Now some of you might be thinking that I seem to have gone a bit quiet on the art front. Well in some respects that's true, but it's not because I've stopped making art. I've just not got round to posted things.

I will admit that I have had a bit of a hiccup on one piece - the self-portrait one - but that's because I came to realise that the hand-me-down acrylic paints I was using weren't up to the job. Hopefully, I've begun to sort that out and I'll get back to that one soon, but in the meantime I have still been taking some of my art classes, just some smaller ones.

For example, this picture below is based around the lesson 'I'm Still Here' by Effy Wild who is another of the mixed media artists guesting on the LifeBook 2020 course. This is what's called a bonus lesson, so much of it in this case was time-lapsed, but it allows you to use the video(s) as inspiration...

I've also been following another LifeBook main lesson known as 'Treasure from Trash' by Iris Fritschi-Cussens, which involves creating a journal from things you might well throw away. Similar to the suggestions in the lesson, I've used old cardboard packaging and various leaflets, flyers, letters and old paper to produce an art journal that gives you the freedom to experiment and be messy, especially if you have an issue with perfectionism and that blank, white piece of new paper that you find intimidating.

I've bound all the parts together now with old wool and am in the process of preparing the pages, so that at some point soon I can begin inventing new things from explorations with my materials. Once I have at least one piece in there finished I'll share the whole thing with you.

Anyway, that's it for now, this was just a quick update. Hope you keep having fun and looking after yourself in the midst of life's chaos.

And why not try something new and creative this week yourself? Enjoy the discovery!

​Come, sit beside me. Let’s rest a moment on this bench. It’s cool here under this lazy pine; life runs more slowly in this spot.

The breeze rustles through the leaves of the trees and the patch of nearby bamboo. Birdsong is everywhere, chirping and trilling amongst the canopy, cawing from the crows on the wing and the cocks compete to decide who yells the best.

In nature I am one, I am whole, and it is rewarding to share this precious glimpse with you. All shades of green present themselves in this place, the new, fresh, yellow lime of the emerging hazel, the brooding dark of the swaying bamboo, deep and sombre ivy creeps imperceptibly towards the sky, the fluffy clouds breaking up the royal blue, streaked only by wisps of hundreds of passengers scoring the air thousands of metres above.

A shriek breaks the quietude, the splendour of peace and tranquillity shattered for an instant but returned intact. The jay didn’t mean to upset you, it was only crying out a warning to those close by.

Foliage and fronds beckon from their shady homes, offering a fleeting view of another world, of life in its most varied but eternal form. Flies flit from point to place, interest on a different plane, but all are welcome here; all respected and revered.

Wrens hide, red squirrels gambol through the branches and blackbirds flick the old worn-out leaves to expose tasty morsels. The cooing of pigeons and doves reassure a tired mind that life goes on whatever the circumstances and that love abounds.

How can it not in such a place? A place where plants and animals of all kind work together in harmony, easing each other’s burden, but prolonging their own lives and those of their families.

Life can’t be anything but good here – it’s something we should never forget and something that nature teaches us every day, if only we’d take the time to listen to it and allow it to pass on its message.

Well it’s good news! I’ve kept dabbling with paint, and as mentioned at the end of my last art course post, I ended up working on two pieces at once after the first mixed media warm-up.

I’m happy to report that both creations are now ‘finished’ in my eyes. The ‘Mini Happy Planner’ bonus lesson from Andrea Gomoll (a German artist who runs Cre8tive Cre8tions) was the first to be completed, but while the pages for this were drying I was sketching for the following piece.

I loved the thought of a handmade planner, and the start of the year seemed like the best time to make one, so that was the idea behind jumping ahead a few lessons and doing this one in January. It also gave me a chance to work with watercolours again, something I took an evening class in, but that was at least 20 years ago, and I couldn’t remember anything about it.

The concept of the planner was to have somewhere nice to put upcoming, exciting events and goals – rather than including all the boring, work or worrisome tasks that we have do on a regular basis which go into a diary or on a calendar – and to make it a fun, pretty, joyful item so you have something lovely to look at and use.

