In praise of older women

When you do finally see something an article about older women being beautiful they usually throw one of these photos at you.

It's nice that these women are still working but c'mon. They were phenomenal knockouts when they were young.

Why can't we see more photos like this:

 

Gudrun Sjödén (love her clothing line)

That reflect what most of us more accurately resemble.

Or even this:

Let's hear it for Porcupines

There are porcupines in the area. People who hike up to the Bugaboo glacier are advised to wrap chicken wire around their cars so that the porcupines won't chew their tires and and car hoses while they are trekking.

My most personal experience was helping pull quills out of my dogs muzzle after he had too close an encounter with a porcupine. Very nasty!


check out other painters at:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-thirty.html

Struggling along

So, colors come and go. The woman's face pleases  me but the girl's is truly frustrating. She looks older than she should be. I had to photograph this in the basement and the colors are awful compared to what is there. Photographs lie but they can also help you see trouble spots. I added the dark bar because I thought it grounded the subjects. Oh well, more work.

Day 24 A beginning

OK, I think I have completely fallen off the wagon of the daily painting practice. But I do paint a lot--more than anyone I know. So I am documenting the evolution of a painting I am working on for a show this summer. This is a 24 inch by 24 inch painting, so it is not small! It will change a lot as I develop it. Some people really like to see how I get to point D from point A. So here goes.

Other people are sticking to the practice at: 
http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-twenty-four.html

Old is not a four letter word

I have begun to look at older women differently. Yes, we many not be the fresh young roses we once were but there is still great beauty in a rose that is a little past it's prime with it's softer wrinkled petals.

 

   Old doesn't mean not beautiful but a different kind of beauty.  Truly, visiting the "advanced style" blog has changed my life. http://advancedstyle.blogspot.ca/

 I no longer worry about looking "young". I try to look "good".

This blogpost was inspired by Val Sparkle  http://latebloomingsparkle.blogspot.ca/2013/01/ageless.html

There are a few more examples of beautiful older women on my pinterest board.

Day 21-- image transfer on tissue paper

I have recently learned how to print onto tissue paper and I am excited about incorporating this media into my paintings.

I covered a wood mount with shades of blue/purple. When that was dry, I used acrylic medium to mount a tissue printed with butterflies. I then added the tissue print of the young woman's face. I didn't like the bleed through of the butterflies on her face, so I tried painting over the tissue.

I am not pleased with this outcome. If I were to do this again I would determine where the face would lie and paint over the under printing so that the face maintained it's subtle  markings. Live and learn.

More paintings can be viewed at:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-twenty-one_21.html

But not a real fur vest and a Day 19 painting

 

This week's outfit was inspired by Alisa Burke at :   http://alisaburke.blogspot.ca/2012/09/fashion-friday-faux-fur-vest.html

What the heck....I had the vest ( but not a real fur vest, that's cruel or so say the Bare Naked Ladies)

Check out more styles at:http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2013/01/visible-monday-81-visible-yet-demure.html

And a painting

More paintings at:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-nineteen.html

Haunted by Dad dreams--Day 15

My Dad has been very much in my thoughts the last few days. I don't know why. But it inspired me to make a collage. I printed out a photo the work camp he reported to all the days of my young life, a photo of himself in his work helmet and coveralls and a Pure Oil decal. I made the decal by downloading the logo from the internet, adhering a piece of packing tape to it and washing off the paper.

"Tuffy"      8x10

I mounted it on an 8x10 canvas and added a little blurb about the oil fields of the area. If anyone knows any of the men or history of the West Liberty Pure Oil camp, I  would really like to hear from them. I am especially interested in contacting Oop's daughter.

To see other daily paintings, check out::http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-fifteen.html

I like Pugs--30 in 30 Day 14

 P is for Pug     8x10 acrylic collage

Do you recognize her? It's Kit, the library dog. She is called Kit because she makes a "purring" sound when she is petted.I remember first seeing a pug when I was about 15. We were visiting friends in New Hamphire. The grandmother lived in a little cottage on their property (what a great idea!). She had a lovely pug for a companion. They were quite a pair. Some day, in my dotage, I will have a pug for a companion. 

