Shiva King

Painting the River Torridge - John White Abbott

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 10:13:00 +0000

This is a journey through searches of images and inspiration on painting the River Torridge.

My starting point is John White Abbott (1763-1851). Abbott was an amateur painter who captured many places around his home town of Exeter in Devon, and one painting of the Torridge at Bideford.

He was a prolific painter and made many studies of places on Dartmoor and the surrounding area.

His teacher was Francis Towne (1739 or 1740 – 7 July 1816) a watercolour artist. You can clearly see this making a comparison of their work. Towne worked by making many sketches and paintings of his landscapes (much like Turner). Little is known about the artist and his techniques as he was a fairly unknown artist until the mid 20th century. He left his watercolours to the British Museum, where they still are today. He was at the forefront of the emergence of watercolours being used as an art medium in Britain.

Torridge from Source to Sea: Black Torrington Bridge to Sheepwash Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Mon, 03 May 2021 16:04:00 +0000

1st May 2021

I started out early in the morning so I could miss the rain forecast for later on in the afternoon. Even though the sun was shining, it was a chilly start with a frost on the ground. Yes the river was cold too!

Black Torrington Bridge bathed in the eary morning sun

I wasn't prepared for the stony riverbed covered in silt and algae - this made walking the river very slow going and I fell over a couple of times.

The view downstream from Black Torrington Bridge.

Halfway through my walk I had already spotted trout fry - my first sighting of fish in the river, squirrels and loads of water boatmen. I stopped for a rest and was joined by some sheep taking a drink from the river. Sweet Chestnut trees were in leaf, but on this side of the river the silver birch, planted in rows, had yet to show any green. Just a few metres down the river though birch trees in the same forest were well on their way, what a difference the change in orientation to the Sun!

An inquisitive sheep!

The river here is so peaceful, the sounds are the rippling water, and birdsong interspersed with bleating lambs. A nearby woodpecker was making its presence known and after scouring the trees for a while I spotted it high up, perched at an angle on the barch of a tree.

An old barn on the river.

Eventually the peace was shattered by the sound of a car, and I knew I was near the end of my river walk. But what a treat at Sheepwash Bridge! Here dippers are diving and playing around amongst other birds swooping low over the river.

Micro miffed to the beginning of a new chapter

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 17:07:00 +0000

Shortly after my last blog post I lost my micro camper in a car crash and it's fair to say that the shock was quite hard hitting. In April of 2018 I had the whole of the British Isles to explore, and by the summer all my plans were dashed. My desire to explore diminished, and I found myself creating in a very different way. My focus became needle felting. I'm not sure why I didn't blog about it. Maybe it was because the adventure wasn't outward looking, there were no trips out, no mediatative walks and much of my time was spent making funny little characters and selling them at local craft fairs.

My last craft fair was in December 2019. I was shattered from spending an average of 6 hours creating a small master piece: trying to make enough figures to fill a craft stall was very time consuming. In early 2020 I lost my motivation. Then Covid. And had I booked up craft fairs and needle felted my heart out, they would all have been cancelled anyway.

What took over my heart in 2020?! I'm not sure when it happened. Probably during an afternoon pouring over an OS map of the area I live in, trying to find local attractions to explore, or thinking about the lack of swimming spots alond the River Torridge no doubt. But this tiny acorn of an idea has grown into a wonderful artistic challenge. I'm not sure where it will take me artistically, I am hoping my ferret brain and ridiculous meditative focus will alow me to explore, not only my immediate surroundings, but also new ways to express myself.

I started this journey last year in covid conditions and this year will see me taking it to another level of focus - The River Torridge from Source to Sea. A meditation on the countryside I live in. An adventure on my door step.

Witchcraft in Boscastle

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 16:58:00 +0000

It's my first ever outing in my micro camper, and first camp out of 2018. Pip and I have been enjoying the early spring sun in Boscastle, and finally I got to go see the Museum of Witchcraft.

It's a fascinating, but disconcerting place. Full of the negative and superstitious. Human jealousy and rage bound in physical form with wax or clay and scraps of material.

Scotland 2017 - Distilled out

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 08:30:00 +0000

What's better than visiting one whisky distillery? Why, visiting three distilleries all in one day! Yes, I managed to visit The Dalmore, Glenmorangie, and also Balblair on Saturday.

At 5pm I was done and headed off to find a place to camp for the night. With the sun shining I set up the tent next to the Strathrory-Scotsburn drove road, and Pip and I had our dinner bathed in glorious sunshine.

