Back to school

So, first there was the watercolour painting class and all this week, an intensive class learning to draw. The watercolour class is great. A lovely group of people, a tutor who is very laid back and no pressure. But this week is half term, so our tutor has given up his holiday to teach us how to draw! Oh, I know he's getting paid, but all the same....

The course is based on the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. I have had this book for some time and have tried to read it and follow the exercises, but without success. Now, it's a chance to join in with a class and get going.

When I was at school, I loved art classes, but what with a job, family etc, I have spent most of my life to date avoiding doing it! Then, a few years ago, during my City & Guilds embroidery course, I started playing with paint, crayons etc and remembered how much I loved it. But of course, the passage of time had robbed me of any real talent so nothing I did was any good, or at least, I wasn't happy with it.

The trouble is, once the genie is out of the bottle, he won't go back in very easily. So once I didn't have to go to work, I was determined to get going and become Mme l'Artiste!


So this week, I have been trying to get in touch with my creative side and can now draw my hand. It is not easy to switch off the side of the brain that governs language, time etc, but today, I managed it and wow, did it feel good.

So on with the homework and back to school tomorrow! No pictures yet, but watch this space!

Long time no work

So it's October and I have been retired for ten months! I don't know how I ever found the time to go to work as I appear to have been busier than ever. The spinning continues and I have made progress with the fancy yarns following an excellent course with Ruth Gough of Whingham Wools which was held in the Lake District. As usual, a wet August bank holiday, but at least there was time for lots of spinning! It was a great group of people, lovely food too, but I realised that I have passed beyond the communal bathroom so that was a bit of a trial.

And of course on the final day, the sun came out and gave us this!

Such wonderful light after a very dark and dismal few days.

Onto my next challenge water colour painting . The course started
at the end of September and I've had three lessons. No actual

pictures yet, but I am learning a lot about mixing colours and
different techniques.

A small tradegy on the bookshelf front meant we have had to

decorate my work room. It is now a lovely cream colour and I

am gradually moving all my stuff back in. We have decided not

to keep the wash basin, but have bought a second hand Belfast

sink from Ebay so I am waiting for the plumber to come and

install it. Then onto the dyeing!

Is there no end to this activity!