Birthdays and portraits

It's been so hot in Geneva that I haven't had the energy to draw very much. The face in the mirror wasn't very inspiring but I felt I should make myself do something, anything to get started. It's my birthday tomorrow and by coincidence I found out it's Twyla Tharp's too and her book, The Creative Habit arrived yesterday. She says that you can't expect to do anything if you don't 'show up' so I followed her advice and sat at my desk. I know I should do my face and mark those forty four years for posterity but that was a bit depressing! I've been thinking about doing my hand since it's an EDM challenge but I couldn't find a pose that I haven't seen a million times in those 'how to draw' books. I thought it might be interesting to draw my hand as it's drawing and wondered if everyone holds their pens or pencils in different ways.




I'm actually pleased with how it turned out although I over worked it slightly and the pencil seems to look enormous compared to my hand! I feel this looks as much like me as the last portrait I liked.


This evening I couldn't bear to watch the Germany versus Argentina match (I don't like the way Argentina play and the punch up at the end confirmed my prejudice!) so up I went again and found a picture of Tom Cruise in a paper. Although I don't like or dislike him his birthday is on the fourth and it often gets me thinking as our natel charts are very similar except that he has his Moon in Leo and mine is in Cancer. If nothing else there is a world of difference between us right there! And probably my belief in astrology is a strange as his belief in Scientology!

Just as I posted this drawing Mark looked over my shoulder and said 'did you just do that tonight? It actually looks like Tom Cruise!' No chance of me getting a big head like Tom then :)!

More leftover objects

Yes, there are still more! Did I mention that the garden shed is full of things too? Blogger has been frustrating me for ages now as I can't reply to comments except here on the blog. So in answer to a couple of questions - the couple living here before had SO many ornaments around the house and garden that I suspect they simply didn't have the space to take everything with them. Most of them were of white terrier dogs (like their own dog) and all of those were taken.





















I like the tiny chimes they have left in the front patio.


But I don't like these at all. They are on top of a very large well ornament! Maybe it's the style, they are the same as the deer, and those strange, dark eyes. Garden ornaments should be either stylish or tacky, nothing in between!

Deb H asked if there are garage sales here and that reminded me of the street market I passed through in Carouge a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure about garage sales but that market that I had assumed was a weekend activity was actually a special event where the residents of each area in Geneva bring out their unwanted belongings to sell. It happens at different dates throughout the summer. This would explain why it was so crowded and spread out and why there was such an interesting range of things for sale! I've been trying to find out when the one in Thonex is happening but have had no luck - it may have been one of the earlier ones.

London

When I think of London, I must have the memory of a goldfish. I grew up there and I loved it yet, in my twenties I spent all my money on air tickets to get away from it. When I'm elsewhere I think if it fondly but the moment that plane starts descending through the two thick layers of clouds, I remember how awful it is!

I'm sure it wasn't all that bad in the seventies and eighties. I still hop on buses and think a journey will only take 10 or 15 minutes when it now takes an hour. My brother and I took a bus to St. Thomas'. It runs along Wandsworth Road which has to be one of the grimest places in London. For some inexplicable reason, the bus stopped half way along there and an inspector got on and told everyone to get off. The bus stop was right outside these dry cleaners. Who would take anything to be cleaned here? We passed a housing estate with one of the 'blocks' called Lockyer House which amused me. I daren't take my camera out of my bag to take the photo though or I'd have been mugged! (I took the photo of the dry cleaners from the door of the bus after everyone got off and was running to get on one behind).
















St. Thomas' is situated right opposite the Houses of Parliament and has views from the windows that only the wealthiest can normally afford. It was overcast and grey as only London can be and the windows were very dirty but I took photos anyway. It was so strange to be visiting Mum here as she's never been in hospital before but I visited Dad here many times (He had nine lives, like a cat.)




















Same window, further to the right. (On my last visit, I went straight from here to the airport so I had a small bag on wheels. With all the paranoia about terrorism these days, it's odd that anyone can come and go anywhere in the hospital without question in a building within striking range of the Houses of Parliament). Mum looked much better yesterday morning thankfully and despite all the horror stories in the media about the NHS she's getting great care. The nurses were very helpful, always around asking everyone how they were and what they needed and generally keeping everyone smiling and laughing. I wonder if Mum will want to go home?!

Self Portrait Marathon

Another boring, realistic drawing, taken from a photograph so there is no feeling or meaning behind it, of a normal, happy child. Gosh, life must be so easy for people who think like that! How strange that I should start this drawing and a few days later, feel so differently - the reasons for doing so now irrelevant. The realisation that any more answers are superfluous, questions are pointless, I have what I need, I had it all along, is a whole new feeling for me.

