Are you wondering what you’re looking at? We’re at the base of an iconic building, 30 Saint Mary’s Ax, also known as Foster’s Gherkin, to be precise. A fascinating structure which was engineered as a simple ovoid shape. I was instantly struck by its simplicity and the smoothness of its contours. Simple it may look but not simple in construction,
Do you spot interesting buildings as you walk about? Would you have noticed this window or passed it by?
I had a working title of “Where’s My Phone, as there was a phone case on the windowsill, but I decided to change it. I thought it was a phone at first, and I wondered how likely it was that someone could leave a phone here by accident. It’s a busy passageway, not somewhere you’d stop for a selfie or rest to enjoy the view.
But, when I looked at it more, I noticed something deeper and historic, right before my eyes. Read the post to find out what.
Fragments of Edinburgh. Read More »
The power of the lock comes from the gates, paddles, and winding gear. It’s a breathtakingly simple concept. The technology of its day and inspiration for this painting commission.
Painting Deception – The Power of Lock Waters. Read More »
Perspective Matters The perspective of a viewer matters. Where you look from affects the view you have. Obviously, it’s why penthouses are so popular. To be able to look out on the world makes you feel like a king or queen in a castle. The Delight of Manchester’s Skyline Cities look so magical from on
Manchester Skyline. Read More »
Public spaces colour the lives of the inhabitants. Those people who visit, live and work around them. Sometimes a building’s significance goes unnoticed at the time, but later, that significance will be acutely felt. Manchester Art Gallery first came to my notice as a young girl walking up the steps after a short walk from St Peter’s Square.
Igniting a Dream – Manchester, Art Gallery. Read More »
Muddling my Art Styles The styling of the London Underground is synonymous with Art Deco, in my head and yet it was built too early. It’s sister Kensington Station, on the Metropolitan line, is more obviously Art Nouveau, and, although this frontage was built pre Art Deco, it hints at what’s to come. The clean
High Street, Kensington Station Read More »
It’s easy to miss the covered market in Oxford, but once you find it, it’s like stepping back in time. How far back, you may wonder? I’ll tell you, but first let me show you how I see it.
Hidden Oxford, Discovering the Covered Market. Read More »
Parliamentary light overlooks the Thames, or should I say parliamentary lights, for there are two. It started me wondering why.
Parliamentary Light a Metaphor for Parliamentary Life? Read More »
What Makes Art Beautiful?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The more I’m involved with art, the more I see the truth of this statement. I grew up in an area that was a mix of heavy industrial architecture, and fields with farms and animals. I spent days by the Canal, which, even now, flits from urban to rural. I’ve learned to find beauty in both the wonders of nature, and the scarred landscapes of man. Truth is, you can find beauty anywhere, if you look for it. Sometimes even when you don’t.
