Category: Painting

Finding Rescue

2/25/2016

ENGLAND 1915 — War War I is unfolding, and Winston Churchill, 40 years old, a member of the Cabinet, and the War Council, finds himself with “great anxiety and no means of relieving it.”

No relief until one Sunday when he experiments with a children’s paint-box. The next day buying his own "colours, an easel, and a canvas."

It was then, he says, "painting came to my rescue in a most trying time.” It would be the beginning of a pastime that would last more than 40 years.

Images from
Painting as a Pastime,
by Winston S. Churchill.
Paintings by Churchill.

I discovered Churchill’s invitation to the joy of painting this afternoon at Yes Books on Congress Street, in Portland, Maine . . . worth a stop if you’re in the area. Going into Yes Books was a Julia Cameron-inspired artist date, always an invitation to explore.

Painting as a Pastime
An instructive and inspiring invitation to the joy of painting
Winston S. Churchill
(The Right Honourable Sir Winston Churchill, K.G., O.M., C.H., M.P.)
Cornerstone Library, New York
Reprinted 1966

This post could lead to more interesting topics:
- who was Winston Churchill?
- painting as a pastime
- an artist date defined

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Always a Project in Progress - Book List

2/17/2016

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Always a Project in Progress #1 and #2 - Book List

Below is the list of books from yesterday’s post. I’ve settled on one project idea (art related, gleaned from looking through The Little Book of Big Decorating Ideas), and continue to look for the second. For now I will say that it won’t be a magic trick. Magic is more performance art and a bit too complicated to tackle for one of these first two projects. So a little more thought and research - online and in books - to find the second.

If you're interested, you may want to work along with us . . . Project #1 and Project #2 . . . TBA!

Update: Project #1 Collage and #2 Short Poems working together as part of my Walk About series - you'll find them in the blog under Always a Project as well as Walking.

The Little Book of Big Decorating Ideas
287 Clever Tips, Tricks, and Solutions
By McColl, Katy

My First Magic Book
By Lawrence Leyton

We Love to Sew
28 Pretty Things to Make: Jewelry, Headbands, Softies, T-shirts, Pillows, Bags & More
By Annabel Wrigley

The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos
The Best Techniques for Showcasing your Handmade Creations
By Heidi Adnum

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Handmade Cards

12/11/2014

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Layers of Meaning
My mother turned 83 this week and I made her a birthday card. Making cards has become a ritual for me. Some are handmade, others a combination of handmade and computer elements. But in each one, I like to incorporate bits of meaning.

For my mom's card, I started with the first letter of her name, and then added a few elements: 8 diamonds (one for every decade), 3 flowers (one for each year after 80), and one heart (for good luck and love). Then I added diamonds to represent her children, (6 children, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren).

I'm not sure she (or anyone else I've made cards for) would see or catch the meaning behind the symbols without me pointing them out, but as I make the card it allows me to really consider the person's life, likes, and how much they mean to me.

When I started making cards I worried they weren't polished enough. With this card, the letter isn't perfect, and there are things I would change were I to do it over, but I've discovered that's not so important. Letting go of making things perfect leads to finishing what I started and having something to give away. And people like handmade cards. It makes them feel special . . . which of course, they are.

I start with pencil, then draw over with pen, erase the pencil, and use color sparingly. Most of the time I use color pencil, sometimes watercolors.

Do you make your own cards? Post a comment and tell us about your process.

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COLLECTING [Three for Thursday]: Tea Cups

10/30/2014

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What is the critical number to start a collection?

Three seems like the magic number. One of course, is one. Two speaks to a pair. But three looks like the beginning of a collection.

I have six tea cups with saucers, a modest collection for sure, but a collection still the same. They are beautifully delicate and were handed down and gifted to me at different times.

Very often that's how it starts. You receive or purchase something and then people start giving you more.

The fortune-telling tea cup on the top of the stack to the left was a gift. Drop loose tea into the cup, pour hot water over and steep. Drink your tea then swirl and dump the remains onto the saucer. Your fortune is revealed in the images where the loose tea remaining in your cup gathers and clings.

In other cultures and countries, coffee grounds and wine sediment are also used in fortune telling.

Do you have a collection? Have you had your tea leaves read? Tell us about it, post a comment.

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The Painted Table

9/16/2014

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All That Glitters
It took the better part of two months for the dueling elements of weather, time, and opportunity to align so I could finish my table. When I was ready the forecast called for rain, when it was sunny and dry I had other commitments . . . days when it was . . . I'm not sure. But it's done!

The two flowers and checkerboard were done on separate days. I followed my sketch in staying with three elements and decided that drawing freehand was easier and more suited to a backyard picnic table. And the gold paint, it really shimmers when the sun hits it!

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Finding Rescue

Always a Project in Progress - Book List

Handmade Cards

COLLECTING [Three for Thursday]: Tea Cups

The Painted Table

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