New Years Eve

 Home alone, not counting my trusty companions. One sleeps through the noises from outside, while the other with sensitive ears like a bat, suffers when fireworks go off - or any other sudden loud noises. 

I am treating myself to some favorite entertainment.  A Dvd of Jeeves and Wooster is next on the program to be followed by The Inn of The Sixth Happiness,  a favorite old movie starring Ingrid Bergman.  

Before I start watching them, I watched an episode of The Hotel Inspector on You Tube.  I watched the first season ot two when it first showed in America on BBC years ago.    

As a person who has never traveled abroad it allowed me to peek into interesting B&bs and hotels mostly in England.  Many were poorly run by people following a dream,  but with no practical business sense.  They get lots of help and advice from The Hotel Inspector.   The first few seasons it was Ruth Watson.  Later years it is Alex Pelizi.   Alex has recently added more episodes  to You Tube and is cleaning up the naming and numbering system of the episodes  so it is  easier to follow them in order. 

By watching these episodes I feel like have had another travel adventure, often in charming little villages and seasides.   

I am going to get a little snack and settle in for the Dvds and comforting Lulu.  I am looking forward to the next year and have high hopes it will be better for all of us.   Be safe, be happy, a New Year holds promise.  

Distant Echoes - a paper collage with citrosolv

 

After sketching  this face to paint, I decided instead to do a torn paper collage.

Some time ago I created wonderful collage papers with National Geographic pages sprinkled  with Citrosolv.     CitroSolv website has directions and there are videos available on You Tube,  if you want to learn more about the process.   

I was determined to use only those papers but cheated by using a polka dot stenciled scrap from another project.     

LibriVox audio books

 When I am in the studio, or late at night, I enjoy having books read to me.   LibriVox is my choice.  Check their website. It is free and has a very full library of titles read by volunteers.  It also has books that are not free, but my taste runs to copyright free works from early 20th century, or mid  to late 19th century.  These are usually free.  

My obsession with it started with Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson read by Martin Clifton.   This book takes place in a small English coastal village.  Mr Clifton reads beautifully I love his English accent.    E. F. Benson is a favorite author.  I downloaded it to computer years ago.   Now I use my tablet so it can be carried to wherever I want to listen. Even working in the garden.   

My choices of LibriVox books fall into three major categories.  Free. Light hearted humor.  Good reader.    

Today I finished The Indiscretions of Archie by P.G. Wodehouse.  It was read by Mark Nelson, an excellent American reader who is a fan of Wodehouse but reads mainly Sci Fi books.   As much as I like Marks reading,  I will not be listening to those.  LOL. Instead I will be moving on to Love Among the Chickens by Wodehouse, which Mark says is his favorite Wodehouse book. .   It checks all my boxes, and I love chickens.   I'm looking forward to it. 

I recommend it highly.  I invite you to join me in a good book. 

Facing a new day

 

I made a sibling for a face I did awhile back.   She is ready to face the future, whatever it may bring.   

A new face on the block.

 This guy looks as though he needs a friend.  So in the stack of abstract faces he goes.   What an unlikely bunch of characters are there now.  

A little whimsey.

 Joining my collection of painted toilet paper cores, are these little gnomes

I painted this morning. 

Joe Biden won again. And an abstract face.

 So today was the day electoral college cast votes state by state.  And of course the results were that the Biden/Harris democratic ticket won the election. Right up to the day Trump was filing unfounded lawsuits to upturn the election.    

Step by step.  More formalities ahead before it is finalized and the nation will have a new president and vice president.   Trump is spending his time rallying for funds to fight this and to run again in 4 years.

In the meantime I continue the abstract faces series.

And all around the house....

 

Tis the season....

 The other morning, awakening too early to crawl out of bed, I amused myself by checking out You Tube videos.   Their algorithms  suggested a video on felted gnomes.   I watched and was hooked.  I had the tools and supplies that I have not touched since the end of last year.       Here are some of my new creations which are going to grace my holiday decor.  

The tiny gnome is needle felted, as are the ones below. 

Sign of the times

 The pandemic is rampaging the world.  Scientits say if we would all wear masks,  practice social distancing and wash our hands frequently, we could get it under control much sooner.   

