Graffiti Moon.

Look at this graffiti. What a liberty. I spotted this while I was out cycling today, daubed on a concrete motorway bridge. MOON? Is it a tag, a message, or a statement?

If it's a tag, it's a new one, I've not seen one like this before.

If it's a message, it's a short one, surely coded?

I think it could be a statement. And, the Moon has just been full, a lunar eclipse no less. (Tuesday.) The graffiti artist must have been prowling the concourses of the night and a glimpse of the Moon in all it's fullness, was surely his or her inspiration. I like it.

It's grown bigger!

As promised, here's another picture of my cucumber plant. It has seen plenty of water this week. It's had some good sunshine and my cucumber plant has received lots of love and affection, you know, the occasional conversation the odd poke, or caress.

Thanks to one of my readers, Blasphemous and Offensive, I was informed of a sure fire growing technique to facilitate the growing of humongous vegetables. (Check out his blog!)

'O' wrote: Paul! Your cucumber is beautiful! I used to grow pumpkins and other squash, so here's a tip for you. If you pinch a few of the other blossoms off and don't let them develop into full fruit, the remaining blossoms and fruits will grow larger. I don't know if you want monster cucumbers or not, but there you have it.

Thanks O, I did pinch off some of the other blossoms and it seems to be working. What joy!

I must admit, it doesn't look like a regulation cucumber, yet. I'm sure there must be a directive on what shape, length, angle of curve etc, is perceived as normal, but hey, it's organic, and it's being watered using rain water I have collected. I'm pleased with it so far, it has some wicked stripes and the blossom is still attached.

Check out what my cucumber plant looked like last week, click HERE. Oh, the Owl and two Easter Chicklets, are entertaining two parrots today.

George & Geometry.

George & Geometry, filmed by Paul Anthony Ramsden 2004.

This film was made in Nimbin (near Byron Bay) in Australia in November 2004. George is the singer who is a local celebrity, he sings in the square most afternoons. He is accompanied by a percussionist who uses his thighs to slap along to the melody.

The geometric, usually circular, patterns are inscribed, in chalk, on the pavements of Nimbin. I later found out through You Tube viewers (the film has been viewed 102 times in 2 months) that the pavement artists name is Elijah O'Brien. I have yet to have this confirmed by a second source or by the artist.

I hope you enjoy the film.

Pleiades in the Garden.

The 3rd example in a series of three. See Orion's Belt and Big Dipper.

Using glass jars and bowls to house a small flame, positioned together in a sequence. Tea Lights in the Garden representing stars and constellations. See The Ingenious Plastic Lamp to discover where the journey began and the inspiration was formed for these starry garden installations.

The Pleiades, a star cluster, is a prominent sight in winter in the Northern Hemisphere and in summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Also known as the sailing ones, flock of doves or the seven sisters.

Orion's Belt in the Garden.

These images have been created by using Tea Lights to represent the positions of stars and constellations in the Garden. Orion's Belt, the three stars positioned in a line close together can be identified easily in the night sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, Orion is visible in the evening from November to April. Orion's sword can be seen clearly hanging from his belt.

Thanks to Jo for the inspiration, for the conversation we had, sat around several Ingenious Plastic Lamps, underneath the the stars.

Big Dipper in the Garden.

These images are created by placing Tea Lights in The Garden to represent the positions of stars and constellations. The Big Dipper is a group of the brightest stars of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. There are seven stars in the group and Polaris, the North Star can be located by following a line from the two pointer stars, on the inside of the bowl. The Big Dipper swings around the North Star like the hands of a clock.

The Ingenious Plastic Lamp.