My night of camping was slightly marred by a hole in my mattress, but I was determined to spend at least one night in my tent.

Cold, tired, and bleary eyed, Pip and I got up for a walk at 6am. It was cold. Cold enough for gloves and a woolly hat, but I didn't have either of those. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful start to the day, with mist rising over the Strathrory. Now it's definitely time for a cup of tea ...

Scotland 2017 - The way up

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 07:45:00 +0000

Pip and I left the house in high spirits, at 7pm Wednesday. The first part of our journey was uneventful, just lots of traffic. At around 11pm we hit some snag spots, but the worst was to come just before reaching our first stopover at Stoke-on-Trent. Huge road works in action on the M6. No matter, it only delayed our sleep for around an hour, oh and it meant there was more traffic about.

We left Stoke-on-Trent at around 5am. Feeling tired, I had to stop several times to rest, which meant my journey time was longer than anticipated. We arrived in Scotland at around 11am, with another 260 miles to go!

Looking over the Cromarty Firth

Finally we reached Alness at around 7pm. Too late to do much exploring, but I spent a good half hour looking for a good place to stop for the night. We ended up based near the Fyrish Monument (the less said about that the better) with stunning views over the Cromarty Firth.

It is so silent here, something I was hoping to find, but never expected to so close to towns and villages. The only sound greeting us were the calls of buzzards echoing up the valley.

Tomorrow I'm going to do some journey planning, and then it's off to The Dalmore!

King Cormorant: Titania's Poem

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:08:00 +0000

Since the summer I have been working on a sculpture based on the River Teign, and marking my first carving for three years. After starting carving Titania I went for a long walk along the shores of the River Teign picking up sand, stones, bits of china and all manner of flotsam and jetsam, which have been incorporated into the sculpture. The poem that accompanies the piece describes the walk:

King Cormorant

The roots of the oak tree
Reach down through the mud and shale,
Touching fragments of china cups,
Scattered shore-side;
Lying side-by-side with stones and shells,
All framed against the red sand.

Out in the river
The body of a dead tree
Holds King Cormorant.

I’m lost in overturning mud stained shells,
Snaked with worm tubes
And broken.
I’m lost in overturning bits of china,
Searching for one last piece.

In searching I realise that
These fragmented shells
Are just as beautiful
As perfectly formed spirals.

Retracing my steps
The tide has claimed its victim.
Again: limbs and all.

King Cormorant surveys the River Teign.

Haiku at Swaney Cove

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 15:42:00 +0000

At the beginning of the summer I made an Artist's Date with a place called Swaney Cove. I had hoped to swim there, but my new wetsuit broke (?!) so I was left pondering what to do after walking so far. I mooched about a bit, tested the water with my feet ... Freezing. I picked up some odd things that had been left by the sea on the white stones: a shell, a crab shell, and an egg-shaped pebble. Later on I found an empty egg shell on top of the cliff. These oddments seemed to mean something.

The beautiful Swaney Cove.

So I sat, I listened to the sea, and I wrote. There are two poems that came out of my visit. One, the haiku, I decided to make into a small art work using the oddments that I found on the beach that day and the egg shell on the cliff...

Samphire scents the cliff ...

Craigellachie: walking above Thunder in the Glens

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 22:57:00 +0000

The Cairngorms in Scotland is my holiday destination for my final week before the start of the school year, and today I decided to visit Aviemore to get some walking ideas. I had been wondering about the large number of motorbikes on the road up here, and it turns out that Aviemore has been hosting a huge Harley Davidson bash - Thunder in the Glens - over the past few days. So my walk around Craigellachie was accompanied by the sounds of engines revving, and several different covers bands. Not the usual sounds you associate with a walk around a nature reserve!

I was taken by the heather covering the forest floor: purple in the green.

Ferns add fire to the purple in the green.

Nearly at the summit.

My descent was marked by a swarm of midges, which attacked me at the summit and a mass exodus of tiny frogs, which were making a dash from the forest.

Sharing the path with tiny frogs.

After spotting a deer in the ferns, there was a moment to pause by the water.

Clouds reflected in the water.

Wall Studies at Restormel Castle

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 12:10:00 +0000

Back in June I ventured out to Cornwall for a week's camping and also to visit the Eden Project to see PJ Harvey perform her new album. I stayed in Lostwithiel, a wonderful little Cornish town, nestled in amongst hills within the River Fowey valley. Just outside the town is Restormel Castle, a 12th century castle commanding views across the River Fowey and beyond.