  I gave another painting of a masked woman away this week.    To a favorite shop in Lodi, which I entered warily. Finding the owner alone, and masked I enjoyed several minutes looking around.    I purchased a cloche as a Christmas decoration, and gave her a painting.     I am sure she will have it on display in the shop.    

This is a new one.

Showing our faces in public.

 I am so accustomed to face masks now during this pandemic... I often do not wear lipstick.   No one will see it anyway.   But my abstract faces are right out there.  Mouths and noses exposed.   

When I draw the face, usually I start with outer shape. Then the nose.  Then eyes and last the mouth.   Then I divide the face up into sections where the colors and patterns can be used.  

These are jolly fun to do.   Even the drawing part is fun, but when the colors are introduced, WOW!  I hope you are enjoying seeing them as much as I love painting them.

Abstract face on pink

I loved the red hair and decided pink stain over the collaged background would suit this one.  

Wild Woman. Abstract face

 Happy Thanksgiving, friends.   Heres a new one.  Love the wild hair.   

Facing the Future

It has been nearly 3 weeks, and Pres. Trump has not conceded the election that he lost by millions of votes to Joe Biden.   He is trying every trick and lawsuits galore that are being thrown out of court due to lack of evidence.  He demanded recounts in many key states, and the results got him nowhere.  He lost.  

We wait and watch. 

Abstract face on red

 After that mess of confetti background....I decided to simplify this one and just scribbled faux writing on background. The image is so strong and colorful it needed the brilliant red behind it. I finished it off with some fine ink lines. 

Abstract face grey

 I am not a fan of grey, but I had this black and white collage background and thought I would try a monochromatic central image with a few highlights. 

What happened?  I didnt like the face against the background so I confettied the background.  The eyelids are metallic silver but it doesnt show here. 

Abstract faces , more new ones

 I have not run  out of ideas yet, so will continue this series.  Part of the fun is sketching and dividing up a simple face into color blocks.  Then there is the challenge of the backgrounds.  No holds barred. Paint and collage, or both.  Selecting a color palette and finally painting.     There are many shapes of eyes, or noses, or faces.  I like the vary them. I think variety is so much more interesting than symetrical when drawing a face.   

At the end I look to see if anything else like stripes or line work that might improve it or punch it up.  Sometimes I need to adjust a color, or a shape.   

Here are some samples. 

Let there be peace

 

Copyright Janene Ford, 2020

Back when I was painting a series of Koi paintings, the Carving Consortium put out a challenge to carve something representing Peace.  I sketched this in pencil on a post it pad which I planned to transfer to rubber to carve and make a stamp.   But my paints were still out on my work table and there was one canvas already gessoed so I decided to paint it first.  

Then the election campaign frenzy began and I was more and more inclined to paint it as a symbol of society, with a mix of colors and ethnicities.    I decided to show it now.   I think it would be a grand image to use on pillows, sweatshirts, decals,  quilts, etc.   I scoured the internet to see whether I could find this image elsewhere, and I could not.    

If you would like permission to use it, please email me at queenoftweaks@gmail.com

Yahoo sucks.

 Yahoo in all their dealings more recently, is a nightmare.  Now they have decided to end all groups on December 15, 2020.  Well, thank you so much.  No notifications to group owners and moderators.    

 Earlier they destroyed our archives by  erasing 😡all our saved contents, photos, links, files, address lists, polls etc. The things that made it such a special, friendly place to form and service groups.  

I guess they didnt make any money off of us, so we are redundant.   You would think they would do us the courtesy of a message.     It does not seem to me that its a good business practice to alienate former members and users of their services. 

Good bye Yahoo.  

Speaking of paper...

 I never had a good budget for papers, and raised to be thrifty (cheapscape).  Aaron Brothers carried the Strathmore pads and before the beginning of the school year they had their best sales.  I stocked up every year, expecting I would be poor as a churchmouse after retirement and would not be able to purchase the art supplies I would need.   Well, I have been retired for 16 years.  And I finally brought in the last 2 watercolor pads from my art storage shed.   My grandkids had access to them too, so its a wonder my stockpile lasted so long.

