Three more sleeps...

That's right. Just three more sleeps until I hoof it 'up North' for the 'Do what you Love for Life' retreat in Yorkshire - including three days of workshops with Flora Bowley.

Ah...if you could see me now, you'd find a contended woman fringed with an excited glow. I've been packing up my mojo and art supplies (plus couldn't resist a last-minute forage in Hobbycraft... you know how it is...), making some jewellery and sorting out paintings to sell at our gallery evening and generally getting in the mood. Even the Muse is getting excited and wants to me help her dye her hair tomorrow...

Now I've gone and lost my 'to do' and 'to pack' lists - I knew tidying up was a mistake. When they were on the table I knew where they were (we had nowhere to eat dinner, but you can't have everything!)

I had a great idea to illustrate this post with a quick sketch inspired by Flora's work. The sketch part was fine, but when it was when I attempted to add a splash of drippy colour that the problems occurred. I ended up with more paint over myself, the garden table and patio than myself and a soggy piece of grubby-looking paper that took flight round the garden. Wind and painting clearly aren't a good match... I never learn!

Undaunted, I snipped the piece into interesting shapes and stuck them down on another sheet of paper with a bit of torn music sheet - just because... It looked like it needed something - but clearly not pink paint brayered all over it. It faced the scissors again and then just fell in the scanner in strips. By now I'm seriously worried about losing my Muse just days before the art retreat.... but it turns out she was just testing me - forcing me to look deeper.

The resulting scan was cropped into even smaller pieces and the most interesting bits displayed here.

Do they count as a sketch I wonder? Well, it started out intending to be just that - with a little splash of colour. Ah, whatever, I'll post in Sunday Sketches!

Diving in

Too much going on. Too much on the list. I wanted to paint last night but I was too antsy. I'd been antsy all day, not being able to settle long on any task before flipping to the next one. A mind full of projects, plans and expectations. I sat in front of a blank sheet of paper and wanted the result NOW. There was only one thing for it. Just dive in - it was, after all, going to be a seascape.

I set myself the task of painting without paintbrush. As you can probably tell, this was painted mostly using one finger! I employed an old credit card and bottle top towards the end for the final flourish. Readers of an earlier post this week will know what this illustrates!

It is of course Friday and ta-dah, I have something for Paint Party Friday! It might well look like a child's finger painting - but hey, it's paint on paper and it's Friday! (If Amelia is reading - look! More experimenting!!)

Now here's a slightly older painting which you, (yes, YOU!) can get your hands on. It is currently up for bidding in the Inspiration Avenue Auction for the Angel Faces Charity. Currently it stands at a mere snip of $20. Just look at her, she's imploring you to bid... Who could resist those eyes...?? And, if you don't like this, there's so much more to choose from!

Process driven mad by

I'm supposed to be completing an organisational exercise to rationalise my work processes. First up though, what processes do I actually have in place?

 

You see this is tough. I am not a process person. That's the trouble. I'm a fly-by-the-seat of my pants girl. I wasn't always like this though. I used to be a very efficient PA, praised in my annual reviews for my organisation, my project management and ability to second guess.

 

Then, as I let creativity loose, as I welcomed The Muse into my life, slowly but surely organisation has slipped from its moorings and drifted downstream. There's a rope tantalising floating behind it - I can almost reach it... but... I might fall in! And, do I want that heavy boat full of procedure pulling at me and weighing me down?

 

Let me illustrate by example. My 'process' for managing my business expenses has become 'leave it on the desk until the mess starts to grow legs and then file it'. I guess that's not actually a disaster. I know where it is. I get around to it eventually...

 

I also write 'to do' lists... sometimes... (but if they're not committed to paper they are at least floating around in my head), and I even grade the items in order of importance and urgency. How much process do I really want or need? How will it really benefit me?

But can I carry on like this. Will I eventually fall in the river with no rope in sight to cling onto and emerge to sit on the bank bedraggled and defeated?

Why am I even bothering to write this? Well, three reasons.

1. My 'homework' is due tomorrow and as I haven't actually made any progress, I can at least prove I thought about it.

2. Blogging about it provides the perfect excuse to put off actually doing anything about it.

3. I often find that by writing down the problem, giving it a bit of articulation, the answer presents itself.

Conclusions

• I quite enjoyed writing all this down!
• I feel a bit better about not having done my homework.
• If I can manage quite well without processes and flying by the seat of my pants. Imagine how well I could perform with just a tiny improvement to my working process.
• 'Process' does not necessarily mean creating a 5,000 berth cruise liner. It could just be a one man canoe - either way, they'll keep me afloat.

