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I now write about my adventures and post photographs

along with my drawings & paintings on the blog:

ART OF THE NOMAD 

Why not pop over and take a look? 

Recent posts are from Cuba and Qatar.

Another year over - farewell 2010.

Falcon © Sue Pownall

Wow I'm not sure about the last month, but I'm looking forward to the new one in this new year of 2011. December started on a high, but seemed to have finished in a whimper. Whilst I like Doha I am finding it's a place where I am perpetually tired and feeling not 100%. Furthermore, I spend too much time in can't-be-bothered mode, even little things like going out for milk is too much. My only motivating force is my art, but sometimes even getting off the sofa to pick up a sketchbook doesn't happen either. 

Jude & Lola on Shatti beach at sunset, Oman © Sue Pownall

Anyway, I started the month with a visit to Muscat, Oman for the exhibition I mentioned in my last post. I stayed with some old friends and their children, who I have missed a lot in the last year, so it was good to catch up. I also got to meet a few of my other friends too, although not as many as I would have liked nor for as long. The exhibition event was a success for the organisers and is important for me as being my first show. I hope there are more to come.

Al Shaqab Stud horseman © Sue Pownall

Celebrating National Day

The 18th December was National Day here in Qatar and marked the end of a week of celebrations. On Friday 17th I got to see camel dressage as the riders took them through a course, falcons, selouki dog races, and beautiful Arabian horses. Then the next day, I joined the masses in the streets where the city had a buzz, a vibrancy, that was contagious. I walked along the Corniche where the military parade had taken place ( I missed the soldiers on camels unfortunately), amongst people of all nationalities dressed in the Qatari burgundy and white and/or waving flags. In the streets people had hung flags on their cars, added transfers and decorated them, then were driving around tooting and waving at people. Benign nationalism like this is fabulous.

How do they see to drive?

Two other notable events of the month were my friend's 30th birthday, celebrated on the 23rd, although her birthday is Christmas eve, at a restaurant on the Pearl - Qatar's artificial island. This was a lovely evening where my friend got thoroughly and deservedly spoilt which included waiters singing Happy Birthday to her when the cake was brought out. Finally, I spent Christmas Day with colleagues for lunch and silly games next door, followed by drinks with others colleagues further down the hall. Fortunately, Christmas Day fell on a weekend, but it was back to work again on Boxing Day.

By the waterside at the Pearl, Doha.

Happy 2011, may it bring you peace & happiness.

A secret

...I'm exhibiting in Muscat on the 6th and 7th December, that's in one week, and it's my first ever! Full details are over on my other blog here.

A summer of hat tricks.

Detail of Colchester Castle.

This summer has been notable for it's hat tricks, the best being 3 reunions with long-lost friends. The first one I posted about here, which is where I met friends I'd gone to PCAD with. The next occurred when I went to see the Tempest at Cressing Temple Barns, and I was very happy to run into a friend I'd lost contact with. Paula & I went to school and then art college together. Over the years, despite us both moving around, we had infrequently ran into each other until around 15 years ago, when our paths stopped crossing. It is fabulous being back in contact and we've already been for a drink, had an afternoon sketching, and talked and talked and talked. Finally, today I met another school friend today who I have been in contact with, but have not physically met for about 5 years. The couple of hours over coffee flew past far too quickly and I was very sad to wave her goodbye just now. However, we talked about a revisit to Barcelona, where we went for a weekend way-back-when, next summer, which would be fabulous to do. Furthermore, if nothing else we will have a glass of wine, or two, next time I'm home.

Reunited and having a sketchday.

3 Sketch days - First, mid-August I met the talented artists Anita Davies and Joan Sandford-Cook (Anita's work is here and Joan's here) at the Five Miles Inn, in the Fens.
Beginning of September Sandra of Sandraws came up to Colchester for the day and we spent the time drinking tea, chatting, and doing a lot of sketching. The Colchester Castle pic at the top of the post was done then.
Finally, last week Paula & I spent the afternoon sketching around the Cressing Temple Barns site where her husband is the park ranger there (no sign of Yogi or Boo Boo though).
You can see the results and read about them on my other blog artofanomad.

3 Drawing classes - The drop-in life classes held in Prested Hall, Dr Sketchy's anti-artschool life drawing, and a watercolour workshop. Pictures and details also on artofanomad.

Now the biggest is I am about to start the third contract of the year in the third country this year. I am off to Qatar on Friday. inshallah

As you can see from the locator map, Qatar is back in the Middle East. It was the sensible decision as my flat and credit cards both need sorting out, but it is very difficult as my heart and soul want to be in Khartoum. Hopefully, in a year or so I can return there.

