‘Underneath’ day 28 usk challenge.

Posted on May 16, 2020May 16, 2020 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Art, Blogging, Day 28 usk challenge, Drawing, Glitter ball, Life, Mobiles, Sketching, Staffordshire, Usk challenge, Usk Stoke-on-Trent2 Comments

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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.

Sonnets

Posted on May 14, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Blogging, Digital drawing, Inspiration, Instagram, Life, Next generation, Patrick Stewart, Shakespeare, Sketchfu, Sonnets, Star TrekLeave a comment

Digital drawing of Partick Stewart as captain Picard from Star Trek. Drawn on the sketchfu app a few years ago. I was quite pleased with the result.

I’m currently watching Partick Stewart read Shakespeare’s sonnets on Instagram. He is reading them from lockdown, and I think he is on sonnet 54.

I love his voice, it is so impressive, I think it has ‘gravitas’ and he has a thoughtful way of putting the words across. When I’ve had a stressful day his reading calms me down.

I do not know the sonnets, I’m hearing them all with a fresh ear. I don’t have expectations of how they should sound. Listening is like a meditation.

Saving an economy?

Posted on May 13, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blogging, economy, Environment, Greed, Green growth, HS2, Life, Thinking, Time, Trident2 Comments

IMG_20200416_154522_428 What is life worth? when will we see the green shoots of growth?

I’ve seen discussions on line to cancel the trident nuclear deterrent and maybe HS2, which is a high speed railway line that could take you from Leeds to London twenty minutes faster. These are huge projects in Britain that have been voted for by the government. But surely we should spend the money we have on improving the environment? Think about it. After all, people can hold on line meetings now instead of commuting. The work day could be 9 till 5, no more early starts and late finishes because of travelling to work and kids will get to see more of their parents. And why would we want to bomb people? The virus is causing enough deaths as it is.

When you think about it, the world has had a chance to rest. So instead of going back to normal, chasing greed and growth, let’s give ourselves a chance and a rest.

Usk challenge, day 25, ‘dizzy’…

Posted on May 13, 2020May 13, 2020 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged #uskstoke, Art, Bathroom, Dizzy, Drawing, Fun, Humour, Life, Sketching, Spinning, Usk challenge Stoke-on-TrentLeave a comment

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Dizzy? How do you draw that? I spun round in the bathroom and then decided to do a panoramic drawing. Only one object missing (lol).

I was trying to think about how to depict dizzy, I almost tried to add a bit of blurring, like motion blur. But that wouldn’t be true to life. I could also have drawn our dizzying array of books. But I think people already know about that. So to the tune of ‘you spin me, baby, right round’, I will pinwheel into the distance, byeeee!

Staring at me…

Posted on May 10, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged A bit of horror, Beak, Creative writing, Fake leather, Handbags, Life, Mick jewels, Owls, Story, Very short story, WingsLeave a comment

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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.

Today’s challenge was ‘busy’

Posted on May 9, 2020 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged #uskstoke, Art, Bird, Blackbird, Drawing, Gardening, Life, Sketch, Sketching, Tidying, Usk Stoke-on-Trent, Working4 Comments

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

Yesterday, VE day…

Posted on May 9, 2020May 9, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged 75 years ago, Blogging, Celebrations, Commiserations, Life, Memorial, Memories, Random, The world, Thoughts, Time, VE dayLeave a comment

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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!

In six months…

Posted on May 8, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Autumn, Blogging, Future, Imagination, Life, Poem, Poetry, Six monthsLeave a comment

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It will be Autumn again.

The leaves will be turning.

The world will have changed.

Life may resume.

We will find out,

if the tragedy is over,

or only just begun?

Flowers will be dead and gone,

Fruit will be picked.

Cats will be snoozing.

Lives will be missed.

Everyone who stayed alive

Will thank their lucky stars.

Realise they have survived.

Through the virus wars.

Dragon in my sketchbook?

Posted on May 8, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Blogging, Design, Doodle, Dragon, Drawing, Life, Playing, Random, SketchLeave a comment

The dragon flew into my sketchpad from my imagination tonight. I was watching a series called Merlin on TV and it just sort of happened. The purple ink pen went a bit splodgy.

The world is still in lockdown. People want to escape but its not safe. So playing with glitter glue, ink pen and felt pens is just taking my mind off it. Then edited it to a negative image to be a bit different.

Tension

Posted on May 7, 2020May 7, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged corona virus, Fighting, Life, Pain, Pandemic, Poem, Poetry, Strength, tension, Time, Virus4 Comments

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I wake on a cliff edge.

Teetering, tottering..

Tension racks my shoulders

Stiff, creaking joints.

Sleep does not touch the tightness.

I feel like bones will break.

Mentally I’m OK,

Physically I’m OK

But my mind is tying my body in knots.

Spine fused with tension.

Like a gathering storm.

Waves waiting to break,

Teeth ground to sand.

Life fights.

Thunder clashes overhead.

Will I fall?

Will I stand.

Still.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Life