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Beauty, Life-Deep
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"Beauty, Life-Deep" - oil on canvas, 20 x 20 x .5 inches. This item is unframed but ready to hang. (click on the image to purchase)
That must be what the great artists see and paint. That must be why the tired, aged faces in Rembrandt’s portraits give us such delight: they show us beauty not skin-deep but life-deep. - URSULA K. LE GUIN
"Beauty, Life-Deep" - oil on canvas, 20 x 20 x .5 inches. This item is unframed but ready to hang. (click on the image to purchase)
That must be what the great artists see and paint. That must be why the tired, aged faces in Rembrandt’s portraits give us such delight: they show us beauty not skin-deep but life-deep. - URSULA K. LE GUIN
I am determined to find, appreciate and savor the beauty in aging.
The message we're given in the world is quite the opposite. Which has led me to critically eye every wrinkle, sag, crepe and soft jiggle with suspicion and judgment, followed by a liberal application of miracle lotions and potions.
But as I become an apprentice of self-compassion and mindfulness, I realize each of these judgy moments is telling my very own self how unacceptably inferior I am. Whoa! Wait - am I being mean to me? Funny how we can be mean to ourselves in ways we would not tolerate from others. Hmmmm.
The message we're given in the world is quite the opposite. Which has led me to critically eye every wrinkle, sag, crepe and soft jiggle with suspicion and judgment, followed by a liberal application of miracle lotions and potions.
But as I become an apprentice of self-compassion and mindfulness, I realize each of these judgy moments is telling my very own self how unacceptably inferior I am. Whoa! Wait - am I being mean to me? Funny how we can be mean to ourselves in ways we would not tolerate from others. Hmmmm.
As I wander through our collection of bones here at home (the by-product of being hikers and amateur naturalists), I can see the beauty in each of these relics; the very richness of existence itself. They tell a story - where they were found, what condition the bones are in, how the teeth are worn, which pieces are missing...and so my own bones, still inside my body, have a story to tell. And my muscles and teeth and the lines upon my face. And the hands that painted this piece. There is beauty in a life well-lived.
About the art - the AI bot and I often play with skeletons. It seems to like them, and is very wiling to dress them up. The folder of inspiration images for cheeky skeleton compositions is rather large. But this one! The colors, the texture, the nod to traditional portraiture and the wistful gaze of a skeleton lady missing her love - it grabbed me by the hand and said PAINT! So I did. The focus in creating this pieces was making the forward figure three-dimensional and the portrait figure flat, along with the textured "wallpaper" which implies the natural decay of our surroundings. Another piece that leaped from the paint, intuitive and joy-filled in the creating.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the September Reader Giveaway! Your comments make this blog space deeply meaningful and community-centered. I am so very grateful.
Wonder Mike chose three winners this month - congratulations to Gretchen, Carl and Sara! Send your mailing address to thewanderingsoflola@gmail.com and your original artworks will be on the way in a jiffy. Look for a new contest beginning a week from today.
Wonder Mike chose three winners this month - congratulations to Gretchen, Carl and Sara! Send your mailing address to thewanderingsoflola@gmail.com and your original artworks will be on the way in a jiffy. Look for a new contest beginning a week from today.
Like you, I have bones all about the house (centerpieces that disgust and horrify the occasional visitor, lol) and you made me re-appreciate them today.
If someone where to say to me I could have any Georgia O'Keeffe I wanted, I would push aside the flower canvases and make a bee line for her bones. I loved the flowers in my twenties, and now in my 50's I love the bone paintings, I think they are her best work..
Your painting's joy reminded me of Posada's "La Calavera Catrinas" from Mexico. Was just reading about them yesterday and learned they were created to remind us, death is the grand equalizer and we all are here to dance as equals no matter what our savings account balance says.
Thanks as always for your meaningful writing Lola. I appreciate you.