Portrait artist competition

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The Sky portrait artist of the year competition is on. Its not something I would do, but I did a quick forty minute sketch of the sitter, Rankin, to see how I could do. Working with a 0.5 unipin ink pen. Not too bad a likeness. I think I’ve got his nose too long and his eyes are a bit small…. But it’s good to practice.

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Using a new app.

The original sketch, with a bit of colour added, I did cat like eyes, added some gold glitter.

Then I used an app a friend recommended called photo director.

I was able to clone a section of the drawing and add a layer of old paint. I think I’m going to like using the app. It’s a bit hit and miss at the moment, but I’m learning all the time…

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Staring at me…

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Lined up, their beady eyes staring at me..

Two owls, mock leather and fake jewels. They sit on the sofa and look back at me. Is there a glint if evil in their eyes. If I fall asleep, will there be a great flapping of wings? Will they peck my face?

They are mocking me, watching me, sitting ready to pounce once I have closed my eyes. I just know it. Nightmares fastening their claws into my arms. Beaks ready to stab at my ears, eyes and mouth.

I remember being paralysed by the fear of them. Black and gold feathers brushing my hands. Their talons raking my veins, tangling in my hair.

How can I escape their gaze. Looking back at me. My reflection in their eyes? I want safety. Instead I may be trapped inside them, in their black lined guts. Lost forever in their gaze.

Love, today’s challenge, day 22.

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He loves his tractors, I love him, I’m not sure I love his hair.

I just realised how long my hubby’s hair is getting. If I cut it will he be like Sampson and lose his strength? Should I put it in a pony tail? He does have the look of a mad professor!

Anyway I did this one early, I’m usually a lot later doing a sketch for our Stoke Urban Sketchers challenge, but the prompt was love. My hubby was a good model, and including the tractor calendar just worked. If you look the little drawing above the bowl on the wall is meant to be me sketching. My friend did a caracature of me and its on the wall there. X

Be the moon…

Turn yourself into the moon! With a toilet roll. My friends in Australia are doing this. Third one I added some dots for stars and sprayed black around the third on in a sketcher app.

Funny how you can create things so simply. I found the most difficult thing was to line it up, I took a few photos and on a lot of them I could see the blue paintwork in our bathroom. Plus it’s exposing my face to the world! Don’t laugh too much!

Thunder and lightening

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This was the cloud

that rattled the windows,

drowned out birdsong

made my hubby swear in surprise.

 

This is the cloud

I tried to film

Flashes and rumbles

Forked lightening

Heavy rain it brings.

 

This was the cloud

That the blackbird sang to,

dueting the flashes

overwhelmed by thunder

liquid notes flying up to heaven,

rain falling in response.

 

 

Today’s challenge was ‘busy’

Today’s drawing session, these are for my Urban Sketchers Stoke-on-Trent daily challenge. I thought I would share them, I was planting up pots and trying to tidy up, plus attacking the ivy that’s taken over the garden. Finally had a beer with my hubby and then came round onto the back yard to listen to the blackbird singing on the chimney tops. That was wonderful. So melodious

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Yesterday, VE day…

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In other parts of the city there have apparently been large congregations of people, playing house music late into the night to celebrate VE day. People are so badly informed and they are clearly not thinking about social distancing and their own and their families safety.

But it’s been all quiet down our street for most of the day and evening.

However the people round the back of our house had an argument earlier on. My hubby could hear them (and he’s very deaf). I was inside so didn’t hear it. I’m wondering if we should have rung the police. It’s worrying what is going on behind closed doors.

I wanted to avoid VE day. There were so many deaths, so much sadness as well as the rejoicing.

I think lockdown needs to continue. We need to take it seriously. And don’t start me on Brexit!

Green spirals

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I want green, spirals, like pangolin scales. Cactus or succulent, indoor beauty. I wish I could get some more plants. One of ours on the upstairs window sill has sent out a flower spike. If it doesn’t get broken by the cats I will take a photo of it.

I have lots of baby money plants, and the one outside has survived the winter. But I’d like something more exciting.

I’m tending my orchids. One regularly flowers, the middle one got a flower spike on it for about three weeks, and the last one has tiny green leaves which were hiding under a couple of dead leaves.

Then my four amaryllis plants had only one flower this winter.

I love growing greenery inside and outside the house.

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