While at the castle I was reminded about a quote from Leonardo daVinci about studying walls and stones a while ago, and then found this article expanding on the idea. So I decided to photograph my own little studies. It's amazing the colours, textures, and tiny worlds that exist in such a small space!

Wall Study 1

Wall Study 2

From Minehead to Simonsbath

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:50:00 +0000

My spirit lifted as I entered Minehead, Pip and I pleased to see Stuart and Michelle. It didn't matter that it was my birthday, those days of celebration have passed me by. I worked out that last year I was unceremoniously dumped on the eve of my birthday, and the two years before that conned into ending my celebrations early for the sake of a lie. Birthdays are really just another day.

On Tuesday Pip and I made our way to Simonsbath; the vivid colours of Exmoor in the Autumn taking my breath away. I drove slowly and let the full tilt Range Rovers pass.

Simonsbath was awash with colour and new life under the beech leaves.

Every now and again I'd catch the scent of the greening moss, eventually through exploring, the perfume covered my hands. Pip was in his element, taking the lead on the leaf strewn path.

Over the moor I caught a glimpse of a stag, but too far away to take a photo. We ended our walk with a view of the River Barle.

Spring in October

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:20:00 +0000

Spring in October

The October rain
Transforms the browning moss
Into a carpet of veridian.
Draped over twigs and branches
And dripping, moisture soaked,
Releasing a sweet, earthy scent
I carried throught the forest.

The October rain
Wakens the browning moss,
Which yawns and stretches
Over twigs and branches,
Blanketing the trees with veridian.
The spring, collecting mossy drops,
Trickles over clay soaked stones,
Weaving through the ferns and moss,
Releasing a sweet, earthy scent
I carried through the forest.

Haiku from Simonsbath

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:09:00 +0000

The October rain

Transforming the browning moss

To veridian

Tick, Rocked

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 16:39:00 +0000

Half term and I'm embarking on a journey. My starting point was London and spending the night at my Grandfathers where the resonating sound is the ticking of a small clock next to my bed.

Re-aligning through the mediums of water and paint

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 16:39:00 +0000

Here's the thing, I haven't been able to carve for over two years now - carvers block. There are personal reasons for this, too personal to air in public, but also I'm living away from the sea, and the sea and the flotsam and jetsam that rolls up on the shore, are my inspiration. It may be a while before I find myself living in the right place for me to start carving again, and this is something that I've not fought, just accepted, that for the time being I won't be producing any carvings. At some point this will change, but I'm not going to force that, it just is the way it is.

But there has to be an instead right?!

For over a year I haven't once picked up my camera, plugged in my printer, checked my website. I've been in a kind of stasis. Shocked at the loss of the sea, shocked at the grey, drab, muddy mess that the Cotswolds become during Autumn and Winter. A year ago, I picked up the Christmas present my parents gave me from a few years back, a set of Chinese paintbrushes, books and inks, and this started a shift in my creativity, it lasted for a while, but the cold of the winter took hold and I stopped.

Then this new year, I finally got my camera out, dusted it down, plugged in the battery, and even downloaded the few photos I had on there onto my laptop. I went to Cornwall for New Years with Pip, and the beauty of that landscape caught me. My camera, however continued to disappoint, I just couldn't capture the views I wanted to.

Fast forward to this summer, and a trip up to Scotland, Anstruther. I took up with me a small sketchbook and pencils, a sketchbook I hadn't opened for over three years. It was a bit of a revelation to see sketches I had forgotten, some pretty good. So while in Scotland, with my annoying camera, I started to think about capturing the beauty in a different way. And I came across this amazing bookshop in St Andrews. A bookshop where they offer you free coffee, a bookshop so rammed full of books, I thought I'd never leave. And there I found a book which made me feel excited, it made me feel something again about being creative, it made me plan for setting up.

The Magic Paintbrush

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:45:00 +0000

A few days ago I was reminded of a book I read as a child about a Chinese man who painted pictures that came to life. I remembered these amazing pictures of birds and dragons, and the key to the story, that the paintings only came to life when the last brush stroke left the paper. The story touched me at the time, it sounded enigmatic to me while I remembered it.

So my Google search took me first to Wu Daozi an artist of the Chinese Tang Dynasty:

"Wu traveled widely and created murals in Buddhist and Daoist temples. Wu also drew mountains, rivers, flowers, birds. No authentic works are extant, though some exist in later copies or stone carvings."

