influence, inspiration, imitation

Last winter, when I was in Philadelphia, I was thrilled to happen upon the colossal "Van Gogh Up Close"  show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I love van Gogh, and his strokes of color on the canvas inspire and excite me. While listening to the recorded narration of the exhibit,  I heard this memorable description:

 "Van Gogh paints the landscape with the knowledge that he is 

painting the skin of a living and breathing dragon."

This summer, during my week with Marj Lightle and Dori Dewberry, we looked at the work of Canadian landscape artist Tom Thompson in many books I have in my studio. Tom Thomson: The Silence and the Storm is a beautiful book, filled with photographs of Thomson's paintings, and is still available through Amazon and other booksellers. The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson is another great resource for works done by this pioneering group.

For the last year or so, the dazzling work of these artists has rolled around in my imagination. In the painting above, you see some of my thoughts turned into action. How will I divide the landscape shapes into interlocking and interesting pieces? What will happen if I lay color in with short, directional strokes?

Both Marj and Dori did paintings during their stay with me that showed these same influences. You can click here to see. 

Trying on ideas, each in our own way. Nodding to the masters of the past. Looking to create something of our own. It is all part of the process of art making.

Sort of like this video. Or, maybe not at all.

RUN DMC "Walk This Way."

solitude

"Solitude -- being alone with thoughts and feelings -- contributes to productivity in creative work."

Richard Shiff in Van Gogh Up Close, Edited by Cornelia Homburg, Yale University Press

Solitude in the studio. I am in complete control of the sounds, the temperature, the light, the mood, the subject. I allow no interruptions and I feel my focus narrow to what is right in front of me. In this case, my beloved beach path, but this time with Looking Glass colors. More to come with this palette. I feel its zest on my tongue!

I am reading the book "Van Gogh Up Close" from the Van Gogh exhibit of the same name I saw at the Philadelphia Museum of Art earlier this year. You can learn more about that show and see some of the paintings in this Charlie Rose interview with the curators of the show here.

Some days solitude is one of those "Precious Things" Tori Amos sings about.

Matisse at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Mademoiselle Yvonne Landsberg, 1914, Henri Matisse

Young woman, or budding flower? It's hard to tell. And it doesn't matter, does it?

Van Gogh exhibit at Philadelphia Museum of Art

East Entrance, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Seeing art museums along the way has been one of the best parts of this trip. When I was at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so was the amazing Van Gogh Up Close Exhibit! Many of the paintings were from PMA's own collection, but there were just as many from several other international museum collections.

I felt my eyes well with tears as I looked again and again at van Gogh's work. None of the dark "Potato Eaters," this exhibit was filled with light and light and angst and wonder, hope and despair. You can buy the book if you don't think you'll make it to Philly before the show ends May 6. Click here for information.

Portrait of Camille Roulin, 1889, Van Gogh, Philadelphia Museum of Art

I have discovered a wonderful website devoted to Van Gogh. Click here to see "The Vincent van Gogh Gallery."