The Blank Canvas Project

Myself and two team mates - Natalie Collins and Anna Brimley. Kimberley Webb was also on our team, but had left at this point. Hooray for team Mangrove.

On Sunday I took part in The Blank Canvas Project at Falmouth Moor. Six teams of artists, who were arranged in groups based on their style and method of working, produced an artwork over the course of the day. Lunch was provided by Pizza Express, but when it arrived all I could think of was paintpaintpaint. Still, it was a very necessary energy boost when I remembered it. I spoke to a few members of the public, but I couldn't say how many passers-by came to watch. Unless they actually engaged me in conversation, it was hard to notice, absorbed as we were in our work. I do remember though, that I kept having a last little fiddle around with my mermaid (this sounds far dirtier than it should), when I turned around to find four tourists staring at me.

One of the good things about working in a team, is that other people are there to calm you down if you start to get stressed: 'Ah, we've still got two hours left,' said Natalie.

'Aargh!' said I. 'Only two hours left! Argh!.'

'Yes, but we've almost finished,' said Natalie.

'Argh.' I said, but less certain.

Indeed, we did finish with an hour to spare, so I stand corrected.

Our completed work: Enchanted Deep.

 We took inspiration from a couple of topics that Matt, one of the organisers of the event, had suggested: Enchanted Forest and Ancient Mariner. Anna and Natalie freely confessed to being obsessed with trees. I am fascinated by waves and Kimberley likes fantasy realms.

We thought that both the topics hinted at the myths and legends associated with Cornwall. Not to mention the beautiful scenery that is unescapable in these parts. I've never known what to say, when confronted with the question which I prefer: the forest of the sea. That is, I think it is something I've thought of several times. The recent instance that comes to mind is being asked this question by Pottermore, so it could decide what house I would be in. (Ravenclaw.) I'm very acquainted with both coast and woodland, having grown up here in West Cornwall.

One thing I like about our completed work is the sense that something is happening.

Ash working on his team's artwork.

At work on the Ancient Mariner.

Very precise work being done by another team.

Check out The Blank Canvas Project's official blog for more pictures of the completed artworks: http://blankcollabproject.blogspot.co.uk/

A Selection of Portraits

Watercolour

Acrylic

Acrylic

Acrylic

Cornwall in May

I am now back in Cornwall, which yesterday displayed gorgeous blue skies. I wish I was writing this yesterday, so I could write 'back in sunny Cornwall'; unfortunately, today that would not be true. 

Whenever I thought back to Cornwall when I was away, I pictured it warm and bright. Admittedly, I can't complain about the temperature, but it's amazing that the sky can be that grey in the middle of spring. Plus, the damp gets in my lungs. On the plus side, arriving at the doctors a bit gaspy, means feeling less awkward about taking up an appointment space. I don't suppose I will ever feel justified in going to see the doctor until I have a thing that makes them recoil in horror. Mind you, that wouldn't be a very good doctor would it? In case anyone's judging, they made me have a appointment by refusing all prescriptions until I had them reviewed. Presumably to check I hadn't died and that my mum wasn't selling my prescriptions on the black market, or that I hadn't grown a second head as a side effect and not thought it worth complaining about.

Which I haven't. Have I? Sorry, that wasn't to you - I was asking the other head.