Thursday 15 October 2020

Knobbly trees and faces

 Hi Everybody!

Another day has raced by, It's still cold here, the heating hasn't been repaired, so I've been keeping myself busy with my art and even did a bit of the dreaded - and sorely necessary - housew**k. And I gathered all of the papers and instructions etc that I printed off for the Lifebook taster courses, and put them all into a ring folder to get them safe for further perusal, as there were some ideas there that I would like to repeat. While making holes in the paper to file them, I accidentally got my lovely silk scarf caught up and made several holes in it, sigh. But I have gained lots of silk for crafting other things....

Today I am sharing 2 more lessons from Lifebook. The first one is a lesson from Kassi Martin about 'the knobbliness of trees'. Kassi is a wonderful person and therapist, and shared lots of valuable insights on living and how we (should) see ourselves. I also enjoyed painting my knobbly tree. I made a textured A3 background and painted my tree onto it, adding a sparkly hologram glaze at the end:





The second piece I am sharing was made after a lesson from Andrea Gomoll
about plant spirit girls. These are both painted on A4 watercolour paper:








I am linking both pieces to Chris' 'hold the line' challenge at AJJ

And here are the rest of the photos taken this week in Ratingen:


The lion is the heraldic animal of Ratingen:











I loved this decoration with the old wash stand:




This sculpture is in the remains of the swine herd tower on the town walls;



The stream is the old moat:


 
Have a great day, take care,
and thank a lot for coming by!

66 comments:

  1. Hi, so sorry you still have no heat-we will be chilly tomorrow- 20 degree drop from today. we are 86 degrees f today an very low in the tomorrow evening.
    I always enjoy seeing your art-I love the plants with the faces especially. beautiful fall colors-Happy mid week Kathy

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    1. Thanks Kathy. It's not nice when it suddenly gets chilly and damp! Look after yourself, stay safe!

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  2. You did get a lot of lovely photos taken! Hope your heat comes on soon. So sorry about the scarf. I got some permanent marker on one my pants the other day, just a small touch so will still wear them. But hate the silly carelessness that causes these things.

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    1. Thanks Christine. It's annoying when things like that happen, you're right. I have old pants and leggings I wear when I paint, now I need to ban silk scarves, too! Have a good day and stay safe!

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  3. Oh no about your scarf. That is sad. Maybe you can wear it so the holes don't show. And I love your knobby tree. And in blue. Perfect! You face drawings are also great. I think this class you took sounds amazing. And I love the photos. It's nice to visit someplace these days, even if I do it from my couch. Have a great THursday. Hugs-Erika

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    1. Thanks Erika! The classes were really amazing, that's true, it's good to try new things. Have a great day and stay safe!

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  4. Sorry about your heat, or the lack there of. I hope it gets fixed very soon. Your life book is amazing. Love it. Your photos always make me want to go visit where you live. There are the most amazing and exciting things there. Thanks for always sharing.

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    1. Thanks Nicole. They HOPE to have it fixed by tomorrow - we shall see! Have a great day, take care!

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  5. So sorry about your heat and scarf. I hope the heat is repaired soon. All of your art is great but I really love the tree so much. Thanks for the photo tour too :)

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    1. Thanks Martha, the tree was my fave piece of all, I like it very much. Have a safe day!

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  6. Sorry to hear you still have no heat. I hope it's not beastly cold. What's the hold up with getting it repaired? I like your knobby tree and quote and the plant girls. Ratingen looks like a quaint town and the lion is pretty impressive. Take care.

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    1. Thanks CJ. They are waiting for spare parts....so they say. Tomorrow it's supposed to be finished - we shall see! Ratingen is indeed a pretty place. Have a good and safe day!

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  7. Sorry about your heating stuff VJ...
    Amazing art works

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  8. Aw sorry that your heat isnt' on but love that you keep busy - except for the housework! :) I hope you can repair your scarf, too! Lovely artwork and knobby tree and what a fun town to wander a bit in! Love it! x0

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    1. Thanks Kelly. The scarf is beyond repair, I was too careless! Have a good and safe day!

