Portrait of An Unknown Girl
I believe it was in late December when I drew this portrait. In the past, I have never been able to draw people because they can be very difficult. So I tended to stay away from that part of art and just focus on doing landscapes, nature and architects. However, those often become stranious and I have always wanted to know how to draw people. Therefore, I bought this one book from Chapters called The Fundamentals of Drawing and their was a section on portrait drawings. I decided to go for it and draw a portrait. This is my first successful portrait drawing, even though I do not believe this person actually exists. Fare thee well.
And The Oscar Goes To....
The 79th Academy Award Nominations
It's Oscar time again and the nominations are out and open for the world to read. This year, the Academy Awards decided to go international, with Best Pictures taking place in Britain- The Queen, Japan- Letters from Iwa Jima and the Middle East-Babel. Also, Canada has been recognized for their acting- Ryan Grosling and once again, foreign film-Water. The Academy Awards have given Martin Scorceses his fifth nomination, with zero wins, for his film The Departed. Hopefully, the Academy decides to hail him as best director, instead of hailing him as one of the biggest failure in Hollywood. The 79th Academy Awards are held on February 25, so do not miss them. Here are the nominees:
1. Best Picture: "Babel," "The Departed," "Letters From Iwo Jima," "Little Miss Sunshine," "The Queen." 2. Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond"; Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson"; Peter O'Toole, "Venus"; Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness"; Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland." 3. Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Volver"; Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal"; Helen Mirren, "The Queen"; Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Kate Winslet, "Little Children."
4. Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Jackie Earle Haley, "Little Children"; Djimon Hounsou, "Blood Diamond"; Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"; Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed." 5. Supporting Actress: Adriana Barraza, "Babel"; Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal"; Abigail Breslin, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"; Rinko Kikuchi, "Babel."
6. Directing: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Babel"; Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"; Clint Eastwood, "Letters From Iwo Jima"; Stephen Frears, "The Queen"; Paul Greengrass, "United 93."
7. Foreign Language Film: "After the Wedding," Denmark; "Days of Glory (Indigenes)," Algeria; "The Lives of Others," Germany; "Pan's Labyrinth," Mexico; "Water," Canada. 8. Adapted Screenplay: Sacha Baron Cohen and Anthony Hines and Peter Baynham and Dan Mazer and Todd Phillips, "Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"; Alfonso Cuaron and Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, "Children of Men"; William Monahan, "The Departed"; Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, "Little Children"; Patrick Marber, "Notes on a Scandal."
9. Original Screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga, "Babel"; Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis, "Letters From Iwo Jima"; Michael Arndt, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Guillermo del Toro, "Pan's Labyrinth"; Peter Morgan, "The Queen."
10. Animated Feature Film: "Cars," "Happy Feet," "Monster House." 11. Art Direction: "Dreamgirls," "The Good Shepherd," "Pan's Labyrinth," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "The Prestige."
12. Cinematography: "The Black Dahlia," "Children of Men," "The Illusionist," "Pan's Labyrinth," "The Prestige." 13. Sound Mixing: "Apocalypto," "Blood Diamond," "Dreamgirls," "Flags of Our Fathers," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
14. Sound Editing: "Apocalypto," "Blood Diamond," "Flags of Our Fathers," "Letters From Iwo Jima," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
15. Original Score: "Babel," Gustavo Santaolalla; "The Good German," Thomas Newman; "Notes on a Scandal," Philip Glass; "Pan's Labyrinth," Javier Navarrete; "The Queen," Alexandre Desplat.
16. Original Song: "I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth," Melissa Etheridge; "Listen" from "Dreamgirls," Henry Krieger, Scott Cutler and Anne Preven; "Love You I Do" from "Dreamgirls," Henry Krieger and Siedah Garrett; "Our Town" from "Cars," Randy Newman; "Patience" from "Dreamgirls," Henry Krieger and Willie Reale.
17. Costume: "Curse of the Golden Flower," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Dreamgirls," "Marie Antoinette," "The Queen."
