Lipstick, I haven’t worn any for years! Still I can take a photo of my lips and draw them. I have dark salmon pink and gold felt pens and I do remember what a lipstick looks like… So this is my effort. And no I wouldn’t wear bright red x
For the first time in months I went to sing with the Loud Mouth Women choir. Covid fears and a pulled calf muscle has stopped me. I had to admit I’ve been scared of mixing. But I went, and I felt a bit better in myself afterwards. You don’t realise how depressed you are getting until you force yourself to do things, but I did it. It’s cheered me up. It was the last choir practice this year and we sang some Christmas songs. Glad I went.
Shall I buy this cute little stone dragon? Not at THAT price! Do you think I’m made of money? What about the coal it would cost to feed it? And its asleep now but what happens when it wakes up, sneezes, and burns my shoes or the bottom of my coat? I mean he’s really CUTE, don’t you just want to go ahhhh or oooo? I know I do. And what about (whispers) toileting? Can you get a dragon litter tray? Plastic would not do, too caustic……would need stainless steel. Then there’s the vets… innoculations, how do they inject through a stone hide? Something to think about.. I mean, are dragons prone to scale beetle, carbon cough, wing itch? Your guess is as good as mine… What do they drink? water- or lamp oil? I think I will go for a Gargoyle instead. Stick it on the roof and it will be happy drinking rain water and watching birds fly by…
Before and after, the local Christmas lights switch on at the top of our hill. Everyone counted down and then… The gentle lights came up on the Christmas tree. Not overwhelming but restrained and pretty. We ate a mince pie that were being handed out. The local brass band played the carols and people sang along. As the Carol service continued children took their places as characters in the nativity. Two tiny. Little girls were the angels and there was a flock of shepherd’s. Well done to the organisers who created a warm welcome despite covid. X
Material, easle, sketchbook, collages together to make a pattern. Then I’ve used an app to multiply and twist it. The funny thing is I see figures in the dark patches. Like they are standing inside a dark cavernous structure. Because I started with a photo of overlapping things it gives the resulting pattern a three dimensional look. Almost like architecture.
I placed this skull inside a roll of sellotape to give an idea of scale. It’s sitting on an A6 sketchbook. I think we found it on a walk about ten years ago. I think it’s a rodents skull but the jaw is missing. I have it in my office room and use it when I want to do a still life (death)… A memento mori?
What is death, what happens when we die. To be left as just the bones. Oh sorry, getting a bit maudlin.
At this time of year wild birds need food. But sadly some of them are suffering from Bird Flu. It’s hard to know which ones are ill unless they display odd behaviour. I’m not sure what you should do, but we regularly go to our local Staffordshire Wildlife centre so I think it’s best to ask them for advice.
There are so many viruses around these days, including Swine Flu, Sars, Mers and other illnesses. I think if there is a vaccination against the ones that harm humans they should be used. Not just for rich countries, but for everyone. Rich or Poor. But we should also take care of wildlife. There is too much harm in the world. We need to find a balance.