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.”
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.
Here’s my first ever herd of gingerbread hippopotamuses.
(Apologies for the site being down for a few days with hardware trouble. It’s solved for the moment.)
A little doggerel for you.
Sometimes the things that arrive in the sketchbook are best not explained.