When four great minds come together to solve a problem, working as a team, there is no limit to what obstacles they can overcome.
When you next find yourself preparing to spend two nights under canvas and you realise you have no working lantern, may I present, the Ingenious Plastic Lamp.
To create this luminous marvel, you will need:-
An empty (2 litres) plastic drinks bottle.
A candle.
A pair of sharp scissors.
An empty beer bottle.
First of all, using the scissors, cut off the top and the bottom of the plastic bottle to create a cylinder. (We found many uses for these cut offs. For example, the bottom can be reused to stand a tea light on and the top can be reused as an alternative candle holder.)
Next, take the beer bottle, place the base in the palm of your hand and push the neck of the bottle into ground by approximately 3 cm. This will create a receptacle for the candle, allowing it to stand upright without falling over.
Push the candle into the receptacle.
Then, simply place the plastic cylinder over the candle, take care to ensure the candle stands firm in the centre of the cylinder.
The cylinder serves two purposes, firstly to protect the flame from any errant wind/breeze and secondly to create a colourful lamp shade. Candlelight will shine through the printed label on the bottle, creating an effective and atmospheric glow.
This effect can be multiplied by using several lamps in conjunction with one another. The brightness of your base camp will of course depend on how many lamps you can construct, or indeed, how many plastic bottles you and your fellow campers can procure, or guzzle your way through. Other crafty procurement methods may need to be considered when trying to source more plastic bottles due to rapidly failing light, i.e. raiding campsite trashcans.
Safety note. Never leave lamps unattended. To avoid the unnecessary emission of toxic fumes, ensure the candle flame doesn't touch the plastic cylinder. Adult supervision may be required when using sharp objects and fire.
Footnotes.
Never underestimate the unique properties of aluminium tin foil and it's ability to be the perfect solution in a wide range of camping and outdoor pursuits, especially when you are a mile and a half from anything resembling a civilisation. One from the list of many, for example, reflecting candlelight, etc.
Never underestimate how much FUN can be had making lewd figurative shadows on an elongated backdrop of trees with a battery operated torch to entertain and communicate with other campers.
I took my telescope on the camping trip, Ceri, Jo, Steve and I observed the Moon (waxing gibbous) and it's craters and the planet Jupiter and four of it's Moons.
We also did the Waterfall walk at Ingleton. North Yorkshire. Video footage of our walk is currently being edited and will soon be posted here.

My Cucumber Plant.

Here is a photograph of my cucumber plant. The plant has flowered in many places, but so far only one flower has developed into what resembles a cucumber. This is a poor show as we are approaching September and I am expecting many cucumbers to come forth, as in previous years. However this is the first time I have grown them in the potting shed, they usually grow in the cold frame at the back of the house, so it's an experiment. Keep your fingers crossed for me, I will post another photograph of the cucumber plant next week.

Some more Sun(flower)glasses.

Here are some more Sun(flower)glasses. You know my future is so bright, I've gotta wear shades. I usually only wear these when I'm seeding or watching TV.

Sun(flower)glasses.

This image was created by scanning in a pencil drawing of some sunglasses, inspired by a photograph in a magazine. A photograph of some sunflowers was layered underneath the drawing after sections were removed.

The Sundial.

The Sundial.

You stand on a column in the gardens,

mounted on a circular base,

cast in metal you can tell the time,

on your shadowy face.

The rolling vista in your sight,

is sometimes dappled with light.

Your spirit is still dancing,

around the spherical phase.

It seemed like the perfect place.

I know you still tick-tock.

And the full Moon show,

will make your pretty face glow.

I know you still tick-tock.

When the gardens are empty,

and the Sun is on the other side of the block.

I know you still tick-tock.

I'm glad we lived on this little rock.

A Vegetable Solar System with labels.

I've always had a thing for sunflowers, and an interest in astronomy and all things cosmological.
What with their name, the idea to use one in a scientific model, has been lurking around in the outer space of my brain, for sometime. Then it came to me, a vegetable solar system, with a bright yellow sunflower as the solar disc, with vegetables orbiting around it. I picked the sunflower this morning and procured the nine planets (as we knew them) from the kitchen or the garden.

A vegetable solar system, with labels added.

Milan Cathedral in negative.

Milan Cathedral in negative. 2007

This is my drawing of the cathedral scanned from Sketchbook #07.

I have transformed the image into negative.

A Vegetable Solar System.

I've always had a thing for sunflowers, and an interest in astronomy and all things cosmological.

