I turns out that as invigilators, we are forbidden from using laptops, writing in notebooks etc. however, we can draw in sketchbooks.
Invigilation sketches
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Downpipe
I’m stripping some downpipes on my house. They are under layers of thick, dark green paint. To make it easier, I’m using a gas blowtorch to soften the paint. I have to say – how satisfying. Remember when you were at school and you could paint PVA glue on your hands? You then waited for it to dry and then peeled it off. This DIY job is that satisfying!
However, there are two 2″ pipes in one corner that are split lengthwise. I have no idea why, perhaps they froze one winter (maybe that double winter of 2010). I need some kind of resin filler.
Music: MAPHRA
Here’s an unexpected addition to my listening routines. Maphra is a largely unknown* new singer who covers New Metal songs from some well-known groups (Bring Me The Horizoon, Linkin Park). The thing is, covers are often a charming interpretastion that are easy to talk about because we can compare with the originals.
Reaction Videos are a new thing for me, but I have found some gems recently, of which Maphra is one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6L-GUOAhGo
My subscription level on WordPress doesn’t allow me to embed videos. Here is a link to The Charismatic Voice run by Elizabeth Zharoff, a classically trained voice coack from a professional operatic career. She runs courses in voice training and music appreciation through voice. The best think I have learnt from her videos is gaining a l;anguage that enables me to alk about voice using some technical terms.
Anyway, try this:
Zharoff does her reviews over headphones but I prefer a traditional sterio system. With a downloaded file burnt onto CD I played it. In many ways the sound fidelity is dissapointing and only ressurected by Maphra’s stunning voice acrobatics. Having asked around about recordings with the central vocals stripped out, I go some suggestions on why the software that does it may be to blame for the backing sound quality. There’s no realistic stereo image and compression has hidden details and textures at times.
Still: Maphra is at the start of her music career, she’s very young but highly skilled. She easily switches register from rich low to soprano. Those shifts are adroitly times for emotional effect, Then there’s the growl. M can slide in gravelly texture and roar without pause. Other singers seem to need to rearrange their vocal tract before launching a scream. Maphra can layer and fade it in at will and with precision. The bands she covers, sometimes need two singers to cover the range maphra does by herself.
Here comes the frisson. Even after passing the point of over-playing, I still get gripped by shivers & tingles while listening, even in the car.
MAPHRA’s has added colour in my life.
Unfinished jobs.
DIY during the winter holiday.
This house needs endless work. I have many unfinished jobs on the go, staircase handrails; new radiators; render repairs; hall and landing decoration, and more.
This is a pigs-ear handrail, which means it’s a cross between a dado rail & a handrail. Mitering those corners has proven far more difficult than I expected. By 4pm it was obvious that it wouldn’t be complete by the end of the day. 4pm is sunset in end of December; and I was also getting tired, a situation ripe for errors. Cutting these handrails with their bevels takes a lot of thought and remeasuring. Mease twice & cut once as they say.
This started as a renovation of those downpipes. The joints leak and the paint is very flakey. Preparing and painting was very satisfying I must say. Anyway, the render in the area is ‘blown’ – which means the old layers are detached from the base. Perhaps water from the downpipe has lifted these areas. Here we are, very short days but at least there is a secure render coat. All it needs next is pebbles and masonry paint.
Music: Stephanie Lamprea
Avant Guarde soprano.
For vocal acrobatics in a contemporary classical world, try Récitation 11. The entire set Recitation is solo, written by a Greek composer and performed here by a Columbian American & sung in french. You figure how that came together, I don’t know.
I’ve had a difficult relationship with this piece for over a year since I bought the CD. There are 14 pieces altogether all constructed in the same way. The voice sweeps from subtle to extremes, often in a split second. Lampreas voice is very powerful and also sweet, clean and articulate. The ‘lyrics are probably nonsense but obviously based on French.
No.11 stands out for me. Here is a charming giggle that develops throughout that builds and builds. It’s become like an overexcited child whose excitement becomes overwhelming and they start crying. The mast moments in the track are overwhelmed. Wild.
Blown render (again).
December sunshine, 8°C,
While sealing the pipe joints, I found more blown render. It’s probably something caused by water from that pipe. The surface was loose but the layer adhering to the bricks is still firm.
Haunted Brush.
On a DofE trip last month one of the girls asked for a brush to sweep out their tent.
She didn’t like the idea of sweeping the grass out with her hands, they were quite posh kids so I went to the car to get my brush out while I hatched a story. With it in hand, I went back and explained.: I live in an old house that I bought from an old lady. When I moved in, it was all yellow inside, dusty and musty smelling. There were a few things that only old people would know about including a mangle. Picture the place with old fashoned things and dull faded carpets Oh, and this brush was there. So I handed it over and said that I thought the brush was probably haunted.
She darted her eyes at me with some suprise.
Monochrome acrylic
Painted on cheap sugar paper treated with sealant. The idea was to tear up the painting and reconstruct it. However, I’m not sure I have the nerve.
Cheap paint onto sugar paper.
I had some time spare before the end of school this week. I used it to prepare a number of sheets for painting. This one is 2 sheets of sugar paper layered together with wood glue. The painting side has that glue as a sealant.
One colour one hour
Acrylic in school sketchbook,
An invigilation sketch on A4 sketchbook.
Spirit of Turpentine 