29 faces face 4

Wow, I kinda forgot how much work it is to produce a face every day and also post about it. It makes me realize how often a day goes by without me doing any art. Just life getting in the way, and this past week it got in the way big time. School started again, I had a ton of paperwork to do, the kids needed all kinds of things for school, and this week was also my most favorite bookfair of the year, where I spent a whole day browsing tons of books. I'm actually amazed that I managed to get 4 faces done!

This face #4 is a page in one of my journals that has been there for ages. I had glued some magazine-pictures on there, and the paper buckled and it looked ugly, so I ripped it off again, part of it stayed stuck, I put some leftover paint on there and then just left it. For months and months. But while I was looking through my book to find a page that I could put a face on, I saw a face in the smears of paint. This is how it looked:

So I decided to work on this page, and that's how face #4 emerged:

With her wild hair she reminds me of a woman from a faraway country, and with the whole tragedy today of refugees trying to escape war in their home-country, I thought the lyrics of Natalie Merchants' song "Motherland" fitted her well. I love this song, but never really understood what it stands for, but this is what Natalie Merchant is saying about it herself: "the song is a desperate plea for innocence, to be 'faceless, nameless, innocent, blameless and free,' expresses a craving we all share now for the world we took for granted and lost. Suddenly there seems to be no hiding from our past as a nation or our present, or our future. For me it's the death of nostalgia and dreams."

Kind of depressing, but isn't the whole situation depressing? People having to leave everything behind and embarking on a dangerous journey where too many people die, trying to escape violence and cruelty, fleeing to countries where they are seen as a burden, where they are not welcome. Wanting nothing more than staying in their own country with their own people. Pictures of the refugees, seeing the despair on their faces, carve in my soul and tear at my heart. And I'm not even speaking about the picture of the little boy that drowned. I don't even have words for that.

Anyway, don't want to get too heavy in this post, so I'll just show the other faces I did this week:

Face #1: I'm finally starting to use my Stabilo-all pencil. Still have to get used to it, but it's handy when you don't have much time ;-)

Face #2: coloured pencils experiment

Face #3: quick sketch

That's it for now. Didn't have time for my big painting, hopefully next week...

I'm linking this to Paint Party Friday. to 29 faces and to Show your Face. Great blogparty's, so do take a look over there and admire the lovely and diverse work of so many people.

Thanks for being here and leaving your lovely comments. I really appreciate it and I'm trying to get to all of your blogs this weekend! Take care of yourself, and enjoy your day. Wishing you a weekend full of joy and warmth. I'll be back tomorrow ♥ ♥ ♥