Today's Section

That's all.

Location:Home

26 days to go.

I am refusing to panic, but there is still a LOT to be done. I am enjoying working with such vibrant colours for a change.

Location:Home

Hoorah!

It worked! Preventive rather than reactive medication would seem to be the key. I did a full computer day and some poppy weaving this evening, listening to The Proms performance of Britten's War Requiem. Timely. Next week, as part of the Chichester Film Festival there is a showing of the Derek Jarman film of same, in the Cathedral. Not to be missed.

When first I was given the MRI image of my back injury, I thought that I would use it as a cartoon for a tapestry entitled 'Why I Weave Standing Up (As Far As Possible)'. It may yet happen; the patterns are rather lovely.

Roll on tomorrow, hoping to complete two sections......

Location:Home

Setback (Averted)

LouLou's Prolapsed Disc Truths: When you wake up with sciatica in both legs it is time to take heed; when you can't sit down for more than a few minutes without your back locking, it is time to take action (or inaction, whichever is most appropriate).

I fought it on Monday by weaving standing up for the final panel on the warp - always my preferred position, but not always possible on my Ashford loom- and then going for a longish walk in the forest. Flat paths and fuelled by wild blackberries. Tuesday I had to admit defeat and have a complete rest day, flat on my back with bent up knees or on my side in foetal position, fuelled by ibuprofen. It worked! I was able to do my shop hours yesterday (a standing up job is a fine thing!) then warp up again and weave the above (small) section, followed by a seaweed and arnica bath.

Today is my sitting at the computer job (postponed from Tuesday). I shall take ibuprofen and see how much I can manage.

Tomorrow another studio day. I have a sheet of MDF to cover the sink and draining board in the kitchen so that I can cut Lino for printing, draw etc. standing up. I hope that by alternating the two activities - loom & Lino - I shall keep serious trouble at bay.

Here's hoping.

Location:Home

More from Sark

I think that most artists have themes or motifs that we keep revisiting, re-exploring and possibly reinterpreting in our work. Mine is rocks. As I go back through my digital photo archive, old photograph wallets and sketchbooks, I find close- ups of rock faces, individual stones, things growing on stones et al. In my 'great garage sorting' exploits I found the cartoons for a short series of Stone Studies that I did in my first year at WD. The weavings have all found new homes, but it has made me want to redo some of them at different setts and scales. New rock faces on Sark are calling me to the same approach: simple square tapestries drawn from a section. An extension of this would be a set of sections from the same face; enough to suggest the whole.

I have to put these ideas into 'percolate' mode ( aka 'the back burner') whilst I complete the work for NOBA (Not Only But Also). September 22 is not far away. I have a luxurious three studio days in prospect, two work days and then two more studio. Jolly Dee and Jubilate!

Location:Home

Progress!

Section two of the fragmented poppy almost completed this evening; latterly whilst listening to Vaughan-Williams from the Proms. This included 'The Lark Ascending' - my ultimate weaving music. Apposite too, given that it was written in 1914 as the storm clouds of war gathered.

On the ferry to Guernsey I finished the final chapters of 'Ghost Road'; utterly heartbreaking, I was glad to be sitting alone as it reduced me to tears.

Location:Home Studio

Dolphins!!

More of the Sark Larks tomorrow.

Location:Derrible Bay, Sark, CI