Friday 21 November 2008

03 21.11.2008 The final day

Continued from 02 19.11.2008 Half-way

Friday 21 November 2008 - Today I finished the painting plus sang the new song 'My name is Edmund' with the school. It was a crack as the Irish might say. We talked of recording it; let's see. For now the walls as I left them after 5 days painting...
The school is twinned with Ain Arik School in Palestine. When some of the teachers visited the local school children played a game bouncing a ball up using a parachute, which is portrayed below on the left...


Vikings invading St. Edmund's England with Jonah in the whale's mouth below...




Hands playing piano and Hagia Sofya on the right; centre of the Christian Empire once upon a time...



Mevlana because the message is cool...


A 'wash your hands' reminder by the loos...


Palestinian imagery...





Go to St. Botolph's Primary
or The story so far...

Wednesday 19 November 2008

02 19.11.2008 Half-way

Continued from 01 14.11.2008 Lunch with Mike

Wednesday 19 November 2008 - Still managing a cold, but on top of the painting. Viking ship, Jonah and the big fish story, fishes and loaves...


Vikings, Edmund eternally ties to a tree and pelted with arrows...


Edmund's head between the paws of a wolf plus a musician and Hagia Sofya...


Palestinian children play with a parachute...


'Wash Your Hands' after using the loo...


Thursday 20 November 2008 - Father Philip visited the school to lead an assembly in commemoration of 20 November, St. Edmund's Day. Parents attended and my paintings took pride of place...



The end of day state of progress...






Go to 03 19.11.2008 Half-way

Friday 14 November 2008

01 14.11.2008 Lunch with Mike

Continued from St. Botolph's Primary

Friday 14 November 2008 - Went to St. Edmunds Catholic Primary School with Mike Ames to transfer the St. Edmund painting from Headteacher Mrs. Kemble's office to St. Edmunds Church next door...


This was followed by home made chicken pie in the Rose & Crown and a trip to B&Q to select 'funky' house paint for St. Edmund's cloakroom walls. I'm looking forward to painting with the kids at St. Edmund's and later at St. Botolph's; children are open minded and often inspire me with ideas I'd never have otherwise considered.

Hits to NPP to-date: 2,351

Saturday 15 November 2008 - Just watched Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 2 live on Ustreamtv.com with commentary from BBC Radio 5 Live. So depressing. If you have no interest in football, of course you'll never understand. If you do follow football, you'll know how I feel. How much do those Arsenal players get paid to perform so ineffectively?!
The other interesting comment to make is that of 'free' live sport commentary and the wonder of the internet; copyright; the attempt to control and manage the distribution of art, music and sport. There is no option: we must let it go; let the people watch their games and listen to their music. If you want to download any image on my NPP blog, be my guest. If you want an original artwork you must pay the asking price.

Sunday 16 November 2008 - Attended the Civic Mass on the Feast of St. Edmund King & Martyr at St. Edmund's Catholic Church. This was a different experience for me. However, my painting St. Edmund was on display and I must say it was an enjoyable morning in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I met Father Philip, members of his congregation and very much look forward to painting with the kids at the Primary School this coming week. I was even told by Trifa that it is not normally acceptable to take photos, but I didn't use a flash and no one complained so here we are: the opening procession...


My shoes. Why? No reason, other than they are...


The camera setting left this lighting effect across the image which I rather like...


The painting on the left hand side...


Trifa and a couple of the children with St. Edmund...


After the most people have left the Mass...


Lily and Maisy with some of the visiting councilors from the local area...


Monday 17 November 2008 - My first day painting with the kids. I arrived at 9.30am to join an assembly with a guest musician playing the accordion for the school. Much fun was had; the kids and staff were on their their feet dancing. Monday morning could certainly have been worse. I was fighting a cold and had been stuck behind a sugar beet lorry on my arrival, so this was a jolly start to help me forget my under the weather feeling. I addressed the 2 youngest classes with the use of an electronic 'blackboard' which I found amazing; obviously times have changed since I was at school. Next, Headteacher Maria Kemble and 2 of the children escorted me to B&Q to purchase the necessary paint. Here's Martin, who tells me he is also an artist, mixing some paint for us on the mixing machine...



Back at school painting starts. A photographer from the East Anglian Daily Times came to take some snaps...



How it looked at the end of my first day. It'll all look fine come Friday...



Tuesday 18 November 2008 - Second day, still fighting off a cold, BBC Radio Suffolk turned up. The children will talk incessantly normally, but put in front of a microphone they seem to close up. The is the progress at end of today...








Go to 02 19.11.2008 Half-way