Ok, not the best photo in the world, but the octahedron (bipyramidal) was fun to draw, and the colour certainly brought it to life (death?).
Quite apt I’ve done some autumnal themed work on the Autumnal Equinox.
Hallowe’en
Microsoft Surface Book, a dead printer and other stuff
The image to the left is my first digitally coloured drawing I’ve done with the Surface, but not the first drawing I’ve done with it.
The image to the left is my first digitally coloured drawing I’ve done with the Surface, but not the first drawing I’ve done with it.
I went and did it. I really did. I thought long and hard about it, I considered my various options, but after a lot of help and a play with a Microsoft Surface I decided that I was going to get one so I could explore the world of drawing digitally and digital art.
So, I ordered a Surface Book, it arrived and I picked it up from the shop at a time when the young chap who helped me with information about them was there so he could see it and try it out – my thank you to him. Apparently it caused a ‘nerdgasm’ as a fair few of the assistants came over to have a look and lust over the Surface.
That was around 3 weeks ago and I’ve certainly been giving it a good try out, and learning as I go, and I really do have a lot to learn! I will learn too, as and when I need to simply by exploring and playing.
One awkward task has been finding a program/app that will let me draw on the surface almost as if it is pen on paper. So far, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro is my most used app. I’m having to learn about using layers, the type of ‘brush type’ and thickness and the other settings to get my drawings to look the way they do.
One little tool that has been invaluable has been the ‘smooth’ function; the Surface screen is so sensitive to movement and there is such little friction between the SurfacePen and the screen that my usually smooth lines were all over the place! This has solved it though, without making my drawings look like they’ve been computer generated. I’d like some choices of amount of smoothing applied, however, and maybe that’ll be something the app designers will add to it in future updates.
I have already found it of great help as I had some small amendments to make to a couple of images for Color Me Grateful. It was so easy to do these, once I’d worked out how to make the texture/randomness/spacing of the line drawn mimic the lines drawn with the pen I’d used on paper. No messy white-out liquid, no dusty eraser mess, no awkward editing to do with a mouse. I can do the editing and tidy up of lines as I work, easily erase ‘mistakes’ or alter elements wholesale. That alone makes the Surface worth it’s weight in platinum!
Add to that that if I am going to do all my future drawings on the beauty then I’ll not need to do the rather tedious task of scanning in and then cleaning up the images laboriously, then it’s worth double its weight in gold-pressed latinum!
Oh, I know I’ll still have to scan in a few images – ones I’ve printed out and coloured using traditional media – but they will be far fewer than the numbers I’ve had to do.
I did consider a Wacom Cintiq, however I couldn’t find anywhere to have a ‘test drive’ of one, and that I really wanted to do before I bought one. I was able to play with Surface and work out quite quickly that it would work for me, especially as there was software loaded on it that would do what I wanted to do with one.
Of course, it will lead me to exploring the world of digital art and how it will work for me and my style of art, but I also know it will open up new ways of working, new techniques and effects for me.
Printing
I have a fair few drawings I want to print out to colour in traditional media, and also to check the line thicknesses and detail of the drawings as I’m still in the process of getting used to drawing on a screen that is smaller than A4 paper, and a lot smaller than A3. However, the more I use it, the easier it is becoming for me to adjust to this way of working.
So, I went to print out some art yesterday, to find my printer had died on me. I can’t even get it to turn on!
The hunt for a new printer began, and I chose an Epson printer that uses the DuraBrite Ultra ink as it’s supposed to be at least water resistant and someone has posted somewhere that it isn’t affected by alcohol markers such as Promarkers or Copics. That would be great if that’s the case! I also understand that the printer will take fairly hefty papers/cards too, which is even better considering I’ll want to put watercolour paper and mixed media paper through it. My dead Brother printer coped well with both of these, though the watercolour paper had to be fairly lightweight in comparison to some I have in my stash.
The new printer should be with me the middle of next week…
Other things…
I have a break for a while from working for publishers. I’m using the time to explore the Surface book, to visit places to gain inspiration, and to get my head around ideas I have for books and illustrations and so on. I also need a break from the wonderful, crazy but overly busy time drawing for so many publishers and books.
Crazily busy, yes, but something I’m so grateful for as it’s all allowed me to leave teaching and become self-employed.
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Happy All Hallows Eve (Hallowe’en or Samhain to you)!
Hallowe’en
Well, it’s that time of year again isn’t it? And it’s another time to consider the truth vs. “The Truth“. “The Truth” is that this is an ancient pagan holiday, mainly thanks to the writings of Frazer in ‘The Golden Bough’ where he cites this as The Truth, yet there is little evidence if any for it being so (see Hutton “The Stations of the Sun’ for more details)!
