Inspiration & Arty Stuff
Audio Books & Podcasts
John Finnemore's Souvenier Progamme
Comedy series
A short 25 mins-ish sketch show with very clever writing. I originally found this via the 6:30pm comedy slot on BBC Radio 4, the first series goes back to 2011 but all are available to binge on BBC Sounds.
When I am painting I put my ear buds in and listen to audio books and podcasts. Being totally immersed in the session like this is why I love to paint, it's the best way I know to switch off and relax fully.
I was a bit late to the party but discovering the eAudiobook apps offered by local libraries (Worcestershire Libraries use Borrow Box) was a game changer. You usually have to wait for the reservation but it's free!
Here are some of my recommendations...
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
Audio Book with an art theme.
A thriller which starts "when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery in London" by the same author as The Girl on the Train.
Stephen Fry's Greek Myths series
Audiobooks
I know that some people don't enjoy audiobooks as they find the narrator's voice limits their own imagination of how the characters sound. However, I think I good narrator can elevate the story telling and I think Stephen Fry is one of the best voice artists. I really enjoyed the Greek Myths series (Mythos, Heroes, Troy), also written by Fry, I just wish I could retain the information!
Acrylic Paint & The Environment
Acrylic paint is basically plastic and I am always conscious about how I clean my brushes and dispose of the waste water. I follow a method Suzanne Nicholl shares on her website to filter my dirty brush water. I am aware that the filtered water isn't 100% clean, and the filter paper with paint lumps in goes to landfill, but it gives me confidence that it isn't going to cause blockages in my pipes and gives the water company a fighting chance to clean it properly so it is less likely to leach into the water systems.
(P.S. Suzanne Nicholl's newsletter is always an interesting read and is worth a signup.)
Setup for filtering. Two buckets, one with the saved brush water treated with aluminium sulphate & garden lime, and a second with giant coffee filters inside a collapsible sieve stacked on a garden riddle also lined with coffee filter paper (because I spill when I pour).
Close up of the captured residue after filtering.