With no obvious cause

Kimberly had no idea how it had all started. For the past couple of months dark clouds had been hanging over Kimberly. But these were cute little sentient rain clouds that followed her around looking stormy but adorable all day. They defied any rational explanation and at least their darling little raindrops didn’t actually get you wet nor did the lightning actually cause any more than an endearing miniature light show. 

She’d gone through the initial phases of shock/disbelief, denial and finally acceptance but she didn’t really know what to do next in life. She’d had to quit work at the library because the thunderstorms were becoming such an appealing attraction that no reading was actually being done. There’d been job offers; weathergirl, presenter on Japanese TV and some pretty odd porn proposals but so far she’d turned them all down. Then her alarm went off and Kimberly was brought crashing back to reality at 07.15am in a grim and grey London on a Wednesday morning in early November. As the details of the dream slipped from her mind she briefly wondered ‘What the hell was that all about?’…

Love

id-iom

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Our Lady of the Decoration (id-iom @ Cheltenham Paint Festival)

For the inaugural Cheltenham Paint Festival we packed up the the id-iomobile and set off with high hopes. The weather for Saturday wasn’t meant to be very good and, for once, the weatherman was bang on the money. It stared off sunny but before long had descended into a maelstrom of wind and rain. Despite battling the somewhat inclement conditions we somehow managed to pull off ‘Our Lady of the Decoration’ before a very vigorous 6pm downpour. We’d had to dry the canvas half a dozen times but working outdoors in the UK in ‘summer’ time can be like that sometimes.

As we were painting just next to the Arts building at the University of Gloucestershire’s Hardwick Campus we thought we’d best try to come up with something classy but colourful and so went with our depiction of the three Muses or ‘Our Lady of the Decoration’ as we’ve decided to call it. The Muses are Aoide (song), Melete (practice) and Mneme (memory). If that doesn’t inspire the arts students then I don’t know what will. The white chevrons have been borrowed from the Uni’s logo so hopefully they’ll be down with it too.

A big thanks to Andy and all the rest of the crew who helped organise. A winning weekend to be sure.

Cheers

id-iom

Pocket size Emma Willis

Sometimes, when I’m feeling a little low, I imagine a small, pocket-sized Emma Willis giving me a big thumbs up and suddenly everything is better. Once I make this product a commercial reality I think the world will be a more harmonious place. Just make sure you read the instructions first. It can be tricky to get the settings right.

Today’s crystal resin on the piece represents the idea that ‘into each life some rain must fall’ – and pocket size Emma Willis is here to buck you up when that rain does, inevitably, fall.

Cheers

id-iom

The Journey is Over

The way I figure it you can take this piece one of two ways:

1) You’ve just found the person of your dreams and therefore that particular journey of searching is over and a new journey with both of you is just beginning

or

2) You’ve just got rid of the person who has been bringing you down for the last few years and its time to start afresh

If you lean towards point one then you’re probably hearing The Carpenters’ ‘We’ve only just begun’ right now but if you’re more inclined to lean towards point two then i’m sure its something a little bleaker (but still a great song) like Oran ‘Juice’ Jones’ ‘The Rain’…

Cheers

id-iom

Title: The Journey is Over
Materials: Acrylic, paint pen, spray paint and charcoal
Size: A2
Please email if interested

Related articles

• When sinners become saints (thisisidiom.wordpress.com)

Taking the cure – Sand, Sea and Spray 2013

Taking the Cure – Sand, Sea & Spray 2013 Blackpool

Taking the Cure – Sand, Sea & Spray 2013 Blackpool

Taking the Cure – Sand, Sea & Spray 2013 Blackpool

Taking the Cure – Sand, Sea & Spray 2013 Blackpool

Taking the Cure – Sand, Sea & Spray 2013 Blackpool

Taking the Cure – Sand, Sea & Spray 2013 Blackpool

Last year when we went to Blackpool for Sand, Sea & Spray we had to work in the driving rain all day (but still managed to get a couple of pieces done) and despite the weatherman’s warnings that this year was going to be pretty similar we set off from London with hope in our hearts. This being the UK however our dreams were soon to be shattered. Despite waking to sunshine it soon became clear that was not going to be the order of the day and so after finding our billboard spot on the Winter Gardens we set to work in a steady drizzle. Soon this escalated to full blown torrential rain that stopped play for a while as we were forced to wait it out in a doorway. From there on in for the rest of the day it was a cycle of rain, a snatch of sunshine and then more rain. We had to get finished in a day however as we had a wedding to attend on Saturday otherwise a strategic retreat to the nearest hostelry would have been in order.