18. Documentary Feature: "Deliver Us From Evil," "An Inconvenient Truth," "Iraq in Fragments," "Jesus Camp," "My Country, My Country."
19. Documentary (short subject): "The Blood of Yingzhou District," "Recycled Life," "Rehearsing a Dream," "Two Hands." 20. Film Editing: "Babel," "Blood Diamond," "Children of Men," "The Departed," "United 93." 21. Makeup: "Apocalypto," "Click," "Pan's Labyrinth."
22. Animated Short Film: "The Danish Poet," "Lifted," "The Little Matchgirl," "Maestro," "No Time for Nuts."
23. Live Action Short Film: "Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)," "Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)," "Helmer & Son," "The Saviour," "West Bank Story." 24. Visual Effects: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "Poseidon," "Superman Returns." Academy Award winners previously announced this year: HONORARY AWARD (Oscar statuette): Ennio Morricone JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD (Oscar statuette): Sherry Lansing
A Golden Night for "The Queen".
As most of you know, last night was the 64th Annual Golden Globes. The night was full of surprises, with Leonardo Dicaprio losing best actor in both The Departed and Blood Diamond to Forest Whitaker, Ugly Betty winning best TV Series:Musical or Comedy, Eddie Murphey winning best supporting actor for DreamGirls and many more. This year was entirely as exciting as previous years, but there where a few comical speeches from Sacha Baron Cohen, Warren Beatty and of course Maryl Streep(in which was her 6th Golden Globe win). However, the night truly went to Helen Mirren for winning Best Actress in a Mini-Series and Best Actress for her portrayal for both Queen Elizabeth 1 and Queen Elizabeth 2. Here are the winners of last nights Golden Globes:
Best Picture in a Motion Film
BABEL
Released domestically by Paramount Pictures
Rated R.
DIRECTOR: Alejandro González Iñárritu
STARRING: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal, Paul Terrell Clayton, Koji Yakusho, Elle Fanning, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi
Best Picture in a Musical or Comedy
DREAMGIRLS
Released domestically by DreamWorks Pictures
Rated PG-13 for language, some sexuality and drug content.
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
STARRING: Beyoncé Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Usher Raymond, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, Keith Robinson, John Krasinski, Ken Page, Anika Noni Rose, Jaleel White
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Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)
Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)
Sacha Baron Cohen - Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
Best Director
Martin Scorsese - The Departed
Best Animated Film
Cars
Best Foreign Language Film
Letters from Iwo Jima
Best Screenplay
The Queen
Peter Morgan
Best Original Score
The Painted Veil
Best Television Series (Drama)
"Grey's Anatomy"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Drama)
Hugh Laurie - "House M.D."
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Drama)
Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer"
Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy)
"Ugly Betty"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy)
Alec Baldwin - "30 Rock"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy)
America Ferrera - "Ugly Betty"
Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
"Elizabeth I"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Jeremy Irons - "Elizabeth I"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Bill Nighy - "Gideon's Daughter"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Helen Mirren - "Elizabeth I"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Emily Blunt - "Gideon's Daughter"
Warren Beatty
*The Cecil B. deMille Award is a special award given out each year by the Hollywood Foreign Press. To learn more about this award and the man who inspired it click the link below.
Learn more about the Cecil B. deMille Award
Christmas A Humbug?
Last night, on the eve of Christmas Eve, I decided to read Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Now, practically the whole world knows the story of Mr.Scrooge and his three ghosts, so I will not go into very much detail. I do admitt, after reading the story (in one sitting with a good cup of tea) that I will no longer be a scrooge and will celebrate this Christmas with good will and to be jolly! At the beginning of the season, I was in the worst mood ever. I simply could get myself into the Christmas spirit and instead of saying Merry Christmas, it was more like "bah humbug". However, people can change, for as Mr.Scrooge first believed at the beginning of the novel during the Christmas season:
"If I could work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly, “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!"
at the end, Mr. Scrooge changed his beliefs and became:
"Scrooge was better than his word . . . . He became as good a friend, as good a master, as good a man as the good old City knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world".
