Random Blog 13/08/2013

Augustus Pugin
http://www.ucb.co.uk/big-story-pugin
Just a random blog about Augustus Pugin who was a  fantastic architect and designer who designed the houses of Parliament and other great buildings of gothic style that we see around England. Follow the link to learn more, but basically he was an absolute genius who's brilliance can equal famous people like Brunel.
This poor guy in contrast to Brunel was ridiculed for his faith and never really paid properly for his work. His wife died leaving him a single parent at 21 and then his parents both died in the next year of different causes. Two other later wives also died before him and he had a breakdown from over work and was  committed to Bedlam mental institution  for a while.
 He died aged 40 having produced a phenomenal amount of work during such a short and tragic life and was not properly rewarded or recognised for the 100 churches he designed in England and Australia.  This got me to thinking that this poor man designed the houses of parliament and wasn't recognised nor mentioned when the building was opened. What a slap in the face ! Just wanted to share this and show some appreciation for genius of the man.







Dagnal Church
Just while I'm talking about churches I thought I'd share this which is an old church that was extended to the left in keeping with the original building by my Husband who also made the stained glass window for it . I always feel really proud of it and I thinks its a mark of real craftsmanship that will be still standing when we are both gone and something that our children can show their children and say " my Dad built that"
Today I have been walking around the Woburn estate in Buckinghamshire and I was able to say such a similar thing to my daughter as my own great grandfather was a blacksmith who made most of the wrought iron work in and around the Woburn estate. Some thing else I am proud of !
There enough randomness..... Thanks for reading Carolyn x

Art week ending 11/08/13

I have taken a couple of weeks rest from Painting and I think it has been good just to step back from it for a while. I had painted most weeks for a  year and a half and sold 98% of my work which is pleasing. I do sell most of my work through Ebay or directly to people as commissions but I may try a different tactic and try have a go at collecting some work to sell in an exhibition or at galleries.
This week I went with some friends to a small place called Winslow which is a fairly small place out past Buckinghamshire . We shopped in some vintage shops which sold one off items and locally made crafts and also art. We shared tea in a lovely tea shop that displayed the work of local artists and it got me thinking that I ought to explore different avenues of sale. Also It made me get my  paint brushes out and this is the result.

I am still thinking about how I will sell her so  she's hanging on my own wall until I decide to do so. Watch this space for more works of art coming soon.

 

Art week ending 14/7/13

Hi Blog Readers sorry that I'm so late updating the blog this week. I am so bogged down in my Open University study and trying to hit a deadline. I haven't been able to paint so will share something I did a while ago. I have drawn something out and will finish it soon. Until then here is this painting I did of shoes . They are on my own  living room wall but I painted them because I just love shoes. The ribbons are real by the way and I think they work well giving a 3 d effect. Last weeks art went well and my Painting was sold to a person in Tennessee. It pleases me that my art is getting out in the world.  Thanks for reading and look out for more art coming soon.

art ending 30/6/13

Art for week ending 30/6/2013
Hi Blog readers! This weeks art is a portrait of Audrey Hepburn who is one of the most beautiful women that I can recall. She has always been a favourite of mine and I especially love the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. For this reason I have painted her from a photograph and I hope you like her. I sat up late one night having started to paint at around 10pm and painted into the early hours to finish her. I am driven to distraction if I have to leave a painting due to other commitments and always strive to finish my art in one or two sessions.  While I was painting Audrey, my husband was sitting not 3 feet away sketching Winston Churchill because that's how we roll! Here they both are ,and I hope you like them.

 

 http://my.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MyEbay&gbh=1&CurrentPage=MyeBayAllSelling&ssPageName=STRK:ME:LNLK:MESX

 

SOLD Audrey Hepburn sold to Tennessee Texas

 

 

 

I can't seem to turn Winston, Hope you can appreciate him sideways on.

