ANIMALS FOR OPUS GLUEI, AND TAKING A BREAK

- Jez

This reluctant lady was created some time ago, the cow collaged on to the pre-painted acrylic background and altered.  She is my entry for the current 'Animals' theme at Opus Gluei.

TAKING A BREAK

I've taken the easy route of using a past piece because I have decided that for the moment I feel it is necessary to take an enforced break, and my energy levels are close to nil.

- Jez

My current health problems are not resolved yet, and there are more blood tests and X-rays to come this week.  Added to that, Dev is undergoing lots of tests for what looks as though it could also be something rather serious.

So I am hoping to come back to Blogging as soon as I can but until then I shall try to visit and comment when (a) I am awake and (b) things are a little better.

Until then, I want you to know how much blogging, visiting, commenting and most of all your lovely comments have meant to me and have kept me going through some difficult times.  I'll be thinking of you.  
             - Jez

Linking to Order of the Opus Gluei, Paint Party Friday, Manon's Paper Saturdays

HOUSE - BLACK AND WHITE AND A POP COLOUR

I've managed one very simple, quick sketch which I am linking to three challenges - Opus Gluei and Art Journal Journey, and because I like black, white and red, I'm linking it as a second entry for So Artful.

Pitt Pens in black and red - Jez

NEW HOUSE FOR SALE

What would I want in a house that's new?

Some trees, a wide sky and space to roam.

But it's family, friends and a "Welcome to You"

That turns a house into a home.

                                                                                                                                                 - Jez

 Linking to Opus Gluei, Art Journal Journey, So Artful and Paper Saturdays.

BLACK AND WHITE FOR T.A.W., AND SO ARTFUL

One design to fit two challenges today:

Shapes in Black and White - Jez

The challenge from So Artful for June is 'Black and White', and this celebrates the time Dev and I went to see Stevie Wonder in the Birmingham NEC Arena - I think it was in 1984.  I have been reminiscing lately on great musical memories, and one of the highlights for us was seeing and hearing Stevie sing for a whole evening.

For Take a Word the theme is 'Shapes', and there are plenty of different shapes in this piece.

I have not been able to visit and comment as I normally love to 

because I am out of action and asleep much of the time.  

I do apologise, and will get back to see you and comment as soon as I can. 

Linking to Take a Word  and  So Artful Challenges

SKETCHBOOK - JUST A FEW MORE PAGES

Feeling a little better each day, but getting very little done except a few sketches for Paper, Paint, Pencils and Pens, where this fortnight's theme is 'Music and Musicians'.  As I am not getting out to see any musicians, I am concentrating on musical memories, which has been fun and the cause of a good deal of discussion and laughter in the family.

'Sparky and his Magic Piano'
Pitt Pen and Coloured Pencil - Jez

The Sparky records on the radio in about 1947 or 48 were my introduction to the wonderful music of Chopin, and to other classical music.  I had never heard anything like it, and fell in love with it.  Does anyone else remember Sparky and the piano that played the music for him?

Add caption

One day my younger daughter blew into her recorder.  A large earwig shot out of the other end, and she screeched in horror.  She just reminded me that I said sympathetically "Well, that shows you haven't been practising".  And that was the last note she ever played on a recorder.

Well, the sketch with its story tells you everything here.

The three of them, each with their own piano-accordion, took lessons together for a couple of years until their teacher married and moved away.  And they all moved on to different instruments.

Musical memories of seeing a special production of 'Madame Butterfly'.   

Linking to Paint Party Friday, Paper Saturdays

DETERMINED TO DO SOME CHALLENGES

I have missed taking part in challenges for the past couple of weeks so much, and so I am determined to make an effort today, even though it is an effort.

At Three Muses the challenge is 'Get Ahead, Get a Hat'.  Marilyn and Archibald had their photo taken specially to show off their new hats.  They assured the hat-maker that they were delighted with them, but somehow the photographer just didn't quite capture that emotion.  They either need a new milliner or a new photographer. ……. or both.

