Fine Art Fridays

Better late than never

Fine Art Friday

So I have a wicked headache and can't sleep. I probably should rest but it hurts more when I close my eyes. Most importantly I forgot Fine Art Friday. I really enjoyed Bits of Grey Matter's post as well as Short on Words. Bits always has something deep and thought provoking. Short is always so beautiful. Check them out and enjoy what they share with us.

As for my art.......well, I finally unpacked those paintings I was telling you about. I tried to pick one but it was hard, so instead I will start with pieces of the first painting.

I remember being a little girl and always wanting to hold my grandmother's hand. I love how they are wrinkled. I love their softness. I love how delicate they are. I love how they smell. I love how they feel in my hand. I love watching them knit or crochet. I love how they pat me on the head. I love how they counsel me. I love how they prepare such delicious food. In a few weeks, I will feel those hands embrace me. In a few weeks, I will be able to hold them again.

Fine Art Fridays

So I could not think of anything today. I have been scanning my brain all morning to come up with something clever. Then I thought about what is art to me? What does art evoke in me? I thought about art being something pleasing to the senses, something that evokes an emotion from me, something someone created with their hands.

I came up with books. Books please all my senses. They evoke strong emotions from me. They were created by an author's hands. So today I will pay homage to those books which are currently living beside my bed.

And because of books, today, I will go to the library and check out an art book so that I can really blog about art next week. *wink*

Fine Art Fridays

Click Here to find out about this man's dying art.

This is why when I go to these markets I never haggle. I am no good at it but mostly it doesn't make me feel good. I know these people will simply not eat if they do not sell something. Why should I undercut their profit. They work harder than most people can even imagine. They do it for the love of their craft. I understand the need to modernize, but at what cost. It must be with the consumer to demand original, handmade products and to understand their worth. Off my soapbox.......

Fine Art Fridays

fineart 001
Originally uploaded by mamapeep

I know it is not Friday, but I forgot to post this earlier. Better late than never is my motto!


So why am I posting this picture?? Well, I got these guys in Panama although Papa Peep insists it was in Ecuador. You would think so by the dress style, but Panama it is. I love the details in the faces. I love the clothes. I love the hair, but what I most enjoy are the hats. # of them are wearing what I believe to be Panama hats (which are another clue to their origin...explain in a bit) and the other 2 are wearing very typical Andes Mountain head covering. I believe that style of hat in particular to be my absolute favorite. They are so very warm and they keep your ears warm which for me hurt terribly when they are cold.

As to the Panama Hats, they are actually from and continue to come from ECUADOR!!! Click here for a little history on them. Montecristi is the town where the finest Panama Hats come from and it is a town I have been to a dozen times. Probably right now as I type this my mom is there. She is in Ecuador for the Holidays.

Well, enjoy my little Nativity of what I believe are Incan Indians.

Fine Art Fridays

We went into Seattle on Friday. I will tell you all about it in another post but while we walked around we tried to spot all the Nutcrackers we could. Go here to learn more about these.

Fine Art Fridays

I saw this blog event (Fine Art Fridays) a few weeks ago but had forgotten to participate.

About my picture....you will typically find a scene like this in any market place in Ecuador. My ancestral country is full of art; indigenous or folk, mainstream, and stuff just for the tourist. Last summer I brought back some of their crafts. As I unpack them, I will use them over the next few weeks for Fine Art Fridays. Unlike Wordless Wednesday, I can discuss all the reasons why I love them.

Enjoy.