What with their name, the idea to use one in a scientific model, has been lurking around in the outer space of my brain, for sometime. Then it came to me, a vegetable solar system, with a bright yellow sunflower as the solar disc, with vegetables orbiting around it. I picked the sunflower this morning and procured the nine planets (as we knew them) from the kitchen or the garden.

Sun: Sunflower. (Garden.)

Mercury: Nasturtium seed. (Garden.)

Venus: A carrot end. (Kitchen.)

Earth: Half an apple. (Garden.)

Mars: A cherry tomato. (Garden.)

Jupiter: A red onion. (Kitchen.)

Saturn: A potato and string. (Kitchen.)

Uranus: A courgette end. (Kitchen.)

Neptune: A plum. (Garden.)

Pluto: A grain of desert rice. (Kitchen.)

Please note that the objects were selected in a restricted period of time from available resources, they are not represented in scale.

The nine planets as we knew them. From the time of it's discovery in 1930 and until 2006 Pluto was considered the ninth planet.

In Roman Mythology, Pluto (Greek: Hades) is god of the underworld.

Comparisons: Pluto. (Walt Disney.) The chemical element, Plutonium.

A bee landed on the sunflower, looking for some pollen.

My problem is obsession.

30/04/91

Who is he?

He's a painter, a sculptor or an animator.

He's in his final year.

A woollen hunters hat he wears with peacock feathers, up and down the college corridors.

Bongos are his instrument, he's in a jamming band.

Last night I hearkened to his rhythmic fingers striking mayhem.

The bongo skin flinched.

I saw his eyes, I read his mind.

I saw him linger, undress the limber.

He gave the show away.

See me see you see him!

I've heard this one before.

Clap and stamp,

flicker.

Echo, echo, of frustration.

Musical might,

fight or flight.

Staggered at the back by the condensation.

Textile Sample.

This textile sample fell out of a page when I was thumbing through my College Diaries.

Cotton, indigo ground, resist method, silk screen. 29/04/91

The mural in Wayne & Gez's room.

This image has been extracted from my College Diaries. Tuesday 11th of June 1991.

It is a picture of the mural we painted in Wayne & Gez's room at The Elms, Room 6. We were ordered to paint over it by the administration, only one week after it's completion. It's amazing what you can do when you should be doing something else! It was a team effort, we all contributed in our own way. Claire and Cath coordinated the whole thing, the goldfishes and the rocks, I did the seahorse. There were many other contributors.

The Potting Shed Birds.

I left the potting shed door open this afternoon, I was cutting some fresh flowers for Ceri. To my amazement I noticed that a parrot, an owl and two Easter chicklets had flown in. They sat, perched, preening themselves! Of course, I am thrilled that the local wild life is happy to take up residence within the rafters of the potting shed.

I have always wanted to keep birds.

But it wouldn't be fair on Tiger & Neon, our two cats, or the dead bird.

Oh, sunshine,

Your radiant tentacles are shimmering,

On the breasts of birds,

Not in full flight, but winging, behind the glass,

Of this searing light,

Jungle foliage shielding,

Am I not an animal hiding?

A furry limb.

A piercing eye of whim.

Am I not an orchid serene?

Abandoned, a jewel in a desert of green.

31/01/97

The Potting Shed.

May 2006.

Some beautiful red ones.

Here is a photograph of some beautiful red sunflowers planted in the garden this year. They have all grown from seeds planted directly into the ground, April 2007.

Image date August 9th 2007.

The Sunflower Competition.

March 2005.

