Thursday, March 23, 2023

Friday Face OFF 3/24/23

 Hi Everyone!

Welcome to FFO. This is the place to show off any type of face in any medium. 

I did get some drawing done this week. So much is going on in my life that I just wanted to draw. Drawing takes me away. Makes me focus on the lines instead of whatever is going on.

This is the first one. I really like her face.

The second one was fun and I played with different techniques to see how they would turn out.
 
I also got 2 more Witche's Bells finished. These are larger, 5" grapevines. I have 2 more to go and I will be finished.

There is so much history on bells that it would be difficult to write about all of it here. The earliest archaeological evidence of bells dates from the 3rd millennium BC, and is traced to the Yangshao culture of Neolithic China. Clapper-bells made of pottery have been found in several archaeological sites. The pottery bells later developed into metal bells. In West Asia, the first bells appear in 1000 BC.

 It seems that every culture, religion and belief system have a connection to bells. They all believed they did the same thing. The ringing of bells got rid of evil spirits, negative energy and of course the Church rang them to get rid of witches. In many cultures bells are put into jewelry, sewn onto childrens clothing, and of course put on animal collars. All for protection. Shopkeepers hung bells over their thresholds, not so much to alert them to the entry of customers but to keep evil spirits from entering their premises. Gremlin Bells, Guardian Bells, or Spirit Bells, are a good luck charm for motorcycle riders. The bell is said to protect them on their travels. It is attached to the lowest part of the frame. So you see having bells in your home, your car, your buisness, or maybe just wearing a small bell will keep the negative away from you. 
 
Now for the featured artist. I am so thankful for the number generator. As I have said before I could not make the choice. Everyone is so talented.

I am also linking with Gillena
Now it's your turn to show me your face.
Nicole 

31 comments:

kathyinozarks said...

Good evening, I enjoyed the history of the bells-didn't know some of it, like the church's bells keeping the witches away. Happy Friday and weekend. Lots of rain coming down here at moment
Hugs from the Lake

Iris Flavia said...

The first drawing is absolutely stunning!
Yes, I know what you mean. After a tough day at work sketching calms me down (but I also resumed training).
I just had a look - our dreamcatcher has no bells but a little wind chime.
Not the same.
Thank you for the explanations, Nicole. I always thought bells on stores´ doors are to alert the staff! Same with cats!
I´ll keep my eyes open for bells.
To a happy Friday!

Christine said...

Outstanding faces Nicole! They seem even better as you escape into your art.

Valerie-Jael said...

Bells are fascinating. In London we lived near a bell foundry where they had been aking bells for nearly 1000 years. Lovely sketches, too! Hugs, Valerie

kwarkito said...

Thanks for all these interesting informations about bells. I like your drawings too. Have a nice week-end

sirkkis said...

Hi, Nicole!
Your woman drawing is one of your best, I think.
The doorbells are great and they have fantastic history beyond as you wrote.
I wish your weekend is enjoyable xx

David M. Gascoigne, said...

You really do capture some amazing expressions on your faces.

Rostrose said...

Dear Nicole, it was very interesting what you shared about bells! I never thought about the protective effect of bells - except when I put a bell on our cat's collar: to protect birds, because Nina was a good hunter and thanks to the bell the birds could hear her in time and flee...
I love your drawings ❤️ - you observe wonderfully and bring a lot of personality into your pictures.
Much love and have a nice weekend!
Hugs, Traude 😘
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/03/costa-rica-9-kapitel-nationalpark.html

Rostrose said...

PS: In my post you can decide whether you prefer (for example) the monkey faces, the faces of the anteater or the coatis or e.g. the fallen termite nest that looks like a skull ;-)

My name is Erika. said...

You really can draw a face Nicole.Both drawings came out great, as did your witches' bells. I loved reading about the history of the bells. That's really fascinating. Have a great Friday and weekend ahead. hugs-Erika

Gillena Cox said...