There were fairs and courts held in ancient Ireland at this time, a time called Samhain by them.
The Venerable Bede writes that this time of year was known as ‘Blod Monath’ which means Blood Month – the month where all unnecessary animals were slaughtered to save fodder and the people would feast on the parts that could not be preserved.
The truth is that it’s actually more of a Christian celebration in origin! Today is the eve of a major Catholic festival – All Saints Day (1st November) which dates from the 8th Century. All Souls Day (2nd November) was instituted around the year 1000 as a day to pray for the dead. In England since the 19th Century, and increasingly in the 20th and 21st Centuries, it has gained a reputation as a night on which ghosts, witches and fairies are especially active. Why this should be so is debatable, and returns to the truth vs. The Truth.
Different sections of society have claimed it for their own, or are rejecting it as being their own. Who is right? Everyone! One thing is certain, Hallowe’en is big business, especially in America, and increasingly so here in Britain.
There are many traditional events and activities here that are overshadowed by the sheer bad behaviour and malice that a minority seem to partake in with delight. It is an aspect of this time of year that I dislike…and I don’t need to say any more about that.
I do think it’s good that children can face their fears in a safe, measured and fun way. We all like to be scared in a safe environment; if we didn’t then the horror films and books and games wouldn’t appeal to us. It’s part of growing up, learning to manage our fears, to indulge in imagination, to experience a different world of wonder. It’s not just Hallowe’en that allows children to explore this; the traditional fairy stories aren’t all sweetness and light are they?
As to it being a festival that promotes evil and satanism, well, I don’t think so. Those who would be drawn to such systems would be regardless of Hallowe’en, lets be honest.
As much as I can be pedantic about ‘the truth’ and I like to know where the traditions and beliefs have come from (the scientist, researcher in me will not be denied), I also know that traditions change and evolve over time. What is important, perhaps more than anything else, is that traditions link us together. We can be sure that we are not the only ones having fun at this time, indulging in shared events, and it is that sharing that reaffirms that we are all connected in some way.
Auragraphs
Auragraphs are intuitive works of art that result from a sensitive person ‘tuning into’ another person’s energy, aura, being. The colours, shapes, symbols and patterns all have meanings that can be interpreted, giving an insight into the recipients personality, life, and potential. I’ve been experimenting with them for the last couple of months, and yesterday I was showing them to people at an open day at a local spiritual organisation.
A couple I had already done found their way to the people they were meant for. Orders were taken for another couple, and all the proceeds are going into the organisations funds as donations. It was an interesting experience for me in many ways.
Giving the interpretation (reading) for the recipient was interesting, and it was nice that they were so right. Working with someone who wants one done for them and allowing the images/shapes to flow on to paper – just as sketches – and talking about why they are appearing and what they mean, and getting feed back on that was very interesting.
The two ordered have only been done as sketches; they will take around 12 hours each to complete, so that will keep me busy, as will writing down the readings for those verbally given will be interesting! I really do need to carry my digital dictaphone with me more often I think.
The Ghost Train
I actually made it to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway yesterday, after the open day at Treforest.
I didn’t arrive until around 5:30pm and most of the visitors had been and gone. I did get to read one story to one family. And that was fine. Though I did enjoy winding up small children in a nice way, as well as saving them from the scary vampire who was stalking the carriages! I do hope I’ll get to read some more stories today …
I really enjoy story telling /reading. It’s another shared activity that bonds people together, allows them to make connections, and it’s also an opportunity for imaginations to be used, something that isn’t done so often these days.
This may be my last time at the railway, however. I find the connections I once thought I had there are now very weak, if not non-existent. Things change, which leads me to …
What All Hallows Eve Means to Me
I always think of All Hallows Eve (Hallowe’en to you!) as mid-Autumn. It certainly is this year; the world is wearing its coat of glorious flaming Autumn hues! I love it when I drive along through a flurry of leaves blown off the trees by a sudden gust of wind. The warmth of the colours envelops me as I journey around the world, a warm memory is being stored to see me through the cold, dark days of Winter.
The Earth is preparing to sleep through those Winter days, taking a hard-earned rest before coming to life again in the Spring. All that is unnecessary, finished with, complete is being shed, the falling leaves being symbolic of that.
As this clearing out happens out in the world of Nature, so it happens within. It’s time to look back on the year, to give thanks for what is complete, finish that which is almost complete, and let go of that which is finished, has served its purpose, that we have outgrown. In doing so we make space in our lives for further personal growth. And this is the potted version of how I relate to this particular spoke on the wheel of the year.
For me, it seems the railway is to go. My SmartCar and all her problems have gone. I may soon be finished with counselling … but we’ll see about that, there’s still my self-image, confidence, self-love to be worked on. I’m not sure about anything else, but that will become apparent as time goes on.
