New paintings and regular art updates.
Day 29, #uskstoke challenge, 17.5.2020.
The prompt was to do a house portrait, so I drew the back yard with lots of pots and hanging baskets. I ran out of energy so it looks neater than it is, there is less foliage than there should be. I used a charcoal pencil to do this, it has a plastic cover around it so you can sharpen it.
I had to start a new sketchbook. And these challenges keep going till day 38! So there are a few more to tackle.
Everyday
Is the same as yesterday,
Is the same as tomorrow.
Everyday
The birds sing,
The leaves grow,
The plants get taller,
Everyday
Life continues,
The world turns,
The news is grim.
Everyday
I think it’s going to be better,
But it stays weird.
Everyday.
Is the same.
Insane.
I’m part of a quiz team which is meeting online for the first time, and we need to decide on a name for us.
It’s complicated because the team will be videoconferencing and texting at the same time… Technology. As they say its a steep learning curve.
Then of course there’s the questions. I think there might be a theme to them. When I went to a ‘real life’ quiz run by the same people the theme was seasonal. I don’t have a clue about the questions. As long as they are not music or sports based.
So wish us luck and hopefully by Monday we’ll have a name.
This is underneath the arch in our living room. There are various things hanging off it, like a disco glitter ball, which I sometimes shine a torch at when music is playing. Then there’s a star that lights up and changes colour, a model of a usaf plane and an old cardboard mobile of the solar system, which is so old it still includes Pluto! Also luminous stars stuck on the underside of the arch.
USK Stoke-on-Trent challenge had pushed me with lots of prompts. I thought of looking underneath the table, or at the shed roof, or even ‘Underneath the canopy of stars’, but this was easier. I haven’t added a great deal of detail as it is a sketch.
X
Lying comfortably in the crook of his arm,
the tom cat lies sleeping,
cuddled up against his human dad.
Gently purring,
curled up and cute,
he is relaxed and happy.
Black and white fur,
white whiskers.
Just a twitch of his ears,
now and then.
A couple of weeks ago? A friend asked me to share details of a meeting against the lockdown and I refused. I thought it was a bad idea as its just an opportunity for the virus to start spreading again…
It now turns out that there have been calls all over the country for people to meet up. It looks like a peaceful protest… BUT it turns out the meetings are being organised by far right anti vaccination groups.
What worries me is that people will go.
The outcome may be: Hug, meet, die! Our health service is struggling. Why would you go and infect a stranger? People are asymptomatic and may not even be aware they are ill. Will all of them be wearing masks…? I doubt it.
Stay safe, don’t go to one of these meetings. Don’t be misled by right-wing agitators.
Door
Day 27
Usk Stoke-on-Trent challenge.
Friday 15th May 2020.
The choice of this door was basically because its our barrier to the world. It keeps out people, and keeps us in.
Only when the scientists say its safe to do so will I venture out without a mask.
So my Urban sketches stay indoors or inside the garden. This challenge has given me something to do each day. Keeping me calm, and mostly not winding me up!
It is funny how a snatch of music can sometime just spring into your mind. I was just thinking about the fish in my hubbies pond and if they will be OK because of the frosts we are getting.
I just remembered the phrase ‘fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly’ and ‘can’t help loving that man of mine’. I know I like the song, but I can’t remember the singer although I think I know the title! And is it from the opera Porgy and Bess? I might try and learn it.
I am normally an alto when I sing, although I have hardly done any singing recently. I miss choir practice and my friends. I was saying in a previous post I’m not that keen on people, and yet when I think of my friends… Perhaps it’s just strangers I don’t like?…..
Anyway. I might go and look up this song.
X
The door stands in the way. But I can hear people outside, running along the pavement, downhill, then up. A couple of car doors slam. An engine starts, quietly. I want to look out, but the door is firmly locked. It’s late. I could look out of the window, but that means parting the curtains, giving the game away.
A little later…. All is calm again, the mad thunder of feet has receded, I heard my bin lid thud down, but I’m not going to look. Possibly an old beer can? It’s happened before.
I don’t really like living with my front door on the pavement. I wish we had a front garden. There is a garden at the side of our house,iit’s ours, full of trees and bushes. Local people dump beer cans and fag packets in our hedge. Life, and people, have been quieter lately. But if I was put on a desert island I would be OK.
I spoke too soon, cars (with people in) crashing down their gears, rushing to get up the hill. Sometimes they seem to race each other.
If, and when the lockdown ends, I will have to get used to people again.
Jarring and jazzing,
my eyes ache and spark,
my neck aches and creaks.
Sore eyes,
tight band round my head,
travelling down to my shoulders.
Sleep won’t come easy,
the stress holds me tight,
I need to rest, I need sleep.
Early to bed, early to rise,
in the middle of the night,
then unable to rest,
Headache.
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