AEDM2013 The End!

Before I go any further,

I have to say a big thank you to Leah

for making this happen again.

Hopefully I'll be around on CED from time to time.

Well, we've finally reached the end of another Art Every Day Month.

This year has been different from previous ones

Mainly due to life getting in the way,

but somehow I've managed to create every day,

even if it's only a quick 5 minutes sketch.

Today's offering is the start of a project,

a background for a canvas.

And it's not my usual nicely sized small canvas

this one is 16x12

which is way out of my usual comfort zone.

Keep watching to see where it goes

and thanks for all your comments

and encouragement over the last month.

AEDM2013 day 29

When she transformed into a butterfly,

the caterpillars spoke not of her beauty,

but of her weirdness.

They wanted her to change back

into what she always had been.

But she had wings.
-Dean Jackson

AEDM2013 Day 28

Silent
Dark
Gliding in on still wings
One
Two
More
Why now?
Coincidence?
Or are you truly messengers?
Sent to stir my thoughts
To Open my eyes
And my mind.
Quiet you sit watching
Dark shining eyes
Staring
Piercing
And then, as silently, you're gone
Leaving just thoughts
And questions.
A murder you are
Or should you be called elsewhat?
A puzzle?
A harbinger?
Time will tell
Or The Lady will

AEDM2013 day 27

Remember this?

It came to me one morning whilst I was getting ready for work.

The third verse came first and the rest just followed.

I'm not sure what sparked it,

possibly something that somebody had said,

or something overheard,

that eventually worked it's way out onto the page.

They're strange things, words.

Sometimes they're simple and inoffensive,

sometimes they're kind and gentle,

and sometimes they're the most destructive thing you can find.

Just thought I'd leave you with that.

Have a good evening.

AEDM2013 Day 26

Low on energy again today

but the end is in sight

and I'm not falling by the wayside now

so managed to get an idea roughed out.

Not sure when the real thing will see the light of day.

AEDM2013 Day 25

This is one of those pieces which starts out as an idea

and then morphs into something else.

I have no idea how it's going to end!

AEDM2013 Day 23/24

Right.

Before I say anything else

The Day of the Doctor was brilliant!

So that's last night taken care of.

The rest of yesterday was spent labelling up artwork

ready for the sale next weekend.

I have 14 pieces for sale and I reckon that's enough,

so I'm now back to creating what I feel like.

Today has been Midwinter ATCs (ongoing)

and cutting up old books for a wordy page.

AEDM2013 Day 22

Today has been productive

but there's nothing original.

It's all stuff I've done before,

but it's also things people have passed favourable comment on before

so hopefully they'll sell at the end of the month.

 

AEDM2013 Day21

A couple of small canvases prepped for tomorrow

And I now have what I need for my other canvases :)

It's a hard life,

but somebody has to do it.

AEDM2013 day 20

I know a few people like this!

I've actually enjoyed creating this,

I think the fog is lifting :D

AEDM2013 Day 19

I felt like an egg for breakfast!

AEDM2013 Day 18

Just playing with a canvas

some acrylics

and some water

AEDM2013 day 16 & 17

Two days in one,

you lucky people.

It's been a flat kind of weekend

and yesterday I couldn't summon up the enthusiasm to post,

even though I'd done something creative

I'm not really happy with this

The idea is based on a little piece of dialogue that came to me

and was scribbled in one of my notebooks

"Why do you turn your back to the fire?" she asked.
"Because somebody has to watch the darkness" he replied,

"for it is full of shadows and fear.

But for those brave enough to approach, it is a place of wonder too."

The two figures are supposed to illuminated by firelight

but they just look muddy

I think this will be getting a remake soon

Today has been an improvement

although not exactly bursting with energy

I've put together three frames for the end of month sale.

They need some more work yet

and then I'll have to force myself to eat chocolate

so I have some empty wrappers to fill them with

I may have to drink gin too.

The sacrifices I make for the sake of art.....

AEDM2013 Day 15

It's actually copper

Maybe I should sort out the lighting in here.

But that would involve being a grown up

and going and buying bulbs

Rather than using the standing lamps

Hmmm.......

Decisions, decisions.........

AEDM2013 Day 14

There's something a bit fishy going on here

Not to mention something a bit shady as well

Maybe I'm showing something of my dark side.

Keep watching and all may be revealed!

AEDM2013 Day 13

At the moment I have ideas,

but they're not ready to surface yet.

Some are blurry images,

others are half formed words,

and all are lurking in my brain

waiting their moment to demand attention,

to be drawn

or painted

or written.

Usually at 7 in the morning

whilst I'm trying to get my socks on.

Or 3 in the afternoon

whilst I'm trying to create a data query.

