Vidya Wolton

I have progressed this work with a few more digitally manipulated images. My paintings have a surface texture and and hopefully these appear as a digital equivalence to collage/paint.

Yesterday I travelled back from Liverpool with lots to think about following the DaDaFest. Whilst surveying the floods from the train window I thought, well just maybe I could do a self portrait from the reflection in the privacy of my little corner near the door. It seems like an apt response to Disability Arts, whatever that term might mean. I haven’t quite got a handle on this movement as I regard myself as ‘mainstream’ despite setbacks along the way.  At the festival was an exhibition of portraits by Tanya Raabe entitled WHO’S WHO? representing a number of individuals who have played their part in the movement. I have a bit of a lasting impression of this exhibition as I was able to re-visit it on several occassions. It got me thinking about portraiture and has triggered my own personal response.

‘A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver’. This is one of the few proverbs I know and it comes to mind after day2 of ‘Working with Amber’ which involved setting stones. If anything were a precise art then this is. There isn’t any margin of error and making jewellery has on the one hand the highly crafted dimension but on the other hand, what amazing creations are possible along the way. It has to be well-made because otherwise it just looks ugly and today we were striving for that professional finish.

You may think we have come to the end of Cowes week, however, today, saturday, the racing continues albeit in the rain. The rain confers certain advantages as the crowds were dampened down and there was actually room to ‘walk’ along the High Street. Alas, no photos to show here but I have a visual impression to convey of boats in the misty rain this morning in very subdued tones and looking very inspirational for the marine artist in me which is just not emerging. I did a bit of sketching from East Cowes seafront earlier in the week but went so far into abstraction that I abandoned the view and headed back to the studio. There are hints of a paddle steamer in the work but not convincing enough to show. In the drizzly rain returning to the Floating Bridge it was good to hear the screech of Sandwich Terns. They are fairly distinctive size-wise and larger than Commic Terns which are also around. Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed the fireworks last night. East Cowes comes alive at night all of once a year for this momentous event. Great entertainment from the local band whipping up true community exuberance and a bit of dancing along by the seawall. Never quite heard that version of Van Morrison’s ‘The Brown-eyed Girl’! The more distinguishable bits were good to sing along to though. Thanks to all involved for making it happen. (Photos courtesy of Richie Mair)