Familiarity breeds liking

This isn't the kind of building I usually paint, I know.

This 1960s housing tower is just across the road from my bedroom window. At first I hated it, especially in the winter when the bare trees didn't hide it.

But over time, looking out of the window, I started to like it. And then I thought I'd try to paint it. By drawing, you appreciate the intention of the architect. The lay-out of the windows, contrasts in textures and colours, the geometry of it.

Maybe I should start a new series of urban watercolours?

Book of the Month: November

This month's book of the month is a bit unusual.

The Marlowe Papers by Ros Barber is a historical adventure thriller about the playwright and spy Christopher Marlowe. He's on the run under the assumed name of William Shakespeare.

Now, I'm not one of those Shakespeare deniers, but this is a great book.

The unusual thing; it's written entirely in verse, like Marlowe and Shakespeare's plays.

Guest Post: Continental Feuilletons.

Today's guest post comes from an old book at one of the places I work. The volume of bound fashion periodicals is called 'World of Fashion and Continental Feuilletons'.

Featured here the outrageously puffy, flouncy, big hair and enormous hatted fashions of 1830. This is 'New fashions for January 1830; Ball and Dinner Dresses'. I like the blue one best but feel that hat is going a bit far for dinner, really.

Book of October

Book of October is a short, fun novel about political thought. Sounds unlikely?

A History of Capitalism on the Jubilee Line by John o' Farrell has a group of people stranded on an underground train. The line will flood, but which way should they escape, down a tunnel built by public funding or one from private initiative?

It's very amusing and has a cast of famous political characters from times past.

The book is part of a series themed around various lines on the London Underground.