I halved some small-sheet watercolour paper – that I inherited from my dad – which made perfect monthly mini planner pages, and we started off by just wetting and colouring sections of each side with a few simple watercolours to make beautiful swirls and splodges, allowing some of the paint to run or mix. Once dry, it was time to start decorating, mainly in black ink for me, with labels and little seasonal sketches, but there was also the chance to add cut-outs, stamping or stencils, and really just have enormous fun with prettifying the pages. When the decorating was done, I only had to get a hole in the corner of each page and tie them together with a ribbon, then I could write in upcoming, happy events, and now it’s hung on a pin on my noticeboard above my desk. Here are the final results before I started using it.

While paint and ink were drying on the planner, I started on the next main lesson, ‘Angels are Always with You’ from Tamara Laporte (who runs the Life Book course and Willowing Arts). This was the first time I’ve ever painted faces, and my drawing skills are seriously old, so my confidence wasn’t overly high, but the great thing about these lessons is that it’s explained, and shown in videos, every step of the way. There was the option available of using a template you could trace, a ‘traceable’, for the general composition, but I really wanted to have a go at drawing for myself. As you might be able to tell, the lessons are very comprehensive, and though I did take my time to get the basic sketch ‘right’, and I had some issues with some of my colours, once I’d completed each step to my satisfaction, the whole thing seems to have come out okay overall. There are layers of collage, followed by water-soluble crayon and pencil, gesso, acrylic paint, and a few added cut-outs, plus ink details, along with various types of shading; so plenty of work and texture. And I think I’m quite pleased with the result, though I’m not quite sure I believe it was me that did it! Of course, this being completely new to me, I’ve learnt a lot – and I love to learn, so that’s an added joy.

My experience so far is generally really positive and also of being completely absorbed in what I’m doing, and though everything doesn’t go flawlessly of course, you adapt and overcome, which is a wonderful way to take things in and (hopefully) I’ll remember it all for the future.
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The next lesson I’ve chosen is by another different teacher, and this time there’s going to be a section of self-portrait in there! (Now I’m really scared…) I’ve made a start and a basic sketch – though I’m not certain it’s finished quite yet, but the jury is definitely out on what the final result is going to look like, and whether I have the courage to share it with you… But as they say, onwards and upwards!

For a variety of reasons, which I won’t go into here, I decided that 2020 should be the year where I finally tackle creating art once again. For those of you who read my previous post, some years ago, about my experience with school-age art (A is for Artistic or Not) you will know that this has been a sensitive subject for me over the years, but the upset has gradually been getting less and I realised, near the end of last year, that having some kind of a year-long project might just be a good idea for me.

I’ve been following the emails from Willowing Arts since Oct 2018, having been introduced to Tamara Laporte via another artist who was going to teach on one of their courses in 2019. I’d really enjoyed watching the Willowing approach to art so far, and the mixed media artworks were something I hadn’t really seen or explored at that time. So when it came to choosing my project for 2020 there were a few topics to pick from (art, writing, photography, poetry…), but in the end the choice was easy – I really wanted to explore creating art from scratch once again and this time there was a supportive environment that was not only focused on making art but looking after your personal well-being and inner self-judgement. So I signed up to Willowing Arts’ Life Book 2020 course in the middle of the previous October and then had to wait until the course began in January…

There were things I could do while I waited. A free summit is run with interviews and activities from September and because I’d bought the year-long course I had life-long access to all that material, as well as the virtual gift bag you get with the course that gives you access to discounts, short courses and other freebies from the teachers on Life Book. Time being what it is though, I didn’t get chance to access all that was available in these offers, but I can go back to nearly 100% of them whenever I like.

I don’t know about you, but I need a bit of structure to be able to keep up with learning things properly. I can learn in my own time, at my own speed, but I do much better if I know there’s a regular schedule, so the weekly emails, like the ones I get if I’m taking an ‘academic’ course on FutureLearn, are perfect for me – I know what to expect, when to expect it and this keeps me motivated to keep going; it also gives me that accountability I need.