In some ways, I almost feel I could return to England to live too, I think this is due to reuniting with like-minded friends and also making new friends here. Also, because of the opportunities for art and culture but, it is soooo cold. Food for thought over the next year, I feel.

Three, two, one... Finally, this summer I've been to London 3 times, (not enough), twice to the theatre (also not enough), and one trip to Italy.

Gratitude Friday - 2 weeks of thanks

It was on Saturday afternoon that I realised I had missed Gratitude Friday, started by Diana at Creative Structures who you must check out, AGAIN! I was walking down the street with my new friend and colleague Sarah, so together we started taking count of things to be grateful for...

First for both of us was the fact that we had both started working for our company at the same time, and our friendship has made it easier to cope with the awful working conditions. Second, vicariously I'm thankful that she has got a new job in France, which is where she really wants to be, and I think she will be happier there. Although, I will miss her here, especially as we normally do something together on the weekend, if only to meet for a hot chocolate. Another thing to be grateful for is the lovely hot chocolate :D

I am also thankful for the cultural opportunities there are here. I continue to explore, although I didn't do anything last weekend, except visit the monthly antiques market in the sleet, snow &  rain, sometimes the weather was doing all three at the same time. I think I liked the table & chairs in the photo, but it was hard to tell. After the market I scuttled home and was definitely grateful for a warming cuppa. Monday was another concert, unfortunately apart from one, in which a poetry reading was part of the composition, I didn't really like the pieces they played. Still, I am very pleased and thankful for the opportunity to listen to more live music, and do some more sketching of the musicians. Finally, yesterday I went to a small private art collection and saw several, huge, magnificent Canalettos, TWO Picassos, Renoirs, and more WOW! It amazes me the way Canaletto captured light and I can always stand for ages just looking at his work. So I am very grateful this week for the chance to see some awesome art.

Lastly, sandwiched between the dreadful weather, the top photo was taken Thursday 11th February, and the torrential rain we've had today, Monday was lovely. I was fortunate in that I finished early and when I got off the first tram, I enjoyed returning home in daylight (I normally get home around 8/8.30) by walking the 4 or 5 blocks home. A very simple pleasure, but probably the most gratifying of the week.

Gratitude Friday - On Sunday

I know I am a bit late, and in fact this is my first gratitude post of 2010, but I have a lot of excuses of which the number one is a lack of internet accessibility. Excuse over, so today I am grateful for..

... the opportunities and choices I have. They may not necessarily turn out to be right in the long term, but at least I have options.

This new year sees me back in Europe, in the northern Italian city of Turin.This is my 3rd weekend here and I think it is a great cultural place to be with hundreds of museums and galleries to visit. Also, fabulous buildings to explore, and it is a beautiful city. So far, I have visited the the Galleria Civica D'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GAM) and intend to see as many as possible over the coming weekends.

Now if only the sun would come out and allow me to take a few more pictures with blues skies, like the one above of the river Po, ... although below is one of my favourites this year... a tram in fog.

Gratitude Friday - what a view.

After comments from friends on Wednesday, I realised not only did I have to draw my view before I leave this apartment in a week's time, but also how blessed I've been to be able to look out at this daily. The finished drawing is here.

I am also thankful to all the friends, both old & new, who came round on Wednesday evening to make my leaving Muscat a bit easier. Thankfully, they were able to share this awesome view at night.

Gratitude Friday 11

Today I am grateful for a lovely day. The weather here in Muscat now is perfect. I started the day having a cuppa with the lounge door wide open as it is finally cool enough to turn off the ac.

After breakfast I went to see the ongoing competition to paint His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. A friend, the artist Jenni Eden, (check out her site here) is competing and her unfinished work is already outstanding - it caught my eye before I even knew it was hers. 

From there I went to the marina, and the kind security guards let me onto the pontoons when I asked to draw there. It was very warm in the sheltered spot I was sat in! I loved the detail on the stern of this dhow so much that I had to draw it. Most of the wobbly lines were caused by the pontoon I was sitting on moving as boats went by, causing my hand to jump. Then it was time for lunch, and I had a lovely chatty lunch with my friend Mark as we planned our SketchCrawl for next Friday. All to soon it was over and time to head home. Such a lovely day, I am so grateful for days like this.

btw I notice my art is now creeping over onto this blog. If you interested in seeing where it should be and more of my art please check out my art blog at artofanomad

Countdown, Salsa, & passion.