During the afternoon My Dog Sighs turned up and we all agreed that the addition of some of his eyes on our lady would definitely be a good thing so he added them on Saturday (in glorious sunshine i hasten to add) – and surely she looks good with her one real looking eye and one of our eyes? The title and text of ‘Taking the cure’ refers to the Victorian pastime of coming to Blackpool to bathe in the sea as it supposedly had healing qualities.

 

Photos Courtesy of Jay Sharples

Once we’d finished and dried off a little we went to have a quick beer, see what the Q&A session was like and catch up with whoever was about. All in all a good day out and we’d just like to extend our thanks to the S,S&S team who were all very helpful and accommodating.

Cheers

id-iom

Glastonbury…

Glastonbury 2007 – A year to forget

Glastonbury 2008 – A year to remember

 

Thankfully id-iom have managed to get their hands on tickets for Glastonbury again this year and I thought it might be appropriate to craft a small memento commemorating past years. I have been fortunate enough to attend all available festivals since my first attendance as a festival virgin in 2000 – and have thoroughly enjoyed every one come rain or shine…

With it being held in the UK the one thing you can never guarantee is the weather and regardless of whether it’s glorious sunshine or raining cats and dogs there is always superior levels of amusement to be had. In fact I perversely enjoy the inclement weather somewhat as it really does sort the men from the boys. In 2007 we had the torrential rain for pretty much the entire festival (just like in 2005!) which left the site like some apocalyptic swampland. Then a year later it’s blazing sunshine and tans all round.

Both pictures are based on a photograph of me enjoying the comfort of a pile of rubbish whilst sheltering from the blazing sun under an umbrella I’d found lying around. It probably prevented me from getting sunstroke that year…

They are both A3 in size and signed on reverse. Here are the Ebay links:

A year to forget

A year to remember

Cheers

id-iom

Cloud room panorama

Cloud room panorama

After uncovering the sordid affair that has been happening in the cloud room I thought it best to reveal all in one big panorama. You’ll just to trust me that it looks better in person considering that the demolition team are now going to be the only people to actually see it in situ.

I wonder if we’ll be able to get a few bricks with painting on as mementos once the old girl has been brought crashing down…

Cheers

id-iom

Related articles

• Pink room panorama (thisisidiom.wordpress.com)

Tears of a Care Bear

Tears of a Care Bear

This is what happens when you make Care Bears cry. As we saw yesterday the Care Bear had turned to drink in order to soothe his broken heart. His belly insignia had turned to rain clouds and the weather had responded. However, when Care Bears are depressed they are still dangerously volatile magic creatures so one should always apply caution. A Care Bear rain-bow is almost as rare as unicorn’s tears but a lot more spectacular – and will drown you far more quickly…

Cheers

id-iom

id-iom @ Sand, Sea & Spray 2012

To stare at the stars and yet only see the soul

Blackpool rocks

Come rain or shine…

Glastonbury isn’t on this year (which is a shame but at least we have the Olympics) but that’s not going to stop me crafting a small memento commemorating past years and commiserating the fact that we’ll all be unable to attend this year. I have been fortunate enough to attend all available festivals since my first attendance as a festival virgin in 2000 – and have thoroughly enjoyed every one come rain or shine…

Glastonbury 07 - A year to forget!

Glastonbury 08 - A year to remember!

With it being held in the UK the one thing you can never guarantee is the weather and regardless of whether it’s glorious sunshine or raining cats and dogs there is always superior levels of amusement to be had. In fact I perversely enjoy the inclement weather somewhat as it really does sort the men from the boys. In 2007 we had the torrential rain for pretty much the entire festival (just like in 2005!) which left the site like some apocalyptic swampland. Then a year later it’s blazing sunshine and tans all round.

A couple of punters enjoying a quiet sit down in 2007

Punters enjoying the sun in 2008

Both pictures are based on a photograph of me enjoying the comfort of a pile of rubbish whilst sheltering from the blazing sun under an umbrella I’d found lying around. It probably prevented me from getting sunstroke that year…

One half of id-iom enjoying a brief break from the festivities...

If you are interested you can find our other Glastonbury related posts here, here, here and here! Bring on 2013 (as long as karma allows me to get a ticket!)

Cheers

id-iom