So how is everybody this bank holiday?
On Friday night I went to see Biffy Clyro at the O2 Academy in Sheffield. It was one of the best gigs I have seen! I mean, I am aware that I say that every time I see a band play, but I was watching from the balcony with two lots of 20 hanging speaking right in my view. We could see the drummer, Ben, perfectly and occasionally his brother's hair could be seen. Unfortunately we couldn't see the main man in his purple jeans as much as we would have liked. He was hard to miss when he was in view though, especially kneeling at the front of the stage, playing his guitar, with his microphone on the main floor and swinging it round for the crowd to sing in to. Given all this, it was still an immense gig. I don't know if I could have been as positive had it been a different band playing. I have to say though, I do love Simon Neil and his purple jeans.
The main highlight for me was the stripped down version of 'Machines' . This song reminds me of some really hard times from last year and never fails to make me cry. Seeing it live blew me away. It really is one of my favourite songs of all time. I really cannot wait to see them play again at Leeds Festival this summer.
Yesterday I went to see my work in this year's Rotherham Open Art Exhibition. I drew a picture from a photograph of my Grandma from when she was 20 years old. It is a drawing that means a lot this year as my Grandad passed away in March and it is a photo he has had by his bedside since my Grandma died 16 years ago. We were given a pile of photos of my Grandads. Some of them I had never seen before, others I had. I don't remember my Grandma that much as I was only seven when she passed away, so seeing all these photos of her was like getting to know her all over again. It was a strange and emotional feeling looking at my Grandads belongings; letters he wrote from Burma, his wedding certificate, but having a photograph that meant so much to him of someone that we all love so much, means so so much more. This is why I felt compelled to draw it for this years competition. It won't have the same meaning next year. For now, it is the perfect time.
I always feel proud to see my work hanging in a gallery space, but this year means even more than ever. I love the sense of achievement, especially after the buzz of meeting a deadline right at the last minute. :)
A few weeks ago I bought a pack of three mini moleskines and decided one will be for patterns, one for general sketching and the third for text. Yesterday I filled most of it with quotes and my plan is to take a different style or typographer and use it on each quote. My aim is to fill it in a day at a time, so watch this space, I may just actually get round to it this time.......
Enough from me tonight, might watch the snooker for a bit longer then I'm off for some sleep before a day of work tomorrow.
Night all x
