“WORKING TOGETHER”

March 15th 2017

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Liberty & Justice

As we are now 50 Days into the “Presidency” of this unmentionable chump, here is an open letter (shared courtesy of Facebook):


THIS IS WHERE I STAND:

The 45th President, his power hungry cronies taking positions of authority in his Cabinet and administration, and the majority of Republicans in Congress are a real and active threat to me, my way of life, and all or most of the people I love.
Some people are saying that we should give Trump a chance, that we should “work together” with him because he won the election and he is “everyone’s president.” This is my response:

•I will not forget how badly he and so many others treated former President Barack Obama for 8 years…Lies about his legitimacy and hatred for his principles and his attempts to work within the system.
•I will not “work together” to privatize Medicare, cut Social Security and Medicaid.
•I will not “work together” to build a wall.
•I will not “work together” to persecute Muslims.
•I will not “work together” to shut out refugees from other countries.
•I will not “work together” to lower taxes on the 1% and increase taxes on the middle class and poor.
•I will not “work together” to help Trump use the Presidency to line his pockets and those of his family and cronies.
•I will not “work together” to weaken and demolish environmental protection.
•I will not “work together” to sell American lands, especially National Parks, to companies which then despoil those lands.
•I will not “work together” to enable the killing of whole species of animals just because they are predators, or inconvenient for a few, or because some people want to get their thrills killing them.
•I will not “work together” to remove civil rights from anyone.
•I will not “work together” to alienate countries that have been our allies for as long as I have been alive.
•I will not “work together” to slash funding for education.
•I will not “work together” to take basic assistance from people who are at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
•I will not “work together” to get rid of common sense regulations on guns.
•I will not “work together” to eliminate the minimum wage.
•I will not “work together” to support so-called “Right To Work” laws, or undermine, weaken or destroy Unions in any way.
•I will not “work together” to suppress scientific research, be it on climate change, fracking, or any other issue where a majority of scientists agree that Trump and his supporters are wrong on the facts.
•I will not “work together” to criminalize abortion or restrict health care for women.
•I will not “work together” to increase the number of nations that have nuclear weapons.
•I will not “work together” to put even more “big money” into politics.
•I will not “work together” to violate the Geneva Convention.
•I will not “work together” to give the Ku Klux Klan, the Nazi Party and white supremacists a seat at the table, or to normalize their hatred.
•I will not “work together” to deny health care to people who need it.
•I will not “work together” to deny medical coverage to people on the basis of a “pre-existing condition.”
•I will not “work together” to increase voter suppression.
•I will not “work together” to normalize tyranny.
I will not “work together” to eliminate or reduce ethical oversight at any level of government.
•I will not “work together” with anyone who is, or admires, tyrants and dictators.
•I will not support anyone that thinks its OK to put a pipeline to transport oil on Sacred Ground for Native Americans. And, it would run under the Missouri River, which provides drinking water for millions of people. An accident waiting to happen.
I will not “work together” to legitimize racism, sexism, and authoritarianism.
This is my line, and I am drawing it.
•I WILL stand for honesty, love, respect for all living beings, and for the beating heart that is the center of Life itself.
•I WILL use my voice and my hands, to reach out to the uninformed, and to anyone who will LISTEN:
That “winning”, “being great again”, “rich” or even “beautiful” is nothing… When others are sacrificed to glorify its existence.
Signed

