Red Woman

Frustration - submitted my novel on agent's contact form and formatting lost! Changed query letter each time for various agents and included mistakes. Go to pieces when submitting novel. Must just do it and then get on with the next one.

Misty morning

Haven't posted for about three years! Am split three ways - pictures (my website and this blog), music reverbnation) and writing. Wondering whether to pay a large sum of money to ipower to renew the hosting plan I've just cancelled or try to do it all with blogs.
It's a misty morning...

Have cancelled English Study Direct. After more than 15 years, it feels like stepping into a new life, living without it. But suppose stepping into a new life has to happen every so often. 

at least three of us are here

 
Who is this sitting on a bench in Potternewton Park in Leeds some years ago? I can hardly see who it is - there is no detail. Does that make him not exist? He never knew that I looked at him and drew him. What was he thinking about? What was his life like? Is the space he is sitting in more important than the man?

This is Ron, a man I knew all my life. He lived alone. He was kind. Can you see him in the drawing? Will the consequences of his many kindnesses roll out into time like little waves enriching wherever they land, passed on further by the people to whom they were given? Or is Ron finished, his acts finished with his life?

What of me is in these drawings? What of you is in the seeing? How do we all combine?

Ring the bells

'Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
It's how the light gets in..'
Leonard Cohen

Fiddler

Fiddler of Dooney by W. B. Yeats WHEN I play on my fiddle in Dooney,
Folk dance like a wave of the sea;
My cousin is priest in Kilvarnet,
My brother in Moharabuiee.
I passed my brother and cousin:	5
They read in their books of prayer;
I read in my book of songs
I bought at the Sligo fair.
When we come at the end of time,
To Peter sitting in state,	10
He will smile on the three old spirits,
But call me first through the gate;
For the good are always the merry,
Save by an evil chance,
And the merry love the fiddle	15
And the merry love to dance:
And when the folk there spy me,
They will all come up to me,
With ‘Here is the fiddler of Dooney!’
And dance like a wave of the sea.

Rest in peace, Ken and Roma Smith

Long time since I posted.
Today is the day of Roma's funeral - clear blue sky, sunshine, birdsong.
Roma was our next door neighbour. She was 89, had had a good life, it seems. I only got to know her fairly recently since she was in hospital and was startled by her dry wit, sense of humour and concern for others, intact, despite months of increasing pain in her legs.
Ken, Roma's husband, died a few weeks before she did. Here's Ken in the garden last year:

Ken Smith, Harold Rd, Hastings

New Orchestra

We're forming a new orchestra - The Hastings Sinfonia inspired by Polo Piatti. We're still looking for musicians so if you are a musician living in Hastings, UK or anywhere nearby, have a look at the website and get in touch with us.

Hastings Sea

ZB1

'....language is the enemy of imagination......'

 Pascal Mercier in Perlmann's Silence

singing & skipping

time

tv

becoming

Lost

Paul

Me Looking at You

EAST MEETS WEST

Exhibition and Arts Festival opens in Berlin, Forum Factory on Wednesday (22nd June)!

Have a look at the East Meets West Blog and Angela Nilsson's preview!

I'm proud to be exhibiting with so many inspirational artists.

Two Birds

acrylic on canvas, 100 x 70 cms

to be shown at East Meets West, Berlin Forum Factory June 22 - July 3, 2011 

Snow in Leeds

Back from Berlin

Just got back from Wilko's Vernissage at Kunstleben Berlin. Was made very welcome by Masch and Romy who run the gallery. Will post pics shortly.