We had lunch in Cropredy today at The Old Coal Wharf, where we were hugely entertained by an amazing duo, Rimski and Handkerchief. They performed music hall songs, arranged for Bicycle Piano and Double Bassicle. These instruments appear to require not only the usual musical skills but also quite a lot of athleticism and an aptitude for on-the-spot engineering repairs. I now finally understand the phrase “pumping up the bass.”
I’ve just returned from 2 weeks of being hot, sweaty and bitten to pieces in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. And here is my diary.
Yesterday we went in to town for lunch, and met Emma from Natural Learning Oxford in an art festival at Gloucester Green market. She showed us how to make cyanotypes, or “sun prints”. I made a quick cut-out in Matisse style and used it to partially expose the prepared sensitive paper in sunlight for about four minutes (it was a nice, sunny day.) Then washed of the excess and left it to dry. I’m told the colour is permanent. I think I will try more of this!
Happy Year of the Water Rabbit!
This always happens when I make bread.
After meeting Hoover, the big male hippo at Whipsnade Zoo, personally last year, I decided I needed to branch out from drawing and painting hippos, and get on with making them in 3D, preferably with moving parts. The (very short) movie can be found on YouTube.
At last I’ve discovered the true purpose of Lego!
Tech note: I’m using a gazillion “dark bluish grey” bricks, and the Spots-not-on-top (SNOT! I kid you not) technique. The upper jaw is much too heavy to lift alone, so the lower jaw is weighted and acts as a counterbalance (they are operated via 2 meshed 16-tooth gears, one with a lift-arm for each jaw.) Even then, and geared down, the old 1980s Lego electric motor is having a difficult time. Note also the muck-spreader on the back!
It’s been really busy here, which is why I haven’t been posting much!
First there was the book (which you saw); and then Karen did her new show (and I made all the scenery); and now I’m doing Artweeks.
Artweeks is an Oxford/Oxfordshire festival, in which hundreds of artists open their studios to visitors for a few days.
If you’re in the area, do come and see the hippos!
My Artweeks gallery gives some idea of what I’m showing.
Finally I can reveal the (main) reason for lack of recent posts… my new book is out!
Containing 108 hippos (and a hippo robot) in 36 pages, with 11 full colour illustrations and other surprises. Suitable for human beings.
£7 a copy plus p&p. Email me to order (see the “about” page for email address.)
Current rates for p&p for a single book (these may change):
UK — £4.20 (first class) £3.80 (second class)
US/Canada — £9.70 (5-7 days from posting date)
EU — £8.65 (3-4 days from posting date)
Apologies for having not posted in ages. I’ve been working on a Hippo-related project, which is nearly ready to be announced, but which is taking almost all of my art time.
Anyway, last weekend we went to a local exhibition of the work of Jeff Koons. One of his special tricks is to make giant sculptures which look exactly like they are made of shiny balloons, but are actually made of steel. The urge to reach out and touch them is almost unbearable.
