"Sorry...... "...bitch"......?"

.
.

.
.
.

.

Someone:       ".... Sorry.... did I hear you right?"
                      Repeat that for me?




Else:              <mumble>, <mumble>, <mumble>
                     You're getting on my nerves bitch 



Someone:       Oooh..... "Witch" ?
                      O Kay - explain that for me?



Else:                Yeah ..... <mumble>
                       Good job you don't know what I'm Actually thinking



Someone:        Do you know <Michael Caine adoption> .....what the definitve
                     description of a neo-stoic piece of art is?
                      How much do you think I don't know?


Else:                <rolls eyes> .... No - want to tell me?
                       Loads, there's no way you Could know, is there



Someone:       Yes, ... "Hedge-Witchery" basically, it involves various qualifying
                      criteria as a pre-requisite whilst incorporating identification
                      (by empirical and standard values) stamps by associative means.
                      I am honest, and I have explained this a number of times before, 
                      and now I know you're hiding something else.                     

Else:               <chuckles>    Can you tell me what that Actually means?
                      <relieved>      I haven't got a clue what she's just said    
                       She hasn't got a clue either and I bet she can't explain  



Someone:        Yes, but would you understand?
                       I just did - Oh the irony



Else:                <chuckles louder>  
                        She's an idiot

Someone:        <smiles>   Well,.... one of us is.

Rising too ....

The Challenge.....

 The location is called Mt. Lorette ponds, about an hour from Calgary

Footbridge at Mt. Lorette ponds

Oils on canvas board (16 x 12 inches)

Based on a photo taken by Jim, a Canadian artist from Calgary.

Vive la difference

Between good and bad....

Does it seem patently obvious that there's a huge difference in behaviour, attitude, understanding, values, application and perception, or is that over simplifying?

Various 'common' sayings explain (in part) how these apply.

For example...


"One man's ceiling is another man's floor",

or 

"What's food for one is poison for another".

Even the expression, "Vive la difference", commonly interpreted by the English as, "Enjoy the difference" and usually associated specifically with gender...

Still, there is a problem with difference, in the appreciation or lack thereof, in response. Whether it is good or bad is subject to individual perception... and circular in any motion.




The underlying, yet obvious, beauty of art is in it's boundless forms as an enhancement to exchange....

Where words are limited, or imagination is......

art is a tool to aid understanding - (in)directly.

.

Sunset....

... Common

C'mon!

(Stafford)

Oils on canvas board - 16 x 12 inches

21st C Kev - "continued... at last!"

Well.... I had planned to add a few more 'progress' photographs of the painting and include a song to accompany them.

However, it seems there's some problem and so I'm currently unable to do this - I'm not sure if this comment will actually be saved and whether or not it will publish.....

Let's find out.....

*tries again*

Nope, still won't let me add any videos or images ..... <bites lip>







*tries again - again*



<sighs>

Well... I guess that either means that the experts are sleeping or hard at work with some high tech engineering issue...

<considers>

Or.... there's an upper limit on images etc that I'm currently unaware of....however unlikely that seems, I guess it's possible?

Yay!!!....

(Things are working again... woo hoo)

"21st Century Kev"

Work In Progress....

.

Oils on canvas board (16 x 12 inches)

In Pictures.....

Golden - Comforts

Oils on Canvas Board 16 x 12 inches

Buy One Get One Free

'Ears sum - a made ....earlier....

Hic ory Dic ory Doc

oils on canvas board 16 x 12 inches

Nursery Rhymes are possibly the best known and oldest forms of abbreviated human reference. Easily recalled and passed from generation to generation.

However, due to their nature, and historical longevity, the original context of the message(s) are often now completely misunderstood or lost.

For example:  individual letters are often, by area dialect, missing. Specific letters (depending upon where you hear them spoken and by whom).

G, H, and K are commonly 'dropped' in speech, but since introducing grammar in the 16th Century, the English, also established a unified and 'correct' spelling.

Whilst grammatical rules  remind us of the relative position of these letters in words (though sometimes silent), these rules apply in a modern sense whereas nursery rhymes often predate these by centuries.

Something as simple as the first person indicative use of 'I' (as suggested in the title of this page) may change completely in usage by area into 'A'. Both intended to mean and be applied in exactly the same way - although different in appearance and sound.

