Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Welcome, Donation paintings for Good Cause

Hello, I'd like to welcome all the new & older followers and I hope you enjoy your visit at my blogspot.

Have you heard of FGM, Female Genital Mutilation?
I'll tell you a bit about it at the end of this post but firstly enjoy these paintings that I've painted for the cause.
 This was the first steps on this canvas. Lots of different texture paste techniques and blocking in colour.
 Then I added some warm colours of Gold Oxide, Cadmium Scarlett and Rich Gold over the Dry texture paste.
 I changed the Gold Oxide colour because it just blended into the painting.  I also added Gold Leafing for her head band and top of her dress.
 Here is a close up picture of the right hand side of the painting. I added a real earing for added dimension.
 The finished Canvas is 16 X 20 inches


 Here is the first step of another canvas with a bright sky and grass land. The sky is painted with Cadmium Yellow Mid, Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Scarlet.

 The tree trunk, branches and roof's of huts are in Burnt Umber. I then used Texture Paste in a down ward motion for the roofs and horizontal motion for the walls of the huts.

 Here is a close up of the finished hut with shading and highlights painted on it.

Final photo of finished piece!

Over the past few years we have had quite a few new Australians move into our area and neighbourhood. 
I recently read an editorial in our local newspaper about an Afrcian community worker who is raising funds and  fighting to stop FGM. This lady is from Somaliland and was circumcised at the age of seven years.  She is now 49 yrs old and still has horrific memories of the torture.
Some key facts from WHO(World Health Organization)
An estimated 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with these consequences. 
In Africa an estimated 92 million girls from the age of 10 and above have undergone FGM.
FGM comprises procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genetalia or other injury to the female organs for non medical reasons.
Some people are so poor and circumcision is killing a lot of young people.  They think if a girl is not curcumcised she'll stay unmarried and become a prostitute. 
This lady from Somaliland is raising funds to distribute hospital goods, health news and teach men and woman why they should not practise female genital mutilation.
So, you can see I've painted this pictures to donate for a good cause!
Until next post-take care,
Creative hugs,
Anna

11 comments:

Kerri said...

That hurts just reading about it! Ouch!! God bless your heart, your artwork is very nice and for a good cause!

Hope you have a nice week :)

xoxo
Kerri

maddyrose said...

How generous of you for donating your wonderful paintings to this worthy cause. Those poor women.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Your artwork is beautiful and for such a good cause. I have heard of FGM and it is just awful. God gave us all our parts for a reason so why anyone would think that any part is not necessary is just beyond me.

In our recent trip to Nepal, we saw a Hindu cremation ceremony along the river -- our guide told us that in the 4th century when a husband would die, the wife was burned alive right beside him. A tradition that is thankfully no longer practiced.

Blessings to you! Tammy

Uniquely Ella said...

My hubby and I just saw a documentary on it and AMG it was the saddest thing that I have ever seen, those little ones. You are so generous to donate. God bless you. Love your beautiful paintings.
xxx
Marlene

Janet said...

Your paintings are beyond beautiful! And you are so generous to donate them.

This is a horrific practice that I learned about quite some time ago. I hope with generous people like you that we can stop this brutal custom.

Serena Lewis said...

Such a wonderful cause, Anna. I remember watching a documentary once on FGM and it horrified me. Not sure about now but, in the documentary I watched, it was done without anaesthetic and those young girls suffered horribly. The risk of infection afterwards is quite high too. It breaks my heart.

Your paintings are beautiful and I hope they raise lots!

Hazel said...

Great cause Anna - hope you do well with your paintings.

ArtfulLee Designed said...

Great paintings Anna, I'm sure they will be gratefully accepted.
This is such a horrible practice that I hope will be stopped.
Good on you for your generous donations.
Lee:)

Lynn Stevens said...

Anna, I have heard about it, such a terrible thing they do to the young women, Your painting is gorgeous and has such depth and texture. What a worthy cause. Bless you.
hugs Lynn

lee said...

First and foremost I love your painting, and thank you for showing how you did them. I have heard of FGM, its a great cause to donate your wonderful art to.

Maggie said...

What beautiful paintings. I especially love the first one with all the texture!
Yes, I've heard of FGM. It is an awful practice, I can't believe that in this day and age, they are still doing it. Those poor women.
How generous you are to donate these beautiful pieces of artwork to the cause.