Meet the Greek Graces

GRACES: Three Goddesses of Charm and Good Humor. Like the MUSES, they inspire artistic creativity. The daughters of APHRODITE (goddess of love) and DIONYSUS (the god of wine) their names are AGLAIA, the Radiant, EUPHROSYNE, the Joyful, and THALIA, the Flowering.

If you've perused my blog much you know I was blessed to go to Greece in March. I love Greek mythology. And these women were some of my favorite images on Greek pottery. That ugly painting I did yesterday, provided me with left-over paint that I think made a good art sketch for my journal. I love do-overs and redeemable things. I love turquoises and golds. And I was happy that three graces: Radiant, Joyful and Flowering showed up and helped me out of a funk. Try letting these girls run around your studio or (kitchen) or wherever you need inspiration.
What can you come up with? Send me your link so I can see.

I'm almost finished with my first, ever art-journal and I think this is my favorite watercolor sketch. You may have seen my photograph -I didn't get the faces quite right. They were quite a challenge for me.

These are children (Maasai children to be exact)in case you couldn't tell - who were actually rounded up by their teacher to sing me a thank you song for giving them suckers. They may look older because even though they had a pure naivete, they also had an old, wizened look to their faces. Their clothes were just that colorful. Sometimes they just tie up t-shirts and rags to make their ensemble. I think because they live in mud houses on dirt among the bush of Africa their eyes long for color. They live a very simplistic life. These children were happy, playful, and joyful without one toy in sight. They were curious as little kittens and very respectful. I loved the Maasai children. I could have spent all day with them just watching them play with their sticks like the real spears of their fathers. I'm so glad I have a photograph, and now a sketch to remember them. I hope to do a painting of this study someday soon now that I learned backgrounds and back-paintings from Mary Ann Beckwith.