Next Exhibition

DE MIRABILIBUS PECCI

An Exhibition of Mixed Media Paintings by Christine Gray at The Crompton Tavern, Derby

In 1626, Enlightenment Philosopher Thomas Hobbes, toured the Peak District in the company of the Second Earl of Devonshire. He described the places he visited as 'Wonders' and was inspired to write the poem, De Mirabilibus Pecci, which was translated to English in 1678. This poem inspired early tourists to visit one of Britain's most popular destinations.

I have followed in Hobbes footsteps and explored the areas that Hobbes enjoyed, using a mixture of collage, paint and drawing, I have painted his favourite places in the Peak District. Hobbes's 'Wonders' included Chatsworth House, Peak Cavern, Tideswell and Buxton.

I have also included some of my favourite places in the Peak District and the UK, ranging from Belper where I now live, through Matlock to the White Peak, to some favourite places from my native Anglesey.

find me on Facebook here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/ChristineGrayArtist

PREVIEW NIGHT

Saturday 25^th February, 7.00 – 9.00pm at The Crompton Tavern, 46 Crompton Street, Derby DE1 1NX. Opening times: 14.00 – 23.00 (weekdays) 12.00 – 23.00 (weekends). www.cromptontavern.co.uk  They also have their own blog here:  http://www.cromptontavern.co.uk/Exhibitions/forthcoming-exhibitions

Red Ruff will be singing their 3 part harmonies. Red Ruff is Jen Aitken, Sue Devine and Nansy Ferrett.

They got together early 2011 just because they all love singing... also because they love big boots and red hair!

Red Ruff do a mix of their own material and covers: folk, jazz, blues and rock. And make people smile! Go to their website to hear them sing:

http://www.redruff.co.uk/

Alphabe Thursday - I is for Inspired

I had a list of I's ready for today.

I is for me.
I is for Impasto a painting technique I use lots or
Intaglio for a printing technique I've used.

But I decided to use this opportunity to do some blantent plugging.  So this weeks I is for Inspired for Jenny Matlock's AlphabeThursday blog.

I have been inspired to enter the Race For Life.  For those not in the UK, this is an event that happens yearly across Britain, where women gather together and walk, run or jog to raise money for Cancer Research.  I've done this to raise money, awareness and on a personal level, to get fit!

I would really appreciate any donations to this cause, no matter how small because it all adds up and if you can do this via this link:

My Donations Page

I've got until July to get running, loose at least 4 stone and get healthier.  This is my first public pledge to do this.

And after all that here is a song I have been listening to this morning while painting Mam Tor in Derbyshire.

Scala - Ironic

Haiku

A DREAM ABOUT MY ROMANTIC LIFE

Gentle Wind Licks
Glorious Window Opens My
Biting Tiger Heart.

Painting Progress

Progress is going well with the paintings.  I experimented with some water soluable oil paint on Thursday and was quite pleased with the result.  It also led to me constructing a washing line in the living room above the radiator so that they dried out just that bit quicker.

These were trail runs for the canvas's but I quite liked the results as they were, I will probably work into them further and see what happens.

I'm off exploring tomorrow to visit some areas of the Peak District for the De Mirabilibus Pecci Exhibition at The Crompton Tavern in Derb.  The plan is to head up to Castleton and see what lovely views we can find, hopefully the sun will shine and it won't be too cold.

Alphabet Thursday - H is for Haikubes

I've started a new word game via this wonderful blog, by Jenny Matlock, and it has given me the opportunity to play with my new Haikubes. I bought these for workshops with children and need to get used to using them and its a fun way of playing with words before I try to enthuse kids with them. 

You roll the dice and create a haiku on the subject using the words that lie face up.  I did struggle to figure some of the syllable count and I'm still not sure about the word riches, but decided to just go with the flow.

So my first attempt is:-

A DESIRE FOR OUR WORLD

I marvel Fertile

Riches, Tangle Inside Shelter

Finally Dreaming of You.

And I enjoyed it! 

Very Exciting New Year

I feel very excited at the moment.  I'm preparing for an exhibition at The Crompton Tavern(more information to follow) and got my cheque in on time for the Derbyshire Arts Trail in June.  I'm joining a group at Banks's Mill in Derby and showing my work there.

I've been reading some historical context of Derbyshire and some of the travel writing.  Daniel Defoe (ca. 1659–1661 to 24 April 1731) was less than complimentary, calling the Peak District a 'Wonderless Wonder' while Celia Fiennes (c.1662-1741) was very scathing of the beer in Buxton. 

'... the beer they allow at meals is so bad that very little can be drunk..'

My favourite writing has been by Thomas Hobbes(c.1588-1679), the philosopher who is credited with being the founder of English moral and political philosophy.  His most famous work is Leviathon, where he presents his thoughts on metaphysics, psychology and political philosophy.  He wrote De Mirabilibus Pecci after touring the Peak District and dedicated it the Second Earl of Devonshire and describes there being 7 Wonders of the Peak.  My aim is to visit and paint all these wonders over the next couple of weeks ready to show at the Crompton.

Revived and Rested

I'm feeling very revived and rested after this xmas break.  I even managed to finish a painting and start a new one.

View of the Mountains from Beaumaris

I was fairly exhausted in the run up to this xmas and very relieved that I now feel recovered.  I also feel very hopeful for the New Year.  I have a instinctual feeling that something good is going to happen and lately I have been trying to practise trusting my instinct.  If my gut feeling says its wrong, then I'm going with it.
Learning to recognise the feeling of instinct or nervousness is tricky though and I have got these muddled in the past.
So I decided to put myself outside of my comfort zone and start applying for competitions. The first one I've applied for is Channel 4's, Show Me the Monet.  They attraction of having my work critiqued and a possible selling show in London was strong so I followed my instinct, ignored the horrible nervous feeling of 'What if I actually get somewhere with this and end up on telly!' and pressed the submit button.
I have also got a list of other competitions to enter and a feeling of great positivity.  I plan on making the Law of Attraction work for me this year!