I know this is supposed to be a writer's blog and all that, but art (and music) is a big part of my life and this has been a very visual week, so...
Was delighted to track down a copy of American Painting by Donald Goddard. Came across this when I was in America last year, but wasn't able to get hold of a copy in Australia. Finally tracked it down to a wonderful second-hand book-store - Icapsa Used Books in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA - who arranged to send it to me. It's a great collection of paintings and I've been browsing through them again these last few days, but one of the most significant for me is Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World. When I was 17, I wrote a piece of poetic-prose that was inspired by this painting and was doubly impressed when the Northampton Chronicle & Echo not only decided to print it but placed it next to a black and white image of the painting.
(10,700,000 Google hits for this painting!)
Have been watching Simon Schama's Power of Art on TV. Last Sunday, his focus was J.M.W. Turner. I especially like his later paintings, where the figurative drifts into the abstract. We get some stunning skies here, but the more turbulent ones always remind me of Turner's work.
Also revisited my brother's online gallery recently: Phil Burman. He's getting ready for an exhibition in the north of England - drawings and sculpture - and had included some new images on his website, so I wanted to see what he was up to. Thought this the perfect occasion to give a plug here.
What else? Well, it's turned out to be our olive-picking weekend. The birds (or possums) beat us to it last year, so I was determined they weren't going to have the lot this year. It's rained both afternoons and, though we ended up saturated, we got both trees picked, and now have to prepare them for bottling. A fiddly process that includes a fortnight of changing brine daily, but well worth it when we start eating them.
And this morning saw the enterprising Blarney Books host Sisters in Crime: a panel of three crime writers (Kirsty Brooks, Vikki Petraitis and Lindy cameron) talking about their work with Carmel Shute. Enjoyed listening to them very much. It's interesting to hear other writers talk about their work, especially when they have a great sense of humour and when this shapes the session - it was a good laugh indeed.
And this morning saw the enterprising Blarney Books host Sisters in Crime: a panel of three crime writers (Kirsty Brooks, Vikki Petraitis and Lindy cameron) talking about their work with Carmel Shute. Enjoyed listening to them very much. It's interesting to hear other writers talk about their work, especially when they have a great sense of humour and when this shapes the session - it was a good laugh indeed.
12 comments:
Crikey Paul - another artist in the family:) And so very different from both your and Sian's work!
I wish there was more artistic inclinations in my family; I do fancy having a more bohemian lifestyle at times - although, that said, I'm not keen on futons and coloured beads:)
There was a time when I tried to wear a futon with my coloured beads, but it was very heavy and I kept falling asleep. Someone told me then that I'd got it all wrong and that I should be wearing an Afghan with the beads, but the thing just wouldn't stay put on my shoulders and I discovered I was allergic to dogs...
In the end, I decided to give up Bohemia and work for the Post Office instead. It's a much easier uniform.
Ha, ha!!
I think we should collaborate on a comedy; it could be a best seller! I say, let's forget the serious stuff and go for the cheap laughs:))
Cheap? My laughs are so corny I have to give them away.
Great post, Paul. And your Bro is heading to the North of England. Fill me in on the details, if you pardon the phil pun, and I'll get a long and have a look. If there's wine, karen will be purchasing no doubt!
Cheers, Gary. As soon as I know I'll let you know. (He lives in North Lincs/South Humberside so I'm assuming it'll be within that locality - but I may be wrong.)
Hi Paul, How nice to see my name pop up on your excellent blog. I'm just back from Port Fairy, went via Robe for another relaxing night, although missed the terrific cafe atmosphere of Port Fairy. I'm very glad you enjoyed the panel, I had a lot of fun, it was great to catch up with other crime writers, as they're few and far between in Adelaide. am always tempted to move to Melbourne but after four days in Port Fairy i am wondering if that is a better spot, and just a couple hours to melbourne (where in my mind I have a nice 60s apartment). I hope you have a great week, I'm catching up on work, trying to find time to play with all the excited animals, and ran a lecture last night with my Galah on my shoulder as I was so glad to see him - also managed to involve him in the discussion of determination, ambition etc that animals from rescue homes and writers should both have. Not sure writers liked to be compared to pound dogs but still, the point of never giving up hope got across I think.
Yours, Kirsty
www.kirstybrooks.com
http://kirstybrooks.blogspot.com/
We've got a paving job on in Lincoln at the minute, so I could well swing it to pop in, so as soon s you know drop me a line. cheers.
Gary: will do. Thanks for that.
Kirsty: Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I've responded over on your blog.
Paul:
I have always had an interest in art. A few of my friends over the years were very god, although they never achieved acclaim.
I haven't seen Simon Schama's Power of Art, but if it shows on my channels I'lldefinitely catch it.
Happy trails.
Paul thanks for the plug. My next show previews on March 12th next year at Gallery One, Ropewalk Contemporary Art and Craft and runs for 5 weeks. It will tour after that, but where is up to the Arts Council and I suspect their funding depends on who wins the next election.
Phil
Cheers, Swubird. As always, thanks for dropping by, and happy trails to you too.
For some reason I thought it was sooner than that, Phil. I'll have to give it another plug closer to the time.
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