Illustrated here are photographs of some of my art experiments with various media. Although I do not normally work with watercolor, the artwork "Geraniums" shown below was fun to create. I prefer working with colored pencils most of all.
The "Ballerina" (end of second row) created with colored pencils and gouache was originally a bouquet of orchids. An art instructor told me that the orchids were boring and to add something to the drawing. So, I started over and inserted a dancer extending from the middle of the bouquet. The "Recipe for Pineapple" (middle of second row) was a challenge. It was difficult to make the juices adhere to the paper and to increase the intensity of color. I used blueberries, spinach, turmeric, coffee, flour, vinegar, and pomegranate for an all-natural result on watercolor paper.
The "Ballerina" (end of second row) created with colored pencils and gouache was originally a bouquet of orchids. An art instructor told me that the orchids were boring and to add something to the drawing. So, I started over and inserted a dancer extending from the middle of the bouquet. The "Recipe for Pineapple" (middle of second row) was a challenge. It was difficult to make the juices adhere to the paper and to increase the intensity of color. I used blueberries, spinach, turmeric, coffee, flour, vinegar, and pomegranate for an all-natural result on watercolor paper.
Top Row: "Abstracts 1 and 2" (charcoal and pencil); "Nude" (charcoal)
Second Row: "Geraniums" (water color); "Recipe for Pineapple" (vegetable and fruit juices, spices, and egg); "Ballerina" (pencils and gouache paint)
Second Row: "Geraniums" (water color); "Recipe for Pineapple" (vegetable and fruit juices, spices, and egg); "Ballerina" (pencils and gouache paint)
"Beauty"
What is beauty? Beauty can be understood as that which creates happiness or satisfaction in the beholder. Plato was one of the first to conjecture that beauty may be due to what he called the "golden proportions.”
Aesthetic behavior is the pursuit of beauty. Classical ideas of aesthetics involved set rules of proportion and composition; however, different cultures fail to agree on precisely what is beautiful and what is ugly. Darwin believed that there are few universals of physical beauty because of appearance and preference across humans groups – unique cultural preferences.
An observation about nature and the environment is the strong propensity towards symmetry and repetitive patterning. Symmetrical design crosses over variations and bonds images together. In details there are imperfections but the overall form is symmetrical. The inborn inclination of humans to be attracted to symmetry together with the natural desire or pursuit of happiness leads to the premise that symmetry is the symbol of beauty.
Here I have examples of beauty concepts from prehistoric stone carvings: Cyprus of the Late Bronze Age, (c. 1500 B.C.); Indus Valley, (c. 2000 B.C.); Amlash, (c. 1000 B.C.); the Venus of Willendorf (small stone carving from central Europe, (c. 22,000 B.C.); and a beauty carving from Syria, (c. 1000 B.C.).
The butterfly represents order and symmetry in nature as an example of repetitive patterning also seen in pine cones, seashells, and other objects.
Additionally, I have portrayed examples of different cultural concepts of beauty. Clockwise starting from the middle are figures of: a Highlander from the Huli people in Papua New Guinea; a Kayan tribe woman from Borneo, with teeth crowned with gold and emerald and ruby inlays; a Masai woman from Kenya-Tanzania wearing pectorals, necklaces and ear ornaments of colored glass pearls indicating geometric decoration; “Beauty “ one of the roles of classical Chinese theater in Singapore; and a Burmese woman from Mandalay, with cheeks decorated with the leaves of the pipal tree.
Lastly, drawn is a symbol of beauty transcending physical beauty. It is the seventh chakra “Sahasrara” depicted in a branch of yoga as being the ultimate beauty – enlightenment, unity with the divine and ultimate self-realization.
Betty LaVelle
Symbols Depicting the Concept of Beauty (Photograph of acrylic painting "Beauty" published in Campus Press, 2004)
What is beauty? Beauty can be understood as that which creates happiness or satisfaction in the beholder. Plato was one of the first to conjecture that beauty may be due to what he called the "golden proportions.”
Aesthetic behavior is the pursuit of beauty. Classical ideas of aesthetics involved set rules of proportion and composition; however, different cultures fail to agree on precisely what is beautiful and what is ugly. Darwin believed that there are few universals of physical beauty because of appearance and preference across humans groups – unique cultural preferences.
An observation about nature and the environment is the strong propensity towards symmetry and repetitive patterning. Symmetrical design crosses over variations and bonds images together. In details there are imperfections but the overall form is symmetrical. The inborn inclination of humans to be attracted to symmetry together with the natural desire or pursuit of happiness leads to the premise that symmetry is the symbol of beauty.
Here I have examples of beauty concepts from prehistoric stone carvings: Cyprus of the Late Bronze Age, (c. 1500 B.C.); Indus Valley, (c. 2000 B.C.); Amlash, (c. 1000 B.C.); the Venus of Willendorf (small stone carving from central Europe, (c. 22,000 B.C.); and a beauty carving from Syria, (c. 1000 B.C.).
The butterfly represents order and symmetry in nature as an example of repetitive patterning also seen in pine cones, seashells, and other objects.
Additionally, I have portrayed examples of different cultural concepts of beauty. Clockwise starting from the middle are figures of: a Highlander from the Huli people in Papua New Guinea; a Kayan tribe woman from Borneo, with teeth crowned with gold and emerald and ruby inlays; a Masai woman from Kenya-Tanzania wearing pectorals, necklaces and ear ornaments of colored glass pearls indicating geometric decoration; “Beauty “ one of the roles of classical Chinese theater in Singapore; and a Burmese woman from Mandalay, with cheeks decorated with the leaves of the pipal tree.
Lastly, drawn is a symbol of beauty transcending physical beauty. It is the seventh chakra “Sahasrara” depicted in a branch of yoga as being the ultimate beauty – enlightenment, unity with the divine and ultimate self-realization.
Betty LaVelle
Symbols Depicting the Concept of Beauty (Photograph of acrylic painting "Beauty" published in Campus Press, 2004)
Here is my cowboy done with pastels onto tar paper. Perfect for Dia de los Muertos.