Irving Penn, Fashion Photographer, Is Dead at 92

A brilliant obituary here

I had only recently seen an exhibition of Penn's wonderful still life photographs at the Hamiltons Gallery. There are so many amazing iconic images I could have chosen, but I love the quiet stillness of his still life images. Genius.

The view from here? Stripy

Well, this outfit is a lesson in moderation. I originally intended to wear it with dark grey leggings but a small but persistent siren was wailing and I realised that the proportions were a little 'out' I think that had I been a gallerina I would have risked it, but as a teacher I had to draw the line. Had the dress been a few inches longer then yes, but it is above the knee and so a last minute substitution ensued. Instead of the usual necklace which would have made the neckline too fussy I am wearing a very, very old pair of oval dangly hoops by Lisa Vandy. Earrings are a rarity with me simply because they hurt, always have. But sometimes on the odd occasion I succumb.

My sister is back from Egypt and so I will meet up with her for a drink tomorrow after work, giving me a chance to see the Lisa Milroy exhibition, the Hitchen's sadly will be missed. I also need, yes need, some moisturiser. I am very low on my usual Chanel.

I Was mooching around a local branch of Debenham's at the weekend and whilst I was waiting for Leyla to choose some slippers, I tried on all the potions and lotions on the Clinique and Estee Lauder stand. One smell on the latter sent me into aural heaven, it reminded me of the seaside. I asked the price of some cliched, easily distracted by the security guard shop assistant, only to be told it was £49. I assumed she would double check but the security guard was way more entertaining than serving me so I gave up and went home. Online it was £32 and it transpired that was the normal price elsewhere. So I will avail myself of the excellent service you get in Fenwicks and buy some there instead.

If you click on the image it will come up in all its glory, I am currently using some really crap colouring pencils, if I do any more of this I will have to get some better ones. Yeah, I know a poor workman blames his tools.. but god they kill my fingers.

I have been brave and posted the last 3 on the actual pool. A first for me.

My Audrey Hepburn moment

Spent the morning rewriting Daisy's personal statement for university. At this rate I might as well do the course for her as well! Actually I really would love to. She is looking to study Anthropology and Archaeology, how lovely would that be?

I am actually trying to get the school to fork out some fees for me to go to The Slade School of Fine Art, they do a wonderful evening class. Fingers crossed.

The view from here

Two exhibitions I REALLY want to see, but if I do not shift my butt PDQ I will miss them, I love Ivon Hitchens and these look really good, but it finishes on Saturday.

Ivon Hitchens at Jonathan Clark Fine Art

as does Lisa Milroy at Alan Cristea Gallery

I love Milroy's paintings, if I had the money I would spend it on Hitchens, but there is something so vibrant and refreshing about the way Milroy paints. Why I wonder has she never been nominated for The Turner Prize? Is she too accessible? Who knows the vagaries of what rules the art world.

I meant to write that I have applied for one of the posts for Arts Council Assessor. It is over and above my proper job as you only have to review 18 productions a year.

I surprised myself by writing a half way decent critical review on the Anish Kapoor exhibition. It was a bit wordy and academic for this blog, but it has proven to me that it is an interesting way to branch out from teaching. There are no interviews and we won't find out until sometime next year if we are successful, but it is a start.

Moi, at work today. The scanner is bleaching the colour slightly, this should look a bit darker. Practice should help.

The view from here

Undercover Jun Takahashi, loads of my favourite shows out today but quite honestly they were pretty blah, uber disappointed with the Dries van Noten show and some of the other equally anticipated smacked of The Emperors New Clothes. I did like this show though, very pared down and simple. I particularly love that cocoon, shape. Yes I know you have to have a little height, but hey I have plus a little pot belly too which would be very nicely hidden from view.

I also rather like the tomato red tights, I wish I could, but really once on I know I would feel a tad silly. Maybe I will try.
Talking of tights, It's raining, we knew this day would come, but oh, my heart was very heavy this morning. So heavy I wore what I had on yesterday, oh the shame.
I keep seeing images from What I wore Today (the drawings) and since I find it so hard to take a photo in the morning I thought hey, I'm an art teacher, maybe I should give it a go. So folks I will try for this week, to post each day. No face as yet (I'm shy!)

inspired by what I wore today

As you can see I walked to school in shoes but whipped them off in favour of flip flops, my room is soooo warm. So I am putting off the tights for a little longer.

The weekend was dull, dull, dull, gym+dog walking+ cooking+washing+tidying+lopping of the Laurel, the bloody thing beat me hands down, I barely skimmed the surface before I retired with a sore neck and aching arms, oh the thrill of domesticity is endless.

