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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Monday, February 23, 2009

SCRIBBLE AND DOODLE WINDOW - Happy Feet

Little fat baby feet are adorable. Nothing is more heartwarming than the sound of pitter patter of running little feet on a wooden floor.
Feet are as intriguing as hands, and just as challenging to draw and paint. They come in all forms and sizes, fitting the personality of the person.

In the Scribble and Doodle Window of this week is a sketch I once did. This is a bird's eye view of some one's jeans and feet. In the car I did not have the room to view it from the the most advantageous angle, or put the model's feet in a certain position.
This forced me to expand my skill, which is good! Yesterday I doodled and scribbled the shadow patterns with a 2B, 3B, and a 6B graphite pencil. The version in the Scribble and Doodle Window was a further doodle in Photoshop!
Did you notice that I turned that drawing around? I don't know which view I like more.
What do you think?

The little saying next to the sketch says,

"Some paintings are born
suddenly, out
of nothing -
others seem to
need a womb
to develop into
completeness

c St.Germain"

In the summer I walk around with bare feet in the house. Not outside, because of the critters and the hot pavement. Today feet are not anymore the only way of transportation, but in previous centuries the upkeep of feet were much more vital than now. Back then, hospitality was shown in the Middle East in washing the visitor's feet.

The (24 x 30 inch) painting tells the story of Mary, who broke an alabaster jar, poured the perfume on the feet of the guest of honor, and then dried his feet with her hair. The cost of the alabaster jar would be equivalent to a year's salary.

All kinds of little details of this story make it very significant in those days, whereas now, it would seem a little bizar. I don't know how Mary managed to come in the house of a clergy man, for she was a prostitute. Actually, the host was lacking, because he didn't show the usual courtesy to his guests. But, how would you like a prostitute give you such an extravagant present in front of the others, who are supposed to be your students? Risky!


Mary showed him the honor he was due, but...he showed her honor in return, by accepting her gift in front of his friends as well as the host. Some of the guests were not so gracious, and let him know that it was a travesty to waste so much money on making his feet smell good. Isn't it interesting that they made so much fuss about HER money?

This story fits with the Scribble and Doodle Window in the following way. Like I was forced to see the feet and jeans in the car from a birds eye view, this event forces one to see beyond the socially acceptable boundaries of our time. I hope it will expand your horizon.

15 comments:

Barry said...

It certainly expanded my world view, Jeanette!

It is interesting you highlight feet since I understand many artists have trouble with them and hide them in shadow whenever possible.

Or is that just a folk tale?

SILVER said...

that's quite a sermon thought there! Thanks, gee-i never did see that point abt the honour that ws returned by accepting..

Anonymous said...

I've always admired Mary because she took a risk.
I love the perspective of your drawing looking down at the feet. It is very realistic.

Jeannette StG said...

Thank you Barry. I don't know if it's statistically true, but feet are considered(a lot) less significant than hands - maybe that's why artists don't practice feet as much as drawing/painting hands?

Jeannette StG said...

Silver, I didn't mean to sermonize (haha, I'm not the "type" of a preacher), but I do ask questions - I'm known among my friends for that :)

Jeannette StG said...

Joyce - I concur! thank you for the kind comments about my drawing - it was one of those rare moments; I usually do not attempt to draw realistically :)

Scriptor Senex said...

Great post as always, thanks.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

For me that is a very well known story Jeanette and for some reason I have always thought it was from the bible.

I like the B&W version of the pic more than the other for some reason.

Jeannette StG said...

It is :) thanks for telling me your opinion about what you like best. My hubby is taking a photo class, and I showed him your last pics,
so we would like to know what lens you are using? (may be I could use it to focus in for details of sketches).

Shelley said...

Now I'm thinking more about feet... I loved the black & white sketch especially!

Jeannette StG said...

Shelmo, glad that you loved the original sketch (the orange is just on-line, because I played in Photoshop yesterday) - you are not doing bad yourself in the art department, dear lady!

Nihal said...

Smiling Hello Jeannette:)
First off, thank you so much for stopping by my little space, and appreciate your lovely comments:)
As for the saying about some paintings are born suddenly, yup indeed. That's how we grow and learn, no?! Recently I've been playing w/ my oldschool habits, and this Sunday help yourself and visit me to see what I reinvented:) I can't say I do have magic hands like you but I can be counted not so bad;)
Btw, I'm from Ist'l, born and raised here. But traveled (and travel) abroad for education/pleasure/business. My roots come from Rumelia, so makes a girl like me in the end:) I call myself like a very good 'mosaic'. Yes blond I'm, but how did you know, so cool. Most of the time I try to present my ideas instead of showing my beauty, you're so good at eyeing:)
From my endless interest related into art and creativity, I'll become a frequent visitor your journal as much as I do, Jean. Feel myself found a treasure.

Have another creative beauty-full day~ Groeten.

Jeannette StG said...

Nihal,
Thank you for visiting my blog and for the kind comments! I spent quite some time at your blog, because it was "different' than most other blogs, so you are indeed a mosaic (also your personality) and artistic. I'll visit you on Sunday dear friend(so that's Monday for me.)

Anvilcloud said...

You have a very interesting blog. It's difficult to understand the exact context of the situation (ie how Mary got in the house) from our perspective maybe. You have an interesting view of feet. I wish mine didn't hurt. :)

Jeannette StG said...

Anvilcloud,
Sorry to hear that, what's wrong with your feet?
Aren't you glad we have cars now?