But never when I'm sat at the table,

poised with pen or brush.

So instead I've sat and splattered some paint around.

And now I'll sit and stare at it.

I'll sneak up when it's not looking

and see if I can catch it out

and find out what it wants to be.

If you happen to notice what it is

whilst you're looking at it,

do let me know!

AEDM2013 Day 12

Nothing too spectacular for this post.

I've spent most of my time playing around with old photos for a friend,

trying to touch them up so that she can frame them.

I have to admit that digital artwork isn't really my forte

I can just about manage to tidy up some of my artwork shots

with a bit of cropping and straightening,

but Gamma adjustments

HSV variations

and so on leave me at a loss.

I'll stick to paint I think.

Today's offering is some work on the third canvas board from day 4.

AEDM2013 day 11

Or will these changing times,
motorways, powerlines,
keep us apart?
Well, I don't think so

I saw some grass growing through the pavements today.

This has been rattling around my brain for a couple of days now,

waiting to be painted.

The inspiration is the line from Jethro Tull's

"Jack-in-the-green"

The colours on the left are closer to the actual painting,

but the flash takes out some of the depth

so you get to see both images.

And a video as well!

Some days I'm just too generous!

Lest we forget

AEDM2013 Day 9

Just a quick post again.

Still struggling with things

and not enough energy to try and be witty,

or deep and insightful,

so just a couple of WIP

Let's see what tomorrow brings.

AEDM2013 day 8

In a rush and not much sleep.
So feel free to add your own narrative :)

AEDM 2013 Day 7

Words
Soft and tender they flow
Like healing balm
Calming
Soothing
Settling gently in the heart

Words
Fiery and passionate they erupt
Like fireworks
Exciting
Enchanting
Dancing in the heart

Words
Sharp and barbed they fly
Like arrows
Piercing,
Wounding,
Burrowing deep in the heart

What words will you use?

AEDM2013 Day 6

Seaworthy?

The first of the canvas boards is complete.

Inspired by a ship's Plimsoll Line

the letters are for

Winter Temperate Seawater

Winter North Atlantic

Well, it's that time of year after all.

I didn't get chance to go for a wander through the blogs yesterday,
I hope to rectify that today :)

AEDM2013 day 5

Less productive for this one

(guess who's back to the daily grind)

I need to let the paint dry before I start adding more detail.

This is a possible idea for a sale item.

I'll see how it works out.

AEDM2013 Day 4

After yesterday's foray into the world of verse,

I'm back to the paint

I may have the opportunity to put some of my work up for sale in a fairly public place, which is a great chance to get some cash and see if my stuff will really sell
(and not just to family & friends).

Or at least it would be if I had any to sell.

I have two types of artwork.

The stuff I make for myself,

and the stuff I make and give to friends.

So I now have a couple of weeks to try and get some pieces put together to go on the stall.

It's probably going to consist of pieces which are based on my journal pages and other previous works.

This is the start

8x8 canvases with several layers of paint and texture paste (mostly copper)

inspired by this

I've no idea how they'll look when they're finished,

it's going to be a surprise (even to me)

AEDM2013 Day 3

Gentle mists swirl imperceptibly
Yellowed leaves tumble in the breeze
as the trees sway lazily
gently moving to the song of the wind.
Dampness hangs in the air
Coating the world with a sheen of water
Bringing a fleeting touch of freshness
To a world in decay.
'tis November

The words are the same, just a slightly altered layout
(was on my nexus earlier and haven't figured out formatting yet)

AEDM 2013 day 2

I guess this kind of fits in with the time of year.

Although Hallowe'en is Oct 31st

we tend to be a bit more practical when it comes to Samhain,

so I'll be celebrating it tonight with friends and family.

There's a Samhain feast with lots of wintery warming goodies,

good company,

and a place for absent friends.

I can't remember where I originally came across this quote,

but it's been in my notebook for a while.

And although it's cute,

the message is there for all of us,

no matter how great or wonderful you may think you are,

the wheel will turn

and you'll leave with the same as you started with.

The big question is;

What will you leave behind?

Hopefully it's a little piece of yourself in many hearts.

Samhain Blessings to one and all.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have some neeps to carve...

And so it begins. AEDM2013 Day 1

November 1st

The start of a month of activity for many people.

For hairy types there's Movember.

For those with the gift of words there's Nanowrimo.

And last but definitely not least,

it's AEDM!

This is the 3rd year I've taken part, and I'm hoping that like previous years I'll manage something every day, even if it's only a quick sketch or a verse.

So here we go with day one.

Two quick sketches for my illustrated poem

(based on this)

and a background page,

scrubbed acrylic over gesso,

not sure where I'm going with it yet.

Early days.