In a shopping feeding frenzy following some workshop or tutorial, I ordered really good watercolor paper.  Full sheets, heavy duty stuff.  My friends all ordered at the same time, I just got caught up in it.  But I never used it.  Never took it out of the shipping box.  Probably 6 or 8 sheets.    Whatever project we were all going to do together, never got done.  I think we were into book making way back then.

Over the years I forgot about them. I would see the box and for some reason had it in my head that they were inherited from my Aunt Verna Mae.   Then one day I brought out the box and found my address and name on  the address label. Shocking. 

When I started painting in watercolor I had only used the Strathmore pads, I knew what to do with them, but I was totally intimidated by the expensive paper.  My dear friend Jean who teaches watercolor urged me for years to use really good paper.   I just could not bring myself to do it.

Early during the pandemic we were chatting on the phone and she mentioned she was reusing the backs of some of her earlier paintings as she was out of paper and needed to place an order. I was inspired to go right out to the shed and grab that box of paper, drive over and drop it off with her.    I cant tell you what satisfaction I got from gifting them to her. They were like a millstone around my neck.    She is professional and only uses the best supplies.   And she was thrilled to get them.  I cant wait to see what new works she will create with them. 

Now with the pandemic and difficulties getting supplies, prices are higher than they were.  We sedom get 50 percent off coupons at local stores, or even 40% off.   I was happy to find these new pads on Amazon at such a bargain price.  Cheap, cheap, cheap.      What can I say?  I bought 6 pads. Lol

Abstract faces. The collection growsl

 These three were done since last Friday. The top one is my new favorite.  The collage was done using vintage style papers, and in my fav vintage colors.    I wasnt sure an abstract subject would work on this background so I was pleasantly surprised to see it did.    The bottom one has eyes that were part of a tissue paper that came wrapping a birthday present.  I didnt see any reason to define eyes beyond that.   The neck background was dyed with the shaving creme and ink technique a few years ago.   Using up older scraps is a good thing. 

Background starters for abstract faces

 

Collage is first step on for these faces on watercolor paper. Cheap paper but sturdy enough. I had already sketched faces in the Canson XL pad, 9 x 12.  ( got a good deal on Amazon. 30 sheets for under 6 dollars.)   Most of the background papers are tissue so thet glue on quickly and securely.   That lime green was from a post it note pad on my work table.  I like the pop of color.  We will see how they look once I paint over this.     

Abstract face and politics

 I drew these Friday, and painted them this weekend.  The Posca pens are great for line work.  I dont have a steady enough hand to use a fine tip brush any more.   I am enjoying this series. I can draw in the evening and paint during the day.   Right now we are having a cold snap. A week ago it was hot.   One of my dogs is curled up next to me nursing an injured foot, while the other one is on the elevated footrest of the recliner snuggled up against my feet.    

Its Sunday evening.    Things seem pretty calm now, although of course President Trump is thumping his chest and bellowing about being cheated,  and demanding investigations and recounts.    Biden won by a wide enough margin that the results should stand.    This is what we expected. Biden calling for patience and calm while Trump is trying to incite his followers to take actions.   

For months I watched videos on You Tube of Republicans voting Against Trump.  It gave me hope as they each explained what caused them to turn away from the Trump ticket.   Now I miss these videos.  Viewers could leave comments to the person who posted, and I often did that.  A lot of retired military,  some young voters, men and women of all ages.   I was very touched and encouraged by this peaceful  grass roots movement.  

Trump will remain in office until Biden is sworn in in January.  You can bet Trump will try to reek revenge and step up his agenda forcing things through the senate and making presidental orders to suit himself.  He is trying to erase anything Obama put in place.    It will be rocky.  I am sure his tweets and stoking the fires under his supporters will get nastier between now and then.   He is not known for fair play or graciousness. He is a racist bully.    

Abstract faces series.

 

I used an odd sized piece of paper and didnt have a mat to fit, so it is wrapped around an oatmeal box stitched together in back. 

Art apron

 This is my grungy art apron.  I finally decided to make it look better....    

Biden now President Elect

 Yayyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!! 

Waiting for election results.

Dang.   Wish it was over.   Counts favor Biden, but some races are very close.  In this election, indeed every vote did count.   I expect vote counting will be done today.  