​So when the first course email arrived on January 1st I was more than excited, and only slightly overwhelmed… The environment Tamara (or Tam) creates for her learners is amazing. It’s supportive, safe, so welcoming and really sets you up not to feel too frightened about making any kind of art. I’ve always felt like I’ve been focused on the outcomes of doing something like this before, but for some reason, and it may sound a cliché, I’ve been enjoying the process with these lessons so much. I’m really absorbed, just losing track of time, and to me that’s a great accolade.

Having got this far, you’re probably wondering what I’ve produced since I started and below is my first completed effort in mixed media. It was a warm-up exercise by Tamara Laporte herself, called ‘Awaken Your Creativity’ and I found it both fun to do and a great learning experience on many levels.

​I’m now working on two more lessons, one with faces, which is something I’ve never really done before, and a bonus lesson from teacher Andrea Gomoll making a mini happy planner. I’m hoping that I can find the time to continue sharing my experiences with you, and fingers crossed that I will stick with the course and keep creating…
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If you’re interested in Willowing Arts I’ve included a link or two that will take you through to their website, and I’ve even signed up as an affiliate, so if you do purchase something from them using my link I will receive a small percentage from the sale, so thank you!

At the end of last year I took an online course called 'How to Make a Poem' which was developed by Manchester Metropolitan University and made available via Future Learn (my favourite, free online course provider). This was me starting out on my first formal poetry exploration... Yes, I'd read some poetry in school and I've bought books of poems over the years too, but I'd never really written much properly and the process and technicalities intrigued me - well, I do love to learn new things.

The course title was specifically chosen, it's not just about writing but also covered things like 'found' poetry, inspiration and how poets worked through their creative process - there were interesting videos to discuss this. And as well as learning about some of the technicalities, we were encouraged to create our own poems and received feedback from other students on the course. The last of these exercises was to write a poem from scratch, then develop and refine it, and I thought I would share my final version with you below.

If you're interested in learning about poetry and making some for yourself I can certainly recommend the course - the online environment created by the university was very supportive and understanding, helping reduce the scariness of sharing your work, and as a result some of the participants set up a Facebook group to stay in touch.

Perhaps you would like to give making poetry a go? I certainly enjoyed the experience and learnt so much, now all I have to do is attempt to keep creating...!
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My Mother’s Dictionary
 
Small in stature, yet falling apart,
with depths and gifts untold,
the delicate, worn-out cover
envelops generations of old.
 
The learning of a thousand years
slips easily into my pocket,
holds memories of Mum and school
much more than any locket.
 
Upfront a legacy,
a promise from the past,
that knowledge and wonder, in equal measure,
are guaranteed to last.

I believe it's been on the TV before, but currently showing on the BBC is Morocco to Timbuktu: An Arabian Adventure (this link takes you to the book available on Amazon.com) where the presenter, writer, explorer and Arabist, Alice Morrison, travels in the footsteps (literally in some instances) of the salt and gold traders of old.

She's so enthused about her subject, finding excitement in holding a gold coin that could have come from Timbuktu, trekking over the Atlas Mountains, living with one of the few remaining nomadic families from the area, getting hands-on in a tannery in Fes, and sleeping in venues the camel caravans and traders would have hundreds of years before.

Here's the original trailer just so you have a taste.

To me, this is high adventure, fantasy nearly. It reminds me of the Silk Road (which I'm fascinated by), but in this case it's the salt trading roads on which she is travelling. I'd love to have time to travel like this, but in the meantime, why not journey with a fascinating and knowledgeable expert? I'll probably learn more this way, even if I don't get to see the sun set, experience the smells, or feel the sand beneath my toes (or anywhere else!).

It's not just about the journey itself, or experiencing a different culture in today's world, but just as importantly it's about the connection with the past and learning to see how things have changed and developed over time. It's brilliant and feeds my love of learning, travel, culture, history and good documentaries.

I'll admit, I can't wait for the next episode for another fix of this Arabian adventure...

(And here's a link so you can see some more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08qlhkp)

We recently came back from holiday, and while I was away I started to wonder about what others do when they go on vacation, especially dog owners...

