Tag Archives: Art

Unknown's avatar

The appearance of an artist with a typewriter

by

Today was one of those days that just ambled around itself, caught between sunshine and rain – the kind of day where you try to shut out the news and concentrate on what has to be done.

All was going reasonably well until I looked out of the window and saw someone crouched over a typewriter, and a long ream of paper. I tried to make sense of what I was seeing but could not. The pavements were still wet and the sky grey and cold, but the artist continued, head bowed and focused intently on the building in front of them, their fingers hitting the keyboard and the paper rolling out of the typewriter towards the floor.

Who were they? I have since discovered – typewriter artist Keira Rathbone. Seeing them at their work, so comfortable and at ease with what they were doing, restored my faith in humanity. The bright, creative, surprising side of life, still feels alive and well.

If you would like to see more of the work done by the typewriter artist, here’s a little more about her.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

Unknown's avatar

The hazards of waiting for paintings to arrive

by

Ever met the stress an artist feels when their paintings do not arrive as predicted for an exhibition? I have. Now I understand.

When the first delivery date whistled past, Katie began to call. At first hesitant, but then insistent, tracking down the human voices behind the automated systems. As the exhibition came closer the calls became more frantic, and the results more erratic.

“A problem with them.” “Charges to pay.” “Looks like they’re in Frankfurt.” “Oh, they’ve been returned to sender.”

Nooooo! How do you hold on to your sanity? At last the words came. “They will be delivered tomorrow.”

The wash of relief, of love and forgiveness … but only one arrived. More calls. More strain. More van space needed. “Tomorrow.”

And finally, miraculously, they appeared. Just in time.

The artist was my niece, Katie Simpson, invited, along with other young artists, to take part in a one night only exhibition, organised by Fauna Brewing, to raise funds for conservation charities in Africa. The setting in Arundel Castle at night, was dramatic, and so were the paintings. Katie’s cheetah is painted with the red earth of Tsavo. Her wild dog was watching us as we came in.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

Unknown's avatar

Interview with watercolour artist, Frances Simpson (my sister-in-law)

by

Frances Simpson – Kenyan watercolour artist

‘Interview’ is quite a grand word for what was really a snatch of questions, but I did manage a few. Here’s what I found.

Frances Simpson (known to many as Franny) has painted in watercolour for years, encouraged, she told me, by her husband’s wedding gift to her…a studio.

Continue reading →