Inktober 2019 prompt list - as Gaeilge!

I'm keen to learn Calligraphy. There is something beautiful about the flow of the lines, and I've been introduced recently to the exciting possibilities opened up by introducing bleach to ink. 

Official Inktober Logo

I'm hoping to combine this with a little bit of Irish language learning that has, alas, fallen by the wayside of late.

To do this, I'm going to participate in Inktober. The idea is to create a design in ink and to share it. There are 31 prompts, one for each day of October. They have been translated into different languages.

If you'd like to join me, a friend of my cousin has been kind enough to translate the official Inktober 2019 prompts into Irish. They are as follows:

1. Ring Fáinne (a ring) / glaoch (to ring/to call)     17. Ornament Ornáid

2. Mindless Neamhaireach / Faillíoch                    18. Misfit Aonarán / Duine corr

3. Bait Baoite                                                            19. Sling Guailleán  

4. Freeze Reo                                                            20. Tread Satailt   
                                                                                    (satailt bróg –  the tread of shoes)

5. Build Tóg                                                        
(teach a thógáil – to build a house)                           21. Treasure Taisce

6. Husky Huscaí (dog) / Piachánach (of voice)      22. Ghost Taibhse

7. Enchanted Siabhartha                                          23. Ancient Ársa

8. Frail Lag / Leochaileach                                      24. Dizzy                                                                                                        Meadhránach

9. Swing Luascán (a swing)/ Luascadh (to swing)  25. Tasty Blasta  

10. Pattern Patrún                                                      26. Dark Dorcha

11. Snow Sneachta                                                     27. Coat Cóta

12. Dragon Dragún                                                    28. Ride  Síob (lift) 
                                                                                    / Marcaíocht (horse/fairground)

13. Ash Fuinseog (tree) / Luaith (ash/dust)               29. Injured Gonta 

14. Overgrown Mothrach                                       30. Catch Beir ar... 
                                                                                       (beir ar an liathróid –                                                                                        catch the ball)

15. Legend Finscéal                                                     31. Ripe Áibí

16. Wild Fiáin

@Inktober   #inktober   #inktober2019   #Gaelige #CúplaFocal

Silent Sunday - Porto

punch drunk dreams

punch drunk dreams : SM Jenkin

punch drunk dreams

those languid peach dreams
recall light in petals
his honey drunk friends
sing deliriously
but never
could she have
you
 here

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Fridge poem by SM Jenkin

Kochi Fish Cemetery - a warning

You will find a fish cemetery on display at Fort Kochi South Beach, behind the Dutch cemetary.

Image credit: SM Jenkin

It's a beautiful installation created by artists Manoj Brahmamangalam and Pramod Gopalakrishnanan, described as "a warning, for the sustenance of life". 

Dr V Kripa, head of Fishery Environmental and Management Division principal scientist at the CMFRI says. “Plastic has become one of the biggest threats to aquatic ecosystems and their resources...Large plastic sheets have been found in the stomach of mackerel, tuna, queen fish, ribbon fish and whale, which clearly indicates that plastic has entered our marine food chain"

It beautifully illustrates the damage done to our ecosystem by the dumping of plastic waste on land, but is it necessary? Don't we know this by now, or is it a case of a problem being seen as "out of sight, out of mind...?"

Are you ready to be inspired?

How do you feel now that the nights are getting longer? Are you feeling a little flat? Why not try giving a go to an inspirational night like no other in Medway.

Image credit: Acrylic Artist

Inspirational nights are a terrific blend of music, poetry, and anything else you feel inspired to do. Event organiser, Lisa Vigour, always includes one or two practical inspirational exercises to help kick-start a creative idea for people who want to join in.

Some people come prepared to share their music or words, and others write something on the night using the pens and pads scattered generously around the venue. Don't fancy joining in during the open mic? Just sit back and relax, and enjoy a fun evening.

It doesn't matter if you don't see yourself as a creative person, if you just want to be entertained or to try something new come along. Inspirational nights are free for everyone to come and enjoy.

Want to know more? Try the vigorouscreations blog or follow Lisa on Twitter

My interview with Lisa is on the WOW Kent website here.

The next inspirational night is on 29 October at the Good Intent pub, Rochester. 

