Cecil Touchon

I am having a bit of a collage moment here. More of where these came from here via Something to Say

Junipertrail

uploaded by junipertrail.

I was trying to find some Indian inspired work to show my students how to collage using warm spicy colours when i found this amazing set of collages on Flickr.

Oxford

Christ Church Gallery.
This is a very beautiful tranquil location in which to see some superb paintings. I however preferred the drawings, I got to see one of my all time favourites. The head of a young woman by Andrea del Verrocchio and this amazing drawing by his pupil Leonardo da Vinci. My years nine students are drawing it all this week.

I went to Oxford because when Daisy returned home she dragged a case heavier than she was, but it was not full of clothes and shoes, all the stuff she needed. No, it was full of books. Daisy had ransacked my mothers extensive classical library and left all that was useful behind. So I went to collect the rest, as well as see mother who has now retired, she is keen to see as us as often as she can to ease the boredom. As she said, she has lots to do, but misses the everyday conversation that come with working in a college . Unless she makes the effort, she could go for days without a conversation. We have tried to suggest ways to avoid this, but bloody hell is she picky.
So we ( I took Kitty) arrived Friday evening at eight to a roast chicken dinner and a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Delicious.
Saturday we spent meandering round galleries and shops. I went to my favourite shoe shop which had THE MOST gorgeous pair of black sling backs. I try not to taunt myself by trying on heels but these were so classic and looked divine, sadly whilst my right foot said yes, I did not even bother with the left and slunk away. I was half tempted to buy them just to look at them occasionally. Life living in Birkenstocks maybe comfortable but it is also a little dull.
The blue sky mixed with the beautiful architecture of the Oxford Colleges was very uplifting.
I returned home on Sunday to a pile of dirty laundry, dirty dishes and hungry children. Hey ho!

The view from here

The Bus to Oxford takes you past Hyde Park, which at the end of a beautiful sunny September day looks beautiful. I have walked the length and breadth of this wonderful park since I could in fact, walk. My father worked at the back of the Science museum, and as a very small child, I remember walking across the park with my mother toward Harrods and then onto the museum to meet my father. It never feels busy and goes on forever, straddling two London Boroughs.

I love the view from the top of the bus, people watching and gazing into the Holland Park palaces, before hitting the car park that is the A4 out of London.

Dubrovnik

A truly beautiful city.

Nanette Lepore

It is a little girly for me, but I love the colour combinations and I would love to get a closer look at the jewellery which looks beautiful.

Kettles Yard

I often get invitations to private views at Kettles Yard because I am a member, sadly it is just too far to make any of them and it is getting to be a long time since I last visited. The latest exhibition which finishes this week was particularly high on my wish list. Sadly it was not to be. These photos unusually for a gallery show the exhibition as a whole which I like a lot as you get a feel for the scale of the pieces. I have been here many times so I am able to just, imagine what it would be like.

My consolation prize will be to book tickets for the Frieze Art fair. I have never been and I have decided to try some of these fairs as a change to my normal Bond St run.