While time marches inexorably onward, I’m still busy regaling you with the results of my March determination to get back into some sort of artwork – any sort of art work really – my abilities having somehow mysteriously atrophied due to non-use over the previous couple of years.
So, sometime towards the end of March I spent a couple of hours one evening drawing and colouring while listening to Juliet Stevenson read me more of ‘Middlemarch’ on Audible.Β Eventually I produced this
Feeling quite delighted with her and vaguely amused with myself I sent a photo of the drawing to a friends and family group on Messenger with the message ‘today I drew a self portrait. ‘
My eldest daughter responded almost immediately: ‘That’s a lovely picture but I’ve never seen you in a hat like that.’
‘Picky, picky’ I responded
She came straight back ‘It’s a lovely hat! The whole ensemble is gorgeous and I especially love the shoes!’
There followed other comments about the shoes from other members of the group then we segued off to shoes in general and ended up with the death of Scott Walker and rodent stories quickly followed by cat stories and many, many photos of cats.
I eventually went off to my bed and as I settled myself down to sleep I realised NOBODY had saidΒ ‘Hey, that’s not a self portrait!’Β π
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did.
Hi Pauline,
it’s such a lovely character sketch, love the pose – I find it fascinating that noone challenged you about it being a self portrait. Why is the question. If the artist says so, does it make it so? Food for thought!
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It is a beautiful picture and I love the old lady. Would certainly like her meet her. It’s definitely not an image of you, but for me she does exude that beautiful gentle loving nature you have, so maybe that’s what your daughter saw. However whatever she saw I think your eldest should buy you a nice hat like that, so you do have one π
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That’s a lovely thing to say, thank you for the compliment Bekki
β€ And perhaps my girl will read your thought and comply – you never know….I do have quite a nice old lady type crochet hat with a flower on it for winter though π
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Well it’s true. I hope your daughter does – two old lady winter hats isn’t excessive π
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π
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Love the drawing Pauline. It reminds me of the poem “When I Am Old”, mainly because of the reference to purple and the purple hat society which sprang from it. X
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Goodness yes, I had quite forgotten that poem! Lovely to see you come by Kym, hope all is well!
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Life is full of ebbs and flows x
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LOL. Maybe your family really thought it was you – and you drew yourself so well without realising it π I like the light coloured shades, giving the piece a graceful feel π
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π Yes, maybe they did Mabel. I have found the sketchbook paper I am drawing on is not so great, which is why the colour is soft – so I’m glad to hear you quite like it π
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Maybe you will get some new sketch paper soon and you will take your sketching and colouring to new levels π
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I appreciate your confidence in my abilities π
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So difficult to make – or get – jokes by text or internet isn’t it.
The drawing is delightful, but, for the record “that is not a self portrait”!
Will you do a self portrait – an expression of the energetic vibrant you?
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You are so right Sandra! I must be more careful in future π I appreciate your understanding π I find portraits really hard to do – I tend to draw what I call ‘soul pictures’ which embody all that is great about someone and represents their special qualities without being a necessarily photographic likeness. But, never say never!
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Sheβs lovely! I took up colouring pencils and did some drawing last week for the first time in months if not years. It reminded me of the simple pleasure of just drawing.
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It is a lovely peaceful pastime isn’t it! β€
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Definitely- very relaxing π
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I love her hair and the angle of her face looking down – you got that perfectly. Yes, it does serve you right for being a smart aleck when you showed others your work. Ha ha!! I’ve got a couple of self-portraits and one looks angrier than the other…I must look angry when I’m concentrating on my art. HA!! So of course I’ve not shared them with others.
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Hello Crystal – lovely to see you again! Thanks for coming by. I’ve never actually tried a real self portrait – I’d probably frighten myself
π Which fact maybe makes me think I should……. I’ve been trying my hand at some less whimsical/perfect faces with hilarious results though. I think they are due to be seen in a post or two…….
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This drawing is darling. What a wonderful talent to create such a sweet image for us to view. Thank you!
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You are most welcome. Thank you for coming by to view π
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I wish I could leave you a poem like your other friend did!!! She is very charming! I didn’t think she was a self-portrait, though until you mentioned that, but maybe she is in the way that all our characters are part of ourselves?
The more I look at her the more endearing I find her, by the way!
