Pendragon came with me on Sunday to Metropolis.While I rehearsed with the Theatricals,he went off to watch a cricket match and do some writing. My sessions with the Theatricals are proving to be very interesting and worthwhile. I am getting to know some of the other actors quite well. Knowing them better means I have begun to change my mind about my feelings about some of them. Calico Teasel is quite a dish with his waist length browm hair and fine elven features. He is unexpectedly quiet for an actor,but does open up and talk if pressed gently on a subject which interests him. Salvia Rundoonie seemed stand-offish on week one,but is another quiet reserved character,who warms up with longer association. Jarvus Quaff is friendly to everyone,as is Bidolphor Gentiano,a big made boggart with a huge voice. Chicolitto is harder to understand,as his moods are changeable,going from over-the-top cheerfulness to down-in-the-dumps sulkiness. One never knows where one stands with him. But we are generally a merry crew on Sundays. In three weeks time we will be assigned our roles in the on-going drama project. We are being watched at the moment to assess our dramatic powers. I am hopeful of a key role,but will settle for something short and interesting,if that is what I am deemed suitable for. At the moment we are developing characterisations,and carrying out exercises to heighten our understanding of the play's motifs.
After a thrilling three hours Pendragon collected me and we headed off for lattes and almond pastries.
This morning I was up and around before Wally,our clock cuckoo had even stretched his beak towards the hour of six. I sang and sallied forth to wash,dress and dine on breakfast berries, in preparation for a week of artistic endeavours . I kissed Pendragon goodbye,and headed off to catch the Steam Engine which would take me to that part of Metropolis where Daedalus Cinquefoil has his studio.By nine of the clock,seventeen elven artists had assembled there,all of them ladies,and were exchanging names and cups of acorn tea.
Daedalus welcomed us all,outlined the week's prospectus,and then bundled us into a large 17 seater motor carriage. We headed for the nearby reservoir,a magnificent beauty spot,with a lake,rolling hills and its very own live-in heron. Daedalus demonstrated techniques to us first from the Art movement we were studying and then left us to begin our first studies. I find painting in any medium dfficult,so took a while to look round and get my bearings in this setting. I found a spot with a high hill,dark trees and many coloured moods.I worked on my impression of this until lunchtime,when we all retired to the Reservoir Inn to have lattes and an alfresco repast. I had packed banana and fig sandwiches,with a prune compote to follow. The afternoon was very warm and by the time we giggled our way back to join Daedalus,we were rather sleepy,and a little less in the artistic mode than we might have wanted to be.However I managed another study,of the hilss,the lake and the ubiquitous heron,efore we finished at five. Not my best piece of work ,I may say,but it may take a few days before I find a subject which draws the true artist from me.
I arrived home just before seven,to make my own supper of soya meatballs with celeriac mash. Pendragon is working in Metropolis tonight,so I am spending time,washing today's paint stained clothes,tidying our bedroom,and preparing for tomorrow's artistic stint. We are visiting an exhibition in the morning,then undertaking a cityscape in the afternoon. I do hope my work is better tomorrow,as I like to see improvement as I go along. I will retire early,I think ,to dream of tomorrow's endeavours and make up some of the sleep I seem to have lost over the last few nights. Excitement sometimes takes over when ypu are so looking forward to something.
Many fortuitous forty winks to all of you,my dear friends. If you are travelling to Metropolis tomorrow on the Steam Engine,look out for a sweet elven lady carrying a green folding stool and a large packed lunch. Give her your best wishes and extend to her the felicitations of the day. If she answers to the name of Amarantha so much the better.She will be pleased and you will have something to tell your loved ones about when you return home.
Love and great artistic inspiration from Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.