What's the boating analogy equivalent to 'baby steps' and has anyone seen my life jacket?

The deserted beach

How would you interpret the following creative prompt in 10 minutes?

Whilst admiring the peaceful sunset vista it was hard to imagine that the beach had been shut to the public all day following the unexpected...

Hmm... I had a think (a very quick one) and this is what I cam up with...


Whilst admiring the peaceful sunset vista it was hard to imagine that the beach had been shut to the public all day following the unexpected...


...arrival of a certain Royal couple on their honeymoon. Despite, their wishes to the contrary, the newly-weds were accorded full security precautions – if nothing else to keep away the photographers and their invasive lenses. The bride had stretched out happily in the sun with her beloved and it’s believed that they relived their big day moment by moment learning anew every experience from the other’s point of view.

As the sun began its descent the couple joined hands and ran into the sea together before diving into the waves breaking close to shore. They turned and waved to their beachside entourage before, with a flick of their reformed tails they were gone – back to Atlantis to begin their life as King & Queen of that watery realm.

Well... what did you expect? Will and Kate weren’t the only Royals who got married last week you know!

My piece for Tic Tock - the weekly inspiration from Kat Wright. 10 minutes to relax and just see what you create from her prompt.

I might create something with paint for this too later... Watch this space - or more specifically the space at the top of all this text!

Exposed

Over-exposed, double-exposure, exposed to sunlight, exposed to the elements, exposed to scrutiny from the ladies (and occasional gent) that visit the Take a Word artistic challenge.

I should point out that this was a perfectly acceptable photograph when first taken. I just exposed it to a few effects in Photoshop.

It was taken in a little alley in Skiathos Town on the Greek isle of the same name. I'm going back there soon... Can you feel the heat from the cobbles and see the deep blues of the sky captured in the paintwork? I'll bet there's a black cat about to amble around the corner and look on with disdain at the tourists that don't leave it a few scraps.

Camera top of the list of essentials to take on this trip. Skin ready to be exposed to Greek sun and Muse laying herself bare for exposure to inspiration. Finally stomach preparing for exposure to lots of tastiness.

Cake rap

I stole the idea for this rap from myself (and lots of other people who stole it from Jay Z and Alecia Keys), so I guess that's OK!). Been writing a rap for work and so while I'm in the mood I'll do another. This one's for cake - and why not I say! Just sing to the tune of Empire State of Mind... New York New York. Sometimes I really love my job - all in the aid of engaging employees (and having fun while we're at it). Who said that work had to be serious eh? Not me, that's for sure.

Yeah

I'm a makin cake

packin fruit n spice

Sugar and some nice

I'm mixing up my mojo

melt in the mouth so

crumbs down my chin

oven tray going in

creaming up the icing

spooning all my jam in

I'm a cake lover

biggin up my Battenberg

dusting my shortbread

I'm a eating cake

Til it's time for my bed
nuff said...

Take me down to the cake shop

I love patisserie, patissierie

Give me cream cake and donut

I'll grow a big gut, big gut, big gut...

A Sunday Scribble.

I titled the sketch 'cake hole'.

Wood nymph

She's hiding in the morning mist, tangled in the creepers and vines after a night of play. She looks rather thoughtful and perhaps a little sad. Is she jealous perhaps of her mortal cousins who roam the towns and cities freely, driving in their cars, slaves to their media and always rushing, rushing, rushing?

I don't think so. I believe she wishes we saw as she does and played to the beat of nature's rhythm.

For Sunday Sketches.

A layer of powder blue acrylic topped with some flowery tissue. A dash more paint, then a coloured pencil sketch on top.

Now, while I've got you... Don't even think of dashing off until you've popped over here. There's a wonderful opportunity to get your hands on some beautiful creations handmade by artisans from across the globe. And, what's more, every penny you pay will go to the wonderful Angel Faces Charity which helps young girl's who have suffered terrible burn injuries. You might even find something from me...

The auction runs from May 1st to May 7th. Post goes live later today - keep checking!