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  9. Hi Val, good morning! Thanks for the good wishes yesterday, I do feel better today. Your knobbly tree is a jewel, love it, and the faces are so sweet. Wonderful photos from Ratingen, such a pretty town. Look after yourself, hugs, Sarah

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    1. Thanks Sarah, glad you feel better. Hope your mum is in a good phase just now. Look after yourself, hugs to all!

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  10. Sorry to read you still have no heat. I hope it's not too cold there. Sad about your silk scarf, too, but you'll find uses for it in your art, I'm sure.

    I saw the knobbly tree, but didn't watch the video. I did download the image she provided, though. I haven't seen the plant lady yet. I am SO far behind. I hope to at least see all the ones I think I might be able to make by Saturday, but today I have an eye appointment so that will take a good part of the morning. At least it always has in the past.

    Both of your entries are fabulous. I love the colors of your tree and that quote you added, too. Thanks for sharing both of these beauties with us at Art Journal Journey using Chris's theme, dear friend.

    I'll be by late tonight to see your TAD entry.

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    1. Thanks E. Good luck with the eye-test! Hope all is well now. It's 18° inside, so it feels quite chilly! Good for my woolly jackets! Hope you find some time to get a few more things for LB done!

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  11. Wunderschön deine Bilder, toll gemacht und deine Fotos von Ratingen sind herrlich geworden eine wunderschönes Städtchen.
    Schade um dein Seidenschal. Ich habe auch shcon so manches versaut mit Farbekleckse *zwinker*.
    Ich wünsche dir einen shcönen Tag und pass auf dich auf!
    Lieben Gruss Elke

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    1. Danke, liebe Elke. Ja, Kunst verlangt manchhmal Tribut von uns! Aber ich werde die Seide trotzdem in verscheidene Projekte verarbeiten können. Hoffe dass Du gesund und munter bist!

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  12. I enjoyed both of these Life Book tasters. I wish I had a printer to print off the necessary, for the timing to work on them was a bit off for me. Still, I took photos and can work off them. Your paintings from both tasters are simply superb. So sorry about your much loved scarf which will now become memories tied up in new things.
    Stay safe and well, Deb

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    1. Thanks Deb. If you need any details from LB I can mail them to you If that helps. Have a great day!

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    2. Thanks, that's a very kind offer, but I will manage, hopefully. If not, I may take you up on it. I really do need a printer, especially as the nearest photo copy service is an hour away by bus, and with current restrictions would take me about four hours!
      I hope you get your heat sorted out today too! I wish I could send you a little of mine, I've just turned the thermostat down!

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    3. Anytime, Deb! I can print them and send them over, no problem! A printer is useful, that's true!

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  13. Loving this gorgeous brilliant arty post. x

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  14. Hello Valerie: Now I really know that you are a glass half full kind of girl when you can punch holes in your silk scarf and view it as an opportunity for extra material for crafting! Now that's really turning a sow's ear into a silk purse kind of mentality! Great work with the knobbly trees and the plant spirit girls, who look very seductive I must say. My eye surgery went well on Tuesday, and I can already notice minor improvement, and I am sure that over the next few days substantial improvement will occur. The procedure takes less than ten minutes and you don't feel a thing. I will be happy when the second eye is done in November, and then it will be as though I started birding all over again. i hope you heat is restored soon. This is not a good time of the year to be without it. And now you don't even have a silk scarf to keep you warm! Big hugs from "One-eyed David,"

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    1. Hi my one eyed friend, good to see you again. It is indeed wonderful what progress in surgery, especially in eye surgery, in past years. I am always thankful for all the OPs I had to keep my sight, it was really nothing short of a wonder. I always try to see things positively, and already making plans to line a bag with a worn lining with the pieces of my scarf! Glad you like the seductive girls and tree, I had fun making them! It's still very chilly here, I hope they get it done by tomorrow as promised. Look after yourself, rest your roving eye! Hugs to you both!

