Category: Serendipity

#1321 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn SerendipityLeave a comment
©theoldmortuary

Time for hands on creativity has been a bit short recently for good reasons and some tedious ones. I keep my creative head ticking over by doing digital art and reading about arty stuff that interests me. Visiting exhibitions too. Always a sure-fire way to get me back on the creative mojo. September also, always feels far more like a fresh start than the turgid dampness of January. I’ve been thinking about how to recycle or repurpose unsold artwork. Collage is a big thought. Not just from my own work but from some of the high quality tourist/ lifestyle magazines that can be picked up in arty places.

The picture above was not a conscious effort of creativity. I just packed up a scalpel and some old colour sketches of my local streets and went to meet fellow artists at a coffee/ cake/ and create session. I didn’t know what I planned to do but I had given the matter some thought.

Then 24 hours later I read this fascinating article. If you have the time please read it. It is not the article that made me ponder but the image that prefaced it.

https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/sep/10/creativity-unconscious-process-incubation?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Is it just me or does it seem hugely insulting to illustrate an article about creativity with an illustration that just shows men?

When I should have been reading and inwardly digesting something that really interests me. I just want to punch the smug white male and his white, white coated cranium sub – conscious allies. Maybe punching is too gentle. After all, I have a scalpel and I know how to use it. I note however that when the white coats did the craniotomy all they found was an empty void.

Whoever thought this picture was a good illustration for a great article should have given the matter more thought. Maybe slept on it or gone for a refreshing walk…

Blogging rant over.

theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Drawn to the Valley, Serendipity1 Comment

Drawn to the Valley ( Plymouth) came to the end of an era in August. For three years after the Covid restrictions Drawn to the Valley met once a month for their Creative Table event at Ocean Studios.

Members from all over the Tamar Valley met to create together, share information, and plan exhibitions.

The exhibitions were fabulous.

And the Private View parties were full of happy artists and their friends

So What Next?

For Ocean Studios, developers will be creating new homes. A beautiful artistic space, gone.

For Plymouth Drawn to the Valley, we have a new location.

Devonport Market Hall is our new location for our monthly meet ups.

Creative Table will be held at Devonport Market Hall. 10-12 every second Thursday of the Month in the Cafe at the Market Hall. All DTTV artists and makers are welcome as are non-member friends.

Next Meeting.

Thursday 9th October 10-12 in the Cafe.

#1320 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn art, autumn, SerendipityLeave a comment

Friday already and a fabulous bouncy bob at high tide.

Nothing starts the day better than a challenging swim in a very well-understood and respected bay.

There is a turn in the weather so on our return I decided to do some autumn chores in the yard. I was energised for action by the splash and bounce of the sea.

Before loading the garage with summer paraphernalia I collected a stored portrait. A friend and I plan to have a good old natter about the experience of having our portraits painted. My two were painted 10 years apart and I have never before viewed them together.

© Steve Fuller.
© Peter Orrick

I had no idea they had both chosen almost identical colour palates.

Seeing them together and again is a curious feeling.

If I posed now the hair would be grey, the black garment would be a swimming costume and the deep jewel red would be a towel or robe. Cold water swimming is my superpower, I wish those younger women had done it because it really gets me through the tough days. And those two younger versions of me had some really tough days.

#1319 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn SerendipityLeave a comment

This painting has never sold. The other circle project ones went on their way to new homes and this one went into the garage. Maybe the title didn’t work.

Sweat.

Maybe a hard sell but it reflected the many feelings that being sweaty can create. I looked at it yesterday in its plastic shroud, pondering on its future. Then this morning it appeared on my Facebook feed as a memory of  7 years ago.

Time to unwrap and rebrand.

I might slip into autumn unwillingly  but these transitional days are full of getting back to routines or establishing new ones, after the languorous days of a well-spent summer.

I have an urge to turn this picture into an image of a bursting pomegranite.

Pomegranites are one of my favourite fruits.

My own photo archive holds some lovely pomegranite images.

Time to get my sketch book out.

Pomegranates bursting in Greece last year.

#1317 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

So much to see in these clouds as they skimmed the sea yesterday.*

Our weekend camping was, unusually, on a formal campsite. The lure of hot showers and a stupidly short walk to the sand dunes of Gwithian called to us in this period of hugely fluctuating weather. Life as is often the case had other plans, the camp site and indeed the whole area of Gwithian was having planned maintenance on its mains electricity supply. So in effect we were wild camping in a camp site. Now that seems like a silly thing to do so we packed up our wagon and drove off to a small car park we had discovered on our first day of being utterly lost.

St Ives Bay with St Ives in the distance.

