Tag Tuesday-Farms, Fields and Patchwork Landscapes

This week the theme on Tag Tuesday is Farms, Fields and Patchwork Landscapes.            

I have used a Gelli printed landscape this week as a tag. I have been drawing textures into the Gelli plate, then taking a print. The idea came from Linda Germain in an online course. I am still working on variations of this, with different colour combinations and styles. The landscape is my version of Tuscany, Italy, which we visited this summer.

Tag Tuesday-Reindeer and Stags

The subject for this week's Tag Tuesday is Reindeer and Stags. This was a good subject for a tag as there is so much inspiration out there . They must be on trend at the moment,  and so are we! I knew exactly what I  wanted to do for my tag, which meant buying a stag stencil to get the image I had in mind. This meant buying a few more stencils at the same time. I painted my new stag stencil on a gelli printed background, using black acrylic to make it stand out. If you look closely you can see some other touches that have been added.

The Mill at Sonning

I have lived near The Mill at Sonning for over twenty years, but although

 I have driven past frequently, I had never been inside. I heard they 

have a new cafe, so popped in to have a warm drink after a cold

walk by the river. Mostly known for its dinner/theatre it is a place 

where you can watch a performance and eat a buffet dinner.

I was very taken by the water wheel and the cosy cafe 

 The mill machinery adds interest to the surroundings.

Another feature is its proximity to George Cluny's English home, 

which is the former mill house!

Tag Tuesday-Foxes

The subject for this week's Tag Tuesday is

Foxes.

For my tag this week I was pleased to

be able to use my wood block

stamp sets from Paperchase.

Caversham Court Gardens

The gardens at Caversham Court looked beautiful in the autumn sunshine.

I liked the long shadows of the trees on the grass, and the reflections on the River Thames.

Tag Tuesday-Halloween

Here is my Halloween tag for this week's Tag Tuesday.

I have been practising lettering for the past couple of weeks.  I have a lot to learn! I notice some of  the players on Tag Tuesday use words in their tags, and I would like to learn some ways to include them. 

I have made a simple tag with the old Scottish saying " From ghoulies

and ghosties and long legged beasties and things that go bump in the night may the Lord deliver us"

Alpacas by the River Thames

Walking by the River Thames at Whitchurch last week,

there were some lovely views. The flock of alpacas

is an interesting sight! There are several fields of them,

and they look really cuddly!

Tag Tuesday-Trees

This week on Tag Tuesday the theme is Trees. For my tag I have made a rubbing of an embossed picture of trees. I used a bright washi tape for contrast.

Tag Tuesday-Autumn Leaves

Today the theme for Tag Tuesday is Autumn Leaves

Autumn is such a glorious time of year.

The leaves have just started turning now, so this

is a topical tag for us here in the UK.

For my tag I used Gelatos through a stencil, which gave

a lovely textural raised appearance. I added some leaves

from my experiments with transfer printing, these are done

with gloss gel medium.

Detail of Gelatos through a stencil

River Thames at Streatley

There is a lovely cafe at Streatley overlooking the River Thames.

It's a great place to sit with a cup of coffee and to watch the 

river roll by. It's a perfect place for a walk too.

Tag Tuesday-Autumn Colours

The theme for this week's Tag Tuesday is Autumn Colours

For my tag I used an image transfer technique with gloss gel, from the book "Image Transfer Workshop" by Darlene Olivia McElroy and Sandra Duran Wilson. I have tried out a few different ways to transfer images this week. I like the way it is translucent.It does take a while to do though,  so you have to be patient!

I gave the autumn image a silk border and used textured card for the background. 

Old Italian Towns

I had a splendid time in Italy in August. It doesn't seem very long ago,

it's hard to believe it is October today. So as the rain lashes the window

and it is definitely a prelude to Autumn, here are some photos

of beautiful old Italian towns. There are so many in Tuscany, with

surrounding walls, porticos to enter, old doorways, windows and

magnificent architecture. The ones I liked best were not in the

guide book, but small and just perfect. Gambassi Termi was the nearest

town to where we were staying. My favourite was Colle di Val d'Elsa, with

its ramparts and gate which looked like something out of a fairy tale.

Gambassi Termi

Gambassi Termi

Gambassi Termi

Ganbassi Temi

Volterra

Flag throwing

Jane and Costanza in Pienza

Colle di val d'Elsa

Tag Tuesday- Cats and Dogs

On Tag Tuesday this week our theme is

Cats and Dogs

For my tag I used the embossed frame I made in

my mixed media group this week. We followed a

technique by Andy Skinner to create a rust effect.

I don't think mine worked well as rust, but I like the end

 result! This was achieved with a combination of black gesso,

ink and gold paint. I added some braids. The frame was

the perfect size for a cat portrait!

Cake in Latvia

In my previous post I wrote about my visit to Riga in Latvia.

I remember one evening, just after a magnificent organ

concert in the cathedral, we went out for tea and cake.

The cakes tasted as good as they looked, and I thought

they were so prettily arranged on the blue and white china.

In the bottom picture you can see a glass of the famous

local liqueur, Balsam, which is drunk frequently. 

Chocolate cake

Shortcake, chocolate and blackcurrant cream

Apple and plum pie

Latvia

During the summer break, my husband and I spent a long weekend

in Riga, Latvia with some friends. It is the first time I have been to a

Baltic country and I was very taken with it. We went to a couple of organ

concerts in the cathedral, which has amazing accoustics, spent a day

 at Jermala, on the Baltic coast, took a canal cruise, shopped at the

market, and ate wonderful food.

Beautiful old buildings

Traditional Latvian Menu

The Beach at Jermala

Datcha at Jermala

Riga Cathedral taken on a canal cruise

Riga Central Market

Dried fish

Market produce

Tag Tuesday-Paper Dolls and Paper Doll's Clothes

I am back to Tag Tuesday after my summer break.

This week's theme is "Paper Dolls and Paper Doll's Clothes"

Here is my little Scottish boy paper doll.

I thought he was really sweet, maybe "bonnie"

is the best word for him. I found him on my

old favourite site The Graphics Fairy.

I had fun assembling him, and have mounted

him on a mixed paper background.

I wanted to finish it off with a piece of

tartan ribbon or some thistles, but don't have 

anything suitable in my stash!

INSIDE Artists and Writers in Reading Prison

"INSIDE Artists and Writers in Reading Prison" is a newly opened exhibition featuring contemporary artists , writers and readers from all over the world.  Readers are to perform Oscar Wilde's work "De Profundis", written during his imprisonment here in 1897.

Reading Prison makes an amazing art space.

The list of artists taking part in this exhibiton is impressive :- Vija Celmins, Rita Donagh, Peter Dreher, Marlene Dumas, Robert Gober, Nan Goldin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Richard Hamilton, Roni Horn, Steve McQueen, Jean-Michel Pancin, Doris Salcedo and Wolfgang Tillmans.

Amongst the artwork woven through the prison, "Letters of Separation" is interspersed. Letters by nine contemporary writers to a loved one separated from them  echo Oscar Wilde's "De Profundis" which was composed as a letter to his lover Lord Alfred Douglas.

The writers are:- Ai Weiwei, Tahmima Anam, Anne Carson, Joe Dunthorpe, Deborah Levy, Danny Morrison, Gillian Slovo, Binyavanga Wainaina and Jeanette Winterson.

For details see the website:- 

www.artangel.org.uk/inside

Ai Weiwei's script

Silent Prayer by Doris Salcedo

Water by  Felix Gonzalez -Torres