365 Days of Art – Playing with Lines and Tools

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….Days 169 and 170

I’m taking a new course through Carla Sonheim called Translating Landscapes. Our instructor is Anita Lehmann and her first lesson is all about mark making, experimenting with different tools and mediums (ink, pastels, charcoal, pencil) and responding to music. She encourages us to be messy, free and loose. It’s a lot of fun.

Here are my studies of lines using a variety of tools and inks and charcoals.

When I turned on the music I also used pressed pastels and walnut ink along with the black ink, charcoal and pencil.

Autumn Flora

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….loving the changing colours, drying leaves and berries and delicate and fragile seedpods

London – Day 4 (Harrods, Hyde Park)

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….day four was another busy day with lots of walking

Today my Andrea, Josie and I headed to Harrods and Hyde Park. We left Kevin at home to rest and agreed to meet up later in the afternoon.

Harrods is probably one of the most famous stores in London. It is not centrally located and is about a mile from Kensington in the area known as Knightsbridge. Knightsbridge is a very exclusive area, one of the wealthiest parts of London where some of London’s most expensive hotels are situated. Needless to say that we didn’t go there to shop but merely to look around. The food hall was most interesting and beautifully set up with gorgeous display cases of chocolates and pastries and the seafood was displayed on mounds of ice in the most attractive way.

While we were there we were told about the Egyptian escalators that were built in 1998 to reflect the Edwardian style of the building. Harrods built the first ever escalator in the UK in 1898. Nervous customers using the contraption were offered brandy when they reached the top to help them recover from their “ordeal”.

From Harrods we walked over to Hyde Park and walked along the Serpentine Lake. People actually swim in this lake along with the local ducks, geese and swans.

The installation art that you see in the lake is from the world famous artist, Christo, who unveiled his work The London Mastaba (2018) earlier in June. It is a 20-metre-high floating sculpture on London’s Serpentine Lake, constructed from 7,506 oil drums.

Stay tuned for part 2…….

New Flower (November 4, 2019) – Happy Birthday Rose

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…..it’s my daughter’s 39th birthday today and I remember as I was leaving to go to the hospital to bring her into this world there was one lone rose left on my rosebush

The name of this rose is ‘Blessing’. How appropriate.

November Photo a Day – Dark Red

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to City Sonnet for hosting the November Photo a Day Challenge

Today’s prompt is Dark Red.

London – Day Three – Part 2

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…..after Highgate Cemetery

Down the hill from Highgate Cemetery we were directed to look for a pub that came highly recommended. Unfortunately when we got there the pub was being completely renovated and wasn’t open for business. We didn’t have to walk far before we found another place with a lovely patio. It was a little chilly to be sitting outside so we opted to go inside The Vine. Only one other table was occupied but the bartender greeted us and directed us to a table for four and handed us menus.

Normally an empty pub doesn’t bode well for good service or food but in this case it was completely the opposite. Our waiter was delightful and the food was delicious.

After a pint of larger or cider and a few sharing plates we headed off towards Camden Market.

With hundreds of stalls selling clothing, crafts, and food, Camden Market is one of Europe’s largest markets. It is divided into different markets. We started in the Camden Lock Market which is on the street level and next to the locks. There were lots of food vendors here and a variety of stalls selling anything from books, music and flowers to vintage clothes.

At first glance I thought the market was actually quite small but then we walked through a hole in the brick wall and we experienced a whole new world. There are literally hundreds of vendors in the Stables Market.

The Stables Market is located in historic former stables and the Grade II horse hospital which served the horses pulling Pickford’s distribution vans and barges along the canal. Many of the stalls and shops are set in large arches in railway viaducts.

It is very easy to get lost in this place. If you like this kind of market give yourself a couple of hours to really see this place and check out all the vendors.

Photography Inspirations – Technology

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to Wits End Photography for hosting 31 Photography Inspirations

Technology from the Science Museum and the Design Museum in London, England.

Signs That Autumn is Definitely Here

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….for weeks I’ve been complaining that the colours aren’t changing

Well I finally got my wish but the cold and rain are starting to get me down. I guess without the cooler temperatures we wouldn’t get these beautiful colours. Enjoy!