Wednesday 7 November 2012

Things to come?


I had finished breakfast a short while ago and crossed to the window of my 367th floor apartment. The aircab was approaching and would soon park on my landing bay. I had packed my case the night before and was almost ready to leave for sunnier climes, but I just needed this last painting to be produced. 


During an idle moment I had imagined what is probably the finest landscape I've ever envisaged. It's beauty is nothing short of breathtaking. As soon as I realised what an outstanding image had developed in my mind I summoned MICRA (Mental Image Capture and Replication Artistry) to process my thoughts and create the painting. The client I have in mind for this piece is a lover of old English oils, so I elected to have MICRA emulate the style of Constable. I've often wondered about the way paintings used to be produced and I can't help but think that, although it was a hugely messy and often hit and miss process, it must have been extremely rewarding when a painting came together as intended.


LOL .... Forgive my inane ramblings. The truth is I treated myself to a new Rotring Rapid Pro mechanical pencil and I couldn't wait to try it. I made a couple of random shapes to see how it felt in my hand, and then I tried a bit of shading to see how well I could control tonal values. Then a few more shapes .... then some more shading ... and one thing just led to another. Had great fun!!! The pencil? Love it!!!

On another matter, I am in the process of reorganising my garage and would like to tell you about some future projects. I have come across a bag of Tile offcuts from when I had my bathroom done. I kept them so I could have a go at a mosaic or two. I've also found some large sheets of Hardboard that used to be the backing to a wardrobe AND a few dozen tins of paint that are the remnants left over from various room redecorations. All the colours are wrong for painting anything serious but I think I'm going to spend this winter in my garage having an absolute ball!!!



32 comments:

  1. Oh J, you made me laugh! If I achieve anything like this with my new 'Rotring Rapid Pro' mechanical pencil, I will be over the moon! Looks like you're over the moon too! I love all the different shapes and tones here ... super work as always!

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    1. Thank you Ingrid. It was seeing your pencil that caused me to get one for myself. Glad I did ... love it!!!

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  2. What a great story....love it. Good luck with your garage projects, something we should be doing here!...oh well, may be tomorrow lol.

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    1. Some jobs are just best left until tomorrow Ann. Thank you very much.

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  3. Love the story! Consider writing as well. The Garage Project sounds like such fun. I've got old glass pieces...maybe I'll find some wire!

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    1. Thank you very much Trudy. Yes, go and get some wire and do something with that old glass.

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  4. What a great story, and yes John please do consider writing, you are so very talented. Enjoy your knew Rapid Pro mechanical pencil. Love what you produced, splendid tones, really well done.

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    1. You're so very kind Joan, I'm glad you liked it. Thank you very much.

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  5. Love the drawing and the writing .. there might be another creative avenue for you to try x

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  6. What a great big daydreamer you are John, but a great story! You may have to revise it slightly though, as I read in The Times this morning that future travel is likely to be by bicycle rather than by car ...

    I have been thinking about a similar project using broken tiles to create a picture masterpiece for a few years now, but have been short on tiles, so it ain't likely to happen! I reckon you though are going to come up with something good so I'll keep watching.

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    1. Darn it!!! No Aircabs? They looked like such fun too. lol.

      Not sure how well I'll do with the mosaic as I'm a bit short of colours, but it's going to be fun trying things. I hope you get enough tiles to have a go yourself. Thanks for the great comment.

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  7. Nobody said the mind can't do a little traveling while you are sketching LOL ! I think you would make an awesome write , too . And of course this drawing is fantastic !

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    1. Jane, my mind is always travelling .... half the time I have no idea where it is. LOL. Thanks for the nice comment.

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  8. Well, that is a great glimpse in the future, John! Love your drawing! Have fun in the garage! :)

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  9. It sounds like a great way of using what would otherwise be thrown away - I hope you post your efforts on your blog!
    The drawing is fabulous. Totally different and fun too :0)

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    1. Of course I'll post my efforts Sandra ... anything for a laugh. Hope you had a great holiday. ;)

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  10. Hi there John!... It is when the mind leaves "the pull" and orbit around reality... to search the galaxies of "possibility"... powered only by the magical workings of the imagination... that Creativity soars to a new space where no man has gone before.

    Your "imagineering" distils the words with your visual imagery in a very potent fashion! Now that's what I call creative action!

    Enjoyed both the picture and the post!

    Good Drawing... Painting... and "imagineering"!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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    1. Hi Bruce. It was an interesting process, starting out with a simple shape and with no pre-conceived notion as to where it would lead. Not even realising that it would lead anywhere. Thank you very much for such a generous comment ... it is greatly appreciated.
      Warmest regards
      John

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  11. I didn't even know if you knew the star-date ...obviously you do :0)

    I'm a huge fan of all things Rotring ...

    I've heard of garage music although I have no idea what it means ... garage aet could be the new rage!!

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    1. Know the star-date? Most of the time I don't even know my own name. LOL. John, with your background I'm not the slightest bit surprised that you're a Rotring fan.

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    2. I prefer their pens, but that could be because I lost my pencil.

      Garage art - the next craze?! Move over Banksy.

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  12. Fabulous creativity here on all sorts of levels John. Looking forward to seeing the mosaic. Btw you could always mix your paints to create some different colours or add tester pots to change colour and tone maybe. I've done that plenty of times. Just don't mix gloss with emulsion. You'll have great fun in the process too. Enjoy!!!

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    1. Thank you Laura. Yes, I'd thought about mixing the colours and possibly getting some testers too. It's going to be a while before I have time for it, but I'm looking forward to messing about. ;)

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  13. ha ha you should write the rest of the story :)

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    1. That's it Sue ... that's as far as my brain cell can go. lol. ;)

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  14. John, you have a spectacular imagination, I bet it could take you anywhere.
    So now I have to go get one of these Star Trek pencils ??
    BJ

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    1. Thank you BJ. Not only could my imagination take me anywhere but it could get me into lots of trouble, LOL.

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  15. It's nice to dream. Part of the creative process. Interesting drawing John.

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