Breakfast was served to all with the most fabulous outlook.

Who needs a shower when an early morning walk looks like this.

*I could see a large fluffy ring doughnut being kicked by Cornwall on a slightly out of proportion shape not dissimilar to England and Wales. Scotland too but Scotland appears to be taking a bite out of the cloud doughnut.

One hour after these photos were taken the rain was so hard our windscreen wipers couldn’t cope and we could not hear what  was on the radio.

The Scrag End of Summer and official Autumn are really fighting it out in this transition period. My heart is with the scrag end ❤️

#1316 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity, Van Life1 Comment

Sun day update, the sun came out and we wandered in the St Gothian Nature Reserve.

The sea was beautiful, but didn’t call us fearful of a sandy bed on our return. Beaches with fine sand are for the last day of a mini-break when we don’t have to sleep on a bed that furry paws  have embellished with sand.

Tramping about on sand dunes does not seem to have the same effect.

On our return we found a very cosy church, filled with colour.

And a grave that celebrated the life of the archaeologist who researched the extensive history of humans in this magical part of  Cornwall.

Unusually his wife, a prolific writer is commemorated on the edges of his grave.

My Sunday, sun day update.

P s Her books look worth a read.

#1311 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

First day of official Nana/Nona Daycare with just the Nana half of the care team. After a summer of unofficial play dates and cousins from Hong Kong we are busy sorting out new stuff fir the care of one small person. A new car seat should have been the big excitement but the box it came in was way more exciting.

In fact the day was shared fun wise between a cardboard box at home and a shiny new wheelbarrow at the Tennis Club.

Meal times are enlivened by a new game, developed to encourage conversation skills.

Never mind the under sixes improving conversation and listening skills. I know quite a few adults who could use this game to perk up their great disability of being boring, holding court or being way too fond of the sound of their own voice and opinions.

Says the woman who writes a blog that, more or less, only expresses her own doings and ponderings.

#1310 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn autumn, Serendipity1 Comment
The Tidal Pool, Firestone Bay.

My walking and swimming destination of the day. A day when the summer,which ended just one day ago, has been declared the best on record.

In between my idyllic swim this morning and the afternoon dog walk. Rain fell briefly, in fat, heavy, blobs. Followed by fabulous sunshine. Meteorological Autumn has started in a frisky mood. My raincoat is officially out!

#1307 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Serendipity1 Comment

Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses.

Good Morning Basking Shark, of all the creatures I might have imagined eating breakfast with you were not on my list. As the second largest shark in the world I was completely unaware that my chosen breakfast spot, Trevone Bay was also yours. 

For me a bacon bap.

For you the attraction is Shrimp, Lavae, Zooplancton, Copepods and fish eggs.

For two hours we watched as you basked in the bay. We watched as families belly-boarded, oblivious to you just 100 yards from  their happy squeals.

Follow the boys head up to see the sharks dorsal fin.

What a privilege. The shark however was unavailable for comment. Not wishing to speak with his mouth full.

#1304 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn Drawn to the Valley, Drawn To The Valley Artists, SerendipityLeave a comment

theoldmortuary took a trip to The Old Morgue yesterday to see the work of Drawn to the Valley artist Mary Toon as part of the Open Studios Event.  The Old Morgue is just off Plymouths famous Union Street, which gives visitors the chance to see Urban Street Art, something that flourishes  in this historic part of Plymouth.

Mary’s feltwork is always vivid and fascinating.

I bought one of her felted bead necklaces. I have no idea what was in her mind when she created this but for me it sums up the magic of the creativity that the Tamar Valley and the borderlands of Devon and Cornwall inspire. For me it is about the sheep of Dartmoor and the higher reaches of the valley and the pebbles beneath my feet on my local beach. Mary and I had a serendipitous meeting at Tranquilty Bay a few years ago. Mary along with other talented singers were performing Sea Songs on the beach. Calling to the Sea as the tide came in. The sounds drifted towards us as we did our evening dog walk. The whole experience was ‘other worldly’ as the sea wall hid them from view until the last minute. It was easy to imagine the Oceanids were, somewhat implausibly singing in Stonehouse. These woolly baubles will keep that lovely moment in mind.

©Mary Toon

Hard at times to imagine,  but bustling, urban and sea-facing Plymouth is a vital part of Drawn to the Valley. Home to a large concentration of members, who meet regularly and support and galvanise one another to be experimental and collaborative in their work and their group  exhibitions.

Mary has chosen a fascinating place to invite art lovers and visitors to. A brilliant choice of venue for Drawn to the Valley to show how diverse and fascinating members are.