"The Queen's English" arose to address these difficulties, but was never adopted en masse by the English in speech. Consequently issues in understanding continue for those not familiar with regional and dialectal idioms.

For anyone originating elsewhere in the world, attempting to learn or use the English language - in Britain particularly - face endless obstacles in communication/comprehension simply because so few Britons actually speak or use the language as it's taught formally.

Having said all of that, nursery rhymes do carry important messages, details and significance. They shouldn't be dismissed simply as childish riddles.

Example:


Hickory  ........




Dickory  .......




Doc......


The Mouse ran up the cloc,


The Cloc s truck One,


The Mouse ran down,


Hic ory


Dic ory


Doc


Tic, toc, tic, toc, 



Interestingly, the potential translation could well be along the following lines:

Ic ory, dic ory, Doc = "In the past, a wise one told"  

the mouse ran up the cloc = "of one who created a circle" 
(possibly a stone circle or bell)

the cloc struck one - " the circle rang (or counted) "

the mouse ran down = " the wise one created a fortress ( town or field ) "

Ic ory, dic ory, Doc = "In the past, a wise one told"  

Tic, toc, tic, toc = " Measured talk, measured talk " - exampled.



Of course, I'm no linguistics expert, but that translation does seem more appealing to me (at very least) and also gives meaning which I (perhaps alone) suspect was the original intention, albeit abbreviated and perhaps coded.

Created when language was unwritten for the majority.

Magic was understood to be knowledge - intuitive, conceptual, and original - limited by number only to those with the ability to apply it and share it imaginatively and creatively.

Before it was associated with and demonised by religion.

A portrait - well.. a start at least...

Something I began today....

In Oils on Canvas Board =  16 x 12 inches

'Progress'

(Original Photo - Reference)

Nearly finished 

.

Fields of Mind

The Conundrum.......

Thoughtfully, a small child sits in class considering....


Everything they've understood or been taught, so far, seems to be questionable.... and although the school, it's students, staff and surrounding community state and claim a faith, little evidence is apparent of this in practice.

Artistic Authenticity...

Photographs have long been the subject of some debate in terms of their use by any artist, but I do believe (personally) they have a valuable role. I understand that in the past artists have necessarily done a lot of their work in situ. However, because we now have so many means of capturing images, it's no longer an absolute necessity to set up easel and equipment in the field, or require models to pose for hours at a time...

"The Four Virtues"

As an example, this painting was completed last year and is one of the first of my multi-layered portrait paintings. It is a very personal painting. I'd had the idea for the basic composition of this painting for a year or so before commencing, but decided on the final layout after having researched the underlying principles considered and utilised by Salvador Dali.

The 'models' are actually my four children, so it was very important to me that they were instantly recognisable, both by myself and each of them individually. It was a big personal challenge, not only to demonstrate my ability to achieve this but also place their portraits within a composition and context that describes a range of personal priorities and interests.

I made use of a variety of photographs ....

This photo I used as the main reference for my daughter's portrait and that of my youngest son's, though I did also consider how much he'd grown since this photo was taken.

I hoped to demonstrate both my current setting and historical interests by introducing Stafford Castle's ruins as a second layering to the backdrop of portraits.

This is the skyline and initial layer. I took this photograph as the sun rose over the valley of Merthyr Tydfil. A typical view from my home during the 7 years I lived there.

One of my favourite comments on the painting was by my eldest son who exclaimed, "I know exactly which photograph you used to do my portrait with". So not only did he recognise himself, but the reference source.

The portraits are in age order, so for the next sequential portrait I particularly wanted to capture my son's smile... but as you can see from the photo I used as a reference, his eyes are almost completely covered by his blonde curls. Although amused at the time, he wasn't particularly happy about having his photo taken ....

So in the portrait I lifted his chin and gave him a hair 'do'.

Like all paintings, this one evolved as I worked on it. Here are the initial outline portrait sketches on canvas, just as I began to work on them.

The central foreground incorporates finer details of my personal interests: Language, philosophy, logic, ancient history, tools and specific associations with each. These are again referred to in the frame surrounding.

The beauty of any oil painting, particularly if it incorporates a portrait, is that (unlike photographs) you are able to enjoy looking at it for hours without ever feeling remotely embarrassed for doing so. A good painting should offer more than just one simple view, in my humble opinion.