I mentioned, in an earlier post, the coming together of a certain set of circumstances that lead to sudden realisations and I'm wondering about the timing of this self portrait marathon. The timing of Mum's accident, the timing of certain revelations and conversations in a family that isn't given to talking about feelings. Perhaps even the timing of my setting up a blog. Time to just be myself. Time for that little girl to show her face.

London

My blog has ground to a halt again as our connection at home has failed. I'm blogging from London today as I'm visiting Mum who has gone into hospital. Doctors say she is doing well so I'm flying back tomorrow.

Michelangelo's tea break

I find all these things around the house and garden belonging to the previous owners very interesting. Why did they choose them, why didn't they take them etc.? This little birdhouse ornament by the back doors is sweet.
















This one I find a bit creepy for some reason. After I took the photo I looked underneath and it was full of ants eggs - eeeuuuww!





















This one is in the front in a little patio hidden by the garage. That glass is very Miami Vice! Does anyone remember there was a shot of glass tiles like this in every episode?


















More things seem to be appearing as we prune the bushes!















Yet more! Does anyone know what that marble ornament might be for? It has little ledges as if perhaps it should have candles.

And now I had better get back to work - I'm painting the ceiling of my study. It had white walls but I think the lady of the house used to sit and smoke in there so it's a dirty shade of grey now. The walls are textured so it's taking a lot longer than I thought it would. Phew! I didn't think I could admire Michelangelo any more than I already do!

Self portrait marathon

I can't believe it - I'm actually happy with this one! I think this looks exactly like me (in mirror image) although it may be an iddy, widdy, teensy, weeny bit flattering! Well, blotchy skin and saggy bits are not easy to draw y'know! I did include a deep wrinkle I have between the eyes from squinting in the sun, a scar on the chin and my strange ear - I have one ear without a curled edge. Mark calls it my Romulan ear as he's a Trekkie! I think I might use it to replace that old profile photo. It's interesting how many bloggers don't have photos of themselves in their profiles, no doubt for good reasons, but I prefer to see a face, otherwise I have trouble remembering whose is whose. I really admire those illustrated blogs that have a drawing of themselves but I didn't think I'd be able to do one I liked. Now I just need to find a cat to pose on my shoulder!

The basement

I think nearly all houses in Geneva have large basements which have a living or play room, extra bathroom, laundry, store room and bomb shelter. Above is the bomb shelter door, a huge heavy thing! I seem to remember reading somewhere that by law all homes have to have a few months supply of tinned food at all times in case of nuclear attack and you have to survive down there! Inside there is a window with a very thick door/shutter, a drain under the carpet and a machine for re-cyling the air. Personally, I think death by nuclear gases might be preferable to being cooped up in that tiny room with two bickering teenagers having to go cold turkey without all their electronic gadgets and living on baked beans!

Pink and yellow has always been a combination I can't stand so I'm not fond of this pink paint on the walls. The rest of the house is yellow, fortunately, so it matches our belongings.

Only the basement has cat-flaps in the doors. I think it's nice to see evidence of the previous owners lives but we weren't prepared for how much they would leave behind.















This is their old work room! When we first looked at the house, I said to Mark that I'm glad I didn't have that much stuff to pack - the thought never occured that they might not pack it!













Actually, I love going into this room! So many interesting and surprising things to discover, it's a modern day Aladdin's cave! Even Mark has no idea what most of the things are. You just don't know what you're going to find when you open a door or drawer! Plenty of drawing inspiration down here! It's also much cooler than the rest of the house which is bliss at the moment but I dread to think how cold it gets in the winter.

Self portrait marathon - the Screw Loose series

Taken in the apartment in Veyrier

















Shush! Artist at work.

















Shush, will you!? Artist at home.

That's my best effort for today, like it or lamp it.

Oops! More visitors

There are some disadvantages to having a pool...Mark opened the shutters this morning and said 'a hedgehog has fallen into the pool!' Unfortunately the previous owners didn't replace a damaged summer cover and the very heavy winter cover is impractical for taking off and putting in every day - so off it stays until we buy a new one. ( A short, sharp storm came over yesterday hence all the leaves in the water!)

We rushed downstairs and found that a baby hedgehog was swimming round in circles and
















Mum was looking anxiously on, probably having fallen in too but found the steps. She looked very distressed.















Mark fished them out quickly and we put them under a hedge to recover. I checked on them about 15 minutes later and the mother had gone and the baby still there shivering. I hope he'll be OK. He snorts if I get too close, so perhaps that's a good sign!

Puddy tat

And now for something completely different - just to keep the portraits off the top of my page!