I did however manage to wash it all down with a most delicious rose, you know the shell pink one? It was from the Ardeche region of France. Really very lovely.

Friday evening was a little more fuller of thrills. I had to deliver a cheque to Soho Square, the one that the school should have sent two weeks ago to pay for a school trip to the Frieze Art Fair. I had in the back of my mind a strong desire to see the Jill Sander collection for Uniqlo. I really wanted to go Thursday night but I am in the routine of walking to the leisure center with Kitty. If I did not go she would be upset and so I decided it was not to be.

So finding myself fortuitously near a branch on Oxford Street I went. After a 'Carry On' moment with the security Guard (Does no one speak English in the retail industry?) I got in. The collection was clearly sublime and clearly sold out in my size. Oh the pain. Still I dug deep and found my hat trick coat. I have always wanted something light to throw on whilst I walk the dog. I found it, It is fantastic, I have worn it everyday so far. It is lightweight, but rain proof beautifully cut with one of those great zips that goes both ways. It was £79 the same as 1 cashmere sweater or two wool ones. I tried on some size 16 trousers but they were cut way to big, I did also find a wonderful pair of jeans slightly too snug, but very stretch and beautifully dark. I wish a little bit that I had bought a black pair too. This is by far the best designer collaboration I have seen mainly because the cut and fabrics used are so good. I hope and prey she does another collection or at least get some more made.

Back at the chalk face today I am busy preparing canvases to paint. Last week was a great success apart from the thunderous headache I had after sniffing oil paint for too long. PLUS I am now able to post and comment at work, I know I shouldn't but I find it so much easier.

Anish Kapoor

I did not expect much, I went to the teachers evening which was very civilized. the down side was Leyla came. She was utterly charming, a model of inquisitive educated articulate young adult. UNTIL she saw the shop. Every bloody time she sees a shop she gets the desire to squander money. Time and time again I fall for it, but no more. Everything she buys lays around her bedroom until they are so beyond their original function I bin them. She gets no pleasure out of the purchase other than the cheap thrill of the transaction. I have learnt to give her a set amount and let her choose. This time I was caught by surprise. After my resounding NO she then sulked, then hid, then refused to come out of the toilet. A full hour went by whilst I waited for her to agree to leave the building.
Inside I am screaming, but being in so public a place I am outwardly calm, I appear pragmatic, patient and in control. Oh the truth was so different. My silent menace did eventually seep through and she reverted to a model child on the way home.
I have done this painful activity with all of them, so often, it is agony, but Daisy swears that it is/was worth it That something is learnt. But what price my sanity?

It was such a beautiful dusk as well.

Tomorrow I will go to a crammer school to enrol Daisy and throw away £1000. yep that is the price it costs to get one bone idle good for nothing teenager to buckle down and work. She is driving me insane. I can cope with open defiance..just. But this slow dripping tap of wasted opportunity is just draining my resolve. So instead of begging, pleading and cajoling each and every night for her to just do some bloody work, I will throw money at the problem, assuage my guilt and then kick her out. Well to my mums for a while!
After this I am going home to chop down a tree. A pug ugly laurel. He thinks I am pruning it, I may just slip a lot we shall see. I should be clearing out the pond. maybe I should get Daisy to do it she owes me BIG TIME

Spring has sprung

"C'est un peu de Yohji Yamamoto?

Well like father, like daughter. The following two outfits are from past collections, her work has passed me by, but no more. I LOVE that stripy cardie and the coat is divine, yes I know I am replete in that department, but it is divine.

Limi Feu

This is from Spring 2o10, but I think we have seen this look before...here yes materfamiliasknits got there first.

The white shirt is something I love but struggle to feel comfortable wearing. I remember when I was just out of college, I was at an interview and we had to wait ages for them to make a decision and I was talking to one of the women and admired her shirt which was very similar to the one above. She told me she had designed it, pattern cut it and sewn it the night before! Oh to be that clever. I can cut trousers and tops, but was never good enough to master a shirt with a collar. That takes genius.

Odds and Sods from the other shows. The one above is Etro and below is Rochas

Last but by no means least the one, the only Marni. I always click on this show first as I LOVE her necklaces. Well a double take later and not one necklace. So as the rest of the world catches up with huge collars, Marni moves onto earrings.. Nope not my cup of tea but still it's different

Delicious coffee colours.
Stripes.
Flowers.
And sequins, all completely delicious, but just one thought Consuelo Castiglioni are you not even remotely interested in what your clothes would look like on anyone other than those with peachy skin? Surely half the fun of designing clothes is seeing how different colours, and textures work with different skin tones. Just a thought.