Pearshaped

Pearshaped

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Saturday 20 February 2016

Forever!

I have had this song in my head for a while but haven't known how I wanted to portray it!

When I saw Susi's blog this morning she said that to make faces you need to practice so that is what this is - a practice piece!

Many years ago I was at college in Liverpool - it was known then as a college for Domestic Science and we had experience in a range of subjects including Laundrywork, Furnishing, Sewing, Art, Science, Cookery(of course - although this ranged from cooking Edwardian meals through to the new rage at the time - using a microwave oven and using meat substitute products!) The best thing though was living in flats for two weeks with another student - this meant that we learned to run a home of our own including childcare. For two of the weeks we would set off early morning to pick up the same child each day from the Strawberry Fields Childrens Home - we would look after the child for the day including having to play with them, feed them and then bath them before walking back with them late afternoon.

I do wish that I had been able to use these skills when I began teaching but when the curriculum went through changes, first to becoming Home Economics and then (for goodness sake!) Food Technology - which put a halt to a lot of the practical side and making folders seemed to be more important! Whoops! Sorry about that rant but I still feel we are failing children in schools by not giving them guidance in Domestic matters.

This page started based on my memories but I realise now it is as much about about the fact that education leaders seem to have closed their eyes to what our children need!
I drew an outline with a Stabilo all pencil then painted over using acrylics and wiped some off with a babywipe. I added a blue background by adding paint with a baby wipe.
To make my Strawberries I used one of the That's Crafty Dinky stencils that I won from Lynne - I added  some seed with a glitter pen.
As you can see, my writing took a turn for the worse, but I needed this line from the song to be here.

Oh! By the way, our college was quite close to Penny Lane too and we used to go down to shop after lectures.

This is being linked to Art Journal Journey where Hazel's theme 'If music be the food of love' is inspiring me.

It will also fit into a slot at Moo Mania and More with my 'Hearts' strawberries

Thanks for looking, Chris










22 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Love your page and tell interesting story. I lived on Penny Lane at the beginning of the 70s. Thanks for joining us at Art Journal Journey, hugs, Valerie

chrissie said...

Enjoyed the really interesting post and the face is really beautiful..great that Susi inspired you

Love Chrissie xx

froebelsternchen said...

I am honoured to have you inspired to this fabulous page dear Chris! The shading of your face is great! What an interesting story as well!
Happy weekend to you and thank you very much for joining us once again at Art Journal Journey and Moo Mania & More!

oxo
Susi

Lisabella Russo said...

What lovely hearts and I love her softly closed eyes. Very interesting to hear about your school too.

Meggymay said...

A great post to read Chris, sometimes I wish we could turn the clock back, especially on the education front. Its beautiful face you painted and lovely words.
Yvonne xx

Ruth said...

Great face and love the hearts, they just pop. Enjoyed hearing about your memories and have driven down Penny Lane many times as my daughters student accommodation was near there! Ruth xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

The message behind this post hits closer to home than you can imagine. Kansas schools are broke. Schools have closed because they can't afford to pay their teachers. They have no place to put the extra kids who are now as high as 40 to a classroom. Sports, band, and art are now cancelled in the lower grades, but sports make money at the high school level because parents pay to see their kids play. If only other things were so well funded. My neighborhood association donated pens, writing paper, and other products to our middle and high school at Christmas this year. So, your words really rang true with me.

Your face is wonderful, and living truly IS easy when you don't face reality OR the future, for that matter. Great art and lovely lesson.

Rika said...

stunning page!

Pamellia said...

Beautiful page Chris, I love the inspiration for this as much as the page itself. It's not just the education system that's failing the children, I feel like parents aren't paying attention any more either. They use video games and ipads as babysitters, and they use computers as a substitute for hands on experience. Wikipedia is NOT the answer to life! It's sad to watch. happy weekend. hugs :)

Marjut said...

Wonderful page.

Unknown said...

Sorry I've not stopped by for awhile hun! Love this page and that gorgeous face... WOW, she looks incredible!!

Hope you're well hun xx

catherine said...

Fabulous page Chris and love the quote. Loved reading your story behind it all. Yes and hopefully it won't be too long before you can head up my way and we can finally say hello!!! Hope your feeling ok
x catherine

cotnob said...

This is fabulous, such a wonderful drawing and I have to agree with the thoughts behind it.
Pauline
x

Almo said...

Great page Chris and one that has so much meaning to it, I love your strawberry hearts. Your post takes me back to doing the beatles tour as a coach driver where we visited the gates of Strawberry Fields and pulled in at the bus stop on Penny Lane where the song was written. All I remember about domestic science is the cookery classes. Mo x

Anonymous said...

Chris
It is so beautiful that you created such a personal page and one which has multiple meanings. No need to apologise for the rant, there is nothing quite like a wee rant now and then LOL and it just shows that you care passionately about that topic.
Beautiful art and I so love the face you created.
Wishes
Lynne

Karla B said...

Chris, what a gorgeous page, my friend!

hazel said...

I love your page and loved reading your memories - I'm glad my theme is inspiring you.
xxx Hazel.

Little Artbee said...

Such a nice face with the strawberry hearts. I like it!
Have a good new week.
Greetings
Sabine

sheila 77 said...

You've made such a very pretty face. I like her hairstyle too.
Nice rant about education now, I always enjoy a good rant.

Linda Kunsman said...

such a really lovely face and page Chris! I think a good rant especially when it comes to education is a good thing:)

Words and Pictures said...

What a beautiful face and a thoughtful page and post - a good rant is definitely necessary now and then!
Alison x

sarascloset said...

Faces are so hard to draw, but you did good, Chris! Love the rant. Seems like a good thing to have students take a child for a day, so they can see what it's like. Of course you never know how to handle things until you actually come face to face with a situation. My kids did not come with an instruction manual, and I've scratched my head a time or two. Hugs!