Ceri invited us over to her house in Birstall for drinks and nibbles. Its was the Easter Holidays so we jumped at the chance for a get together. When we arrived, Colin and Nikola were already there, sat in the lounge, sipping drinks. Ceri had been running around all morning preparing the food, which was delicious as always. Steve shared his birthday stories, opened cards and gifts, we gave a brief review of our trip to the theatre, in Manchester the previous day. Antony & Cleopatra at the Royal Exchange. (Theatre in the Round.)
I happened to mention that I had been gardening and that I was preparing to plant some sunflowers this year. I may as well have said that I was booked on the next space shuttle to the Moon, the uproar my statement created. It seemed that everyone wanted to plant a sunflower seed and before long a competition was upon us, a sweep-stake no less. Some rules were quickly laid down. Each seed would cost £5. You could purchase as many seeds as you wanted. The seeds must come from the same genetic batch and the winner would be the person who grew the tallest plant that summer. We also agreed that we would need to meet early next week and have a kind of, 'Seed Night.' At this event we would all pay our monies, collect our seed/s and formally enter into the competition.
Friday Eve.
Ceri: "After numerous cancellations of the 'Seeding Night,' I tried in vain to get us all together, unfortunately we cannot all make it. Therefore, I propose that I may purchase my seed this evening, pot it and transport it to the Isle of Wight for growing by my niece and nephew. There is much debate over whether this contravenes the rules or not."

Saturday.

Neil came over in his van and the 3 of us loaded it up with last years garden rubbish. The garden feels much bigger now and the stage is set for the competition to commence, we must synchronize the 'Seed Night' soon because the conditions are perfect for sowing.
Next Saturday.
Steve: "Went to Ceri's and now have my seed. Ceri bought two, I have stuck with the one. May the best seed grow the tallest. Up to 2.5m it says on the packet."

Sunday Morning.
I have planted my seed this morning at 9.30am. Steve has just planted his also. He has taken it upstairs into the back room which is very sunny. I have posted a letter to the competition entrants with a photocopy of the seed packet, reminding Nikola and Colin, who have still to buy their seeds. (The Seed Night never came off and the seeds were distributed sporadically.)
Text Message Alert. To Nikola from Steve:
Hey! Seeds now available for collection, get your fivers out.
To Steve from Nikola:
Hey there! Will try to pop round during the week for our seeds. I am hoping that they have not been subjected to any genetic modification by our opponents whilst I *some text missing*
To Nikola from Steve:
I can confirm that all seeds remain in their original format and have not been tampered with. Cheats will be disqualified!
By the end of April all the entrants had procured and sown their seeds. Ceri was pleased that she had planted 2 in case one turned out to be a dud. I was nervous until I saw the first piece of green peeking through the soil, it soon became established and was planted out.
Steve gave his plant lots of fertiliser and nurtured it. He did this by putting it out in the sunlight and bringing the pot back indoors when it was windy, until it was finally ready to be planted out.

In fact by the 21st of April, Steve noticed that his sunflower had, sprung up.

Steve: "It has sprouted! Moisture and sunshine are the key to success. I reckon I'll have to protect my flower from random picking."

Nikola: The seed has been received in good order and awaits planting. I report it appears to be a strong specimen, resembling a terrapins head. Further report on plantage and general progress shall be logged herewith at regular intervals.

2nd of May. Nikola: At last the terrapin-headed seed has been sown. It is currently residing at the kitchen windowsill in the most favourable weather conditions. All the above applies to Colin's seed too. Watch this space for more updates.

To Steve from Nikola: We have had sproutage of the seedage.
To Nikola from Steve: Well my totem pole is reaching dizzy heights.
To Steve from Nikola: Ooh er missus.

---------------------

The long and the short of it:

There was never an official adjudication. No official measurement or anything. Steve somehow won, his grew the tallest. There was much debate about 'underhand dealing' when Steve was accused of sabotaging Colin and Nikola's plants. I'm sure he meant well when he relocated their plants at the end of their garden for them, where it was sunnier. Unfortunately a gust of wind came and the stalks doubled over and snapped.

I like to think that something unique happened to my plant, it was kind of eclipsed.
Correct me if I'm wrong (comment). Well, this is my version anyway.

Check out these beautiful red sunflowers planted out this year.

Nino, Tako & Merve.

I can hear them singing again, it's the same old tune, they need to expand their repertoire, I keep telling them. I can feel a mini revival coming on. The more things change, the more they stay the same. It was an exclusive, shame to say they didn't win, it's still a sore point, here you go.