In the next picture the apple-cheeked lady is my offering for both Try it on Tuesday and Moo Mania.

Moo Mania asks for the use of corrugated cardboard.  I scanned the corrugated at an angle to give diagonal stripes and changed the colour to blue digitally, then added the green background digitally as well.  I then assembled the whole image on Photoshop.  She may not be able to tell her dots from her stripes, but still, she looks a happy lady.

And for Try it on Tuesday Dotty wanted to have her say on the subject of 'Feminine and Fancy'.  Dotty's always been a bit of a feminist who doesn't see why she has to wear frills, furbelows and feathers to show her femininity - and she's had 5 husbands and 12 children so it works for her!  She always likes to be a bit different from the rest, and I think she may well find that she achieves her aim in the TIOT Feminine and Fancy challenge.

Both the Hats card and the Dotty lady card were originally made to send to my dear friend Karen Isaacson at I am Rushmore a while ago, and I hope she will excuse me for re-using them for these challenges given the way I am feeling just now.

Linking to Three Muses, Try it on Tuesday, Moo Mania

SKETCHBOOK GLIMPSES, A FEW MORE PAGES

Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts and good wishes.  When she was not well my dear Mum always used to repeat 'Every day, in every way, I get better and better', and I follow her example.  There is power in positive thought.  And I also think of Frida Kahlo and her determination.

This was the last sketch I did before the pain hit me on Sunday 18th

Coloured pencil 

Normal creativity is beyond me just now, so I am sharing with you what I call 'real' sketchbook pages, rough drawings.  The following sketches were all done for Lynn Cohen's Paper, Paint, Pencils and Pens blog where artists share quick sketches to a theme - well worth looking at and joining, I love it.

You can see what I mean when I say these are 'rough sketches'.  The current theme on PPP&P is 'My Daily Life', and I was determined to do a very quick sketch almost every day.  It's amazing how focussing on drawing can mask pain for a while, though I was pretty-well zonked out anyway.

The first thing I always do every day when I get up is look at the sky.

When Dev got me up for early pill time I quickly sketched

the unusual cloud formation in coloured pencils.

My new digital radio, which helps to pass the time.

Dev had bought me a huge bunch of carnations.

I didn't think I'd be able to draw them

but I was very pleased with the result in coloured pencil.

With Dev's help in running errands to choose a few pieces of pre-gelliprinted papers for me,

scissors, glue, and anything else I suddenly needed,

I managed this simple collage of a Windmill Flower.

And finally, one of my silly doggerel doodles:

MRS MOPP

I brush, I mop, and then I clean,

Swipe away any dust that can actually be seen.

Stop for a drink, a ciggie and a rest,

I may not be good but I'm doin' me best.

When I've banished all the dust and fluff,

I'm all worn out, and I think I've done enough.

Just wash the windows, no more time,

Say I'm finished - and they'll think it's fine.

Just the one sketch a day was all the creativity I had energy for in one day, but it did me good.
I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into another of my many sketchbooks and I hope you are all well.

Linking to Paint Party Friday,  and Manon's Paper Saturdays

SKETCHBOOK PAGES

Cockerel
Coloured Pencil - Jez

It never rains but it pours, as they say.  Since Monday I have been in excruciating pain, which the doctor thinks is caused by crumbling of some bones in my lower spine - one of the joys of old age.
 X-Ray tomorrow.  At the moment I am zonked out with loads of pills.  Dev has me up for lunch and more pills.

Big Bird - Jez
Pastel Pencils on Pastel Paper

So I am posting three of my sketchbook pages that were all ready to post some time, and asking forgiveness for not visiting and commenting on your posts yet again.  I am so appreciative of the fact that you visit even if I have not been to you, and it means so much.

Art Materials - Jez
Pitt Pen and Watercolour

Back to bed now.  I hope that all of you are feeling well.

Linking to Paint Party Friday, and Manon's Paper Saturdays