Starting posts

 

I have been asked to make two post installations for a garden. One will be an entry name post; and the other a destination post.

The entry post is being made from a 250mm square by about 600 high piece of extremely hard and dry salvaged hardwood. 

After an hour of sawing a square bottom on the timber;  an hour of sanding all the faces; sanding a very eroded top; and creating a divot in the eroded top I have managed to get the timber to a stage where it looks pretty good and is in the main splinter free and can hold a water basin - see opening photo. 

Some of the process photos follow.

I now have a clearer idea of how to develop this entry post. More work to be done over the next week.

Bees and blossoms

 

I'm totally fascinated by the bee action on the magnolia blossoms on the tree out the front of our home. I'm not really sure what the bees are collecting; but they are revelling in it as you can see from the opening photo. The following photos simply show a bit more of the action - lots of comics and goings.

Of course there were other opportunities to enjoy moments of beauty with the blossoms.

I'm forever grateful that nature is offering such uplifting beauty.

Four started & four finished - watercolours that is!!!

 

The opening photo shows the first wash of colour on four new postcard sized watercolours - all of photos I have taken in Scotland.

The following photos show a bit of the process-progress.

Below are photos of four watercolours that are officially finished - they have now been stamped with my mark - bsa (barrysmithart). Two doors and two windows.

I have now completed 8 watercolours in my doors and windows series. Hopefully I will finish the next two doors and a window over the next week or two; and the corrugated iron barn as well.

Metal magic

 

Over the last week I have grabbed moments to make. As you can see in this blog the focus was on finishing some small pewter and copper boats - 8.5cm long; and some olive ladles - about 3cm in diameter.

The opening photo shows the finished boats; and the following couple of photos are process related.

I was asked to make three olive ladles for Christmas gifts; and then another person wanted to buy six ladles including two olive, two sauce and two larger ladles. Over the last couple of days Fiona and I were doing packing and posting to get the ladles and other metal pieces including stones, boats and wee metal cottages delivered before Christmas. The ladles are made from salvaged silver-plated copper or brass.

Our online shops are currently offline until we get the studio sorted and settled. However, if there is something you have seen on my blog or insta that you want to make enquiries about and/or buy simply email  me - info@barrysmithart.com. 

Asked to pause

 

There are times when beauty just says - "pause for a moment and soak in beauty". 

This blog post shares but a few of those calls to pause that I heard and headed during the week. Fragments - looking up, looking closer, looking in the shadows, looking at weeds, looking at common blossoms and looking at the occasional bird.

I am always glad when I take fragments of time to register beauty and soak in its joy and hopefulness.

Fragments of beauty after the storm

 

Last night we had a crashing storm - lots of lightning and a little rain (23mm). I tried to take a couple of photos of the storm but the iPhone camera could not cope with the sudden transitions from dark to light - though the two photos below give a bit of an idea of that transition. The images look a bit like alcohol ink on yupo per paintings!!!

We woke to an overcast and soft morning which made for a gentle walk and some beautiful soft blossom images such as the opening image and the following images.

Soft beauty after storm and rain is always welcome. We are fortunate that we did not have any destruction.