THE END OF AN ERA, AND BLACK BOTANICALS ALBUM – FLOWERS FROM STAMPS
The end of an era
Yesterday, the nation, the Commonwealth, and the wider world, mourned the passing of our beloved Queen, the longest reigning monarch, having reigned over us for seventy years.
I was able to sit and watch the two services – the main funeral in Westminster Abbey, and the final interment service in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, where her Majesty was ultimately laid to rest – on the big TV in the sitting room from the comfort of my recliner. I had various things to do in the kitchen during the day, and got up early to try and get on top of it before it all began, but didn’t manage to achieve that. I was able, through the wonders of modern technology, to watch a lot of the processions from my phone as I worked, so I didn’t miss a thing.
I expect most people were able to watch the day’s proceedings for themselves so I won’t go into a lot of detail here, but will just highlight the things which touched me the most.
Her young great-grandchilden, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, behaved impeccably, and it was so touching to see them with their parents, the new Prince and Princess of Wales.
The eight strong young Guards who bore the coffin of their Sovereign and Commander in Chief. What an honour and privilege to be chosen for such a task, and what a tale they will have, to tell their grandchildren!
The Royal Naval ratings who pulled the gun carriage bearing the coffin. I had expected to see them straining to pull such a great weight, but no – they walked normally with heads held high. Again, what an honour and a privilege.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon. I am no great fan of Justin Welby, and had not been looking forward to what he had to say, but I was surprised and pleased – it was spot on, and one particular point he made was very challenging! He contrasted on the one hand, the Queen’s style of leadership – humble, putting herself aside in favour of duty and service, resulting in memories of her which will last forever, and on the other hand, grasping, greedy self-agrandisement which so often characterises the world leaders of today, resulting in their passing quickly into obscurity and being forgotten. All this in front of most of the world’s leaders assembled before him in the Abbey – a captive audience – most of whom are awful. I don’t suppose it caused many of them to squirm in their seats because that sort of person doesn’t think they are doing anything wrong.
The beautiful music in both services, and the choice of hymns, and also the links with the funeral of the late Prince Philip.
Seeing the King looking so spent and weary and grief stricken. Since his beloved mother’s death, the heavy mantle of responsibility has settled onto his shoulders and he has undertaken a gruelling schedule of ceremonial and a tour of the United Kingdom, and at 73 years of age he is no spring chicken. He has not been given time to reflect and grieve in the privacy of his family, and I hope that now the Queen’s funeral is over, he will have the opportunity to do that.
The most poignant and heart-rending moment for me was when the sacred emblems of monarchy were removed from the Queen’s coffin and placed on the altar. At that moment the Queen was stripped of her trappings of royalty and became just another mortal human being, dust to dust, ashes to ashes, going the way of all flesh. At that moment I felt infinitely sad. Those precious symbols will not be taken up again until the coronation of our new King, Charles III.
A day of reflection, looking back over 70 years and appreciating the life of an extraordinary woman, both Queen and mother. Thinking about the unique function of a constitutional monarchy and what it has done to make this country great. Appreciating the immense amount of work and planning which resulted in a day of absolute precision with no hitches, giving us all the opportunity to mark this significand and moving event, the like of which most of us have never seen, and may never see again.
The Queen is dead. Long live the King.
Black Botanicals Album – Flowers from Stamps
Last night I added another spread to my Black Botanicals Album. This small black spiral-bound book was part of the haul I got from the half-price art materials sale at The Works recently.
Ages ago, I bought these two stamp sets, which I haven’t really used (must get round to that!).
I thought the bold floral images might go well in my album, but rather than just stamping and colouring them, I drew them with white pencil and painted them with Perfect Pearls.
This is my Perfect Pearls palette, which I made by putting some of the powder in each of the sections, and adding water, and then letting them dry solid. I could then use them like watercolour pans, with a wet brush. This is a great way of using this gorgeous water-based medium which is full of mica, so lots of shimmer and shine! Always hard to photograph the results, though.
Here is the page spread I painted.
I took a close-up shot of the lily, with the book tipped up at an angle, in an attempt to reveal some of the iridescence, but I’m afraid it didn’t really work. This painting is extremely shimmery and I wish there was a way to show that!
I didn’t managed to get back in the studio yesterday because the day was taken up with watching the Queen’s funeral, and today I have been dealing with a grocery delivery and other domestic matters.
