All went largely according to plan this week. In preparation for doing an icon on an Osterrich egg (I’ve got some ideas for small triptych’s and possibly a silver panagia) I’m teaching myself to paint the “cartoon” or the outline for the icon directly on the surface. To now I’ve drawn it first on paper, then transferred it. This has always been unsatisfactory to me because it makes a mess, and you’ve got to remember to reverse lettering, and face directions (depending on your transfer method) etc. So I spent yesterday evening drawing – or more correctly painting – cartoons. It was a joy.

I also did something new and completely different. I did . . . . spinning! Yes some of you may wonder if my PhD topic is starting to affect my brain. No, I’m not trying to re-create the annunciation! But there is something . . . thoughtful, about spinning. Something that, like heschiya clears your mind from the distractions around you and allows you to simply sit, and be, and listen. You can read more about my spinning experiment here (yes there are pics).