Celebrating Old Age
Some people disdain old age and can't see the beauty in anything or anyone old. I don't share that attitude. When I see an elderly person or and aged building, ship, car, etc. I see experience and a life time of events and celebrations. I enjoy using old watch parts to create jewelry. I love to ask elderly people about the things they have learned over the many years of their lives. I find old buildings fascinating. Decaying ships make me wonder what kind of seas they sailed. It saddens me that we live in a time when only youth seems to be important.
All of that being said, I would like to show you the art of things old.
This wonderful drawing of and elderly persons eyes by Erica A. Sanchez is interesting. Eyes are said to be the windows to the soul and these eyes show a soul that has lived a long life and seen many things. What have they seen? How have they wondered over the beauty of nature? How have they gazed upon those they love? Or how about this painting by Ans Marcus of a woman's hands approaching old age? What have they held and whose face have they stroked? What have they created? Do they ache and suffer from arthritis? Ah...the questions that arise as we look at these works of art. I find them interesting and thought provoking.
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/411235009701128101/
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/411235009701128101/
A friend of mine visited an old mill in Tennessee called the old Rice Mill. It is still in use from time to time but is open to visitors. He took photos of the machinery used to process grain that I found very interesting. I would like to be in attendance when the mill is processing grain to see how all of the wheels and cogs work in concert to perform their task. His photos inspired these paintings of mine. They feature two sides of the big wheel and the cogs that operate the grinding process. Photo credit is to Dennis Mott.
I enjoy the ocean, lakes, and rivers. I find boats fascinating. They come in so many shapes and sizes. They have so many uses; they transport goods, they are floating cities as cruise ships, they pull us as we ski, they pull larger boats or barges, they are used in defense of our country. I'm sure I am forgetting many other types of boats. I did this painting of a decaying boat that became land-logged in Ireland. It makes me wonder how it ended up there, what was its purpose when it was functional, why did it go out of service. The photo of the old car is a painting by Anna Surface. Our junkyards are full of cars like this. Sometimes you can see old, abandoned cars as you drive through the country. Who owned the car? Where did it travel to? Did a family spend time together in this old car or was it owned by an older couple? Did it carry groceries home from the store? Questions, questions, questions!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/856809897828289888/
I could certainly find many more examples of old people and things that would be wonderful subject matter for artistic creations. My hope is that this post will spark your imagination and give you a greater appreciation for aging. There is beauty anywhere you look. It is just a matter of perspective.
This week take some time to visit a gallery in your area or take a look at your surroundings and see what inspires you to create.
