I was aiming for topical. It should be Prince William but Charles is bigger news this week!

Last week I promised Prince William and here he is!

2010 Cathy Read- Prince William

But so much for him being topical! In a week where interest in the Royal wedding is increasing. Suddenly his Dad's the hot topic.
What idiot thought it was a good idea to drive them through a student protest. Especially in light of violent events the previous week.
Students protesting against tuition fee increases being confronted with one of the most privileged couples in the country. A recipe for disaster by any stretch of the imagination.
One thinks heads will roll!

Art headlines – what’s in a painting’s title?

Think of Damian Hirst’s “For the love of God” the image may or may not come to mind of a skull studded with diamonds. Whatever you might think the artwork itself, the name provokes thought. I can’t claim to be a Damian Hirst fan myself but you have to admire his promotional skills. That art courts controversy is nothing new, but it’s that very controversy which catapults such artists into the media limelight, rightly or wrongly. Would it have evoked the same reaction had it been called “Diamond skull” or (my personal favourite) “Glitterball”? Quite possibly, but I think the nuances would have been very different. One suggests laziness whilst the other a crass indifference to death and mortality. It’s mocking in it’s implication. This is one piece where the title makes it an artwork, as well as voicing the thoughts of many who view it for the first time.

I’m not going to go into a debate about the value of these types of art at the moment – another day perhaps. Suffice it to say I am more concerned by someone buying this artwork than I am by the fact it was ever made. I question whether it’s really an original concept – I remember seeing gold skulls with emerald eyes as keyrings as a child and many other similar trinkets. But…another day!

Until recently I never bothered with titles but I’m increasingly seeing there importance. It’s hard with some pictures to come up with more than the visually obvious e.g. “Buckingham Old Gaol” It’s functional, it says what it is on the tin! Others evoke nostalgic memories “Ewan on a swing” or “Party balloons” But supposing I’d called them “Striving for the unobtainable” and “Essence of life”? Those titles make you think! Probably that I’ve finally lost the plot and I’m living in cloud cuckoo land, but THEY MAKE YOU THINK! Maybe that’s what defines a work of art from a painting? Help, I think I might be learning to appreciate Damian Hirst’s art?

Naaa, it’ll take more than that to convince me!

So, I will leave you with a semi abstract piece.

The real question is, what will be the title? “Naked Woman standing and stretching” or “Vulnerability?” I know what I think, but let’s leave it in the air for now!

A cartoon for a change

I created this little chap for a bit of fun. Difficult to say where the inspiration came from. I was just looking in the right direction, and inspiration came. I’m just calling him “The man”


It’s been one of those days when I’ve had a sick child, so no drawing done, until now that is.

Abstract art Circles in blue and pink!

Finally, a day to myself. All children at school, lovely!

This watercolour and ink painting was started a few weeks ago. I wanted an abstract based on circles radiating from a central point so this was the result – without the radiating network patterns, but it looked unstructured and thrown together. I wasn’t happy, so I left it. I felt it needed something to tie it all together but it was only today that I decided what it should be. I like it now!

I’ve spent far too long trying to sort out picture records and sales buttons on the website. I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion I may have to buy something! I’ve spoken to a friend who’s worked in IT and he’s come up with a few suggestions for me to check out and I think I’ve found the answer. I’m even going to look at ebay selling, just need to work out the best times to upload the information, oh and prices.

I’ve also been cramming on website optimisation for artists on Google. I had a very long chat to someone trying to sell me website optimisation services, all very well but they don’t come up on the first page on the google search! Hmmm! Maybe I should try something else…

Peace at last

We managed to get some sleep last night, between 2.15 and and 7.15am. All visitors have now returned home and we have chance to unwind. I managed this sketch last night. It’s from a photo of my youngest taken a few years ago. I’m pleased with the likeness especially as it’s ink!

Today I had chance to do some sketching this afternoon but I felt like using watercolour pencils for a change.
Following the party, we have about 35 balloons up all over the house. They seemed the most obvious choice for a sketch. I also decided to use bright colours and not tone them down as I might usually have done.