the essence of the evening.

#640 theoldmortuary ponders

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There is a new Muriel in town. This lovely mural depicting barrel rolling and sailing boats has been freshly applied to a local pub. I never fail to think ‘ Muriel’ instead of “Mural” when I see Street Art like this. My Welsh Nana found words that finish with a blunt end, impossible to pronounce correctly. Her Welshness required an uplift at the end of words. The extra syllable made the word more acceptable to her way of talking. So Muriel it is, but only in the privacy of my own head.

The pub has also renovated an old slipway which has been a sorry sight for the whole time we have lived here. It has been fenced off with safety fencing which has made the outlook ugly and uninviting. A shame because the location is a fine place to watch the sun go down. These waterside heritage sites of old boat builders yards or commercial wharfs once carried the names of men, famous around the World. Brunel the innovative engineer who built railways, bridges and boats, and less acceptably, Hawkins, cousin of Francis Drake, who was a favourite mariner of Elizabeth 1st but heavily involved in the Slave Trade.

How I wish I had photographed the first sunset without ugly railings but we were too busy discussing the potential of swimming from the slipway once it is extended. So to end this blog there is a ‘ Muriel in progress shot’ too bad I never caught the artist ‘ at it’ Nor do I know the artists name. Things to research this weekend, we may be forced to pop in to the pub!

http://thevot.uk/

Below is the Instagram account of the artist. Camilla Rose Signwriter

https://instagram.com/camillarosesignwriter?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

#634 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn abstract photography, art, Royal William Yard5 Comments

Describe one of your favorite moments.

The entrance gate to The Royal William Yard

A coincidence that this title should be the prompt for a blog today. I have many favourite moments, one of them happened just then when I reinstated the ‘U’ back into favourite, where it surely belongs to give the word its true flavour.

Favourite moments usually come thick and fast most days. The first mug of caffeinated tea, swiftly followed by the first caffeinated coffee start the favourite-moment ball rolling every morning.

Getting preconsidered tasks done ticks the box.

As does wrangling unplanned tasks into an already busy day

The writing or publishing of a blog, that zings, is favourite too. Insider fact. A blog that zings for me does not always zing for the stats. The curious world of algorithms at play, I assume.

The little sketch above was a favourite moment. Christmas stocks up my painting supplies,sometimes, with new things. Christmas 2022 brought alcohol inks, rubber shaper brushes and Yupo paper. I felt the urge to give them a go yesterday and sketched the gate that I walk through most days for our dog walks. The combination of three new things was a little trepidatious but went well for a first. A series of happy accidents and some angst created a recognisable image. It even looks safe enough to walk under.

Our early evening also featured a favourite thing. Bobbers together in Firestone Bay celebrating a significant birthday.

Favourite moments are everywhere.

#631 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, pondering, Serendipity2 Comments
©theoldmortuary – Wembury WIP

Summer months are often the busiest for artists. I am dedicating these long daylight hours to getting as much actual creating done as possible. But there are also a lot of exhibitions and these require a degree of organisation. The pandemic gave us Zoom which means not every meeting needs to be in person but yesterday despite the heat I was glad to have two meetings in opposite environments, 10 miles apart, in the Tamar Valley. The first one on Dartmoor was at The Garden House. A beautiful garden where I have enjoyed some tranquil drawing days.

Home

©The Garden House

No sketching for me, I was there for a scheduling meeting. It was very hot but I was thrilled to find some very wooly sheep hunkered down in the shade of a stone wall, taking life very easy as I left The Garden House ready for meeting number 2 in Plymouth.

In complete contrast to the rural location of the first meeting the second one was in a city with all the additional heat and bustle of a busy urban environment.

Cooling off came with the familiar sound of an ice cream van, parked up and ready to offer chilled relief in the sunshine.

Texture and context in life is everything. Yesterday was a good example of both. And now back to the brushes.

#635 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, Serendipity, StonehouseLeave a comment
Lola and Hugo on our walk to assess the wind.

Wind has been a feature of today’s activities. Today it is blowing in from the east.

©Windy.com. My go-to app for swim planning

East wind and a high tide can make swimming a little like spending time in a washing machine, at our normal beach. So Today I, once again, chose the secluded steps access to the sea, where there is a little shelter from an easterly wind. This time without interrupting a mourning family. See below ⬇️

#633 theoldmortuary ponders.

Wind was on my mind because, after swimming, I had two consecutive sessions of painting with two different groups. And I needed to finish a painting that features abstract shapes that represent the wind and Smeatons Tower, our local landmark Lighthouse.