Self portrait marathon

I'm a masochist. It's official. I've no idea what possessed me to join Wally's self portrait marathon. I hate doing self portraits but I seem to be drawn these days to doing things I don't want to do! On Friday, I was reading blogs and three things struck me. First was, as always, admiring Tommy Kane's pen drawings and wishing I could draw like that. Second, seeing Karen's collection of sketchbooks (I should draw more!) and finally seeing the challenge on Wally's blog. I don't know why but it triggered something. If I can get over my fear of spiders, then why not self portraits?!

This one above is my very first attempt at drawing with a pen. Perhaps it would have turned out better if I had slowed down and drew as I normally do instead of trying to draw quickly in some imaginary 'this is how a real artist would do it' sort of way! I'm tempted not to show it but maybe it will show how much I've improved later on ;)!



Can you tell how much I do not like my face?! Back to ye olde pencils, Alex said I made myself look too old but then he came back and said I'd left out all my wrinkles, I wasn't nearly hideous enough! It's interesting though how these drawings don't look like me (I've deliberately not made them photo-realistic) but capture something about me at the same time. I wouldn't say I'm a miserable person but when I catch myself in a mirror I always seem to be frowning! I never got wolf whistles from builders, instead they used to shout 'cheer up darlin'!

Everyone calls me neat, but when I'm at home I dress for comfort (and keep my fingers crossed no-one calls unannounced)! Although I'm not usually this serious I wanted to show how I normally look at home. In summer I wear this torquise and blue beach dress (must be nearly ten years old now!) In winter I look like the Michelin woman under layers of fleeces. (Must change that profile photo!) Oh, and one final thing - I got my hair cut on the morning I drew these, way shorter than I asked for but how I used to always have it up until 5 years ago when I decided to keep it slightly longer to' hide my aging face'! It doesn't bother me now - perhaps because I'm now too old to care?!! Hope the next portraits will improve in quality - and I promise I'll try not to rant!

Our first visitor!

Of course, it had to be a cat! I've nicknamed him Shadow as he sleeps under a tree on the patio in front of the kitchen in the afternoons. He's almost impossible to spot, he really does look like a shadow! He's pretending to be a statue above.















We tried to scare him off - here he is looking terrified!














Way too relaxed! The previous owners had two cats and a dog. I think the other cats in the neighbourhood know there is a 'vacuum' to be filled!

New house!

First things first, the family want to see photos so here they are! This is the back of the house. We have an attic which has our bedroom and Mark's den. The first floor has the boy's bedrooms (Paul's overlooks the front and Alex's, in the photo has the open balcony door) and my study. The ground floor has the kitchen facing the front with sliding doors to a small patio and a large open room for lounge and dining areas. In the basement there is a laundry room, small store room, large living room, bomb shelter and room used as a workshop.














This is the view from my balcony! We can still see Mont Saleve with the cable car and paragliders. In fact, this morning I missed a great photo opportunity as one of them sailed past only metres from the house to land in a field not far from us. I was up unusually early and unusually decided to clear up some files on my pc. So instead of day dreaming out the window as I normally do, I was feeling very pleased with myself click, click deleting and looked up too late but rushed out in time to see him just gliding silently over the house in the brilliant sunshine. I've never seen them come this way before so I it will be a while before I see that again. Aren't the best shots always the ones you miss?


The view from Mark's den. You can see the Jura mountians on the other side of Geneva. It's not easy to show in the photos but we can see for miles around - great when you want to check what the weather is doing!

I took the shot of the back of the house yesterday but there was a storm approaching so I took the other ones this morning as it's now sunny. I would have re-taken the house but now the garden looks a bit messy as we were busy pruning and weeding once the rain stopped. As you might have noticed our grass is very poor compared to the neighbours. We have quite a bit to do as the couple who sold it are divorcing and had been neglecting it. I'm not a gardener but I'd like to get more involved with this garden. I feel it needs a lot more colour - the only colour is from a tiny pink rose bush, everything else is green and not very inspiring.















Actually, I do like this! It's a Catalpa Nana according to the previous owner and it has masses and masses of leaves. It provides a lot of privacy too - none of the windows from the houses at the back are visible when you are in the pool. Oh, and the pool has needed a lot of cleaning too, it was green and opaque when we took the cover off it!















View of the Catalpa Nana from below.
















Our cute little garden shed!























The previous owners were obviously hoarders and left behind a lot of their things including the swinging chair in the top photo and this pool thermometre.




















There are quite a few garden ornaments too! We would never have bought this (or any of the others) but since they are here I think they look, well, not great, but they are fun! This one is in a small patch by the front door so you can't miss it! It may find it's way into my sketchbook too!