Anzac Day

Mel,

Being down at the beach on Anzac Day, was very apt, I think.
For all those who don't know, Anzac Day (ANZAC - Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), is a holiday in Australia on 25 April, which marks the day troops were killed at Gallipoli, Turkey in World War One.

So, while I was sitting there watching the waves come in and go out (the tide was going out), I was pondering on "death at the beach". And other "deaths at the beach".

And that was when I recieved the text from Julieta about Christina passing away. Christina was Julieta's neighbour and long time friend, and a friend of mine also. A very kind East Timorese lady of 60 odd years of age.

"So, how many other people have met their end at the beach?" I wondered, as I was drawing a leaf and trying to paint the magenta colour of a flower that is found along the edge of the sand and up along the rocks. For some time now, I have got the sense that a young man was murdered by pirates a few hundred years ago, on this same beach, a stone's throw away. Two pirates had dragged his dying body up off the sand and to the very spot where I was sitting, propping him up against a rock, to make him look like he had sat down there himself. I looked around for any remnants, like a belt buckle or something, but nothing like that was there. Then, thinking on past events that have happened to me in connection with the beach, I envisioned a woman who was with the pirates, but had not seen them murder the young man, having walked down the path from along the cliff face and happened upon the dead man, recoiling and having to head off further down the beach to sit on a rock to try to come to terms with what had happened.

So, what burden does a person bear when someone dies, and they were unable to do anything to prevent it, eventhough they were there? From my viewpoint, the sole responsibility lies with the person/people who deliberately brought about that person's death. So, what if you were there and you didn't take action to help the person who was dying? Having been in some very stressful situations, I know that a person can only take action, if they already have an understanding of what to do beforehand. So, if you are faced with this sort of situation, and you don't know what to do, you become in a way "paralysed". Especially, if it is something you've never experienced before. So, it's not so much that you "don't take action", it's a case of "you can't take action". Which is a whole different situation, to a heartless person who does know what to do, but chooses not to.

Reference:
The Inn on the Beach at Clovelly, Cornwall, UK.


text (c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Art - Edges

Jo,


Being able to do straight edges and blurred edges
is a basis for building up pictures.

I've been investigating how to do edges in acrylic paint.
Below, are some examples that I've done,
with an explanation of what they are and how to do them.

Straight edge - 1 colour - solid
Acrylic paint, nothing added.
Just move the brush along the paper,
making a firm sharp edge.

Layered Edge - 1 colour - water
Have some water handy,
and a palette tray with compartments,
like an ice-block tray if you don't have one.
Apply a brush stroke of acrylic paint only.
Then mix up the paint in a little water,
and apply a stroke along the edge
of the solid paint.
Then mix up more water in the paint
to make a lighter shade,
and apply a stroke along the new edge.
Continue in this way.

Zig zag edge - 1 colour - water
Have water handy,
and the palette with compartments.
Lay down a stroke of solid paint.
Mix up a light shade of paint and water.
Lay down a stroke of this along the edge
of the solid paint.
Zig zag along the joining edge,
to blur the two shades together.
Then run the paint brush over the join
in straight strokes.

Straight edge - 2 colours - solid
Lay a stroke of solid paint (nothing added),
making a firm sharp edge.
Then clean the brush,
then using a different colour of solid paint,
lay down a stroke alongside the other one,
making a clear straight join.

Layered edge - 2 colours - solid
Lay down a stroke of solid paint (nothing added),
blurring the edge a little.
Then clean the brush.
With another colour of solid paint,
Lay a stroke alongside and over the edge
of the first colour,
not worrying about keeping a sharp edge.
I've found that dark colour first, then light, or,
light colour first, then dark,
doesn't really make a difference.
But, I suppose anything can happen.

Blurred edge - 2 colours - solid
Lay down a stroke of solid paint (nothing added).
Clean the brush.
Then, using another colour of solid paint,
run a stroke alongside the first colour.
Quickly, before the paint dries,
zig zag along the joining edge.
Then, quickly run the brush along the join
in straight strokes.

Layered edge - 2 colours - water
Have water handy, and the compartment palette.
Mix up a small amount of colour with some water in one compartment.
Then, with a clean brush, mix up a small amount of another colour with some water in another compartment.
Lay down a stroke of one colour.
Quickly clean the brush.
Then, using the other colour, lay down a stroke alongside and over the first colour. Then clean the brush and repeat up the page.

Zig zag edge - 2 colours - water
Have water handy, and the compartment palette.
Mix up a small amount of colour with water in one compartment.
Clean the brush.
Mix up a small amount of another colour with water in another compartment.
With a clean brush, lay a stroke of one colour down.
Clean the brush quickly, as the paint dries quickly.
Lay down the other colour alongside the first one.
Quickly zig zag along the join to blend                                                                                           the two colours, then run the brush in                                                                                           straight strokes over it.


(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Plovers and an Icecream

Mel,

What is it with Plovers ?? I love the sound that they make when they call at night.
But, that's the third time that I've been dive-bombed by them.
It must have looked funny to anyone watching from down the beach.
Having a big "hand" bag helped to fend them off !!!  Otherwise I would have been toast !!

Having that ice-cream afterwards made up for it though, you were right  :)





text (c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Mermaid at the beach

Mel,

Mermaid at the Beach

Mermaid at the beach,

Sitting on the rocks,

Listening to the waves,

Wind, playing with her locks.

Man, sitting on a deck chair,

Gazing out to sea,

Standing upon the ledge.

Is he looking for me?

text (c) Katherine Stuart 2013