To say I have become obsessed with painting the wind since living on a peninsular would be an understatement. I have even thought about getting a home weather station.

Now to excuse myself for a late blog. A timely blog would have happened between the first dog walking image and the second swimming image, but I met three different people I knew on the dog walk and, quite frankly talked too much.

1, Sweet Peas and their placement in a south facing garden with a neighbour.

2, A local anniversary fete with someone I only know by sight.

3, A road accident with a friend I haven’t seen since March.

Blogging time blown out of the water. I had a very quick turnaround to meet my swimming companion. Then we were both off to the same art group where talking and creating is the point of the whole thing. Networking would be the word. Very good for artists who largely work in isolation. We planned our next group exhibition.

Then off to meet the next group, predominantly crafters, at a cafe. It turns out I was at the wrong cafe but I met a friend who I had not seen for a few weeks and we caught up on a project that we had both been working on for a Tennis Club. Half an hour later, no crafters at the cafe and I Whatsapped them to see if the gathering had been cancelled.

I was in the wrong place!

Finally I reached the place where talking was always the plan. For once I was fairly quiet, but I did finish the wind painting.

When I was a small person someone who talked too much was given the derogatory title of a ‘right’or ‘old’ windbag.

On reflection I have definitely been that person today. Caught somewhere between being old, juvenile or pompous.

Or worse!

My father used a much less palatable description of the over-talkative and called chatty people ‘verbally incontinent’. He was himself a skilled listener and rather a wise bean.

How do you use windbag in a sentence?

She was a bit of a windbag, but chatterbox would be a kinder term, she did paint a good wind while she nattered.

Altered photograph of the bar at the VOT where I ended up. Looks a bit windy to me.

#634 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art2 Comments

Science steps in to gently rub salve into my busy mind.

A visit to Bangkok’s Museum of Modern Art definitely blew my Contemporary art thoughts last month.

I really struggled with my own ignorance of Buddhist and Hindu culture. The first two floors, that I chose to visit, presented art created in the last twenty years but absolutely the subject matter were traditional tales, largely presented in 2d and rendered in styles that are centuries old. I was completely exhausted by hyper-real women with perfectly formed bodies perkily posing, predominantly for the male gaze but pretending to be a classic image telling a traditional story in a contemporary way. In short I was exhausted by perky breasts and buttocks and uncomfortable with images of prepubescent girls depicted with their clothes absentmindedly slipping from their bodies.

My apologies for this being a repeat sentiment of a previous blog. But since the last blog two second-hand books have arrived in my house. Short introductions to Buddhism and Hinduism.

I am making a start with Buddhism.

And in particular with Satan’s Daughters. 10 in number, and the subject of a painting that I really enjoyed trying to understand in Bangkok.

Satan’s Daughter(s)? by Surathin Tatana

Louis Pasteur clarified beautifully the artistic journey that I am on currently. Science is a wonderful thing.

Being surprised by something is the mind’s first step towards discovery. Louis Pasteur

This month Buddhism, next Hinduism.

#628 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, Serendipity1 Comment

We have lived in this house for nearly two years. In this period of time the studio has been tidied 5 or 6 times. The most recent was yesterday.

Previous tidying was done because.

1- the studio was the packing box storage area.

2- all of the London flat moved into it.

3- we lost our passports in the move.

4 and 5 the studio is used as a dumping area over Christmas.

6. The studio now needs to be a multi function space. A studio, an exercise area and a playroom for small granddaughters.

The studio has never been tidied for art reasons. Although that remains the primary function of the space. Yesterday felt a little bit like an arty clear out but despite the other tidy-up sessions feeling diligent this was the one that located several lost paintings. Paintings that I couldn’t remember selling but also couldn’t find. Some of them have been missing for years.  Finding them was such a treat. One especially, of pumpkins, makes me so satisfied to have him back in the portfolio. But just now trying to find the picture for this blog he is once again not to be found.

I am very vexed. In a similar style to my poor care of the studio my Instagram page has suffered from me paying more attention to other Instagram accounts. These pictures are my Instagram grids. Loads of lovely images, interesting subjects but I really need to get paintbrush to paper very soon and get more art on there. But today I am satisfied with a tidy studio, procrastination at its finest.

#616 theoldmortuary ponders.

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One week on, from our trip to the Yayoi Kusama Exhibition in Hong Kong.

