Saturday 20th August 2011

I am thinking about art and forest school planning for next term.  I'm excited about working with year 5 on Fridays.  The topic is Australia and I have been thinking about the Australian season at the British Museum and how we can use some of the exhibits there as inspiration.  One of the exhibitions is called 'Baskets and Belonging'.   I like this quote from the catalogue:

"The baskets are not empty.  They are full of makers, their stories, their thoughts while making.  The baskets are never empty.  All of the thoughts jump out of the baskets onto all of us."

There is another exhibition with beautiful prints and drawings 'from Sidney Nolan to Rover Thomas'.

And, amid the roar of traffic, there is a mini Australian landscape, installed by Kew gardens.

Here's a link to the Australia page on the British Museum website (but you will have to hurry because the Australian season as it is nearly over):

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/australian_season.aspx   

Thursday 18th August 2011

On the way home I listened to Janelle Monae.  She is very inspiring.  I am not in the slightest bit like her in any way but it could be worse - I could have been born a slug.  (Apologies to any slugs reading this.)

I couldn't persuade youtube to link the official video of tightrope to blogspot but I'm sure you are capable of finding it on youtube.  Meanwhile here is Janelle performing tightrope live. I hope you enjoy it.

Sunday 14th August 2011

Just got back from a couple of days in Snowdonia.  Beautiful Llyn Gwynant.  Swam in the freezing water - wonderful experience.  Here are a few drawings:

Friday 5th August 2011

Here are a couple of drawings, from my sketchbook, of my husband falling asleep in front of the TV last night.  Eventually he had to ask me if he could go to bed.  Shame I was enjoying drawing him.

Today we had some friends to lunch and then I took them for a walk though beautiful Hertfordshire.  I have done a similar walk with several different people over the past few weeks and each of them has brought some new insight or thought into the proceedings.  This all makes me appreciate and love my local environment even more.  I never cease to love walking and I think I am lucky to live here.

Wednesday 3rd August 2011

I have been drawing in the garden.  Here are a few pictures of buttercups and clover.