Jennifer Oberhauser
Ronlin Foreman
Donlin Foreman
Rod Wenzel
Valerie Crawford
Sharon Mounu Riddell
Joseph R. Mobley Jr.
Vince Kanai Dodge
Alyce Dodge
Paula Nagao
Debbie Shimizu
Jessica Caress
Vince A Aquino
Rafael Escalona Reynoso
Lisa M. Pasternak
Amy Stevenson Kozlowski
Kammi Young Berens
SoberboB Swanson
Christy Laitinen
Deb Pascoe
Abbey Hauswirth
Daniel Kwiatkowski
Abby Lee
Joe Harrell
Chris Benfante
Theresa Benfante
Diane Lesley
Andrea Fiondo
Kathrine Iacofano
Susan Goldberg
Debbie Slavkin
Linda Rosefsky
Rebecca Tortorice
Anna Konya
Karen Redding
Wendy Lemlin
Patricia Rollins Trosclair
Andrea Dora Zysk
George Georgakis
John Christopher
John Bowles
Patrick St.Louis
Carla Patrick
Darnell Bender
Vickie Davis
JMichael Carter
Janice Frazier-Scott
Rev. ELaura James Reid
Jeanette Bouknight
Rev. Dollie Howell Pankey
Gerald Butler
Carolyn McDougle
Vaughn Chatman
Adrienne Brown
Gary Trousdale
Steven E Gordon
Isis Nocturne
Debi Murray
Maureen O. Betita
Mona Enderli
Fernie James Tamblin
Myrna Dodgion
Alan Locklear
Tom Wilmore
Jackie Evans
Donna Endres
Lora Fountain
Roberta Gregory
Heather A Mayhew
Stevo Wehr
Nathan Stivers
Jen RaLee
Joan Holden
Leigh Lutz
Deborah Kirkpatrick
Linda Levy
Tom Rue
Nancy Hoffmann-Allison
Beejay McCabe
Michael James Myers
Edward T. Spire
Rupert Chapman
Dawn R. Dunbar
Robin Wilson
Monique Boutot
Laura Brown 💪🏼
Susan Aptaker
Steve Katz
Bonnie Wolk
Risa Guttman-Kornwitz
Angela Gora
Butch Norman
Sharon Tolman
Sue Zislis
Maurice Hirsch
Satch Dobrey
Jim Krapf
Don Starwalt
Deb Johansen
Daniel Anderson
Diane Kenney
Rebecca Koop
Nancy Shuert
Bill Pryor
Patrick Lamb
Bob Travaglione
Margaret Ragan
Martha Peters
Steve Wilson
Lauren Sullivan
Scott Bevan
Roger Saunden
Susanne Lavelle
Benita Yimsuan
Kathryn Scarano
Kathleen E Neff
Evey G Quines
Debbie Dey
John Dennehy, Jr.
Marsha Vaughn
Adam Sklena
Larry David McGregor Blumenthal
Gustavo Rodriguez
ARJ Alva Freeman
Yvette Ellard
Rory Thayer Wilson
Wayne Booth
Streven King
Phyllis Vlach Adrian
Sandy Miller Castellano
Nick Strippoli
Ben Papapietro
Renae Perry
Isaac Gabaeff
Katherine Anne O’Shea
Brian R. Quattrini
Tammy Long
Jeffrey Murray
Robin Schempp
Laura Schimoler Reed
Kenn Marash
Betsy Joyce
Peg Rees Smith
Skip Bushby.
Nancy Winne
Georgia Cosgrove
Jeff Turley
Mary Ann McDonnell
Jim O,Connor
Johan Vastiau
Wil Tucker
Michael Wright
Chris Keogan
Sean Meyer
Carol Wallack
Jim Senhauser
Sandra D. Marshall
Karen Topin
Joan Pikas
Barbara Engel
Credell Walls
Marla Renee
Michele Jones
Angela Hollis
Charlotte House
Ryan Sims
Joyce Arcala Sims
Diane Dixon-Scott
Audrey Hamilton
Cozmic Theo
Bambi woosley 🦄
Kaycee Phillips ✌️
Wayne Bow

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Snow Day News – Extra Extra

Tuesday, March 14th 2017

During this wet and windy snow-day blizzard, among other things:

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Minecraft Sweeper Fashion

Gavin got a new sweatshirt;

Boys went out to play;

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Blizzard Storm Troopers

The cat hid;

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Peter Parker Camoflauge

And DaddyLove  “organized”  the fridge:

2017-03-14 CLEANING OUT THE FRIDGE [44 seconds]:


Posted in childhood, comedy, domestic life, family, food, health, love, Mindfulness, nature, parenthood, patience, work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

Face Painting – A Study in SHREK

 

Monday, March 13, 2017

Fresh from the face painting convention (ok maybe hungover and bedraggled), here I go with painting the characters for my nephew’s school production of SHREK this week.  And what kismet I happen to have hardly any other gigs.

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Shrek:  

 

 


Fiona:  

 


Puss in Boots:

 



Donkey: 

 


 

Dragon:

 


 

Wicked Witch:

 


 

Big Bad Wolf:

 


 

Shark:

 


Ninja Turtle:

 

 


 

Pirate:


 

Pinocchio: 

 


 

Three Little Pigs:  

3 pigss

 


 

Mama Bear:  

 


 

Baby Bear: 

 


 

Woodland Creatures – Chipmunk: 

 


 

Woodland Creatures – Squirrel:

 


 

Woodland Creatures – Raccoon:

 


THEATRE MAKEUP.  OUTLINE THE EYES.  BEND YOUR KNEES.

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Silence and Privilege

March 13th 2017

From my friend Corey Morgan, because he says it well and it can’t be said enough:


Trump Supporters: You want to know why Corey Morgan Captain America.jpgthe label of racist/bigot/xenophobe is pasted on you for supporting Trump? And you want to know why I have no sympathy for your whining about being called such, even if you aren’t a racist?

It’s because VIRTUALLY all of you remain SILENT when Trump, his cabinet, his surrogates, and his other supporters say racist, bigoted and xenophobic things. YOU REFUSE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT. And that is tantamount to your tacit APPROVAL of those statements and actions. 

I had no problem speaking out against those things that I disagreed with President Obama about. Same with Hillary and Bernie. Same with certain ways that people were protesting over the last few years. And I’ve taken heat for my stances. BUT AT LEAST I STOOD UP AND SPOKE OUT.

But you CHOOSE to be silent damn near EVERY TIME Trump or his people say something or do something offnsive. You are SILENT when he picks white nationalists to work in his campaign, and then in his administration. You were silent when swastikas were painted all over town. You’re silent when he lies. EVERY.DAMN.DAY. You’re silent when Kellyanne lies. You’re silent when Spicer lies.

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WERE
AND
STILL
ARE
SILENT.

