Thursday 21 August was the anniversary of the birth of Aubrey Beardsley in 1873.
Inspired by Aubrey’s sketches and the work of Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh (1864-1933), I doodled the above concept of outfit for my alter ego, Airhead to wear to a Winter opera.
Airhead would require a box to themselves, to accommodate the voluminous outfit. Bejewelled in green, swathed in a pink chiffon candy stripe gown, and overlaid by a purple candy stripe velvet cloak.
Quite a while ago, in fact when exactly is vague, I designed a zigzag pattern using a watercolour brush in a painting app on my iPad. Its purpose was specific, the background panel for the title block on this blog.
My husband returned home from walking Stan with the gift of a feather. We think it is from a rainbow lorikeet because of the green and yellow colours. I decided to use it as inspiration for a watercolour.
Being fond of ovoids, I sketched out an idea and painted the first wash. A few more layers followed.
Horizontally, it looked a bit like a misshapen footy ball. In portrait it resembles an avocado. At this point, I sprayed water onto it. A soft outline formed from the wet edge. Rivulets of colour settles in the warped dips of the contorted paper. I added reused salt crystals and left it to dry overnight.
The zigzag pattern remained in the back of my mind during the process.
I added the darker yellow oval, fresh salt and darker areas to the green and brown topped with recycled salt.
I think this is the finished piece.
The ovoid watercolour from yesterday with the rock and cooking salt still attached.
As I am running low on paper and this work is experimental, I used the back of another painting. The surface is smooth rather than textured. I did not stretch the paper resulting in a pleasing undulation.
I seldom use these orange, green, and gold colours. I have run out of my favoured two yellows, and the two blues and mossy green are running low.
A vote of two at home resulted in a decision to leave as much salt as would stay in place after tapping and tipping. Below is the result.
In my mind during the week leading up to this week’s mixed media painting, I thought dark green flowing into yellow. When it came to mixing the colours yesterday, I loved the green so much, I felt pink was needed.
I started the painting in portrait to encourage the colours to flow and mingle.
Last week’s stamped rings were achieved by applying watercolour to the rim of a drinking glass with a brush. This week I dipped the edge of a deeper rimmed glass into paint in a saucer, resulting in more strongly defined circles.
My husband commented the colours looked subdued. I explained they were step one.
With the picture turned around to landscape, I added green, pink, red, and black bubbles. This draws out the creative process and extends my enjoyment.
As it was a warm sunny Autumn day, I took a break yesterday so that we could spend a couple of hours in the spa.
Coming back to the painting this morning, there was very little to add.
On my birthday in October 2018, I received a young monstera deliciosa plant from our family in Swindon, UK.
The scale of the beautifully shaped leaves has steadily increased. Only one of the perfectly formed leaves has been shed.
As if practicing it’s instinctive development we have been teased with a leaf with one left split, the next with a right split, followed by a leaf with three left splits.
This week we were delighted to welcome our newly unfurled leaf with three left and four right splits.
Golden Autumnal rays
Enhanced hues, pink and green
Nature upon the lily pond plays
Creating a Monet painting scene
Colours to delight:
In this age of unreal digitalis,
Two species; dead and alive.
Overlaid in unintentional way.
For this, homeward traveller,
One missed heartbeat of joy. In the moment,
He returns to capture it.
Post or pole, what are the definitions?
Stirring thoughts, connotations.
Is height a factor to be considered?
Vertical ground bound, are posts.
T’other hang angled; online truth obtained.
Garlanded or wreathed by leaves?
Both appear to suit this situation.
As with notice, frame seems best.
Insta or blog worthy? Driven by will,
This inspired author conjures
Prose. Ten, seven rythmn, no rhyming here.
End in sight; high time to close!
The great green glory of nature is encapsulated in the hypnotic rustle and sway of the grasses, surrounding Coate Water.
Nine years have passed since I last trod upon this pleasant land. Sadness and loss formed the backdrop of that visit. It took the wedding of a special family member and much coercing to get me to make the journey.
Time with family in celebration and basking in the warmth of friendship have made many happy memories.
In drinking deeply of the verdant oases of Swindon, Portishead and the surrounding countryside of Wiltshire and Somerset, I have renewed my love of England, country of my birth.
Invigorated and refreshed; we soon commence our return to Australia, via Italy.
Red Centre
Rather than the Australian red centre, this is a detail shot of the UNSW (University of New South Wales) version.
I find the green of the yuccas to be a pleasing contrast against the terracotta coloured tiles. Also, that they appear to be standing sentinel in protection of the building.
This was a particularly windy morning with many passersby. It was a case of snap and go to get the photo.
theINFP 