His name came up in a search because he was such an accomplished painter, there are legends of his paintings coming to life. One such story is about a dragon or group of dragons that were so lifelike they looked like they moved around on the paper. Wu Daozi was said to have painted in the style of Chang Seng Yu, whose dragons also came to life. Both Chang Seng Yu and Wu Daozi along with Ku K'ai-chih and Lu T'an-wei are said to be the four great masters of Chinese Painting.

Wu Daozi's painting of a dragon comes to life.

Next to come up in my search was, Han Gan, again of the Tang Dynasty. His legend surrounds that of his horse paintings coming to life, such was their beauty and spirit.

Night-Shining White

These legends were alluding to the story I had read, they were close, but none of them were children's stories! Then I came across the Chinese story of Ma Liang and the Magic Paint Bush, I felt like I was getting closer, but this story didn't mention the paintings coming to life after the last brush stroke, and I was sure this was part of the story.

Finally I struck on Magic Paint Brush gold with an image search, and here were the images I remembered from my childhood, but what was the book? Ha ha ... chuckle I did!

The Magic Paintbrush

Waterfalls without falling

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:03:00 +0000

About four years ago I stayed in the Beacons for my Birthday, I was taken by the beauty of the place, but forgot the name of the place I stayed in, I thought I had no chance of finding it again ... until yesterday. I planned to go waterfall walking in a place near Talybont, which included a steep climb up to the top of Craig y Fan Ddu. As I drove through the countryside towards my destination, I started to recognise the area, the bridge at Aber, the winding road with a solitary frog crossing to the other side, the reservoir. Yes! I had found the area from four years ago, and knew exactly where I was going as I'd been bowled over by the beauty of the place once before!

This was a different walk though, a five hour trek of ridges and waterfalls. Starting at the Blaen y Glynn car park I made the steep ascent to the top of Craig y Fan Ddu.

Walking along the ridge I came across evidence of more deer, rabbits and a snake concealed in owl pellets. No red kites today, but I was again joined by crows.

At the middle of the horse shoe ridge there was a stunning view overlooking the valley below and the dramatic Pen y Fan.

A quick lunch and then the descent, following the stream down through muddy verges, rocks and sodden moss.

As the streams from the surrounding mountains converged the water widened and soon I was walking down the hanging valley, with gushing water and pounding waterfalls.

The ascent to the car park was the most difficult part of the walk!

Walking in the opposite direction

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:46:00 +0000

It's Easter half term and I've booked a few days away in the Brecon Beacons at The Usk Inn in Talybont. With all my plans scuppered at the last minute, I've come away without any guide books, so I decided to make a random walk; a meditative, organic approach to where I go and what I do.

Yesterday, after a fantastic full Welsh Breakfast, I decided to go to Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain. I parked up at the Storey Arms, and feeling unsure and a little lost at where the path started for the ascent, I clumsily opened a gate nearest me, and walked on and up. I soon realised that I'd walked in completely the opposite direction to Pen y Fan. Oh well! It was a glorious mistake.

As I walked up the open access land with no path to follow but my own, I was greeted by the sounds of crows cawing in the air above me. Soon, away from the throng of people trying to reach the summit opposite me, I was joined by a trio of red kites soaring and exploring the thermals. Other delights were a fleeting glimpse of a common lizard - way too shy for a photographic opportunity, bees, butterflies and the horses that are free to roam the deserted Beacons.

I found evidence of other inhabitants mixed with the odd glimpse of boot marks in the wet mud. There were deer up here, marked by their footprints, and frogs - I narrowly missed walking in a clump of frogspawn. In amongst the mosses, grass and rocks there were the remains of an owl's feast on a mouse, bones, the bird carnage left by a fox, and a solitary, dried up, perfectly preserved frog.

The landscape was marked by outcrops of rock and deep scars cut by the streams flowing down into rivers and reservoirs. Here the mountains and hills all roll into one with deer and horse tracks leading the way from one peak to another. I walked on through damp mossy ground towards a gorge in front of me, this was my destination. Here the water ran clear over rocks and stones, jumping into pools, and rushing over high ledges.

I made my way back to the car clambering up the stream, jumping on tuffs of grass trying not to get sucked into the sodden ground, and walking up rock strewn edges. At the end of my journey, sauntering up and down the mossy mountainside, were the two crows who had greated me at the start.