You don’t get to stand in a crowd of bigots and not be labeled as one, if you don’t have the courage to speak out against it. So either stop complaining and wear the label in that same safe, protective silence and privilege that you’ve been enjoying, or take the damn label off, by speaking out against those things you CLAIM to not be in favor of.

Corey Morgan Mic Drop

Corey Morgan is a among other things a friend, father, face painter, cosplayed and beautiful human being. 

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Face Painting – Starblend Magic

Saturday, March 11th 2017 – East Coast Face Painting Convention, Manchester CT

Day Three, Class 1: Starblends with the Kilpatricks

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This class was notable for the unicorn fairy that followed me in and played under the table with her new collection of gems.

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Perhaps this is her secret to making it this far into the day at the Face Painting convention without being painted yet.


Also I am overflowing (and the BLOG is not behaving, aHEM), so I am letting go of notes.  Here be the photos:

BUNNY, PANDA, COW: 

 


PIKACHU MASK, HELLO KITTY MASK: 

 


“SAW,” PIRATE, SCARY CLOWN: 

 


Posted in art, education, making art, parenthood, work, work-life balance | 1 Comment

Face Painting – Bling’s the Thing

Friday, March 10th 2017 – East Coast Face Painting Convention, Manchester CT

Day Two, Class 2: BLING FOR BOYS & GIRLS with Laura Oliver

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KITTY: 

 

 


PEACOCK PRINCESS CROWN: 

 


METAL ROBOT EYE: 

 


MERMAID SEASHELL PRINCESS: 

 


SPIDERMAN BLING MASK: 

 


♦◊♦

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Face Painting – Paw Patrol

Friday, March 10th 2017 – East Coast Face Painting Convention, Manchester CT

Day Two, Class One:  Paw Patrol with Melina Kilpatrick & Co.

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SKY: 

 


CHASE: 

 


MARSHALL: 

 


RUMBLE: 

 


And there are two more as well, dang it.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

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Face Painting – Black Attack with Dutch

Thursday, March 9th 2017 – East Coast Face Painting Convention, Manchester CT

Day One, Class 4: Illustrative Brush Strokes with Dutch Bihary

 

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Dutch Bihary of “Skin Wars” fame.


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After touching on materials (such as the ?”797″ or “795” brush), palette of paint cakes (he uses aluminum wedding favor tins and pots them himself), the anatomy of the brush and how to load it, he got right down to business.

 


Using our own paper & black, he had us paint right in class.  Here are my attempts at

Illustrator’s Eyes (heroine, hero, baby, villain and cat):

 


Dutch’s FERN LEAVES:

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Fern leaves by Dutch; natural & unnatural (and tribal Z’s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thick-to-thin teardrop strokes for top fronds and dagger strokes for bottom ones, gah;

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Frond Practice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Tribal Stuff:

“The balance of negative space tells the story.”  ~ Dutch Bihary


 

Facial structure:

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—-  templar ridge

—–  cheekbone

—— jaw line


Teardrops, swirls… and magic:

(Upward turned swirls emote beauty and happiness; downturned swirls suggest oldness and sadness.)


A mind turning experience.

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Oh and the secret is gazillion amounts of practice.  I knew it.


 

 

 

 

 

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Face Painting – Color Theory

Thursday, March 9th 2017 – East Coast Face Painting Convention, Manchester CT

Day One, Class 3: Color Theory with Whitney Myers

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Analagous (adjacent) vs.                 Complimentary (contrasting) Colors

 


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  For a happier look, lighter colors angle towards the inside of the eye.  (Opposite for angrier look.)

•  Don’t always outline in black!

•  After applying base layer, highlight with analogous color, then accent with complimentary color. Eg; green monster, yellow highlights and magenta horns etc.

•  Recommended brands:  Sponge with Kryolan, Brush with Global

 

 

 


A Green Monster:

 

Pay attention to the focal point with your strokes; in towards the eye.


On the business side:

• Pay attention to where/how you are advertising vs. what kinds of clients you wish to target.  (e.g.; “free” events vs. corporate).

•  Cold calls work!  In fact if you are the first person to call offering something they need then they are relieved to book you.

• Especially if you use LinkedIn to identify who the marketing director is of a certain firm; then when you call them you can ask for them by name and get right through because they think you know them.


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•  For fast paced gigs just have a menu with “3 boys and 3 girls” on a piece of laminated paper.

•  Color matters!  “Crap line work on vibrant color can still be amazing,” and with
no added cost or time.

•  Remember your focal point. (Angle towards the eyes.)

 


• Master your dagger stroke!   (aka: 5T x2)

 


“Boy Tiger”:

 


Cat!”

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And finally, the One Eye Butterfly & One Eye-Eating Dinosaur:


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Face Painting: Superheroes with Corey

Thursday, March 9th 2017 – East Coast Face Painting Convention, Manchester CT

Day One, Class 2: Superheroes with Corey Morgan

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Corey  and Crew


SUPERMAN:


TRANSFORMER “Bumblebee”:


HARLEY QUINN:

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This was done with a material called “Starblend” that is a like a dry cross between eye shadow and paint (adding to my arsenal STAT).


BATMAN/SUPERMAN:


HULK:


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