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  15. Love your tree but A3 - that is huge! How on earth did you manage to paint something so big? Hats off to you Valerie. I love the colours you have used to bring that tree to life and the way you have curved the branches. Blues and greens are my 'go to' colours but the shades you have used are very very special.
    Your spirit girls are lovely too, again I am drawn to the green one but I think that is a matter of my personal preference.
    I love the Ratingen Lion. He stands above that fountain so majestically and I admire the German architecture. It's the shape of the buildings that is so different to what we see over here in the UK. Of course the cobbled streets all add to the character even though i find them a bit ore difficult to negotiate when walking.
    I would love to see the swine herd, I imagine it to be so very well done. It reminds me of the battle one in Düsseldorf that totally blew my mind when I saw it and I can never get enough of it when I visit.
    Europe is so interesting with its architecture and statues.
    Thank you so much for all the lovely photographs.
    Hugs, Neet xx

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    1. Thanks Neet! I almost always work in A3. I can't see well to do small things, nor can I move my fingers so well these days, so small things are the exceptions. I LOVE having a big sheet of paper to fill! Ratingen is indeed a pretty little town, I always have to take pics when I go there. All of our streets in Kaiserswerth are cobbled, and then can be treacherous in ice and snow or when it's wet. Have a good week, take care! Hugs, Valerie

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  16. Luv your rendition of knobbly trees. Happy Thursday. October and lots of rain here still

    Much💛love

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  17. Wonderful artwork Valerie. I can't help but marvel at your creativity. Just amazing.

    Love, Hugs and Blessings
    Jim

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    1. Hi Jim, so good to see you around again. Have a great week, stay safe!

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  18. I especially love the two watercolor paintings of the two girls. Very pretty. That sculpture looks interesting as does the architecture.

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  19. I love these Valerie, those greens are so vibrant on the watercolours, always new life in greens! You certainly get to visit some very interesting places, our towns are very dull at the moment as we are in semi lockdown again for the next forever. Take care and enough of the housework lol xx

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    1. Thanks, I love green and blue together. Housew**k is really overrated! Have a good and safe day!

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  20. Love your plant girls!!!! Great knobby oak! I enjoyed my "walk" with you!!! Please stay well!!

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  21. Stunning tree Valerie with gorgeous sparkle and I love your fabulous plant girls! Ratingen looks like a beautiful town, awesome photos!
    Tammy x

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    1. Thanks Tammy! I had fun with these lessons! Stay safe!

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  22. thank you for those stunning photos:)

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  23. Oops sorry your scarf got caught up!

    Lovely art and a great selection of photographs.

    I can't believe it's Friday tomorrow!
    These days go by so quickly.

    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks Jan, these things happen! It will still be put to good use!

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  24. Such beautiful paintings! The pretty faces blending into the flowers are amazing, I love the colours and vibrancy of your designs 😁. Of course the tree caught my eye too, the texture and shimmer looks so magical. The sculptures and autumnal colours on your photos are fabulous too! I hope you're having a lovely week! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. Thanks Jo. They were both really good lessons at Lifebook. Have a good and safe day!

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  25. I hope you have many blankets, to keep you warm! I love all your art pieces! Very meaningful!!! Gorgeous pictures! I love seeing where you live! That sculpture is amazing! Big Hugs!

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    1. Thanks Stacey, I am doing my best to keep warm! Stay well and safe!

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  26. Great tree and flower people art work. I have enjoyed your photos of Ratingen, the roof lines are all different and interesting.

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    1. Thanks the ancients houses are interesting, always lots to see. Have a good and safe day!

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  27. Wow Valerie! These are fantastic - I sadly failed to make anything myself but did watch some selected lessons! Just distracted, not sleeping well this week! Thanks for linking to m theme! The Ratingen photos really are wonderful! Hugs, Chrisx

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  28. That is a great tree pattern and the perfect quote for it :) You do have a splendid place to walk :)

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  29. Terrific paintings and quotes ~ beautiful scenery and blooms too. Stay warm!

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  30. Big bummer about your scarf. But I love your knobbly tree. It has loads of energy. And your beautiful photos make me want to skip over to Germany. In my dreams...

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    1. One day travel will be possible again. Till then we dream....

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  31. I love your knobbly tree Valerie, and that's a great quote you put on it. The flower sprites are lovely too.
    I hope your heating is fixed now.
    Alison xx

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  32. Great art pages Valerie. I loved the knobbly tree as well. A real shame that your silk scarf had a mishap. The photos were good to see as well.
    Stay safe.
    Yvonne xx

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