Version #1. Eurovision Song Contest insider info!!! Meet JUSHI. The Romanian 1999 Eurovision Song Contestants. They are rehearsing in Nino's sisters garage, until they reach the big time, which will begin when they win this years contest in Israel May 29th.

The 3 piece will continue working in Tako's Salon by day and going through their choreography by night. Merve is Nino's dad and Tako is Nino's girlfriend. You must be dying to hear their song. It's called 'Kescho Mi Mi,' which loosely translates as, '**** on me. 'From the top guys.

Version #2. Exclusive! Inside the Eurovision Song Contest, 1999 in Israel. Meet JUSHI. The Romanian entry. Look at them rehearsing in Nino's garage. Listen to their song. It's called 'Kescho Mi Mi,' which loosely translates as, 'Same outfit, different venue.'

Only 3 weeks ago, Merve's career as a professional body builder ended in scandal. Say no more. Merve formed the band after discovering Tako somewhere very obscure, believe me. His lifetime thirst for fame, is but a routine away, choreography being his secret weapon.

Tako would be the first to tell you, JUSHI, is a happening. The culmination of a bizarre chain of events and here the dream begins. Ladies and Gentlemen, a big hand, PLEASE!
Look at them, they just don't know when to stop.

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I often joke that I can still hear them singing the same old crappy song and now I must set them free, or let them start singing in the head of someone else, as well as my own ....

Stay tuned for:-1, Kay: The Student on Acid from Germany. (True Story.) 2, S#: The Call Centre Associate from Croydon. (True Story.) 3, Rodah & Ronda: The Conjoined Twins. (Based on a true story.) 4,The Lesbian Wedding in Islington. (True Story.) And more.

Some Graffiti.

Some graffiti tags. An archway down by the canal with reflections.

Plastic Bags.3

A plastic bag, snared, suspended.

The Call Centre Associate from Croydon.

Not that I have a habit of writing letters and never posting them, but having the habit of never throwing anything away that I have written or received, may I present the first of many unsent letters.

January 9th 1999.
Dear#
Thank you for your splendid letter. Now Christmas has sparkled itself out, we are winter wayward. Skinny dipping in January and whiskers on kittens.......blah blah.
Let me introduce to you a colleague from work called S# and his cashmere lined leather gloves. He's so pissed off because he hasn't had a shag since Princess Diana died, and he told her on more than one occasion not to go to Paris.
S# and I work(ed) in Disconnections on the 23rd floor, of a 23 storey, 1970's concrete hexagonal building. S#, bless him, wishes that this building would collapse, just one floor, and crush the foyer, reception and security desk, wiping out the security guards who point and whisper as he makes his entrance and exit by the revolving doors. (Was this a premonition?)
S# is a mind blowing guy with a mini pot belly and a collection of 20 or more unisex leather belts, some of them woven. Introducing example 1, "My painting and decorating belt," example 2, "My Princess Diana in Angola belt."
S#, with a mouth big enough to swallow an orange when fully open is not a person to double cross, at your peril. For he may WILL your breasts to turn square and go mouldy at the edges or WISH that your entire record collection WARP.

Yours.

S#, If your reading, get in touch.

Feather.1

Chalk on board. 07.

Planet X.

Newton’s_ Barbarian Law.
Gyroscopic movement, inspiring aerial awe.
Gargantuan of ruby chasm, textured by celestial intervention.
Diamante_ Lagoon of tonight.
Kaleidoscopic voyager, soul, satellite.
Stadium of sequential sphere, glassy sapphire.
Echo aria.
Classic_ infinity.
Spin: Telescopic marvel, amorphous edge begin.
Temple in suspension, mission, dome, ocean.
Retrospective, revolution.

Feather.

Chalk on board. '07

Rain.

Above me, the rain falls heavy on the roof,
humming a tune for my belly which aches.
My insides are as dark as outside.
It being midnight.
No light, except a splinter of moon,
springing up, with a start,
sensing so much space in my ache.
Falling through the sky on a droplet,
of finding, searching, reliving.
Frame by frame, lying flat, wan ache.
Perpetually conceived.

Digitally enhanced pencil sketch.

Without a trace.