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Punky Night – A Somerset Custom
It’s Punky Night tonight
It’s Punky Night tonight
Give us a candle, give us a light
It’s Punky Night tonight!
This is one of the verses of a song changed by children as they carry their ‘punkies’, or Jack O’ Lanterns around villages in Somerset, England, UK and, in times past, begging for candles. In the village of Hinton St George, Punky, or Punkie, Night is the last Thursday in October.
Other variations on the verse include,
It’s Punky Night tonight
It’s Punky Night tonight
Adam and Eve would not believe
It’s Punky Night tonight!
It’s Punky Night tonight
It’s Punky Night tonight
Give me a candle, give me a light
If you don’t, you’ll get a fright!
It’s Punky Night tonight
It’s Punky Night tonight
It’s Punky Night tonight
Give me a candle, give me a light
If you haven’t a candle, a penny’s alright
It’s Punky Night Tonight!
If you want to sing-a-long with the words, visit “The Punky Night Song” webpage!
The threat of something not nice happening if a person didn’t give the children something compares to the more modern tradition of ‘trick or treat’.
Punkies are made from a mangold-wurzel, or a large turnip, in a similar manner to modern Hallowe’en pumpkins. The top is cut off, the insides scooped out and designs are cut into the outer skin, leaving a thin membrane intact. Scary faces are common, but there are many examples of more creative designs. A lighted candle is then placed inside to shine through the cuts.
Despite the usual assumptions that this custom is an ancient one, there is little evidence of its existence before the C20th. Various nights in late October served for this custom, but Hinton St George eventually settled on the last Thursday in October. At one time, it seems to have been a simple house-visiting custom, but members of the local Women’s Institute reorganized it in the mid twentieth century. It is now celebrated by a procession of children carrying their punkies, and a party where prizes for the best designs are given, a Punkie King and Punkie Queen are crowned and money is raised for charity.
A local legend purports to explain the custom’s origin. One version of the legend is that the village menfolk went to Chiselborough Fair, and got too drunk to find their way home. Their wives fashioned lanterns out of mangold-wurzels and went to fetch them. There are variations on the tale, in some the menfolk make the lanterns, in others the drunken menfolk are scared by the lanterns scary faces believing them to be ghosts of dead children returning to the Earth until Hallowe’en. The neighbouring village of Lopen claims the custom (and legend) as their own, and other villages have started their own punkie nights.
As a child, I remember helping to carve Jack O’ Lanterns from swedes. Pumpkins were not a common item then. It wasn’t easy work either, and my father usually took control of matters very quickly, at least by hollowing out the swede so that we could carve the designs into the shell more easily and with less likelihood of us cutting off our fingers, or worse! The smell of cooking swede pervaded the house once the candle was lit; whenever I smell cooking swede I get get flashbacks to childhood Hallowe’en, before it became dominated by ‘trick or treat’ and the various forms of antisocial behaviour that occur on that night, and the surrounding nights. We had our own Hallowe’en party in our home, with local friends visiting with us. The living room was decorated with blood-red crepe paper streamers, home-made black bats and spiders and webs. Candle light was the order of the evening. We made ghoulish food that involved a lot of food dye! Ducking apples, bobbing apples were always played. And the climax of the proceedings involved the delivery and display of Captain Blood’s Cake, dripping with blood-coloured icing and ghastly green writing and a single candle placed in the middle of the cake. This heralded the beginning of ghostly and ghoulish stories. They would start with a tale about Captain Blood, and then would go onto other things as we children would exercise our imaginations to tell tales, add to the tale being told, and scaring ourselves with what we found most fearful. It must be said there was a lot of laughing as well! These were perhaps some of the best times of my childhood … even though I was most probably too shy to tell the tales, my imagination would run away with me and everyone would make fun of me, and I still bear those scars today, finding it hard to tell stories, write tales, be imaginative. I’ll get over it though. I will.
The drawing of a pumpkin punkie was done using a very fine technical drawing pen (0.1mm) and watercolour paints on cartridge paper. The sketch was completed very quickly, the painting took a little longer as the white purry-furry one wanted to help/hinder by demanding cuddles and fusses! I then fiddled with it in GIMP2 to make it more vibrant in colour, more blurry and better looking than the original! I have a couple more done that I’ll use to decorate any entries I do about Hallowe’en.
- Steve Roud, “The English Year”
- Punkie Night at information-britain.co.uk
- Punkie Night at Monstrous.com
- It’s Punky Night! at wyrdwords.vispa.com
- Ronald Hutton, “The Stations of the Sun”
- Punkie Night at wikipedia
- Jack o’ Lanterns at wikipedia
- Jacqueline Simpson and Steve Roud, “A Dictionary of English Folklore”
Art is the Adventure 