I came home from my salsa class on Sunday and for the first time on facebook put my status as the time until I leave Oman. I wrote "9 more salsa classes 'til I leave :((", which shows how much I am enjoying my lessons, but it's mainly due to the people I am dancing with. Then last night I went to one of the salsa groups social nights, and telling a new salsera friend I will miss all this, and she asked can I stay. Well, apart from being homeless at the end of the year (I've given notice on the flat), I have sold some of my furniture, and I've resigned, I could stay, But... I do need to go back to Europe, at least for a while, and if I end up missing Muscat, well I can always come back in a year or so. It's funny about the salsa though, I have known the basic steps for years, but the more classes I go to, the worse my dancing is getting. I think it is because I now know what I should be doing, and rather than just dancing I'm thinking. Even G&T didn't help last night, as I couldn't even do a basic mambo in time. But hey, my Bachata, which I love, and Merengue were good. The week before, at the group's Eid party, which is where the pic is from, I danced better, so maybe I can blame the G&T for not working as well as red wine?

As my countdown was tied to the salsa, is that the passion in my life? NO. It's my rediscovery of art, specifically drawing. Whilst out last night, watching the others dance, I kept thinking about how to capture the movement of the dance, the lines the women were making were tantalising. Maybe next week I will hide in a corner and try to capture it? When I was in Istanbul last year, I did several sketches of the Whirling Dervish (left), but took far more photos. Keep an eye on my art blog for dancing pics in the coming weeks.

Finally, I will finish today on a sad note, my uncle, Jack Farthing, died last week. Although I haven't seen him often in the last few years, I will really miss him. His Sunday lunch arguments with dad, or as they said debates, will always bring fond memories, along with many other memories of him I have. May he rest in peace.

Gratitude Friday: 4

I was struggling this morning to choose what to be thankful for. I had a look at Diana's post over at Creative Structures and realised that life is getting better for me at the moment, so instead of struggling to see the good things in life, I have the enviable problem of which good thing to choose.

Four weeks ago, my first gratitude Friday was about art, since then I have rediscovered my love of art and my neglected talent. So my first thanks, is for Diiana for making me think about what I was grateful for. From that first post I have started a second blog Art of a Nomad, which is purely for art.

My second thanks today is for the internet, which may seem strange, so let me explain. With my art, because I draw what I see I have always had a problem with inspiration. Now, thanks to the internet enabling people to set up sites, I have ideas bursting out of my head. I have joined several art sites that give weekly themes to illustrate (incl. Monday ArtDay and Illustration Friday) and the fabulous Urban Sketchers, who encourage artists to go out and draw the cities/towns around them. Yesterday, as I was driving around Muscat, I was mentally thinking "I could draw that"... "Oh that would be interesting to sketch", and on it went all day. Actually, the thanks is for the wonderful people who set up these sites.

My final thanks is to the wonderful cyberpeps and friends who have taken the time to look at my work this month and leave comments, both complimentary and constructive. Above all else, this has been the biggest encouragement to continue drawing and to them I am very, very grateful.

Why the photo of goats? I was determined to post a sketch to Urban Sketchers, so went out drawing yesterday. The goats were so amusing that I drew them rather than the beautiful fishing village they inhabit. The results are here.

Gratitude Friday 1

I'm grateful to Diana over at Creative Structures for coming up with this idea. I came across it last Saturday, when I was having a personal day because life feels so difficult at the moment. Diana's post gave me some much needed perspective and I decided to join in on this great idea. I tried to be grateful earlier this year, but I think this weekly idea is a lot better than a one off thing.

So, this Friday I am grateful for several things and it is difficult to know which to start with, but maybe one of my first loves, which I have just been reminded of by the current exhibition of Rembrandt here in Muscat, art.

Since I was young I have had the ability to draw and I am very grateful for the talent I have been given. However, more than my talent I am thankful for the great art that is in the world, and that my mum and dad helped me appreciate it. They frequently took the time to take me to galleries and exhibitions in order to view great and sometimes not so great art. They took the time to really show me the art, and tell me what they knew about the artists, but left me to decide what I like. Finally, they supported my wish to go to art college - at the other end of the country - and all the anguish which ensued. I don't think I ever really thanked them, so here is a very big thank you mum & dad.

Art, in all its forms from a drawing to a piece of ceramic, is a wonderful thing in our lives. It can add beauty, provide inspiration, make us think, provide peace, and give a sense of wonder, so I think it is a great thing to remember, to be grateful for, and a perfect start for my gratitude Friday posts.