www.gove-humphries.co.uk

I am no longer going to be hosted by WordPress so I can get a bit more creative with my blog! So this is my last post taking up space on the WordPress server, so from now on please go to www.gove-humphries.co.uk.

Now the snow has melted, (and not returned, yet!) I have seen my first chair sighting in ages and so there will be more furniture photos to see. I have also taken lots of snow photos. I shall leave you with this delightful photo of my cats first experience of snow. They bounded around like lambs!

Christmas cat activity centre!

Caroline and I were sat in front of the fire yesterday drinking tea. I had mentioned that I was a bit fed up with having such a huge cardboard box in my living room and Caroline suggested the following inspired idea: To cover the box in wrapping paper and tinsel ready for Christmas! As someone who is far too excited about Christmas already, I was on board like a flash. We got our coats, boots, hats and scarfs and ventured out into the snow. Wilko’s bound we purchased very cheap wrapping paper and tinsel and revamped the cat activity centre. What a wonderful way to spend a snowy Saturday!

Even the monkey had a tinsel scarf!

How do I make art?

I am having a constant battle at the moment. I want to make art. I know what art I want to make (which I have been told is half the battle). I was recently reminded that at college I worried that I had forgotten how to paint. (I’m not convinced I ever knew how!) I am now worried that I have forgotten, full stop.

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I think the filing system inside my brain has lost its administrator to the day job. I shall organise my thoughts, make lots of lists and make writing about this ‘stuckness’ part of the idea…or I might just need a sit down and have a cup of tea!

Coastal walk

I have been away from the day job for a week now and have had a most wonderful break. Al and I went to Exmouth, Devon to visit my Grandma, go for walks and drink lots of ale. Grandma was on great form and we had such lovely conversations and huge amounts of laughter.

The weather was sent to turn on the Wednesday so we thought we should take advantage of the good weather on Tuesday for a long walk. We went from Budleigh Salterton a beautiful beach with a wildlife reserve to Otterton, a small village with a pub called the Kings Arms that sold Otter Ale and had a pub cat called Garfield. En route we saw stunning coastal views, a building called Brandy Head and a ghostly out of season caravan site.

I had three camera’s with me which might seem slightly excessive but they all came in useful. My SLR was the most used but I am ashamed to say the auto function is my comfort zone.

Saw this post it note on the beach with its biblical reference about evil deeds. You can click on the photograph to view its full size.

This was the bin in the toilet. I canny get enough of this kind of wear and tear.

There was an outdoor BBQ which would be an amazing setting for cooking fresh fish.

Sign post saying ‘POLITE NOTICE PLEASE KEEP TO THE FOOTPATH. DO NOT STRAY ON THE GRASS AREA, SOWS CAN BE VERY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR PIGLETS. PLEASE KEEP DOGS ON THEIR LEAD. THANKS.’ You can click on it to see the full size photograph.

We spent a lot of time at Brandy Head. It was such a beautiful building in beautiful surroundings. It felt like a discovery of sorts (even though it had a sign up telling you all about it). The reason for it’s name is because smuggling activities were rife along this coast, one of these being kegs of brandy. More recently it was used in World War II to test new aircraft mounted cannon and gun sights.

At the end of the coastal part of the walk there was this eerie out of season caravan park at Ladram Bay. Even the post box was out of order.

When we got to Otterton there was this lovely building weather worn paint.

Finally we arrived at the warm pub called the Kings Arm. Here is the pub cat Garfield. He sat on my lap which was such a great end to a great day. We drank Otter Ale and ate crisps which felt deserved after taking so many photographs!

Underfoot

Went to Cannon Hill park in Birmingham today and the leaves are beautiful! Took many photos of the floor.

Mushy peas and mint sauce

Today the weather was beautiful. Autumn has arrived and bought the sunshine with it. I love crunching leaves under foot. One thing that there wasn’t was that crisp air, it was very warm indeed and my wooly jumper was prematurely warn.

We had a walk around and I took a few photos. Out main interest was to get our mitts on mushy peas and mint sauce, something I only eat there.

On the way home we stopped in at Ali’s for a cuppa and that is where I saw the chair and the briefcase. They looked so good together but I can confirm they are not discarded goods but simply sunbathing.

Putting one foot in front of another

Goose fair is on in Nottingham so the traffic is a bit bonkers. I decided to walk home and didn’t think about the route but instead got lost in thought and put one foot in front of another. I walked a different way to I would normally go and spotted some great chairs!

 

First Wednesday in the Studio

Today has been my first Wednesday in my Studio after starting my new hours. I am hopefully going to have every other Wednesday off work to do with as I please. This is what I have been up to today:

• Writing
• Researching mechanisms that turn
• Playing with cardboard boxes and tubes
• Drinking huge amounts of tea
• Reading about book making
• Eating a halloumi and vegetable baguette from Greek restaurant Yiannis
• Making a sketch book
• Remembering ideas that I had forgotten about

Lettuce (one of my cats) is not happy at the idea of me cutting up her boxes so is having a sit in protest. The cardboard tube and two half boxes is the start of me making a turning mechanism. It is a lot more tricky than I thought but I am enjoying the challenge.

I am extremely pleased to work in a job that has this kind of flexibility and I’m glad I have finally found a way of using it to my benefit!

Cardboard mechanics

I have just found a super great video of  Cardboard Mechanics which is made by 4 students of the Utrecht School of Art and Technology, Saskia Freeke, Fin Kingma, Davy Jacobs and Sonja van Vuure

Print screen from video ‘Cardboard mechanics Installation.’

I would like to create a mechanism that makes my time pieces for me for two reasons. 1. To regulate the wrapping time, because a regular rhythm from human hands can differ depending on lots of factors. 2. I have developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which means that repetitive actions using my wrist are currently far from ideal.

Last weekend I made my living room into a cardboard cat city as we had six cats in the house. Too much fun was had! It reminded me how much I like making things out of cardboard. I think using cardboard boxes, tubes, string and maybe some metal as a pivot could work. I am going to start with drawing such an invention right now!

Birmingham walks

I have had a lot to think about recently and decided to go to Birmingham to get away. I always enjoy seeing my parents and there is almost always a walk involved.

Stevie and I parked just outside of town as you get free parking and a nice stroll along the canal. We were en route to the Ikon gallery to see Donald Judd exhibition which we thoroughly enjoyed.

In the afternoon we made fruit compote from apples and pears in the garden. Ridiculously wholesome. I wasn’t the most help as was a serial yawner.