Therefore, on this day, do not be a scrooge and think Christmas a humbug. Instead, turn your thoughts into good cheer, for as Tiny Tim said in his famous quote "God bless us everyone!".
Happy Christmas and always remember to eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow may be your last. Fare thee well.
64 Annual Golden Globe Awards
Two days ago, the Golden Globe nominations were finally presented to the world. Now, the Golden Globes are not as important as the Academy Awards, but compared to the rest of the Film Critic awards, its a huge predictions as to whom will take home the Oscar. Although, two years in a row the Golden Globes have been incorrect for the Best Picture award. In 2004, The Aviator brought the Golden Globe home, whereas Million Dollar Baby recieved Best Picture. The same as last year when Brokeback Mountain won for the Golden Globe, but Crash got the Academy Award.I am disappointed in myself because I have not seen any of the movies that are nominated this year...better start renting. Here are the nominees:
Best Picture for Drama: Babel, Bobby, The Departed, Litte Children and The Queen.
Best Picture for Comedy or Musical: Borat, The Devil Wears Prada, DreamGirls, Little Miss Sunshine and Thank You For Smoking.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Nominees:
Leonardo DiCaprio for Blood Diamond (2006)
Leonardo DiCaprio for The Departed (2006)
Peter O'Toole for Venus (2006/I)
Will Smith for The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Nominees:
Penélope Cruz for Volver (2006/I)
Judi Dench for Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Maggie Gyllenhaal for SherryBaby (2006)
Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006)
Kate Winslet for Little Children (2006)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Nominees:
Sacha Baron Cohen for Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Johnny Depp for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
Aaron Eckhart for Thank You for Smoking (2005)
Chiwetel Ejiofor for Kinky Boots (2005)
Will Ferrell for Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Nominees:
Annette Bening for Running with Scissors (2006)
Toni Collette for Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Beyoncé Knowles for Dreamgirls (2006)
Meryl Streep for The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Renée Zellweger for Miss Potter (2006)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Nominees:
Ben Affleck for Hollywoodland (2006)
Eddie Murphy for Dreamgirls (2006)
Jack Nicholson for The Departed (2006)
Brad Pitt for Babel (2006)
Mark Wahlberg for The Departed (2006)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Nominees:
Adriana Barraza for Babel (2006)
Cate Blanchett for Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Emily Blunt for The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006)
Rinko Kikuchi for Babel (2006)
Best Director - Motion Picture
Nominees:
Clint Eastwood for Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Clint Eastwood for Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Stephen Frears for The Queen (2006)
Alejandro González Iñárritu for Babel (2006)
Martin Scorsese for The Departed (2006)
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Nominees:
Babel (2006): Guillermo Arriaga
The Departed (2006): William Monahan
Little Children (2006): Todd Field, Tom Perrotta
Notes on a Scandal (2006): Patrick Marber
The Queen (2006): Peter Morgan
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Nominees:
Bobby (2006)("Never Gonna Break My Faith")
Dreamgirls (2006)("Listen")
Happy Feet (2006)("The Song of the Heart")
Home of the Brave (2006)("Try Not to Remember")
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)("A Father's Way")
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Nominees:
Babel (2006): Gustavo Santaolalla
The Da Vinci Code (2006): Hans Zimmer
The Fountain (2006): Clint Mansell
Nomad (2005/II): Carlo Siliotto
The Painted Veil (2006): Alexandre Desplat
Best Foreign Language Film
Nominees:
Apocalypto (2006)
Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006)
Leben der Anderen, Das (2006)
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Volver (2006/I)
Best Animated Film
Nominees:
Cars (2006)
Happy Feet (2006)
Monster House (2006)
Best Television Series - Drama
Nominees:
"24" (2001)
"Big Love" (2006)
"Grey's Anatomy" (2005)
"Heroes" (2006/II)
"Lost" (2004)
Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Nominees:
"Desperate Housewives" (2004)
"Entourage" (2004)
"The Office" (2005)
"Ugly Betty" (2006)