For the first time in about four years we decided we would have a holiday this summer; a proper one, not a 'I'm not at work but I'm holidaying from home' staycation, but one where you actually travel to somewhere different and live there for a while, enjoying the new sights, sounds, experiences and relax a little.

This was the first holiday we've had since moving to France and also the first holiday since owning our second dog, Papy, so it was always going to be a bit of an adventure into the unknown. And it was this that got me wondering...

What do other folks do when they want to go away? Do they pack up the whole family (including pets) and leave en masse, or are other alternatives used?

For us and our circumstances there was only ever going to be one set of choices we'd make – find a self-catering cottage, or 'gîte' here in France, that takes dogs and set off in the car to somewhere new, while some very kind and generous daily help fed the birds for us and kept the veggies watered. That was going to be 'interesting' enough for us!

But what do you do? Do beloved pets get found a loving temporary home while you go away, be it pet-sitters or professional boarding arrangements? Do you get house-sitters? If you take a pet with you, what sort of living arrangement works; cottage, pet-friendly hotel, camping? And most importantly how do you all cope with it? Is this an annual habit that everyone loves or does chaos and trauma ensue? I'd love to know.

For us, our first dog, Lady, was fine – she took it in her stride as an old hand and even reverted to the behaviour of a younger dog, with new smells and things to explore. Papy however, was a little bit more of a handful.

We knew the car travel itself would be a possible challenge as the distance would be greater than anything we'd ever done with him before. Up to this point most of our trips had been local and though he'd done OK, it had all been a bit 'exciting' for him. I'm pleased to say he did great in the car, after the initial restlessness of the new, he settled down during the big motorway stretch, so we were really pleased with that, even though we'd booked somewhere only a couple of hours or so away.

Meeting other dogs had always been a bit exciting too, but by the end of the week the gîte's owners' dog was less new and more like a potential friend. And a new place to stay and sleep wasn't that tricky either it turned out.

The one thing we did learn about him was that he's more upset by volumes of noise, traffic and people than we'd realised. We've taken him new places since we've had him of course – the vets naturally, walks other than the two daily ones – but when we attempted a walk from a village with tourist traffic and noise, we discovered he was exceedingly nervous, so much so that we had to abandon the attempt and return back to our holiday home. There was a bit too much shaking and hyperactivity for us all I'm afraid.

Anyway, we all live and learn and he was soon back to his normal self. Luckily we found another walk the following day where the starting point was a lot calmer for him and he did brilliantly. So we've learnt for the future, both what to avoid and where we may need to attempt to work to help him improve.

But all this of course got me to pondering, so please let me know what you do on your holidays, especially if you're a pet owner; I'm so interested to know.

I’ve been looking at a list of words beginning with the letter ‘o’ today as the ABC challenge I’ve been keeping an eye on has got this far now.

It’s funny, quite a lot of the words on there appeal to me like; outgoing, overwhelmed and officious, but I don’t feel inspired to write about any of them.

I think what my problem is, is that I’m in a period of transition. The tricky circumstances of recent times have not gone away, but they have lessened as we’ve got more organised, but events keep pulling me back to those instances of stress.

Additionally, I can see opportunity and potential ahead of me; chances to develop myself again and move forwards, always with hope but in this case possibly also with joy as well.

So that’s the past and the future both calling to me, tugging at me, but it’s here in the present that I’m feeling the most ‘lost’ and out of balance to give it a name, which is why I’ve decided I must be in a place of transition.

Am I finally coming to terms with recent events and accepting these things into my life? Am I inspired by the potential and possibility of the future? Possibly. Probably. Maybe…

One thing I know for sure is that life is never what you expect it to be. Planning and organising have their place, but in the end you never know what’s around the corner and what you will have to contend with. The main thing is to be open-minded and flexible, so that perhaps you will cope and even enjoy what comes your way.

Progress? Definitely. Serenity? Not yet, but it’s improving. Alive? Certainly, and that’s what counts. Living with and tackling another day, one moment at a time…