Friday 21 October 2011

REAL ART??

I have posted photos of my art many times on this blog  and two of my favourite pictures are these

desert

 

image

A few weeks ago I uploaded the above to You - frame to be put on to canvas.

I waited and waited for them to arrive but as I had taken advantage of a special deal the company were inundated with orders.

I eventually received one and was some -what surprised that the canvas was rolled up in a box with the bits and pieces for the frame. I was expecting it to be assembled. How stupid am I?

No, don’t answer that. That is why it is called YOU – Frame Duh !

Putting it together is very simple, according to the instructions – Yeah. Right. Mike and I eventually managed to do it between us, not without a few expletives and threats of violence.

We made some mistakes which are not too obvious but we made a much better job of the second one despite the instructions missing from the parcel.

Anyway, here they are hanging in the hall

005

I am thrilled to bits with them although they are rather large. Certainly make a statement! As they can be touched and viewed from different angles I now feel that perhaps my digital art will now be considered “real” art.

I can see me having trouble in deciding which other ones to have done. The reproduction is brilliant.

I might try some flower photos next ……………… but which to choose.

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Beautiful Bristol

It is many, many years since I last went to Bristol so, when I saw the Premier Inn offering a room at £29 per night – I booked it.

We set off on a rather grey day but as we travelled east, the weather brightened up and the sun poked his head through the clouds.

Our Sat Nav lady took us into Bristol past the Clifton Bridge and we found ourselves down by the docks. We carried on to make sure we knew where the hotel was and then doubled back to the dockside and easily found a FREE parking space right next to a riverside cafe.

We sat outside right next to an elaborate houseboat.

bristol 001

bristol 001

 The rear of the boat had strong railings around and when a toddler appeared, playing footie with his Dad, I knew why. The old warehouses across the river had been transformed into apartments but there were still a few buildings waiting to be modernised. The mix of old and new was interesting.

bristol 001

Whilst enjoying a hot cup of coffee I smiled, watching a pigeon having a swing on the tow rope.

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After our coffee we went walkabout and the sun came out.

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bristol 004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bristol 006

Across the river was a large Amphitheatre – great piece of architecture

bristol 005

Further down the river was the SS Great Britain. We could see it in the distance but ……….

bristol 007

Cobbles 2

 

 

 

By that time my poor feet were killing me.

Verrucas and cobblestones are NOT compatible

Don’t worry, I am not going to post photos of my verrucas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I fell in love with this row of Georgian houses and wondered who lived there many years ago.

bristol 009

bristol 010

After lunch we crossed the river and found many different bars including a Weatherspoons.

Much busier there than on the other side and there were the remains of a market and a guy playing a fiddle standing on a tightrope!

No, I didn’t photograph him in case he fell off. What some people do for a living eh?

bristol 014

That concludes our walk around the harbour. I then hobbled on the cobbles back to the car. Ouch!

I was intrigued by the many different types of cobbles and the iron kerbs around many of the pavements

 

Needless to say I googled it and here is the answer :

A distinctive iron pavement kerbing was frequently used in Bristol streets, to prevent iron cartwheels damaging the stone paving. Many sections of the old edging still exist - Lower Park Row (below left) and Temple Street (below right) are typical examples. The iron kerb is almost unique to Bristol, Southampton being one of the few other places.

Kerb edging

Kerb edging

Iron kerbs were still being installed in the early 20th Century, when they were made by the Douglas Company of Kingswood. They used surplus metal left over from manufacture of their famous motorcycles.

Then we went to the hotel, mooched around the shopping mall and ended up seeing a movie. Tinker Taylor, Soldier Spy – very, very complex but we enjoyed it sitting back in the most comfy cinema seats ever. I struggled to keep awake.

JJ