Recording and concert rehearsals - Island Art

Surrounded by the sea

Hi!  As the rehearsal process has begun in earnest for the first recording sessions of my new folk ballads album (still untitled), and work through rehearsals with James for a series of 'Classi-Folk' concerts (due to kick off just after Easter 2018 in Berkshire), I thought I would share a few snaps from the rehearsal sessions here at 'Apple Tree Studios'.  We have made a great start!

'Trying' out the new Seagull guitar.

James on the Tyros

Memorising the music is proving more mesmerising!

So the rehearsals continue and I will be sure to update as I move towards the recording sessions. Hopefully I can bring some sneak videos soon as filming for the music videos recommences next week - I need good weather!  And perhaps a few snips of  the playlist.
We are still out attending gigs and scanning for good venues.  We had a great night at 'Bloomsbury's' last weekend.  The Roosters and Jack's Hotel were great value.  More soon!


Meantime, here's something else!


My wanderings and meanderings around the nearby Island beaches and countryside often reward me with inspirational 'gems' which I work up into something 'crafty' in my attic workshop.  My art alias/avatar is 'Sasha'.

Beach craft

Tower at Stintino, Sardinia
Media: Sea rolled pebbles and glass, chalk and poster paint on board.

 The materials for this piece for instance, although not on home turf, were collected from a beach on the Island of Sardinia while on holiday - these pebbles were heavy in my luggage. I recreated a popular scene from the local coastline.  There should be 50 items in this piece, commemorating a friend's landmark birthday...

'Neptune's Star'
Media: Driftwood sticks, sea glass, sand, experior house paint and plaster on board.

'Neptune's Star' is a symbol from a folk tale I have written called 'The sea-queen of the North' (available soon in a compilation of original folk tales entitled 'The Jacobin Garden').
I used paint that I had left over from decorating my summer house.

'Sail on'
Media: Slate tiles, driftwood, string, boat paint on boards.

'Under the sun'

Media: Slate tiles, driftwood, string, boat paint on boards.

I love coming across 'junk' and making something fun out of it. Here I used left over paint from my recent boat renovation.

'Sea Fever'
Media: Slate tiles, driftwood, poster paint, plaster, sand on canvas.

One of my favourite poems and classical folk songs 'Sea Fever' by Messers Masefield and Ireland.  I wrote out the text for the first stanza on paper, tore it off in strips and embedded it into the fabric of the waves (plaster mixed with sand).

Just for fun

'At the beach'
Media: Acrylic on canvas.

This subject is one of a series entitled 'Gone to...' As in 'Gone to the beach', 'Gone surfing' etc - just a bit of fun and pun. Look out for the others as they appear - they will soon be available in packs of cards.

'Gypsy Caravans'
Media: Acrylic on canvas.

Abstract

Here are a couple of abstract paintings using a palette knife.

'Sunset Storm'
Media: Acrylic on canvas.

'Eye of the storm'
Media: Acrylic on canvas.

'Irlicht' - (Wil 'o the wisp)
Media: Acrylic on canvas.

Look out for posting of other art pieces in various media which will be available soon in my online shop 'Sasha's Stash'.  Thanks for looking.  And don't forget to look up - there's more out there than on here...