A pretty quiet Easter break - dogs and I shared a few hot cross buns .... lol.

Been looking at some new material to paint.  A friend from Facebook travels the US in a Winnebago and takes some great photos.  She recently posted this one of a coastal area and I was drawn to it.  She gave me permission to use it and I think I will.

I would like to use it as a base and add more crashing surf and give the impression of strong wind in the foreground vegetation.

It is certainly a desolate spot, filled with brooding menace in my mind - probably why it drew me in the first place.   I love wild and untame things and places.

Also started a watercolour portrait of a young Wodaabe man. 

The tribe has attracted attention because of their traditional value of beauty. Dubbed as the inventors of beauty pageants, they consider themselves to be the most beautiful people in the world.  

The most important, rainy-season celebration among them Bororo happens weeks after the Worso celebrations.

The week-long celebration is centered around dance and beauty marathons. Two dances, the yaake and the geerewol, take precedence in the celebration, and it is these two dances that give the men a chance to show off their charm, beauty, and ability to attract women.

 

The yaake, or charm competition, requires much preparation by the men. Men devote many hours before the yaake to make themselves beautiful. They apply extravagant facial make-up and wear elaborate clothes to show off their attractiveness.A pale yellow powder is heavily applied to the dancers face, and black kohl is applied to highlight the whiteness of the teeth and eyes. A line running from the forehead to the chin helps elongate the men’s nose, and many men shave their hairline to show off their forehead.

In a chorus line style, the men tiptoe forward to show off their height and display their charm by exaggerated facial expressions and sounds. Eyes roll, cheeks tremble, and teeth flash. Their cheeks inflate like a fish and then collapse again, and lips purse, part and tremble.

A man will roll his right eye in and out, which is a talent that is highly recognized and valued.  A slender nose, thin lips, sparkling white eyeballs and teeth, and an elongated face are desirable. A high forehead, long fingers, large eyes and a long neck are ideal.

Not sure it would do anything for me if I was looking for a prospective suitor .... lol.

Another dear Facebook (and SCQ) friend's husband has written a book.

I have read the first chapter, thanks to him posting on his website, and it also struck a cord.

I am going through a 'renewal'(?) for want of a better word in my life and his book seems to have come at a time when I am doing some deep thinking and soul-searching and wanting to start anew with more self assurance and confidence.  I am taking charge of my life and putting 'me' first for the very first time in my life......lol.

The book is called With A Mind to Achieve by Wayne Jarman and it is available through Amazon in either book form or Kindle.

I also managed to get hold of a copy of The Emerald Atlas that I mentioned a few posts back; got it at Kmart - I find they are the best place to buy books because they are the cheapest....lol.  Got this for $17 where in the bookshops they wanted $29 and upwards.

Haven't started it yet - been reading Christine Feehan's Dark Ones series and have a number of books to read to complete it still.  It is going to be next on my reading list until I get my autographed copy of Wayne's book .... lol.

Please leave a comment so I know you visited......you know how all bloggers love to read comments!!