Anticipation versus instant gratificaiton

Image credit: Luke Chesser via Unsplash.com

I have subscription to Spotify. For around £10 a month I have access to virtually every musical genre known to human ears and millions upon millions of tracks. The algorithms know my tastes and provide me with perfect suggestions when I'm looking for something new. It's pure bliss.

My son, who turns into a teenager next month, has suddenly started taking a deeper interest in music. Like me he has varied tastes with his playlists that see country music stars rubbing up against the kind of tunes a parent yells "turn that racket down" at. 'Head-banging music' as my own parents would have called it.

It was back in the early 80s when I made my first purchases of vinyl 7 inches - having finally persuaded Mum and Dad to buy a record player. I remember taking my pocket money to Boots and coming away with Eurthymics Sweet Dreams clutched in my paws (yes, millennials, Boots used to sell music once upon a time!).

There was something to be said about that anticipation. Saving your pennies - £1.20 was a lot back then - and then finally getting the living room to yourself, wiping the dust off the needle and letting the magic happen. It's something my son just won't get. It's all instant gratification and I suppose there's nothing wrong with that. He can go on a musical journey right from the comfort of his phone these days, taking in a bit of early 20th century jazz alongside today's pop funk. His musical education is right there for the taking.

Maybe it's just nostalgia, but there's still something special about slipping the vinyl from the sleeve and hearing that crackle as the needle begins its journey...

Crone song

Tunes of love, joy and sorrow

the crone's songs lines her face

Memory notes dance across cheeks

and the voices of generations sing a story

I don't often draw wrinkles. In fact, as women we seem to focus on how best to prevent them and so hide the passing of the years. I think we prefer our voices, rather than our faces to tell our story!

This old lady has been sitting on my Pinterest board - faces to draw - for some time. So when I saw the Take a Word challenge for wrinkles this week, I thought it was about time I attempted someone with a bit more character than the fresh-faced beauties I usually create.

If you look very closely (or just at the pic below!!) you will also see that she is sketched over a collage of crinkled tissue paper decorated with musical notes. I actually remembered to scan in my background before I drew her which is a small miracle!

Sharing too with with my regular crew at Sunday Sketches.

PS: if you like art journal collaborations, you may enjoy yesterday's post.

Trying too hard

I was looking for a quote for this sketch when a beautiful song began playing on my iTunes playlist and Will Young sang these words:

Sometimes you don't find the right lines because you're trying too hard to hear them

I had my quote.

Now Paul Weller is telling me I do something to him, something deep inside... Really Paul? Well, I never knew. I'm flattered...

Can you 'read between the lines' on this piece. There's something written using this page as something to press upon and leaving a message. The only words I can make out are 'please can...' It looks like my writing.

I'm lost for words tonight. Think I'll just post this picture for Sunday Sketches and have done with it.

Group therapy

Rebecca

I am so buzzed! I've just spent two hours in the company of other artists while we created together. I enjoyed a glass of wine while I painted Rebecca here. Not everyone thought it was appropriate to be consuming alcohol - it being 9am in the morning and that... But I was OK because it was 8pm for me :)

That's the beauty of the online live art demonstration - we're all in the comfort of our own time zones and homes... Big thanks to Amy. She showed us how to paint a cat on fabric and then seal with wax. It's amazing how cat-like this piece is eh? Well, I confess I did do the cat as well, only I don't do fabric and sewing, so attempted to use a flocked piece of scrapbook paper and it didn't quite go to plan. So, as I'm addicted to faces right now (see most of this week's posts), I just couldn't resist another one - especially as everyone has been so encouraging - thank you!

You may spot a subtle difference with this piece, it being on sheet music rather than yellowing prose. It's all part of a cunning plan to multi-task. See, this fulfills the criteria for The Butterly Effect music prompt and of course Paint Party Friday AND Art Every Day Month. Phew...

She has a very wonky-shaped face, but I'm cool with that. I'm literally slinging these portraits down - I'm more interested in the shading and taking a really loose approach... Maybe tomorrow I'll try and fix her up a bit.... Maybe not.... I wonder what I'll create next?

Art strikes back

I am sad and sulky. When I upgraded my pc somehow my iTunes didn't copy across properly and half the songs are missing - sometimes half an album... It's really odd. They are still on the iPod though,  however I can't update my iPod without losing them. Anyone know some good (preferably free) software that lets you rip everything over?  I admit this happened months ago, but this weekend (as part of my getting organised plan), I resolved to fix the issue once and for all, and we reconnected the old pc to attempt once again to get the music over. It spent 2 hours copying empty folders. You have no idea how frustrated I am. The music is THERE on the old pc. I can hear it! Why won't it copy over?

That aside, here's a sketch I did while watching The Empire Strikes Back with my son. Even though he had never seen the movie he knew what was going to happen next from playing the lego game on the Wii. Funny!!

I know I mentioned an art ban earlier this week, while I declutter and organise myself. However, surely a little pencil sketch is allowed... What do you think??? And the odd digital piece....??? I mean I can't totally abandon the creative urge. This doll-like face with big blue eyes was begging to take form in my sketchbook.

For Sunday Sketches. Pop on over to Sophia's pad and see what everyone else has been creating in their sketchbooks!

The Mojo it returneth

The cough it is banishedeth

The dark circles are begone

The paint it floweth

The creativity aboundeth

It is indeed a good day.

Can't stop creating. Have a bounce in my step and for the second night in a row I am nowhere near ready for bed at 10pm. In fact, I am dancing around the kitchen...

I'm wired for sound. I'm lost in music. Angels make me feel... I'm back for good...

I have to go and dance now... I bought the new Duran Duran album - All you need is now. It's so 1983... I feel the need for shoulder pads. Duran Duran + Mark Ronson = Pure Magic. It seems my mojo had taken a time travelling vacation. Now, I've found her again sporting a dodgy haircut and hanging out with heterosexual men wearing make up, we are partying like it's... 19...

PS - Yes, I have been drinking (first drop in over two months)... but frankly didn't really need it. Just feel TOP! I love music.

PPS - Yeah, that's me dancing round the kitchen in that picture! Well, kind of! Mixed media on cardboard - lots of layers (just like me and Shrek) and some image transfering.