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Image sourced from Morguefile

The Big Draw

Do not fail, as you go on, to draw something every day, for no matter how little it is, it will be well worth while, and it will do you a world of good. Cennino Cennini

The Big Draw, the worlds biggest drawing festival has begun! There are many free or cheap activities happening around the world, between 01 October and 02 November

Image credit: Rcastillon

The festival exists to encourage people to draw, and if you look on the website there are any number of sensible reasons why. They talk about the economy, promoting visual literacy and efficiency.

But what else? Because it's fun. It's self expression. It's something that you can choose to do, in the way that you want to. Because.... 

That's why. Does it need to have a reason? 

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The Big Draw: http://www.thebigdraw.org/

Image sourced from Morguefile

Silent Sunday - Pink Panther

Unknown Artist
Photo image credit: SM Jenkin

Silent Sunday - Tone Deaf

Installation by Kathy Hinde
Image Credit:SM Jenkin 

Have you ever seen a shark straddle a cowboy?

Before tonight, I hadn't. It may be a common sight in Medway, I just hadn't noticed it before. Where have they all been hiding, all my life?

A shark riding a cowboy. Only in Medway
Image credit: SM Jenkin

Dr Sketchy's anti-art school has been described as life-drawing Karaoke, and it's the sauciest show in town.

It's a great and comfortable evening, a cabaret show with an emphasis on fun. Materials for sketching and drawing are provided, if you want to give it a go, with sweeties offered to the highest rated pieces produced. However, there is no pressure so if you want to kick back and relax and enjoy the show, that's good too.

There is, as can be expected, a variety of music and performance pieces with an impromptu break dance performance piece from dark sugar. It's a great evening - come along if you can. It's reasonably priced, too.  

For more information about this global phenomenon, visit the Medway branch of Dr Sketchy here

WOW - Bryan Talbot at Rochester Art Gallery

A picture speaks a thousand words, or so the saying goes. This coming month the thousand words comes to Rochester Art Gallery, with a new exhibition from Bryan Talbot, Mark Barnes, Joe Decie and Ian Williams. It runs from the 12 June until August 10, 2014.

Image credit: Wintersixfour

I'm very excited about the exhibition, in my opinion Bryan has been at the forefront of graphic novels ever since the startling Alice in Sunderland, a blending of history, magic realism and Lewis Carroll. It was one of the first graphic novels that expanded the limits of what graphic novels are capable of - besides Watchmen and Persepolis. Graphic novels can explore ideas stories and biography that other mediums cannot touch, and it grinds at me that so often mature is understand as "graphic". 

Information about the exhibition, and the many other cultural highlights coming to Medway are available in the June edition of WOW - What's on Where

The exhibition is going to be graphic - and it coincides with the start of FUSE festival, Medway's marvelous summer arts festival. Details available here

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Image sourced through Morguefile

ME4Writers - Book jackets for books never to be written

The ME4Writers have shared a sneak peek of one of their works in progress. It goes by the intriguing title Book jackets for books never to be written

It's an on-going project that encourages collaboration between writers and artists, and the idea is to design a book cover for a book that will never get written.

I've seen some of the designs, and they are quite startling. Would you like to be involved? Either an an artist or writer, please give it a try. You never know what you are capable of until you do it.

If you would like to contribute either a book jacket blurb or design a cover, more information about the project is available on the ME4Writers blog here

Personally, I think it's quite sad these books will never be written, they're quite original...

Drawing a straight line .... Failure. Who cares?

OK, overwhelmed by an excess of enthusiasm, red wine and sunshine I actually drew some stuff. Yes, it has taken me a whole blasted week of being here in Italy to work up the courage to break out my pencil. But what exactly was I waiting for? Permission?

So I found a nice little place, a shady spot in the Giardino di Boboli and I just did it. I had to do a few, because to be quite honest the first was childish, awful with no respect for perspective.

Image credit: Wallyir

But you know what? The sun was shining, and I was in Florence and I probably will never get back here again. And it felt so nice just generally draweing, and shading and looking. I felt like I really connected...

... and no one could see what I was drawing so they don't know how naive the style was (yes I am going with that rather than with could not be bothered to spend more than 10 minutes at a time doing stuff)

But you know what? I really enjoyed it. The question is .... why have I waited so long to do this, simply for fun? What are you not allowing yourself to do, simply because you will not allow yourself to be rubbish... naive.... a beginner....?
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image sourced from morguefile