Here are a few sketches from our 6th church weekend at Quantock Lodge:
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| Saturday morning, glorious and quiet |
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| Dan, Fraser, and Helena |
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| Sam, Jonathan, Clare, and Laurie |
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| Rich and Ali |
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| Elaine |
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| The steps, this sunny weekend a default retreat for reading and chatting |
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| And this is how quickly you have to draw a group photo… |
Tomorrow is the last day that Helen of Druids Farm will be at Bristol Farmers’ Market. When something is this familiar and this sad, I can suddenly draw from memory.
Tonight I set out for the carol singing in Victoria Park but didn’t quite make it into the crowd, because the view from the bin at the corner of the playground jumped out at me. I didn’t think I felt like sketching tonight. This will be at least my third ‘Carols in Victoria Park’ picture so I had to think of a slightly different title. I’m not feeling all that inventive, but I thought, well, for Victoria Park, this is Christmas. For me too, it’s often the best bit. People gathered, some you know, some you don’t, lights, music, dogs, children, acceptance. Last year I took a Korean student who was staying with us for a couple of weeks, she called it magical. Here are the sketches slotted together, ready to be graded and then coloured.
I’ve been so busy since the Front Room Art Trail a week ago, I haven’t had much chance to look at the sketching I did there.
One of the highlights at my venue, Totterdown Baptist Church, was Somerset folk duo Lazibyrd, who I believe had just won the folk category of the South West music awards. I thought they were great. But I’m not qualified to comment on folk music, I just draw it.
In Bristol we’ve just completed five sessions of the 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership course led by Kate Coleman, Cham Kaur Mann and Grace Owen. Some of the team had seen my Greenbelt Sketchbook and asked if I’d sketch during Saturday, our last day. I filled a 40 page A5 sketchbook – here is a selection of pages from that book, only very slightly tampered with in photoshop.
Some people on the course said they’d buy a book generated from these sketches. If you’re genuinely interested, then please comment below or get in touch!
Any more tech-savvy suggestions for the best way to present them would be gratefully received.
A couple of comments about the course so far…
Each month there has been worship led by the Bristol team (ie the volunteers who invited Next Leadership to run the course) Most of the worship sessions have been beautifully led by Shayla Merivale, but she was away this time, so Rachel Haig stepped in and surprised us all by starting with a picture of Reepicheep, Narnia’s most daring and faithful mouse. I’d never thought of him as a model of discipleship before. But I’m not sure why I hadn’t now. Here Reepicheep invites us into the beautiful landscape that is Aslan’s land.
Kate Coleman introduces the theme for the day, which is all about relationships and leadership. Are we in danger of being everybody’s friend, but nobody’s leader?
Throughout the course we’ve been blessed by the glorious and generous catering gifts of Lesley, Maureen, and their team from St Marks Community Cafe.
After lunch Cham Kaur Mann presents us with the retold stories of a couple of Bible characters who tackled the day’s deadly sin. This time we had Eli, who gets it wrong when he hears Hannah praying – and even more wrong when he’s managing his sons, Miriam, who allows jealousy to mess things up for the whole group, and then Jesus, who keeps God’s will and his friendship with Martha the right way around.
There’s a bit of anticipation as we start the coaching session which is usually led by Grace Owen. We break into pairs and get to talk at length about one of the situations that’s emerged for us during the day.
It’s the last day, so Kate sums up the journey so far.
Closing worship – everyone quietly makes their way to the front where there are beads and cords. Each bead represents something we’ve learned, but we make a bracelet as a gift for someone else. We sing, and we don’t want to leave, but Reepicheep is there reminding us that it’s about being ready for what comes next.
You can find out more about the 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership course at www.nextleadership.org
The first day of Art on the Hill has just ended. From the moment you think ‘my house still looks so grubby’ to the moment you close the door, time goes so quickly. Lots of people interested in wedding sketches this year, thanks to a commission from Kate and Simon Jay (detail below).
Now to Victoria Park for Mexican food from Otomi, and music from the two great SMR parent bands, Small and Parents of Soul. Art on the Hill is always wonderful, drawing many together like the lifesize collage figures at the front of St. Michael’s church this weekend. If you can, come by tomorrow.
I’ve just printed 40 Christmas cards to sell at Front Room this weekend. Might do more tomorrow! As usual I’ll be in the Salt Cellar at Totterdown Baptist Church with some wonderful artists and mucisians, 12-6 Saturday and 12-5 Sunday. I’ll accept Bristol pounds if you’ve got them!
You can also see my latest work any day until the 25th November at Bocabar.
Waiting for the flame…
Art on the Hill is this weekend!
It’s not too big to look round and will make even a rainy weekend afternoon special.
We are venue no. 10: come and see my Summer of 2012 inspired Waiting series – and something of Roger’s new post teaching project…
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| Waiting for the Flotilla |
The first performance by the Windmill Hill Chorus and Bristol Chamber Orchestra at St. Michael and All Angels Church. I have never seen such an excited Vicar.