Early Autumn

You people must become fed up with all these “Status update”-posts, no?After this rather long and 5-way split Status update, I realized there are some other health issues that needed addressing. It also serves as a reminder to myself that the purpose of this blog is mainly to be like a medical journal (for myself and [...]

"Cascading off the Moor", near Woodhead, Derbyshire 18"x24".Oil on canvas. Alistair Butt ARSMA © 2008.The reference for this painting came from my last trip to Woodhead in September. The idea was to capture the stream tumbling down from the moors. What I failed to mention in the previous post was the irritating insects flying around the tree that I'd scrambled under to get this view, and the bite

The mental aspect After a continuous rise of mental health throughout 2007 and the beginning of 2008 I think it is good in one aspect to get a setback. Life contains both ups and downs and what defines people is how they deal with both. I did a good job on the upside, and now I [...]

Everyday life - restlessness I’m more stressed and restless. The feeling of social isolation is stronger than ever, and I’m more sad. It’s not depression, because I am able to initiate things and engage in activities that are good to me. The positive experiences about my body’s reactions to physical exercises this summer came at a [...]

Physical health Up to a few weeks ago my whole body felt good and I was without any chronic pains for the first time I can remember in my adult life. Back pains are gone, and the last remaining symptoms with muscle pains in my thighs has disappeared. Headaches, the severe light sensitivity (photophobia) and some [...]

Adjustment of my HA Dear Abbie, this paragraph is dedicated to you: Earlier this year I complained about hypersensitivity to sounds, recruitment and other issues that made my days difficult. Then a fellow CI-blogger; Abbie simply suggested that I should get my hearing aids adjusted. Of course! Why didn’t I think about that? (I think the [...]

Hello again, world! Sorry for my absence lately… It is time to summarize my condition and status concerning the CI-process again. What has happened since last time and what is current approximate time schedule? It’s now a rough period for me. Things are heavier and I struggle with a lot of different things internally. It began this [...]

What kind of balance dry skin :To be a small test to see if their skin operator entered a “dry dangerous period” ? (1) the whole face was tight. (2) with the touch of the hand, not humid flu. (3) other parts of the body showing a dry skin condition. (4) Some parts are dry and peeling phenomenon. (5) after [...]

"As the Shadows Lengthen", Northamptonshire 8"x10".Oil on canvas covered board. Alistair Butt © 2008.This subject was less than a mile from the location of the oil painting demonstrations of a farm lane done previously. What caught my attention in the beginning was the lengthening shadows that crossed the field followed by the plough lines nicely disappearing into the distance.The painting was started with a quick under painting, loosely applied to get the main shapes and darks established using a oil paint thinned with turps.Next the distant horizon of hills and trees was painted before painting the main bushes/trees along the right hand side field edge. This was followed by painting in the sky.The broken line of the distant hedge followed before working in the detail for the ground leve

September and October are your rose's finest hour. If you have faithfully followed suggestions at GardeningShortcuts up to this point, you should start to see full, colorful, magnificent blooms as your reward. Your work isn't quite through yet, however. While fall is the best growing time, you also need to start thinking about the coming winter months. Your bushes are working hard to produce

Don't worry, the blurred cars aren't breaking the speed record. Even the lady with a push chair seems to be shifting it a tad. I just had the camera on a slow shutter speed from high up on the iron footbridge over Vernon Way. Some gorgeous colours starting to creep in as Crewe settles into autumn. It'll be Christmas soon!

 Early autumn mix with the trend for styleThis year, these are the key to attracting eyeballs elements.Contributory chic clothes. Want to be on the pop and style chic T-shirt is essential, or fashion, or sports or classic, or reconstructed, or cute, or refined, no matter what, it would allow you to the occasion.

Early Autumn, 9x12, oil/linen$375, unframedTo Purchase: jan.blencowe@comcast.net What an absolutely magnificant day it was yesterday, perfect weather, light and color! This is such a great time of the year to be a plein air painter, you can literally watch the changes in nature day by day. It's a subtle time before the riot of color that is yet to come. This was a real challenge and I'm glad I decided to paint on a smaller size board rather than a 16x20. It was so challenging because I only began to paint after 4 o'clock and at that hour of the day the sun is sinking fast and the light and shadows changing considerably over two hours. There were many decisions to be made as I painted, whether to stick to the original plan or "chase the light", and deepen the shadows as they deepened before me. The end result is that this painting shows multiple moments in time, taking those elements that worked to harmonize the painting as the presented themselves to me in real time and combining t