I've decided on a subtle shift within my website! Art for me seeps into every fibre of my being. It's not just loving watercolour, a passion for calligraphy, a fetish for pens, paper and coloured inks generally or the enjoyment I get from 'crafting' things. The feelings I experience when being 'creative' filter through into my thoughts and how I view life. So I've decided to 'expand' the content on my website to include anything and everything that interests me and makes me who I am.
What do I mean? Well currently I am deep into researching my family history and following the trail of my paternal Grandfather who fought in WW1 with the North Staffordshire Regiment on the Western Front. All I really knew about him was that he suffered in one of the several Gas Attacks and was invalided out of the Army in October 1917. He died in 1929 when my father was 3 years old from the after effects of the gas which had damaged his lungs and weakened his heart. Anyway more of that in another blog because I'd love to share my research and interest in delving into family history. On my maternal Grandmother's side I discovered Poor Law Records and hardship and that her father (my Great Grandfather) was a deserter not only of the Army but his family and appears to have been a bigamist, not a man I would have had much respect for to be honest. However, our ancestry is a fascinating subject and DNA is undeniable! Hopefully some of you will enjoy my future blogs on this topic.
I had a very positive and encouraging response from my first Modern Calligraphy workshop and plan to do another two after Easter, one for Improvers and another for Beginners. I decided to wait until the weather calms down (currently in the grip of Storm Ciara and we haven't really had a Winter yet!) I'm also currently attending a weekly workshop at the moment with a lovely guy who teaches and illustrates children's books and hoping to possibly develop along that path in the future. Oh and I've started going to Salsa classes!
I've recently been on a Silver Jewellery making workshop and I am delighted with the 'Spinner Ring' which I handcrafted in the three hours (just)! It's a fascinating process and I particularly enjoyed the hammering part which gives the silver that lovely 'beaten' appearance! Once you have been involved in the crafting of a silver ring you would never question the retail price! I could have gone to a Jewellery Shop and bought the ring for roughly the same price as the workshop but when you are wearing a ring you have actually made for yourself you get a real 'buzz'!
I will possibly drop other things into the 'mix' now and then because Art is Life and Life is Art so why not but for now this is a quick update on my world! Thanks for reading and I'll be back next month.........
Final thought - Life begins at the end of your comfort zone and that is where progress is made!