See more paintings at:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-fourteen.html

Everybody Knows I Love Big Pants..And Day 13

 I like the comfort and freedom of big pants but i wasn't crazy about the look of the pants and just a top.

 

 I do like the lagenlook style by adding an overtunic.

I don't think the belt really adds to it...

Check out other styles at:  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2013/01/visible-monday-80-great-scarf-bed-head.html

And my day 13 painting (well, collage actually)

more paintings at:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-thiirteen.html

30 paintings in 30 days---Day11 GOALS

Red Turban   16x20

I like the background. I don't know if this is finished yet.

Regarding goals

"..there's a special power that comes with writing down my goals...

  And apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so.  A Stanford University Study found that when people write down their goal, it increased the probability of them achieving it by over 70%.  Seventy percent!" from:  http://www.yesandyes.org/2013/01/write-to-change-january.html

 

Hence the reason, I write down my goals. PS I want to go to Europe!!

for other 30 in 30paintings:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-eleven.html

30 in 30 Day 9

Beach brothers    12x16

A commission based on an old photo. Painting their pinched little faces was a real challenge (they were cold!). I find it really hard to make good photos of paintings when it is so grey outside. Must try again today.

More painters--more paintings: http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-nine.html

Cow chaser--30 in 30 Day 8

 Cow Chaser   12x12

This is a belated Christmas gift for my sister-in-law. It is based on a photo of her mother. The girl had been sent out to chase cows on a cattle drive all day. When she arrived home dirty, hot and tired, her mother insisted she pose for this photo. It's a great photo of a person who became a lively, intelligent and amusing old lady. Doesn't she have a wonderful mount?

Can't believe that we have been at this for a week! Go see other paintings at:http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-eight.html

30 in 30-- day 7--more process

I am using a gessoed piece of watercolor paper with paint smeared on with a credit card. I traced my figure onto the sheet using a carbon of digital photo copy. I didn't use a black outline of the figure today.

I just painted the figure. I wasn't happy with the background so I added some of my home made stamp impressions. They are appropriate to the model who loves her flowers.

I hope I have some time today to make some new stamps and collage papers.

Check out:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-seven.html

30 in 30 Day 6 process

I took a piece of watercolor paper and smeared it with gesso. Once that was dry, I put blobs of paint on and scraped them with a credit card.

To speed things along I took a print out of my model and traced her onto the paper with a carbon.

Then I painted over the tracing with a rigger in black.

Then I justed painted it in.

I was trying to keep the paint somewhat transparent. Next time I will use fluid acrylics and glazing liquid. I do quite like the background texture.

If you need more inspiration, go to:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-six.html

High on a Hill stood a lonely goatherd--- and Day 5

Yes, I'm sorry, I have gone off the deep end.That's why it's great to take photos of outfits. What seems like a good idea may just get rocks thrown at you. But check out the sweater!

It's Norwegian. I love the little fasteners.

Now go see other fashion photo finds at :http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2013/01/visible-monday-79-karina-dress-love-and.html

And For Day 5 (of 30 paintings in 30 days), here is my current offering.

A quick little ballerina oil sketch.

And could you please vote on the little poll in the upper right corner of my blog. Thanks a bunch for dropping by.

30 IN 30 DAY 4

I was playing around with old photos and smeary backgrounds. Did anyone else stay up to watch "Creature Feature" when they were a teen? Did you have to find it on one of the two channels you could get? Am I dating myself?

30 in 30 day 3

Listening   12x12

Living in the Rocky Mountain trench brings me into contact with lots of wildlife. I prefer the ungulates to the predators. 

I was having great fun with gelatin prints. I used some of the papers that I made for the body of the deer.

Check out more  "30 in 30" paintings at:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-three.html

30 paintings in 30 days

I was very excited to see a painting challenge at:  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ I have decided to jump on the band wagon. Wish me luck! This might be the birth of some experimental stuff!!

A Nude to go

Anticipation   30x40

Help! Is anyone going to Cranbrook on Wednesday or Thursday ? I have some paintings that need to get to Artrageous gallery by 3pm on Jan. 4th but my car is at the repair shop and I may not get it back by then.