Queens, Mintrels and Grazed Knees

I have just spent a rather lovely morning at a prep school in Norwich as a ‘visiting artist’. This is was a very surreal experience for me as I still struggle to call myself an artist with conviction. To me, the word ‘artist’ conjures up images of the great masters throughout time; Carravaggio, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Dali, Rackham. I hardly feel that I am worthy of being part of such a collective.

None the less, I had a wonderful time taking part in the school’s ‘Tudor Day’. The teachers and children were all dressed in marvelous period costumes and a parent was acting as Queen Elizabeth I for the day. My job was to play the Royal court artist. I sat with the children and drew the Queen’s portrait with them. It was all very proper and authentic, I have to say, and the staff did a wonderful job of bringing history alive. There were even real life minstrels, the Mayor of Norwich and a re-enactment of a knighting ceremony!

I thought I’d post the portrait I did. It’s not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination but it was a fun quicky. Plus, I did it in pastels which I have not used for over 10 years…I think I shall be amending that! I forgot what a fabulous medium it is.