Trump is holed up with his eye on the news, his fingers on twitter messages he is sending out proclaiming he has been cheated.    He has a raft of lawyers standing by ready to take this to Supreme Court with a bag of tricks and loopholes and maneuvers, like the spoiled rich child he is.   I am so tired of his tantrums and lies.    

Meanwhile Biden is telling us to be patient and safe.   

Abstract faces

 I am replenishing my stockpile of abstract faces by painting a new batch.  Awhile back I drew all these faces in a sketchbook.  A couple friends came over for a chat and show and tell.   The abstract faces which were matted and packaged in clear bags were a hit.    I am not showing my work in galleries currently, so I said, if you like them you can have them.     So they helped themselves.  It felt so good to see my art going on to new homes.   This was Barbaras number one choice.   

 I am glad I had already taken a picture or I would not have turned loose of her.    So I am sharing it with you.   I think I gave away 8 paintings last week.   Yay.  And sent another 8 paintings done during the pandemic to Nevada for my family there.   Koi, florals, and a couple I painted in their bedroom colors. 

Yesterday i set up my painting area in dining room again, as we are having a cold snap and its more comfortable to paint there.  I started a couple more abstract faces, and have three more sketched on collaged backgrounds.     It will be fun to see how they turn out.   

Give me strength - news

 It is 7 in the morning. I have not heard the news since early  last evening.  I purposely avoided tv, choosing instead to watch a dvd, and then listening to an audio book on Librivox.    

The votes for president are closer than I would wish.  Biden was ahead in electoral college as of last night but as more votes are counted some key states swing back and forth.  Trump gave a long angry interview full of lies and paranoia, intent on fighting it out in the courts.   Many think this was his plan months ago, sowing distrust in the voting system and particularly in mail in voting.  

Of course mail in voting is the safest way to vote during the pandemic.  But Trump urged his own followers to vote in person. He is contesting the mail in votes and ordered them stopped, but a judge ruled that they must be counted.   Many democrats voted safely by mail in ballits. It was advised, and in fact encouraged by governors and scientists.   Standing in long  lines of  people, sometimes feeling threatened by Trumps goon squads waving signs and shouting, would be threatening to me... 

So, soon I will turn on the news and hear what transpired overnight.  Biden has made several pleas for people to remain calm while we await results.   We need calm.  We dont need violence and turmoil.   

 This is Friday. The election was Tuesday.    It may be another day or even more to record all the votes.  Tension is high, none more aggitated than Trump himself with his speeches and twitters that apparently he sends out at all hours as the mood strikes.     

The world is watching us.   Let us pray we can proceed with dignity and eventual unity.    

Meanwhile here in America the pandemic rages on, as in  many other countries, in fact most.  Several European countries have reinstituted lock down measures for several weeks to try to stop the spread.  All economies are suffering, and lives are lost.   

Let us pray for patience and calm. Let us live wisely and safely, and protect our families and those we are in contact with.  

Today feels like first day of winter. I hear my windchimes outside, there is a chill in the air.  Its sweater weather.  Daytime temeratures dropped 20 degrees.     

Torn paper collage + bird

 

I added more fruit, changed the table height and added a scribbled bird since I first posted this.    These are scraps from magazines. Mostly advertizing . The colors are so rich and vibrant.     

Election Day

I have avoided listening or watching news or election coverage all day.     I am way too emotionally involved in this election.  I was in the last presidential  election as well.  But in that case the polls and early votes made me comfortable enough to go to bed for a good nights sleep.   Believing no sane nation would elect a lying, cheating, braggadocious buffoon.  

When I awoke in the morning, i turned on the news to learn, in fact that is what happened.  At first I thought it was a joke, it was so unreal.   I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.  We new Trump was not really a successful business man, he had many bankruptcies in his past. He displays no moral values that we can respect.   Trump is a con man, reality show personality.  Dont we deserve better than that?  He is a liar, cheats on all his wives, cant give a decent speech, and is borderline illiterate.   He is a racist and panders to the white supremeists.   Why would people vote for him ?  They didnt want Hilary Clinton as president.    

