Art

I've been thinking about art.  What catches my eye, what moves me.  Like Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party.  

When I first saw it, at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. I could not tear myself away.  I think the docent thought I was casing the joint, she stayed at my elbow.  I must have spent an hour just staring, moving forward to see the brushwork, and and back to feel the party come alive.  I swear I could feel the breeze, hear the laughter and conversation.  

My mom knows more about the Impressionists than anyone I know.  Walking thru a museum with her, she tells me stories of their lives, how Monet got so wrapped up in painting, he almost got washed out to sea.  Who were friends, who painted with whom.   And the docents drive her crazy.  "That's not true, he painted that just before his wife died, not after."  And "That's not where he painted that - it was Brittany, not Normandy."

I go home, I look it up.  She is right, the docents are...well, confused would be the kindest term.

 I have a passionate desire to own a painting by Ben Aronson.

  Especially this one.  

His work moves me.   How can paint - ground up minerals, mostly, be so transporting?   How do they do what they do - with just these?  And their incredible brains, of course.

I have a big painting by  Joseph Loria in my living room.  Sometimes I just sit and stare at it.   Sometimes I expect the dark haired woman to turn my way, the lady in the bathing cap to walk out of the frame.

Or Scott Prior.   In case you're looking for a gift for me.  Or something astonishingly beautiful for your walls. 

I can feel the sand in my shorts, taste the salt on my lips.  He does magical things with light.

I love whimsey.  I love the unexpected, things that are silly and grown up at the same time.  Like these acrobats:

Or the Water Mirror in Bordeaux.

I love watching people and art. 

So simple, the process.   An internal earthquake when it works.  I've seen bad, or mediocre paintings by great artists.  As Potter Stewart said (and Oliver Wendell Holmes gets credit for saying) "I know it when I see it".  Don't we all?

I'm off to nap.  Sadly, not in this tent.  

Art is everywhere - if you're looking.

Creativity

He paints in his garage.  He's in a bunch of well-known museums and collections.  We were lucky enough to buy a painting before they climbed out of our price range.  For him painting is as necessary as breathing.  His name is Joe Loria - check him out.

I thought about him as I was sketching.  I've been thinking a lot about the need to create.

I had a gift tag craft day at my house...

Friends came, brought lunch to share, glittered and stickled and laughed and amazed me with their creativity.  

Girls rock.  My girlfriends rock.  

Especially the ones (hello Ellen) who said they were not creative, and then made the most beautiful and unusual things.  (I took notes.)

It's worth a closer look:

I have a pile of gift tags, I am covered in glitter, and I have a kitchen (and a head) full of happy memories.

So when you get a beautiful hand-made gift tag from a friend, I hope you'll save it.   A lot of love and heart went into making it. 

Start The Revloution

When we visited The Hermitage it was mobbed -  on the busiest day last year they pre-sold 20,000 tickets.  This year it's busier.  We had early admission - along with about a zillion others.   This used to be a private art collection, started by Catherine The Great.  Actually it used to be several private art collections, all nationalized.  Watch out come the revolution!

Kathy said "That's why you buy diamonds, they're a good investment (until the DeBeers monopoly collapses) and they're portable!"

And her husband said "Yeah, but have you ever sold any of the diamonds I've bought you?"

"No, sweetie, I'm saving them for the revolution."

This may not be my most scintillating post but you've got to see this stuff.
We called this the yearbook hall.  Honor your generals, for it is they who keep you in power.

Wow your subjects with your wealth and power.  It worked for a while...

If you can't buy your favorite hallway at the Vatican, hire Italians and make your own.  And one day the Vatican will come calling because they need to restore and yours looks better than theirs.

Make sure your kids have a room of their own...

...and one can never have too many Matisses.

Especially extra-large Matisses.  This one would not fit in our house.  Too bad.  I think it would look great in the dining room.

And as we left there were some guys dismantling scaffolding (no one seemed to know why as the big party hadn't happened yet) and they were so sculptural:

Still Life

Roy Scott is having a show.  

Saturday    November 12th   11-5
Sunday      November 13th   11-5

2230 Tenth Street
Berkeley
510-845-2448

I first saw his work in Pam's kitchen and fell in love.

 I now have several of his still life paintings -  in museum frames they really shine.  And I want another. Or a pair. Or a landscape...

All the photos came from his web site. Check it out. Go see his luminous paintings of fruit - and the odd vegetable. And his evocative landscapes. Buy a pair, buy three. Mine make me happy each time I walk by.  And how often can you buy happiness?

Roy Scott

The artist's name is Roy Scott, and he is part of the Open Studios in Berkeley this weekend.  I found his art at Pam's and had to have one...still life speaks to me. And then it looked so lonely I got it some friends. Now all 3 hang happily in my kitchen. Check out his website, royscottart.com and check out the open studios this weekend. Who knows what you will find?