New paintings and regular art updates.
This face
was chasing a spider,
five minutes ago.
This face
stole the beef
off my sandwich
this face
pushes her nose
in my face
when I’m sleeping,
pushes her paws
under the bedsheets.
Beware the claw!
This face
loves my knees,
that’s why
she reaches up
and puts her claws in them.
This face,
so bright, so cute, so sweet!
Hmm…. Apologies for using this image, but it just points out that even people who should know the rules can make mistakes. I wonder why they are not wearing masks, and why they are so close? Are they related? Have they been sharing a ‘bubble’? Did the photographer usher them together to fit them in the photo? This is the leader of our local council, if she does not follow the rules why should her electorate? Or should we ignore her example and follow the rules? I think so!
I was really looking forward to going back to our Orme Art Group, which is meeting for the first time in months. I was only going for the afternoon, but I was going to start doing something new. Then government decided to impose Tier two restrictions in our area. Most of the group will still be in Tier One but not me. Oh well, I have to admit I was a bit nervous of seeing people inside for the first time in months (and yet I’m happy to go shopping). Its strange how this pandemic can affect your confidence.
Maybe one day things can get back to normal, I can see my friends again. I can paint with them, spark new ideas, have fun. Do workshops learning new techniques.
Fingers crossed
X
The poppy appeal this year won’t be able to do door to door collections, the Royal British Legion are urging people to download printable poppies or order them on line. I don’t have the link to their site but I’m sure there are more details available. As with the NHS earlier in the year they are asking people to put pictures in their windows, in this case a picture of a poppy. I will print a copy of this and put it in our window and send them a donation. Poppies have been the symbol of remembrance since the end of the First World War over 100 years ago in 1918. Lest we Forget.
Across the tracks
A year ago
The trees had changed
The wind did blow
Leaves on the line
Stopped the train
No steam appears
On time or later
When fallen leaves
Cause a layer
Of mulched and damp
Leaf shaped litter.
It’s starting, the transformation. Our outdoor cat is coming in for meals, sniffing noses with the other cats. He then yowls to be let out. But at least he can get warm if he wants. The others, indoor cats, are tolerating him. I think they need to start going out but I’m worried they will get lost. It all takes time.
In fact the outdoor cat has started rubbing round my legs and accepting a head scratch. He’s off again now, put into the night, but he had a shed he can sleep in. A cat bed, and an old jacket for warmth.
X
We have won the last three quizzes, once by one point, then in a tie break (knowing the length of the coast of Australia) and last time by half a point.
I feel the luck must run out soon. Will there be more questions about Flanders and Swann songs, or the method of measurement for horses?
What weird questions will come up this time? The maximum length of a boa constrictor, who played James Bond in Moonraker, how many gills in a quart, what chemicals are in quartz, who was in the band the Bay City Rollers? Who can tell…..
Wish us luck!
A couple of small paintings I did about three years ago, acrylics on canvas, sorry the colours are off. I liked trying to get the perspective on the window, and the splash of the fountain and the ripples in the water.
A fellow blogger mentioned Pareidolia today because he noticed he could see a face in a piece of lichen. Of course I then had to look back over my recent photos to see if I could find anything that looked like a face?
I’m one of those people that see faces in everything. I had to get rid of my shower curtain as I could see five or six bubble faces in it which was quite disturbing! I wondered if the designer had done it deliberately!
When I was a child I would often lie on the grass and looked up at cloud faces and animals, elephants chasing camels across the sky….
I might write a poem about that….
I’ve recently been commissioned to do a large family portrait for a friend of a friend, but I’m concerned about what they want to pay for it? They also sent me a great many photos in different conditions with lots of different groups of people on them. The problem is I can’t make a coherent image or composition using them.
I replied ‘That’s twelve portraits for £50?, it would have to be a small painting or a watercolour. Please can you choose the best photos that I can work from. I will do it but it will take a while. Possibly a couple of hours per portrait which works out at a cost of £4 per portrait or £2 per hour. I would normally charge £50 (normally £60) for one portrait, but I understand you might not be able to afford any more and I don’t want to ask too much. I want to do a good job for you and as you have already got a couple of my paintings I will consider only asking for a small amount for the painting. But please can you choose the twelve images you prefer as then I won’t get it wrong. “
I want to paint for people, but I don’t think they realise the work that goes into things. I would Never overcharge, but on the other hand I’d like to be paid at least the minimum wage for it!
How would you respond? Should I have questioned the request or refused it?
Note * I’m now just doing a very small painting, but I do wish people understood how hard it is to paint something like this, it’s not a snap!
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