More of Betty Levy's marvelous paintings featured in today's offering for the
The Painters Palette!
Fabulous Faces
We have a series of paintings on different subjects by this artist that will be featured during the next week. Keep in mind that this talent lay dormant for 20 years while she put her brushes down to raise a family!
Betty Levy's paintings include an eclectic mixture of subjects--perhaps a photograph she has taken while traveling, or a photo from a fellow student that catches her fancy (see previous post) or someone she actually knows. I've often watched this process transpire in the classroom...she will see an image she connects with and the words that come out of her mouth are, "I'd love to paint that!"
Our first painting comes from the picture you see below that was taken while she was traveling...
The peasant...the woman...the warrior.When I saw these two images, it brought to mind a quote from one of Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels,
Walking Shadow..."the history of a people who for millennia had seen everything, and been shocked by nothing--unimpressed, unexcited, unflinching, tired, permanent, and implacable."
The much loved teacher...Betty very much appreciates the strength that education provides people of all ages. So paint her teacher she did. I sound like Yoda...that's OK I guess as long as I don't look like him!
And the Grandfather and Grandson... An enduring subject, powerfully portrayed.
As I walk around my classroom, I often see what my 50 to 90 year old students are working on independently. And after nearly 10 years, four semesters a year, five to twelve classes a semester, I am still surprised and delighted by the talent that springs off of their computer screens.
It makes me want to shout...don't stop because of your age...believe in how good you are, trust in your talent, educate yourselves, be excellent. It is all within your grasp. You just have to let it live!
