bullied

A month before we made this portrait we discussed the issue of portrayal and Rishan mentioned Steve McCurry’s famous Afghan Girl portrait of Sharbat Gula. She liked the defiant look in that photo.

Wow! I'm slowly climbing to 7000 followers! But follower count shouldn't matter, you say? I wish that was true for freelance creatives trying to reach an audience, but it really does matter to us to connect. Anyway, thank you to every single one of you, and happy January, you gorgeous folk 💕

This place is starting to feel like a good place to be isn’t it.

deranged

Well played

🤘😜🤘 - Beat It! I rocked DISCOVR: 1/36 discovr.uk

gibberish

I think today's artle.uk (artist suggested by an Artler) is a tricky, tricky one. Maybe that's just me though? #artle

@artleuk.bsky.social Friday 3 for me. 4 for Jo

MornIans anAll

I wait outside the closed shop and listen to the hum of the parcel machine. The shopkeeper arrives and tells me it’s Friday. I carry the papers in. The shopkeeper’s colleague arrives singing ‘It’s Friday!’ The Woman From The Care Home says ‘Friday at last! But I’m working tomorrow!’

Early stroll. I’ll leave that gleaming penny for someone else to pick up. A white van drives slowly down the pavement. The sky’s stained glass. A dropped rubber band as a description of a dance move. Uncorked birdsong.

Great to have people who know their shit and carry it lightly!

@bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social @januszczak.bsky.social We’re with you

🤘😜🤘 - Beat It! I rocked DISCOVR: 3/36 discovr.uk

Looking forward to running a workshop with ace artist Patrick Murphy at Worsbrough Mill later, working towards a new piece of public art. I’ll try to solve the Worsbrough Dale, Worsbrough Bridge,Worsbrough Common, Worsbrough Village enigma.

Have left Facebook (at last), and now this is where I will post my stuff.

@iansheffield50.bsky.social I’m doing a roundup now MornIan!

@imcmillan.bsky.social @alqleeds.bsky.social @ianm45.bsky.social That rain isn’t stopping

MornIans an All 2032

I arrive at the darkened shop. I get the papers out of the box and stand next to an orange. The shopkeeper arrives and tells me it’s 6.02. Her colleague is singing and The Woman From The Care Home says ‘Somebody’s happy!’

Early stroll. That dropped sock is a foot long. Blue bins like geometric representations of summer sky. That parked car is usually facing the other way. Birdsong’s vivid aubade. If I name that ill-lit bus shelter as weird it becomes weird.

Is A River Alive? is published today, 1 May. It’s about the lives, deaths & rights of rivers—& how our fate flows with that of water & always has. To the people, places & rivers whose ideas run through its pages, thank you so much. I think it’s the book I’ve been learning to write all these years.

The Government staying on X is pathetic: Ministers need to show some moral backbone inews.co.uk/opinion/the-...

America grates again

Fuxsake America

Sue Walker’s obituary of Michael Twyman. Without Michael, my and Jo’s lives would have been very different @jodenn.bsky.social

Regarded by many as this influential band's finest work, I have to say that I don't think the sleeve art represents a pinnacle in the field...that said, see if you can identify it quicker than me (15 guesses!!!) at discovr.uk #discovr

A slightly dingy and mysterious work, from a none-more-famous artist. Guess what it is, and name that polymath - six guesses (plus a bit more art to see with each, if needed) should do it. #artle

It won’t be long now

My Rebellion! exhibition will have a section featuring various conspiracy theorists photographed in the wild so to speak.

I would not have been able to identify this artist were it not for artle.uk! Guess the work, name the artist, there's a big list of possible answers to choose from and you have 6 chances to find the right one! #artle

🤘😜🤘 - Beat It! I rocked DISCOVR: 3/36 discovr.uk

THE LITERATURE OF STARS (Villanelle)

Frost: For so long, the right wing has held up patriotism as a vibe, as an aesthetic. But patriotism is more than bald eagles and flags and beer. Patriotism is about loving the people who live in the damn country — every single one of them.

Sea mist, Acrylic on board, 51x76cm

Hope you’re all doing ok out there. It’s not an easy time to be a feeling, noticing person 😘

A great new follow: @commongroundorguk.bsky.social

MornIan! @imcmillan.bsky.social 2031

Early stroll. Frost’s tight grip. It’s often slippery on that corner: it is today. I don’t know what kind of tree that is but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. That half-eaten apple has been there for a week. The moon never gets dressed in the dark.

The shop is in darkness as I approach. The shopkeeper and The Woman From The Care Home artive. We all agree that it’s cold. I carry the papers in, open the bundles. The shopkeeper says she hasn’t seen Fred. The shutters rumble up.

🤘😜🤘 - Beat It! I rocked DISCOVR: 5/36 discovr.uk

Our first bluesky @imcmillan.bsky.social visit! Good to catch up, talk of books, of the Year of Reading. Chat and a recommendation with other customers. And football! It was a penalty last night, we wuz robbed. #booksky

@artleuk.bsky.social Tuesday 3 for Jo. 5 for me

MornIans @imcmillan.bsky.social Enjoyed last night’s game.

Early stroll. The sky has a flannel over its face. A blackbird’s alarm call rattles the morning. That upside down yogurt pot looks like an alien spacecraft. A bloke and I exchange raised thumbs. I blow my nose like the foghorn of a ship passing Girvan.

We had ours at Christmas!

@imcmillan.bsky.social A goal for Barnsley and there’s an Andrew question on University Challenge. COYR

Another thoughtful piece from John Harris