The Four Virtues was one of my first paintings, being the 3rd that I did on canvas.

.

Dance....

Like music, is just another art form of expression..

And you don't get much better in opportunity of expression through movement with music than this.


Latino has got to be my personal favourite choice in dance music. Possibly due to my heritage. I'm from part Irish stock, with naturally dark curling hair, which, I'm told, suggests that my family were originally 'Black Irish' or (at least) of mixed west coast (?) Spanish / Irish descent and related to Ó Conchobhair. As a clan, with high royal associations, possibly known outside of the Emerald Isle for their appreciation of justice, integrity and ... of course... the arts.

The Irish are known for their passions, gift of the gab, humour and endurance. Along with a deep appreciation of the mystical. In many ways, they're remarkably similar to the Spanish that settled there and no doubt that helped integration.



.

Arts & Crafts....

Which Craft?

"play"

Any craft, in this the early years of the 21st Century, is still subject to the same underlying abilities previously associated and appreciated. Though the differences today are that there are more people able to pursue and or develop these than ever before.

It's still true, interestingly, that the majority of people - whilst having some appreciation - will admit, by stating, they have little (if any) knowledge or expertise, in the matter of the established art forms.

So what are the characteristics which distinguish an expert from any (or every) one else?


Well.... in the first instance, it's not just about wealth, or that they don't say,
 "... I'm not an expert, but I know what I like". Although, it's also true to say that they do know what they like and they're passionate about creativity, skills and the ability to combine these.



It's their range and depth in appreciation of art, which encompasses more than simply the immediate visual impact, or it's contemporary/historical relevance, but the underlying emphasis and nuance - no doubt. Experts are able to recognise originality on sight and not only appreciate their own ability in this respect but being able to intelligently articulate it (usually on behalf of the artist).

That's no small feat in todays mass media explosion of images.

Additionally there's technique, an expert can recognise the use of new or established technique in any form. Experts have, necessarily, an eye for finer details, and the quick and ready appreciation for application. Obviously accuracy is an element, but not one that's always measurable. How often, for example, is the model or landscape available at the same time their portrait/sculpture/painting etc are on display? Few people, apart from the artist, will ever see (or recognise) the two together or at the same time.

Another vital element of art is the emotional response. Afterall, art is a universal language, and tender, which can, and should, reach out to an audience. A great artist is not only able to generate these emotions by their choice of composition, but does so intentionally.

An expert is not only able to assess, but confirm authenticity. This also means they're able to make accurate predictions in relation to an individual piece or collection, and it's this ability that investors rely heavily on.

So in effect, there's a great and mutual understanding between artist and expert, minimally demonstrated by descriptive appreciation.....



.

Art ic u la t e

I've been researching learning disabilities - of the invisible kind - since being diagnosed with APD - Auditory Processing Disorder, (which is sometimes referred to as Auditory Processing Dyslexia).

I'm a parent of four children and I'm 47. 

I was diagnosed at the age of 45.

I'd had all the usual standard hearing tests that form part of the UKs child progress reports system, but still found I had difficulty in agreeing with other people on occasions in respect to what they'd said. Sometimes, unable to hear them due to environmental noises that I now understand, I was unable to filter out (due to the nature of APD).

I'm also researching the practical aspects in development of language, and all forms of human expression along with intellectual progression (within accepted standards of achievement and what has been agreed as forms of evidence).

I live in the UK, I grew up in Liverpool where we have an accent. You maybe able to imagine this if you think of John Lennon, who was also a scouser (someone from Liverpool).

In Liverpool, when discussing some thing... you'd probably hear something like this being said:

"Err.... dis ting ere.... a dunno what it does like errr.... but dey wanna have a dis cryption dat makes sense d'ya know warramean like?"

This is not considered a separate language ... it IS English, but spoken differently and corrected when writing to conform with standard English.

Since the 1600's (I forget the exact date) Grammar was introduced to the English language as more people were using the written word. 

Introducing grammar also refined the spellings of common words and led to the agreement of the practice of including new words as part of the language regardless of their origin. This last step I'm sure was the most important decision in providing the world with a language platform they can share and express themselves with especially and particularly with the provision of computers and the internet.

What particularly interests me is the variation in definition when you consider changes of expression, motive, dialect, migration and various historical implications.

As for being a parent, I've loved every moment of it