Amazing art Nicole. Happy Friday.

Much💜love

Tom said...

...being busy beats the alternatives.

baili said...

such a beautiful post dear Nichole !!!!!!!

I LOVED your both face ,incredible and charged with Powerful expressions ,first one must be difficult ,she is stunning ,elegant seems to have selfesteem :) yes So real and impressive she is !
second face is also poignant and intriguing ,again so real !

you are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

glad you created such remarkable pieces :)

bells i find here rarely in our culture i think . though i remember bell voices hanging on the front door .but it was only one house where an old woman would live alone ,must be late eighties but strong ,i would go to bring her water pot from tubewell .i heard and saw carelessly bells hanging on wooden roof .but i wonder why i did not ask her why they were there the answer must have been interesting :)
health ,peace and joy to you and loved ones!

Gene Black said...

Interesting information about the use of bells.
I am fine, I just didn't have a face to share this week.

Mae Travels said...

Bells are very interesting. I learned quite a lot from your little history of how they have been used in many cultures. I love wind chimes when I walk around my neighborhood, though when I put them on my own porch, the neighbors are unhappy with the noise.

best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Lovely work
This week drawing was replaced by spring cleaning.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I like your faces and thanks for the great info on bells!

Giorgio said...

History I didn't know! I like your 1st drawing. And interesting info about the bells :-)

Have a nice weekend!

Divers and Sundry said...

I do like that first face especially! I looked for a postcard with a face on it, thinking surely I'd see an Elvis face on one, but no luck. Alas!

I have a few bells but none in the car. I'll fix that :)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I was SURE I left you a comment last night, but I don't see it here now. My sincere apologies. Maybe it's in your spam folder. Regardless, I adore those drawings. The first one is especially beautiful and the man shows his age. LVE them both.

What a fascinating story about the bells, Nicole. I knew NONE of this. You have made it understandable, too.

Have a super weekend and a great FFO, dear.

ashok said...

You ate amazing 👏

Cloudia said...

Thanks for the Bell info and Art!

Gillena Cox said...

Hi Nicole.
Thanks for linking to AFFF today at my blog.

Much💜love

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

Love the first face. Interesting info on the bells.

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

I love your drawings ... your faces are so perfect and capture the essence of the people you are sharing. Do you have someone in mind when you draw these faces? I have to have something to look at ... can't seem to pull the features out of my mind like my sister and mother used to do. I admire that ability, but also appreciate that it isn't easy to copy something you are looking at and really capture the essence. Love your bells and thank you for your information on the role of bells in our lives. I think I may have to find myself some bells to hang here ... are you by chance selling any of your Witch's Bells? If so let me know in a comment and we will negotiate a sale :)Hope you are well, Nicole and hope all that is going on that you are avoiding by drawing are things that can be managed :)

Andrea @ From the Sol

P.S. I find I have a hard time keeping up with the comments when I post on both FFO and TAD ... never seem to be able to make a quick, easy comment and the time gets away from me. If I should fail to comment when I post here, I will try to make it up another time :(

Andrea

Debra said...

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!" -It's a Wonderful Life (my fav movie of all time)

Your drawings are AMAZING. Please keep drawing!
And I'm prayin' for ya...

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Thanks for the sweet, interesting info about bells. I read some of it aloud to the Husband who was clueless like me. Your faces are amazing. They have stories to tell. I especially like the woman.

carol l mckenna said...

Oh Thank you so much for featuring A ShutterBug Explores ~ Xo

Your portraits are awesome and I do so love the witches creations ~ thanks

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

peppylady (Dora) said...

Well done on faces.
Coffee is on and stay safe.

Lowcarb team member said...

I like your drawings.
Many thanks for all the interesting information about bells.

Enjoy the remainder of the weekend and my good wishes for the new week ahead.

All the best Jan

NatureFootstep said...

Your first drawing of the lady are my favorite. It´s wonderful. :)