"Weeds" (2005)
Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Nominees:
"Bleak House" (2005)
"Broken Trail" (2006) (mini)
Elizabeth I (2005) (TV)
Mrs. Harris (2005) (TV)
Prime Suspect: The Final Act (2006) (TV)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Nominees:
Andre Braugher for "Thief" (2006)
Robert Duvall for "Broken Trail" (2006) (mini)
Michael Ealy for "Sleeper Cell" (2005)
Chiwetel Ejiofor for Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006) (TV)
Ben Kingsley for Mrs. Harris (2005) (TV)
Bill Nighy for Gideon's Daughter (2005) (TV)
Matthew Perry for The Ron Clark Story (2006) (TV)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Nominees:
Gillian Anderson for "Bleak House" (2005)
Annette Bening for Mrs. Harris (2005) (TV)
Helen Mirren for Elizabeth I (2005) (TV)
Helen Mirren for Prime Suspect: The Final Act (2006) (TV)
Sophie Okonedo for Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006) (TV)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Nominees:
Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock" (2006)
Zach Braff for "Scrubs" (2001)
Steve Carell for "The Office" (2005)
Jason Lee for "My Name Is Earl" (2005)
Tony Shalhoub for "Monk" (2002)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Nominees:
Marcia Cross for "Desperate Housewives" (2004)
America Ferrera for "Ugly Betty" (2006)
Felicity Huffman for "Desperate Housewives" (2004)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus for "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (2006)
Mary-Louise Parker for "Weeds" (2005)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Nominees:
Patrick Dempsey for "Grey's Anatomy" (2005)
Michael C. Hall for "Dexter" (2006)
Hugh Laurie for "House M.D." (2004)
Bill Paxton for "Big Love" (2006)
Kiefer Sutherland for "24" (2001)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Nominees:
Patricia Arquette for "Medium" (2005)
Edie Falco for "The Sopranos" (1999)
Evangeline Lilly for "Lost" (2004)
Ellen Pompeo for "Grey's Anatomy" (2005)
Kyra Sedgwick for "The Closer" (2005)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Nominees:
Thomas Haden Church for "Broken Trail" (2006) (mini)
Jeremy Irons for Elizabeth I (2005) (TV)
Justin Kirk for "Weeds" (2005)
Masi Oka for "Heroes" (2006/II)
Jeremy Piven for "Entourage" (2004)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Nominees:
Emily Blunt for Gideon's Daughter (2005) (TV)
Toni Collette for Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006) (TV)
Katherine Heigl for "Grey's Anatomy" (2005)
Sarah Paulson for "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (2006)
Elizabeth Perkins for "Weeds" (2005)
Do not miss it!
A Comforting Thought
Now, I am not a huge fan of poetry, nor tend to pay much thought into the world of poetry. However, there is one poet who's work I simply adore, the great William Blake. Every morning, before I go off to work at Timmy Hoes for eight hours, I take some time to read a poem by William Blake. This morning I read this wonderful poem called The Chimney Sweeper, in which I wish to share with everyone who actually reads this blog:
The Chimney Sweeper(Songs of Innocence)
When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry " 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!"
So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.
There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head,
That curl'd llke a lamb's back. was shav'd: so I said
"Hush. Tom! never mind it, for when your head's bare
You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair."
And so he was quiet & that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight!
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned or Jack.
Were all of them lock'd up in coffins of black.
And by came an Angel who had a bright key,
And he open'd the coffins & set them all free;
Then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run,
And wash in a river. and shine in the Sun.
Then naked & white, all their bags left behind,
They rise upon clouds and sport in the wind;
And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy,
He'd have God for his father & never want joy.
And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark.
And got with our bags & our brushes to work.
Tho' the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm;
So if all do their duty they need not fear harm.
Is that not a comforting thought that at the end of your life, no matter how bad it is, there is hope of peace through death. Shakespeare's sonnets are still far better than any poem. Fare thee well.
