“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”
–Langston Hughes
Yellow Shoelaces
4″ x 4″ Acrylic on Ampersand Artist Panel
This was fun! I did a series of 24 shoe ATCs in watercolor for an exchange once and it was really fun. I painted this from looking at a closeup of a white shoe with white laces. But of course, I had to add color! I’m thinking of a new series in acrylic. A girl’s just got to get her giggles, I say!
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Today is my husband’s birthday and President Obama’s birthday. I’m going to celebrate by taking a flying lesson. One of these days, I’m going to get to solo. I have 15 hours, but the lessons have been spread too far apart because my CFI is such a busy guy. He’s promising to give me more time, now that summer is waning. I hope he does. When the lessons are closer together, my retention is better.
Langston Hughes
(February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967)
Born in Joplin, Missouri, James Langston Hughes was a member of an abolitionist family. He was the great-great-grandson of Charles Henry Langston, brother of John Mercer Langston, who was the first Black American to be elected to public office, in 1855. Hughes attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, but began writing poetry in the eighth grade, and was selected as Class Poet. His father didn’t think he would be able to make a living at writing, and encouraged him to pursue a more practical career. He paid his son’s tuition to Columbia University on the grounds he study engineering. After a short time, Langston dropped out of the program with a B+ average; all the while he continued writing poetry. His first published poem was also one of his most famous, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”, and it appeared in Brownie’s Book. Later, his poems, short plays, essays and short stories appeared in the NAACP publication Crisis Magazine and in Opportunity Magazine and other publications. Read more…
Love the crop of the shoe and laces!!! Bella!
Thanks, Joan! I hope you’re still having the time of your life!
I like this.
Fantastic colours.
And a very imaginative piece
Thanks so much! I love red and yellow together, too!
love the sneaker and laces. So much fun!
Thanks, Carol! I’m not much of a shoe person. I live in tennies and flip flops, but shoes are really fun to paint. When I did the ATC series, it was amazing what memories certain shoes evoked in people.
First of all, I love love love that quote because it is so very TRUE!
I totally agree with you about the sporadic flying lessons. As much as they cost, you’d think they would be more organized about a consistent schedule for their students. Like a weekly lesson same day, same time?
Your “in-your-face” shoe and laces? Cool. You have given me an idea to use the spaces between the laces as a negative space project when I teach drawing this fall. Thanks for that.
I’m so glad you like my laces, Leslie! Thanks! They are pretty in your face, aren’t they? What a good idea to use them to teach negative space. I’m honored!
Yeah, when I have 2 lessons a week, I am really gaining on it. The pilots I talk to recommend no less than 2 lessons a week. I just happen to live in an area where there aren’t a lot of choices. I drive 80 miles round trip for the lessons and he’s the closest CFI.
I think the fact that you designed this as an “in your face” is the reason I picked up on the possibility of using laces on a shoe for a negative space assignment. Thank-you for that.
*big grin* You’re welcome!