Art of Ageing Gracefully
Art Monday Series
Post 14
It’s interesting how everyday a different topic comes to mind, and every day I want to start by saying this is my favourite one. And the whole truth of it is that they are all absolutely in the moment I am writing these words to you – my favourite subject of all. Think of the capacity of universe, or an ocean – which is my treasured analogy for universe – and all of it is contained within our soul.
I want to take you on a journey every day you read my posts. Journey to yourself, to your own home – inside your soul. Every line I write is an invitation to that place, an invitation to visit your dream and remember that you are going home – home that is you.
Today we travel through the fine art of aquarelle painting. As I introduce you to my feeling of co-creating with the universe, I want you to use it as your portal into your own soul. If there is a different meaning that comes to you, embrace it. Allow yourself to create your own meaning. The entrance and the road may look different for each one of us, but when we arrive to our soul – inside it, there is the doorway to the soul of the universe. That is the language we all know, that is the home to which we all belong.
Of all the subjects I love painting, of all the thrills watercolours gives me the freedom of expression – I love cars the most. There is a lot of nostalgic and personal memories packed around their sound, look and smell. All the trips we took, all the happiest moments of togetherness, all the laughter, all the breathtaking scenery, all the open road, all the empty roads, all the mountain roads, all the seaside trips, every weekend in the countryside, all the open windows in the summer and the misted glass in the winter when we didn’t mind sitting close together, all the early mornings and all the overnight journeys…. The purring of the engine, and the characteristic smell of the old timers, and their beautiful curves, or angular lines (depends on the model, but I like most old ones).
Hang on a second, but just as exciting are the slick and smooth new performance cars. The ones we rarely had the opportunity to find ourselves in, but were blessed now and again with the experience of coming into closer contact. I have no doubt that they will age well, too.
What’s the most thrilling thing about painting them? They capture our memories so well. Most people have a favourite old car, and a new one probably if they’re honest. The collectors of my paintings share this passion for cars with me. I have been commissioned to paint cars more than anything else, by far. To say this is a popular request is an understatement. People love to immortalise their beloved wheels, they also embrace the curiosity of where will I take their treasured car for this portrait of a lifetime, as they are never against leaving me to choose the backdrop and the setting for it. They celebrate big birthdays with them, retirement, they adorn their office walls and add a little bit of a masculine energy into their living environment.
I have selected just the two to share with you today. 1969 Dodge Charger R/T is my son’s no.1 and the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder is one of mine. Don’t get me started on that list.
Both of these paintings started with the accurate scale drawing of the car, with pencil. The most important thing when painting cars is getting the proportion right. You can make the angles exciting but the dimensions have to be realistic. The more realistic they are the better the final result, so I’d say take your time to get this stage absolutely right. Then it gets more fluid and free, which is a different kind of fun.
The painting process is completely opposite from the drawing process, meaning – I like to use every advantage of the aquarelle paint, inside those precise lines (panels and other parts) of the car: light, loose, and building the intensity of colour by layering the transparent washes. Adding interesting landscapes makes it a more complete art work which can work in the home and office in many settings, from traditional to contemporary. Both paintings have very detailed skies (that’s another reason why I love these two), but they are different in that the Dodge is as vibrant as the painting can be, whilst the Lambo is subtly powerful, even minimalist in the choice of colour and tonality.
All that you have to learn is inside them, so feel free to take a closer look and if you have any questions on the technique, layout, colours and process, just drop me a line in the comments section of this blog and I will be happy to answer it for you. For the materials: I use artists’ quality water colour paints by Winsor & Newton (just for the pigments and choice of colours, but their student range is brilliant too for larger quantities), rough texture aquarelle paper by Bockingford 425 and 535 by Daler Rowney. (I use Fabriano 300 – 50% cotton paper for my botanical paintings.) I use natural hair brushes from chinese silk painting brushes, and Ron Ranson’s Hake for larger areas and big washes, to fine Sables by Winsor & Newton for fine details.
Now enjoy the paintings and look for that glimpse of light inside you that wants to shine out.
* * * * The Update – 344 Days to Dream * * * *
1.
Today is all in the shape of fine art. I have been looking at the paintings that I have on the walls and a few that are packed and safely stored for there is not enough wall space to display all of them (or so I believed before). As much as I love my home library, lining the entire wall in the living room, I am also partial to gallery walls and the wall opposite the library will serve this purpose. It was challenging me before to make a layout I am happy with, as there is a large round mirror in the middle of it and the four narrow shelves acting as a dresser for blue and white plates above the dining area of the room. I have decided that the shelves and plates are going down, which will give me half a wall on this side of the mirror for a smaller gallery. The mirror (large and beautiful) is hanging above a large sideboard. It feels they are in the right place in the centre of the wall, and perhaps a symmetrical gallery arrangement on either side of the mirror will work. We’ll see.
2.
Very happy and grateful to be able to change the activities and pick what I like to be working on each day of the challenge. Small steps and progress in all areas, including vision and research, ideas and practical sifting (fallen behind few days with catalogue making, but enjoying hosting of the live art class too much to stop), spring cleaning, kitchen cupboard emptying – one at the time and cleaning everything inside, then returning. Feeling really good about the way it is unfolding.
3.
If you have listened to This is Your Moment podcast yesterday (here is the link if you haven’t heard it yet), I am doing some smaller challenges within this year long project. Particularly enjoying the Dean Graziosi’s 30 Days challenge and I am encouraging everyone I know, family and friends alike – to challenge themselves to a different day, to a different way of thinking, so doing something new! You don’t always have to wait for life to throw something at you, these challenges keep you actively alive and present in your life, and that is so, so, so important. Check it out, join me there. Or join this 365 Days to Dream (link to the original blog post). Imagine something for yourself and in one year you will have made it yourself! There is nothing worth your own love and admiration more than that.
Remember – You Are Safe Here
This is the sacred place between our souls. Thank you for sharing your visions, dreams and ideas. Your courage to be vulnerably seen will always be respected, and you will be treated with nothing but kindness and compassion. ♡
P.S. One to pin and save for later? You're welcome!
P.S. One to pin and save for later? You're welcome!
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