 

 

 

Art from week ending the 23/06/13

                                                                     Sunset Walk   SOLD
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171064329697?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_285wt_958
This is a painting that I did early this evening. I painted it from a photograph and feel quite pleased with it. My husband has been busy sketching today and has done a couple of portraits. He must have inspired me to get my paintbrushes out and this is what I came up with. I have some good ideas for more art for next week and just need the time to do it.
I thought you may also like to see this which my daughter reckons is my finest piece of work to date.

Moroccan Doors

This is not a painting but is in fact a decoupage that I have arranged with clippings cut from print outs off  of the internet. All those people out there who lack the confidence to draw can still make pleasing works of art in any way they wish. I have this hanging in my home and it is often commented upon by friends and family.

This week I went to an exhibition in the centre of town by local art students. I particularly enjoyed the textiles exhibition but the piece that moved me most was a poem with sound effects and graphic visual images. It absolutely scared the cr.....p out of me and I mean this in a good way for I came away having been moved by that art work and that is my measure of good art. If it evokes a feeling be it happy ,scared ,sad then It has made a difference to me.

Next week I am running in the race for life  for cancer research with some friends  so I will need to put in some training but hopefully I will find time to get my numerous ideas on to canvas. Thanks for reading and look out next week for more art.

Art week ending 16/6/2013

Hi blog readers ,This week I have not painted due to the fact that I have been studying hard and have had some things going on in my life that have meant that I couldn't focus on my art. This is rare as I have painted most weeks for nearly two years but this week I did not.
I still wanted to share some art with you so I chose this mixed media piece that I made some 12 years ago and have never sold. I know when I made it because I was pregnant with my daughter who is now 12 and I made it after I had read a book about Tiffany. I have a real passion for glass in all forms and in that book I saw a photograph of a stained glass piece with koi carp. I was greatly inspired but didn't  have the knowledge to make a stained glass panel. I found out that there were glass paints so I purchased some and designed my own work of art which is koi carp in a pond from an above view. I have since learned the real art of stained glass and have been able to make glass panels in the old traditional way.
This artwork is very special to me because the lead work is soldered together and I knew that lead and particularly the lead in solder is very dangerous to handle and to breath the fumes would have been very bad for me and my baby. I really wanted to finish the piece  and knew how to solder through some manufacturing experience when I was young. What I did was to teach my husband how to solder. He had never done it before but picked it up well. He took a lot of hours under close scrutiny from me to finish it  and I think of it as a labour of love. Therefore I shall never part with it. The frame is made from tile mosaic and it is an unusual thing but I am fond of it.
Hoping to get my paintbrushes back out this week, thanks for reading this blog Carolyn.

Art from week ending 9/6/2013

                                              Sunset, couple on the beach 

                                                 Now on my Mothers wall



This oil painting was painted today and took most of the day to do. I took inspiration from a photograph and I quite like the way the sky has turned out. I sold a portrait painting today which has pleased me as I rarely paint portraits except for friends.
 I have had a busy week in all and very productive weekend. I saw some great mixed media work this week in a school and although I did not meet the artists I know them to be A level students. One had used shoes glued to a canvas and painted on to them which sounds weird but looked wonderful and the other had done a moving picture made from news paper clippings and ink and from a distance the newspaper looked like shading. Such talented artists and so young.
I my self drew pictures all the time as a child but never got into painting until my middle twenties. Art has made me look at the world with different eyes, always looking out for new material for my paintings. Sometimes I can take a few days to become inspired and when I find it I can not rest until I have got my ideas on to canvas. Other things can get left to one side,like the mountain of ironing that I don't know whether to iron or climb and other such jobs. I spoke to an art teacher this week who's speciality is etching. He admitted that he finds it hard to find time to do his own artwork and I think a lot of creative people struggle with time in the hustle and bustle of life. I try to do at least one piece of art a week so if you like my work keep looking at this blog and do follow the link if you want to purchase. Thanks for looking Carolyn