Thoughts on a cloud

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Fri, 30 May 2014 15:57:00 +0000

It's been a while. For over a year now I have found it difficult to carve, so I am making an effort to be creative in other ways. Reading articles and books on the subject, I've found that I'm not alone. Some artists don't touch their paint brushes for years, even unable to sketch. There's a part of you, that's begging to pick up a pencil, but your conscious self questions the whole process.

And what it boils down to for me, is finding a meaning for what I do. My dreams have faded, and my love of carving has diminished with my fading dream.

Parallax Non-Art Fair: Different is better

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 09:31:00 +0000

The Parallax Art Fair (or PAF) was conceived and curated by the art historian and theorist Dr Chris Barlow. Now in it's 8th incarnation, it will take place on the 18th-19th October at Chelsea Town Hall.

The PAF, "is a serious platform for international and national artists to present their work to national and international dealers, art industry people, collectors, critics and buyers without commission charges."

So what makes The PAF different to other art fairs? The PAF is far more intimate than other fairs, and aims to be accessible for both artists and visitors, which means that recognised and well established artists mingle with emerging artists, giving them an equal playing field.

And...

...the most exciting thing (he he) about this Parallax Art Fair is that I will be exhibiting! I will be showing previous works, and also exclusive new editions to my Merwood family. AND there will be a chance for one lucky person to win one of my new figures, 'Nova'. Tickets are free and can be 'purchased' on Eventbrite.

If you would like to come along to the private view (17th October, 7.30-9.30pm) please drop me a line before the 11th October.

Littlehampton Arts Festival at the Putting Green Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 09:47:00 +0000

Little did I know that my day would be filled with old acquaintances, and childhood haunts!

Early light capturing the River Arun.

The Putting Green Cafe in Littlehampton has undergone a huge overhaul by one of my school friends, Clara. She has really transformed the food and atmosphere in the cafe, its a far cry from the cafe I used to go to as a teenager! Situated just a stones throw away from the beach (in front of the putting green) and also just accross the road from my childhood home. Sitting there talking to Clara, was a breath of fresh air, and Brenda (our RE teacher) and Linney were fantastic company too.

Take some time out at the Putting Green Cafe.

Clara created quite a surreal school reunion for her entry into the Littlehampton Arts Festival (20th - 27th July), showing my work, Brenda's photographs and Diana Stanley's paintings.

Brenda Gratwicke's photographs - something spectacular.

Diana Stanley's paintings of a serene Littlehampton.

Ino languishing in her glass house.

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Kick Ass Meetup

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:51:00 +0000

Ever heard of Meetup? I hadn't until about a month ago, and it's been a breath of fresh air, realising that there are people out there with the same interests and goals that I have. Granted, having connections in London does help, but there are groups all over the UK and the world waiting to be discovered. And you get to go to some really interesting places, and meet great people...

After joining a few groups, I got an invitation from Sacha at Kick Ass Networking, and I thought, what the hey! Give it a go. The first event I attended was a the Google headquarters in London, what a great venue, especially for a geek like me ;) The event was a social networking and newsletter masterclass, well attended and brilliantly organised.

Next stop...sales and marketing :)

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Creative Synchromysticism - Giacometti to Ma

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 14:13:00 +0000

Giacometti -

One of my artistic influences is Giacometti; the simple forms and elongated lines which echo human shapes. Pinterest is my favourite new social networking toy, so while I was busy filling up boards with different artistic influences, Giacometti immediately sprang to mind.

Hasegawa Tohaku - Pine Trees

I found an image that reminded me of a conversation I'd recently had about a Japanese concept - the space in between spaces.

Ma -Negative Space

A simple and strange excerpt explaining ma on Youtube.


Inkyo Masako - Light and Shadows.

Hakuin Ekaku - Ant on a Stonemill.

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Three photos, one day

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:29:00 +0000

Three snapshots of Dominican life taken around Saltadero and Cabrera.

Watching while the local boys jump into the pool below.

Village huts beside Saltadero.

The Cabrera coastline, wind and rain take hold.

Anacaona (and a little nudge towards picjointer)

noreply@blogger.com (Shiva King) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:50:00 +0000

These past few weeks have seen me creating a few different pieces. I've started using driftwood from the beaches out here, and Anacaona is my first finished piece, carved from Dominican driftwood, in the Dominican. She was found near Cabarete, on a beach overlooking the kite surfers. Anacaona, Golden Flower, was a Taino chieftan in the 15th Century. She is a celebrated mother figure in Hatian society, and her influence spanned the whole of Hispaniola.

Note: Picjointer? A natty ipad app that allows you to put together photo montages...

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