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Art and the Philosophy of Life - Strange stirrings that pop into your mind when you paint; observations, ideas and seriously weird wotnots.

By Nell McKay 15 Nov, 2020
... and any combination of, seems easy and wow it is so easy when you don't have to make them make sense.... What's grammar? I have just finished updating the text on the web-site, (I'm so excited about the virtual tour and augmented reality that I may of mentioned them once or twice). Because of this update I felt that this blog should be about reading and writing. The truth is.....Gawd I really don't like either reading or writing unless it's a book I have read before, I can feel my heart palpitating and a queasy sickness gripping my stomach. I really do admire writers though, and really wish I could write well without the angst. Even though I struggle with both reading and writing because of dyslexia, I can honestly say that I am a typical bibliophile with hundreds of beloved books in my possession most of which are are on my to-read list and many others I have read at least 2 to 39 times. The very special books that I love will often appear on my shelves several times, for some reason I will buy them again and again in different formats, forgetting that I already have them. My favourite book shop and a must visit in London is Waterstones on Gower Street, it is a beautiful building full of wonderful art books and has turrets on the corners that you can sit in them and read. The last few times that I have been, I have stood outside looking forlorn and fearing to go in, it is very easy to spend a fortune in side, so worth the visit. Please let me know if you find any typo's (isn't this term brilliant it makes the computer look partly responsible for mistakes on the website) However, I take full responsibility for any aberration, between two finger typing and a complete lack of comprehension, it's my bad. I will be most grateful if you point out any corrections especially if you can give me the correct spelling or grammar. Love Nell x
By Nell Mckay 16 Jul, 2020
A little while ago I had a week that was both awful and wonderful in equal measure. Our beautiful dog called Rocky died of a brain tumor my family hadn't had him for long, we adopted him at the age of four; but I loved him never the less he was my mate. The same week Rocky died a very young kitten was found at the brewery where I worked as a tour guide, she was 4 weeks old and abandoned by her feral mother very likely because she was so sick with cat flu, she couldn't see, she was crawling with fleas her fur was red with the blood of them. I left work immediately and took her straight to the vets, not for the last time that week, the prognosis wasn't good "if you can get her past the weekend and wean her successfully she might just stand a chance" said the vet, challenge accepted! That week I lost my best mate and in return I was lucky to be granted another. Beertrix's name is easily worked out she's not complicated, she is now three and my shadow she sleeps by my side night and day, she bugs me when I'm ignoring her playtime routine, she is a huge part of my life and painting and in every painting she is there literally (I find a pin and tweezers work best to remove her from wet paint), she makes me laugh pretty much all day. Good friends are hard to come by, its wonderful to be blessed by them. Our little paintings are made with love from her and me to you, we hope you will love them too.
By Nell Mckay 16 Jul, 2020
"But they are only small, why does it take you so long to paint them, I think you need a bigger brush!"
By Nellie 22 Nov, 2018
What the hell does that mean?... Well, I will explain, I'm a painter not a digital artist in a failed attempt to learn the digital side of my craft I tried to recreate a fairy in a program called DAZ Studio all was going well until I got the fairy stuck in a tree as much as the character spluttered and I pressed frantically on the old qwerty she could not break free. At that point I realised that the paint brush was mightier than the keyboard, subsequently I was told to get my paint brush and do the website myself. It has become a by word for a messing up something that shouldn't be tampered with i.e. this blog button had appeared on just about every page in the most inappropriate places. It was fixed, but not by me!
By Nellie 22 Nov, 2018
This was extremely embarrassing and I am not sure whether I should write about it..... I was really excited to be going to the Kensington Dolls House Festival yesterday. I was looking forward to seeing all the great stuff there especially the other artists work. I had not been before and as I have been working in my own little bubble for a while I wanted to compare their work to mine so that I could improve my own..... The first stand I went to was a lovely man called Lesley Smith who is an incredible artist and who produces exquisite work, that really does inspire me. Well, I went to put my glasses on and being artists glasses they are always pretty grubby they needed a clean. Couldn't budge the stuff so decided to clean them with a little water from a bottle I bought in York the previous day. OMG! it was fizzy! Well needless to say whereas I had been working in my own little bubble Lesley's work was now covered in little bubbles too.... I avoided that part of the festival after that.... Again I am sorry Lesley Smith but there ain't room for both of us.
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