Friday 4 September 2015

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 ♥ ♥ ♥






26 comments:

  1. Wonderful face, and love what you wrote about it, so true. Thanks for sharing. Happy PPF, Hugs, Valerie

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  2. I always love to see your faces. I am doing this challenge--will post them on my blog about once a week--but have been posting on FB--haven't taken the time to figure out the linking yet. I have been so upset watching the heartbreaking news every night about the refugees--I understand that countries feel they don't have enough resources to take thousands of refugees in, but I also an't understand building razor wire fences to keep people out and preventing people from getting on trains and it seems they just don't "get" that people are fleeing from ISIS and from war in their country--what if it was my family or your family--sorry for the rant...

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  3. I like the bold, strong colors you coated the surface with! An the piece with the color also has that same attitude, fierce!

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  4. Your faces look great! Love the different styles and techniques you used for them. So easy for life to get in the way of being creative. I'm trying to do at least a little sketch every day at the moment, in the evenings.

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  5. What a wonderful history of your face #4. I really love it , it's magical.
    All faces are fabulous.
    Happy weekend ♥

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  6. Wow these are gorgeous. You are quite gifted.

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  7. I enjoy your art so very much!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  8. wow Denise each of these is so unique and all so gorgeous!! There is such gentle expression in their eyes. I love em all!

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  9. Your faces are beautiful. Your sentiments are SO right. You are such a gifted and talented artist.

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  10. Powerful words and images! My exact sentiments.....heartbreaking ....I think your art could have the power to influence change! I LOVE who you are! You inspire me!

    Hugs Giggles

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  11. Hello! Your art is always so exciting! I love how this face came about and the colors are fabulous!
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  12. I have missed seeing your magic talent at work, of course I love every piece and empathise with you on the plight of the displaced, compassion is something the world is in dire need of now, our government spends more money on keeping refugees out rather than welcome them into becoming a part of a strong multicultural society... No words, just hope that photo of the little boy shows the real cost and tragedy of politics instead of humanity first.

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  13. I like the bright colors and different styles of your faces. I use different art mediums, colored pencils being one of them. I've never acquired the skill to draw faces, though. Also I appreciate your comments on the world situation. It needs to be acknowledged. So many people having to leave their countries because of war.

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  14. Beautiful faces so far this month. I love the hair on the second one. Such great colors.

    Kate

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  15. If the world didn't trouble you you would have no heart. There are always depressing and terrible things going on. You need to speak it out at times. Your faces are wonderful foll of color and light. Art makes a tough world more bearable. I have never completed 29 Faces but this time I have a plan. Let's see how far I get. Lol

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  16. Beautiful faces! I love what you did with the journal page. So creative and vibrant.

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  17. Ha Denise, veel leed wat we nu alle dagen te zien krijgen,daar zijn geen woorden voor
    toch mooi dat je er aandacht aan geeft.
    je heb weer druk maar de gezichtjes hebben er niet onder te lijden gehad, ze zijn mooi!!
    wens je tijd voor het maken voor je mooie kunst!!
    liefs een groetje Christiene.

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  18. hi Denise! We're all moved by the tragedy happening in Syria right now... and in other places of the world. It's hard not to be changed by what we see, even if we often feel helpless. I love your art, as usual. And Natalie Merchant is one of my favorites. Love her music. Thanks for sharing all this. xx

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  19. you've already used many techniques in your 4 faces, i love them all, but this face 4 is fantastic, keep them coming Denise!

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  20. Your story of how the blue face developed was interesting, and your quick sketch is beautiful! Such nice work!

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  21. The way face 4 came into being is fascinating, how remarkable that the face was there from the start.
    The coloured pencil one worked well too, lovely flowing hair. (I like the others too!)

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  22. No. 4 is so different from the others. Love the amazing colors in her hair!

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  23. Denise, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments above. I cry when I see the people risking all just to be free. Your faces are beautiful. If I could do a 6 hour sketch as well as your "quick sketch" I'd be overjoyed.

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  24. Such beautiful faces, Denthe. I love the woman with the amazing, colourful hair. She really spoke to me. I am a great fan of Natalie Merchant. She has a beautiful voice and her songs are always worth listening to. How distressing and troubling the whole refugee crisis is and how powerless most of us are to help these people in their suffering. But for an accident of birth, that could be us running from persecution. I hope and pray that these desperate families will find peace and be welcomed into compassionate places. Thank you for sharing your creativity and your thoughts. xx

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  25. Denise, these are all wonderful and I especially love the first,or is it the 4th? Anyway, your commentary is so true and heartfull- so very sad for these people- breaks my heart whenever is see the news.
    Thanks for being you! xo

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  26. Stunning faces, blow me away and I saw the face in the paint smears too :) Love how you bought her out. It is just awful about the refugees isn't it?
    Thanks for linking up to Show Your Face and sorry I'm late coming around to comment! Thanks for the shout out too. Kx

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! I love hearing your thoughts about my work. Because I am getting too many spammer comments, l have to use Captcha, sorry. Hope this is not a problem for you !