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She is quite endearing isn’t she – definitely not me! π Though of course as you say, everything we create says something about us . I like to think I’ll be just as cute and charming and endearing in 20 years time π
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I would like to be, also! somehow I am not heading in that direction. I feel like I’m getting a little cantankerous!
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Oh, I’m fully cantankerous at times. Comes with the silver hair apparently π
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Hah. I think it’s true. I don’t have time for B.S. any more ;),
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Me too!
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Kudos, Pauline, for returning to drawing. Self-portrait? Who knows? To be engrossed in a thick book outdoors–though I would choose a more comfortable chair–is quite appealing to a book lover like me.
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Maybe a future me Rosaliene, if I’m prescient enough. You are quite right about the chair – if I paint her, there will be a far more comfortable seat provided!
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The dapper little lady
Would like it understood
That she really is quite happy
Sitting with her book.
She isnβt misanthropic
And loves a little natter
But when buried in the pages
Itβs quite a different matter.
She really would be grateful
If youβd manage to refrain,
From interrupting her reading
By asking her, her name.
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You just popped and visited and left a whole poem while I responded to a couple of comments here – great scott is there no end to your abilities? Love it
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Goody. If inspired things just flow
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“loud clapping” coming from the USA, brilliant!
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Ah ha now that is a rather splendid response… thanks
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What a lovely drawing. I would love to have a pair of purple shoes and a fabulous hat for a little outside reading time. π I’m glad you’re being creative, Pauline. Your posts are a joy. β€
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π Diana – we gotta have the correct ensemble for a little outdoor reading time don’t we – and a comfier chair do you think?
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A comfier chair and a cup of tea. A little shade and a patch of garden… but most of all, purple shoes and a hat. π
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Love the drawing. I don’t see it as a self-portrait but as a picture inspired by the book you were listening to. I love your art work. More! More! More!
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Thank you SS – great response π
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A really good drawing – whoever it is
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Diplomatically said Derrick, thank you π
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π
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Pauline, I love this little old lady. I think sheβs perfect in every way. I especially love the hair. I didnβt think it was a self portrait, but I certainly saw my future self in this work! I hope one day to wear purple shoes and have loosely pinned up silver hair and to be able to sit quietly and read a book on a small red stool in my garden. Lovely. β€οΈ
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There we go Cheryl, she is aspirational – we’d all like to be like her when the time comes. I love the straight back, mine definitely gets a curve to it when sitting on a stool – that must be the ‘Middlemarch’ influence.
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I *immediately* thought “that’s no self-portrait! Pauline is no old lady!” Don’t get me wrong–I like the drawing and think it’s very evocative but you have way more style than this lady does! I’m enjoying, very much, seeing your artwork–I hope you keep creating and sharing!
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And that is the correct answer Kerry π My daughter omitted to mention I also don’t own a dress like that – the entire ensemble may well be ‘gorgeous’ but doesn’t exist in my wardrobe. She is a very cute little personage though and I enjoyed drawing her. Thank you for the encouragement to keep at it π
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If someone tells me its a self portrait who am I to argue! LOL!! I guess not to hurt your feelings I’d agree! :o) I’d hope my daughter’s would correct me, but I’ve noticed my last group of teen girls just nod politely too! ;o) while I pull their leg!
She is beautiful who-ever she is Pauline!
She reminds me of my mother, now 86. She’s so tiny and she looks younger to me now rather than older! If you know what I mean! In her 70s she “ran” here and there (she doesn’t drive) and if I’d see her (as I was driving and she never asks for rides!) my first thought was why does that young girl have white hair!
I love your art. I love the colors, the “stories” it tells, different to each of us!
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Hello Eliz, lovely to see you pop by again. It serves me right for making smartass throwaway comments doesn’t it π Your mama sounds very energetic and young at heart and that is the perfect way to grow older!
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I’m confused Pauline? Did you comment on my blogs? I closed down my blog about my boys. Too many solicitors wanting to make $ off it. And I closed down my “making” blog because I had several turn of life events that toppled my world upside down, and have spent the last 9 months trying to find the ground again with my feet.
