word 1 of 30
saudade (approx 4" x 5")
gouache on board
I painted. I finally stopped trying to figure out why it wasn't happening and it happend. I also tried to stop beating myself up about it. I think it might have helped that I started working. That I started some sort of routine. Even if it isn't a regular one. The new apartment still isn't settled hopefully soon. I would love a place to call my own…all fingers crossed it will happen soon.
My first word saudade (there is no particular order besides whatever comes out of my head first) was given to me by Anita and I love the mystery of the word. I love that it is only used by the Portuguese.
from wikipedia
Saudade is generally considered one of the hardest words to translate. It originated from the Latin word solitatem (loneliness, solitude), but developed a different meaning. Loneliness in Portuguese is solidão (a semi-learned word), from Latin solitudo. Few other languages in the world have a word with such meaning, making saudade a distinct mark of Portuguese culture. It has been said that this, more than anything else, represents what it is to be Portuguese.
In his book In Portugal of 1912, A.F.G Bell writes:
"The famous saudade of the Portuguese is a vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, for something other than the present, a turning towards the past or towards the future; not an active discontent or poignant sadness but an indolent dreaming wistfulness."
Just for fun another photo of one of my beach days. I loved the pink and grey that was happening with the sky and water.
January 8th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
i love the painting and i love the word.
January 8th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
so glad you started painting…. can’t wait for more… and that beach photo…. swoon!
xo
January 8th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
what a beautiful word. love your painting and i think your photo also fits the word nicely. have a great day wendy! xo shari
January 8th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
So great to see you painting again! I love this! What an interesting word, great choice for your first one!
Hope the apartment gets settled soon..
January 9th, 2007 at 12:44 am
I see alot of similarities in the grey/white of the window panes and the grey/white of the surf (at least on my computer screen:)
Glad you are painting again.
January 9th, 2007 at 3:19 am
brilliant painting, beautiful word and i love the photo too. have fun with your return-to-painting!
January 9th, 2007 at 4:14 am
wendy! so happy you started painting again! beautiful word and painting! and i just love your beach photo…sigh. beautiful californian beach in wonderful perspective! all thumbs up for your apartment!
January 9th, 2007 at 4:22 am
I love the way the painting and the photo look so good together. You really “got” the meaning of the word. its really an beautiful painting!
January 9th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
risa - thank you so much. I love this word
lisa s - I love being close to the beach
shari - thank you, so glad you like it
johanna - isn’t it such a great word!! I hope the apartment gets settled too!
martha - they have tons of the same colors…I didn’t even pick up on that
shadows&clouds - thanks for stopping by! and that you like the word painting too!
anne - you love the ocean too right!! glad you like my viewpoints
anita - I am so pleased you like the painting. I love the word!!
January 16th, 2007 at 4:55 am
love the sound of that word and the way you transformed it in your painting!!
your recent holga beach pics are just beautiful.
January 18th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
so glad you
have found
a space,
albeit not
a physical space,
to be creative
in again…
love the word project…
and i am jealous
of
your proximity
to the beach!
January 30th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Wow…this quote describes Grandpa Bill
“The famous saudade of the Portuguese is a vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, for something other than the present, a turning towards the past or towards the future; not an active discontent or poignant sadness but an indolent dreaming wistfulness.”
…a dreaming wistfulness seems to capture his life.