Yayoi Kusama (草間 彌生, Kusama Yayoi, born 22 March 1929) is a Japanese contemporary artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation, and is also active in painting, performance, video art, fashion, poetry, fiction, and other arts. Her work is based in conceptual art and shows some attributes of feminism, minimalism, surrealism, Art Brut, pop art, and abstract expressionism, and is infused with autobiographical, psychological, and sexual content. She has been acknowledged as one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan,[1] the world’s top-selling female artist,[2] and the world’s most successful living artist.[3] Her work influenced that of her contemporaries, including Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg.

We were both early to the party and late to the party. We were there as the doors opened on the last day of the exhibition.

I was overwhelmed by the experience. Ordinarily if this exhibition had been in a home city I would have booked at least two further visits to fully absorb the significance and depth of what I was seeing. For this blog I am just going to ponder the large installation that was in the basement of the art gallery.

Her work is immediately joyful. When I walked into the installation I felt like I had symbiotically absorbed more champagne than would be conducive to steady walking. A smile appeared in my soul instantly. I could quite happily have laid in a great big bean bag and stayed there all day. The perfect thing would have been to be dressed all in black laying on a black bean bag watching the instant pleasure playing out on every visitor in the room. I realise, of course, that I would have been a hazard, slips, trips, and falls magnet and completely forbidden by the Health and Safety Axis of power. But a woman can dream.

As you can see in the picture above I was dressed to impress. Largely an accident of very minimal packing and a fortuitous find of earrings in Zara.

Every moment in this installation was a feast for the mind.

This was the moment a door opened.

I may stop wittering at this point and just share some photos. Have a fabulous Saturday.

#606 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, Serendipity2 Comments
Yayoi Kusami, Infinity- Nets 2021

Nothing is quite as it seems in Bangkok on a Public holiday weekend. With the King himself elsewhere. The city is decorated for a party but there are no additional public celebrations. People do indeed seem to be taking a break and the city seems quieter than we imagined, Businesses and Temples are closing earlier.

The Thai King and Queen are in London this weekend.

Our evening explorations are proving to be unpredictable. Daytime yesterday we achieved what we set out to do and I thought I knew what this blog was going to be about. Based as it is on a daytime event. Our day was planned to be spent at Moca, The Museum of Contemporary Art which it was. And then I was going to write about it. But one of Asias largest collections of Contemporary art blew my mind a bit and I feel lost as to where to start. So much so that we are off to a different art gallery today to try and get a bit of context and maybe distil  my thoughts. Even my trusty phone camera was baffled. The top picture is by Yayoi Kusami. Not her traditional Polka dots, this 2021 painting is still part of her Infinity Nets series. The painting is a yellow and black image displayed on a lime green wall. Nothing I did could replicate the acidity of the combination. A fine metaphor for the rest of our visit really. So this blog is not going to be about the art we saw but more about how we felt. I am going to share two proper writers reviews of this collection of contemporary art because my inane witterings will not do it justice.

https://www.cntraveler.com/activities/bangkok/museum-of-contemporary-art-moca-bangkok

https://sawasdee.thaiairways.com/love-art-heres-a-handy-guide-to-the-moca-bangkok/

Please read them, they really will better prepare you for my over-sharing of our responses.

The first one I need to get off my chest, pun intended, is that I was exhausted by perfect perky breasts and smooth, mostly hairless bodies. Traditional and cultural stories, visually explored even in contemporary art seemed very much aimed at the ‘ male gaze’ market.

Goddess of Earth,  Chatawan Rodklongtan

Goddesses are perhaps excused perfection but goodness me it got exhausting.

Some images were, to me a little troubling. One, certainly traditional in subject matter, represented young girls, just at pre-, puberty preparing for traditional Thai dancing. What was unsettling to my Western eyes was that so many of them needed to be topless and also, due to the skill of the artist, seem to lock eyes with the viewer.

Much more to my taste was the one below that represented more natural older women.

Satan’s Daughter no.1 Surathin Tatana
Detail, flipped.

It is going to take me and google quite some time to research the meaning of this in Buddhism but these are just my early response.

Sundays seem to be the day instagrammers are about. There were several groups of people, one at least with a professional photographer, anxious not to see the art but to ‘be seen’ with the art.

Not that I am immune to the lure of the ‘gram’.

Is this not the most beautiful Lemon Meringue Pie ever?

I have no shame in sharing that it appears on my Instagram grid.

So much more art to discuss, so little time. Arty witterings for many future blogs.