So I kept my Uncontainable Joy Blog which started off as a blog for my youngest Teens, but I’ve highjacked it since they are bored of it!! I saw no awaiting comments listed anywhere??!! And I did/seem to have so much trouble with blogger over receiving a notice of a comment from anyone. :o(
Last January work doubled its requirements of me and I am just now trying to read/visit/comment on my favorite blogs again. If indeed you said anything smart ass to me I would have loved it, I’m a sassy kind of gal you know! Can’t have 21 children, (12 of them grown and terribly opinionated, hmm wonder where they got that from ;o) and not be a sassy old gal!
(((HUGS)))
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Ha-ha, so sorry Eliz – I meant my smartie remark to my friends about ‘my self portrait’ that I started this post with. I haven’t seen anything from you for so long and now I know why. I didn’t know you had so many blogs – I can hardly keep up with just this one – and I only followed your making one. I hope I didn’t send you off on a wild goose chase looking for my non-existent sassy comments π I’m sorry to hear life has been challenging and I hope you have found some ground to stand firmly on again.
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Firm ground for feet found! LOL! One step at a time. Hopefully no more upsets for a while! Lord Willing! :o)
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Well done xo
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That’s a lovely little drawing. My eyes went straight away to the purple shoes which says something about me I suppose but I never once thought it was a self portrait. Kids eh! π
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The purple shoes exist – in a slightly different format, but the colour is often on my feet. I love colourful shoes!! As Jodie said, me in 20 years π
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I think your picture is just gorgeous and very evocative of peaceful calm times in spring. Keep drawing… You’ve still got skills!
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Thank you – it’s also good to think the skills are coming back π
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The old lady reading is very cute, Pauline. I wonder why everyone believed you when you told them it was a self-portrait. π She is rather gorgeous! I hope you had a marvellous Easter.
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To be honest Norah I think she rather got lost in the general chitchat and sharing that followed – I was more amused by my reaction at the end of the evening at not having had my ego stroked by caring family and friends π She is rather cute and I may make a painting of her yet. We had a lovely long weekend here thank you and the weather was kind too. How was yours?
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I’d love to know what she’s reading. π
A painting would be delightful. How about a series of cards in her honour – sharing ‘old lady’ wisdom. (You’d have to do a bit of research for that though *wink*.)
We had a lovely wet weekend – just what we needed. π
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I like your idea Norah π I have been working on some cards featuring ample ladies following their dreams which I have yet to post about – I love the thought of doing something with the sweet old gal too. Glad to hear you had some rain. π
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I look forward to seeing both series of cards, Pauline. Enjoy the creative process! π
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I LOVE this drawing, Pauline. A self portrait is how you see yourself. I think you have an alter ego self as many of us do. Parts of us that are unexpressed before others. I thought she was such a sweet and delightful lady and my daughter agreed. She was looking at it from the side of me. π Her purple shoes are inspiring and making quite the statement. Do more of her. Please. π
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Oh yes!! I agree! Pauline if you are taking requests- make more of her!
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She is quite cute isn’t she – I’ll have to see what else she can get up to….
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The only thing I thought was autobiographical about her was the purple shoes Marlene – but you are of course correct, every drawing shows an aspect of the psyche. I’d love to be her in 20 years – especially that straight back which I much admire!
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This looks to me more like a character from Middlemarch than the artist Pauline – except maybe the purple shoes which are quite sassy. The drawing is lovely and the hat reminds me of the one Eliza Doolittle wears in my fair lady in the opening scene in Covent garden. Itβs definitely a period piece.
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I think you have picked up on something I didn’t – the straight back gives it away really doesn’t it. I should have made the dress longer……
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Great picture – I think she might be you twenty years from now- straight backed, relaxed, happy, sassy, reading, and rocking the purple shoes.
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And the winner is……… π You always know what to say Jodie π
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High praise from you, little miss. Thank you.
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If this truly was a self-portrait I would not be surprised. This lady looks self-assured and relaxed – doing something she enjoys very much. I love your new drawing, Pauline.
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Thanks Carol. She’s got a lovely straight back, something I’m pretty sure I don’t have any more, especially if sitting on a wooden stool reading…..
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First thing that came to my mind was simple and wholesome. β¦ Hi Pauline!
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Hello Frank! Lovely to see you back. Definitely not me then……..
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Not posting again yet β¦. wanted to do some visits first.
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It’s very sweet!
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Thank you
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