She left the room.
She didn’t close the door behind him.
The stairs did not creak.
And like the daylight she was gone.
Without a trace.

Because: The Lovers.

Because there is a box of secrets,
discover it, prize the lock, come in.

Because there’s not a square of skin, by tongue, unpainted, glistening.

Because, at night, I lay puzzling, dreaming.

Because I am beneath your gaze,
I can see inside your soul, needing, wanting.

Because I am the answer, freely solve yourself upon me.
Perfect, for one moment, rejoicing.

Cape Tribulation.

The shells are from Cape Tribulation.

On your marks. Get set. Go!

This is an adaptation, in pencil, of a postcard featuring a famous black athlete, I forget his name. Does anyone know so I can update? The poem attached to the image was written in '94, inspired by an adventure, one afternoon.
The poem was originally titled, 'The Post Apocalyptic Vacation to the Forgotten Quarry.'
Four of us did go to an abandoned quarry, it was a trip on the far side and it did have a lake at the bottom. I hope I have captured the essence of the place.

Twins: Portrait of an Artist?

This pencil drawing is an adaptation of a photograph of a famous artist.
Can you guess who?
I originally included other artists in the sketch, over working and spontaneous scribbles meant erasing the other figures. The combination of textures and smudges results in a mysterious scene. For example, the contrast of tones between the apparel, the face and the black tie.
The black smudge on the the textile background.
The image sits well with the poem:-

Twins.
Everything I have done, you have done.
Everywhere I have been, you have been.
Every word I have said, you have said.
Twins of different wombs, different minds, different worlds, different times.
How come you know so much about my life?
Can anyone write the next line?

St. Mary's & the Pylon.

Another image of the Pylon.

The landscape is framed by triangles of different dimensions.
On the horizon, St. Mary's Church is situated in the centre of one of the triangles.

You can view, 'St. Thomas' & the Pylon' by clicking on this link:-
http://share-my-art.blogspot.com/2007/06/st-thomas-pylon.html

The Garden Bench.

The garden bench, lavender, gladioli, Japanese Acer-Flamingo, the aquatic plant, conifer, ivy, ceramic scrolls and 'the castellated garden feature.'

The bench is a few years old now, it has been positioned in many places within the garden. This year it has found itself placed on the diagonal in front of the conifer.

Summer in The Garden.

The Pylon.

Sunbeam pinging through the Pylon.

Countless triangles with the occasional pentagram thrown in.

The Moon@0915hrs.

A photograph of the Moon at 09:15hrs.

The quarter-past-nine Moon & St. John's clock.

The next page of Sketchbook #92.

This is the next page of Sketchbook #92.

Based on landscapes, a continuation of textured shapes in lines.

It was quite windy outside when I was taking the photograph, the wind turned the page to reveal 'the nextpage of Sketchbook #92.'

Sketchbook #92.

Here is a double spread from Sketchbook #92.

Textured shapes presented in a line.

I have placed Sketchbook #92 on a mirror to photograph it.

Cardboard Landscape.

The landscape is made from recycled cardboard and found objects. It is a series of shapes stapled together at alternate ends. I have placed the landscape on a mirror to photograph it.

Compass.

Compass.

This is a collage from Sketchbook #91.

It is an idea for a project with a nautical theme. The compass detail is an acetate print which has been glued on back to front.

The Swimming Pool Library.

The Swimming Pool Library.

Collage: This image is culled from Sketchbook #92.

Inspired by the title of a novel.

Gothic Symbols.

Gothic Symbols.

Each symbol is 4sq.cm. Pencil crayon. 2006 Check out square 3 on the top row and square 6 on the bottom row. Same symbol different background design and colours. Check out the variation on the 'inverted pentagram' design used in square 4 middle row.

£

G

 

Happy Earthday.

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GOTHIC and MATRIX fonts.

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Reflection: The Canal.

Sunlight is reflected on the old stone archway and pockets within the iron structure.

The Screen Show.

The Screen Show:

This series of photos reveals aspects and details from 'The Screen.'

As they fold and unfold, they resemble an unravelling like a concertina.