It may take days or weeks to finish counting votes, so there may not be an annoucement in the morning.   The country is so divided there is likely to be violence.  Trump supporters are often armed.   Scary.    I am burying myself in my art work until there is a resolution, whatever it may be.    

Hitchhikers

My little vagabond picked up a couple of hitchhikers.    Scraps on work table.  Lol

Let's talk pandemic.

 And politics.   Today is the first of November.   Tuesday  is election day.     Months of isolation for many.   Sickness and death for thousands.   Families grieving.  People living with fear or denial.  What a choice.  

Right from the start of this pandemic, President Trump lied to the people and tried to cover up the danger it posed to our citizens.   Scientists put to the test. This is a new virus. Covid 19 is what we call it.   It is our enemy.      But one we could have been better prepared for had the President followed the advice of scientists.

History will record the progression of the disease and the political responses on both sides of the aisle.  The body count outweighs all the wars we have fought.   

Now we are voting.  Mask or no mask? Science or false hope?  Regulations to protect environment, or widespread pollution? Moral values or con man?  

I voted early by mail. In California there is a tracking system for vote by mail votes.  I tracked it to Registrars office, then phoned to check it had been counted.    Yay.   It worked.   Republicans were putting up non official ballot boxes in cities in California.   Heaven only knows what they do with the ballots deposited there.    

There are a number of legitimate but bizarre ballot box locations in town.  The Ford dealership, a coffee shop, a health food store, a beauty parlor, etc.  I have no idea how those sites were selected, but in my paranoia i didnt trust any of them, and relied on the mail drop box at the post office.

Politics is dividing our country, and even families. Sides are drawn.   It is awkward and distressing.   Some are not seeing friends on the "other side" because we are all so passionately invested in this election.   I hope we can come together again later.   Many people are talking about leaving  the country if their side does not win.   

Meanwhile, life goes on. I am still in modified isolation.  I have only been to 4 businesses since March.  I pick up my groceries and occasional art supplies at drive up, pick up places.  Or my son who believes he has had this virus in late June, shops for things I cant get otherwise and delivers them to me.  

His own family is pretty casual about this pandemic. It worries me.  Greatly. They shop, go to parties, travel, etc.  They are living a nearly normal life.   We are on different sides of the aisle

politically and our lifestyles reflect that.  We DO NOT TALK ABOUT POLITICS.  It is too stressful.  And we understand we wont convert.   I hate this.  

I spend a fair amount of time watching CNN and watching You Tube.  There I found a group Republicans voting against Trump.  I read the comments made by regular people and it gives me hope to hear what changed their vote.  I often leave comments in response.  

I hope the election will go my way, and a new administration with policies based on sciences will set us on a better path for the future. 🙏🙏🙏

Where are we going from here?

 In these troubled times with political angst from all directions, people are threatening to leave the U.S. if their candidate does not win.     I for one would be happy to see many of the other side pack up and go, but there are others that I love, just dont agree with.     If they did all leave, who would take them in?  Who wants them?  

So, I picked up my paint brush and painted a traveler, not knowing where to go. Just headed out to sea.   Wherever the winds blow.....

Masked ladies

 I am continuing this series, and gifting them to favorite small businesses during pandemic.    I may not be bringing them much business or income, but I can let them know they are appreciated.  Stay well everyone.   

Seagull in flight 1

 First in series. 

Torn paper collage

 This is my latest torn paper collage.   I found a sketch in an old sketchbook that I did years ago.     I collaged right over top of it.  

An odd thing happened while adding the sun overlays.  The little red streaks on the marigold yellow paper happened by chance.  If my Elmers glue stick brushed against the yellow paper it dyed the paper.  Took me awhile to figure this out.  But I like the touch of red.     It has to be the paper scraps i was using, as gle had no "special" effect on anything else.      

Koi pond w lily pads, collage

 This torn paper collage looks like stained glass with the brilliant colors and black outlines.    It is my new favorite.  All papers are from magazines, mostly advertising.   

Village in collage

 This piece was an interesting experiment.  It started in watercolor and then was overlaid with collage papers that were dyed with inks, acrylics and other papers.   

October 2020

 It is what it is.       Gifted to neighbor who is starting to dig out fall decorations.