May grey
June gloom
That's not to say
All is doom
Things still in play
See you soon...
...lots of play and new things happening, and I'm still in the process of sorting it all out. I'll share when it's time, and in the meantime, above is an array of some of the Islamic book covers I make in collaboration with Patrik Prazmari (who does the actual making; I do the ordering) (with love). I would like to end up with a rainbow gamut of coloured books...
...speaking of endings, the Gayumars painting is finished. Images here: https://www.vaishaliprazmari.com/courtofgayumars and I'm organising art prints of this and a set of films of the process, more later. You can see the picture fairly well on my website and zoom in a little bit perhaps, but it's not a hi-res image as it's for web; wait for the print to see the details (coming). I found an early recreation I did and washed it all off with my Old Goat brush, which is good with lots of water...
…note that this is an OLD version and not the new one!...
...I had cut it out painstakingly with a scalpel...
...and it dried. Maybe I'll use it for a spin-off or an entirely different work, who knows...
...and I'm currently teaching a class in Gayumars at the School of Traditional Arts, where my husband is also teaching the art of Islamic Bookbinding (starts next week)...
...In June I am doing a Peepshow book in honour of these little theatrical tunnel books that bridged the book and the paper toy theatre. Very exciting, as is the Book of Topiary, fitting for an English summer (where is summer, do you know?) Here: https://www.vaishaliprazmariteaching.com/book-online...
More brushes and beautiful tools here
...More Goat and Ox brushes here: https://www.theperfectbrush.co.uk/shop and here's the link to my Make a Carpet Page e-course. Once downloaded it's yours to keep forever: https://vaishaliprazmaricarpetpage.thinkific.com/courses/make-a-carpet-page or purchase some easy-watching, relaxing painting films. You can get your own ALADDIN toy theatre here: https://www.theperfectbrush.co.uk/product-page/aladdin-paper-toy-theatre...
... And now for something completely different, starting a giant work, using my Young Ox brush for edge priming. The Ox brush is great for oils, which I'm using here. I have apprentices: this is the cutest and youngest at 4 years old (never too early). Yes, he's using a hot iron. Yes, he is being supervised. Yes, everything gloopy he does I can fix. Let's do real things with our kids...
...Share our real things and thoughts and real works in progress or otherwise: The monthly meeting link is also over at the Forum, which now is a real hub of information and you just need to scroll around or use the Search tool to find information. It's sorted into broad categories too.
The Zoom link is via the Forum https://www.miniaturepaintingforum.com or here's the direct link:
Monthly Miniature Meeting 18 June 2024 at 6pm - 7pm London time - all welcome!
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/82813888801?pwd=Y1yPk3xneLoCbmjPAAaqe5WUJuE9IT.1
Meeting ID: 828 1388 8801
Passcode: 819231...
Page control: Pause and download free Geometry of the Page resources here
...I taught at the beautiful West Dean College, the home of Edward James, patron of Surrealists. They had some new exhibits up: some prints by Dalí I'd never seen before and also the oldest dollhouse in the UK, which had just been restored. Dalí also designed tea sets, did you know that? His prints are from his Tarot series, also good inspiration for our Characters classes above...
Get your ALADDIN paper toy theatre here
...And then we went to Glastonbury for the first time for a beautiful wedding. We all loved it. I have no photos of that party because I was enjoying myself too much, which is how it used to be of course. In Glastonbury town we found a wizard, the Starchild shop which is my new favourite for essential oils thanks to my friend and the streets of Glastonbury are literally paved with magic stones and crystals. Enjoy some Glastonbury vibes below...
...and for some childhood indulgence we went to the circus - here is some hair hanging and hooping and then my lovely mother found my childhood Aladdin CASSETTE tape! Remember those? I had the music playing in my head when I was designing my Aladdin toy theatre. Beneath, my lovely father is inculcating my eldest son in our grand family tradition of writing sarcastic letters to big multinational companies. I hope he continues. It actually does feel good to send them off and us adults can now do this quite quickly. Sometimes you even get responses or 'acknowledgements'. Rarely, you get apologies and once in a blue moon you'll get a partial refund or '10% off your next purchase'. Virgin is usually good; sometimes it's crap...
...And here's my little apprentice with his favourite kind of straw and lunch break cuddles. He doesn't understand sarcasm yet. Only a little sarcastically yours, as it's good to keep the skills sharp,
Vaishali Prazmari
P.S. A sneak peek of the finished framed Gayumars! The print is coming - the kids have spotted themselves - I painted them into the painting, you will see...
