penwithlit

As I was processing some of my images from Vienna this struck me as the perfect shot to do some digital painting. The flowers were so vibrant and really popped of the screen that I tried a few different versions before finding the one I really liked.

I used Topaz Impression to create this image, it’s one of my favourite Topaz plug-ins. Starting with the base image I sampled different pre-sets before settling on the one that closely matched my vision and then I started adjusting the brush strokes, amount of paint, blending mode, etc.

Click on the image to enlarge (it really does look better) or to Purchase a Print.

On October 23, a large group of unarmed students gathered outside the Budapest radio station and demanded that their 17-point programme of democratic demands be broadcast. After the police opened fire the government dominated by Erno Gero, a Kremlin stooge, called on the Soviet leadership to send in troops.

On October 24, Russian tanks and artillery fired on demonstrators in Budapest killing and wounding hundreds of men, women and children. It was this which sparked the armed resistance.

This response was published in November 1956 by the the British “orthodox” Trotskyists. The fact that in all likelihood it was written by the proven political gangster, thug and rapist Gerry Healy does not detract from its value, or from the essential truths it contains (in the face of persisting Stalinist lies about the uprising being “fascist”). The “orthodox” Trotskyist view of the world is reflected in the article’s repeated and excessive insistence upon denouncing “world imperialism and its agents” and warning against…

I had to admit I had great expectations of Berlin before arriving, which is unusual for me. More generally my attitude to life (while positive) aligns to that of the insightful German political theorist Hannah Arendt who noted that she lived by the following mantra

‘prepare for the worst; expect the best; and take what comes’.

So I packed a chunky parka alongside my favourite over-sized scarf for protection against inclement weather and stepped off the S-Bhan ready for what Berlin had to offer. I am glad to report that it didn’t disappoint. I have always had a soft spot for Germans and since heading to Hamburg last year have grown to greatly admire their culture and attitude.

I stayed with my friend,who has been to Berlin many times and is currently residing there for a few months. She cast a careful eye over my itinerary  that was hastily scribbled…

Franz Marc (1880-1916).