Yellow Shoelaces

“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!

My second newsletter goes out today, so if you have already subscribed, be sure to watch your email.  If you haven’t signed up, look for the link in my blogroll.  I’ve been giving stuff away and you don’t want to miss that, do you? 


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…