a portrait begun

after the first sitting, composition laid down, figures blocked in. This is my first painting in 8 years (since before my son was born). What lovely muses they make. Funny how they push and pull you like that.

a little art inspiration . . .

Les bêtes de la mer, 1950 (Beasts of the Sea)

Lagoon, 1954

La gerbe, 1953

from the cut-outs of Henri Matisse. These were done late in the artist's life following a serious illness and subsequent surgery. He referred to the process of making cut-outs as "painting with scissors."

Wouldn't it be amazing to see these works reproduced as Modern Art Quilts?

montréal

Where my husband and I spent a long weekend together for our 10 year anniversary. We crammed in lots of art, jazz, comedy, food and walking, walking, walking! It was perfect.

Montreal has beautiful and unexpected sculptures like this one scattered all around the city - this one tugged at my heartstrings a little, I must admit (being sans enfants).

Children's Art

Isn't refrigerator art the best?

Their work never ceases to brighten my day.

Please excuse the water marks as this is after all what you call, er . . . living art.

Martha Graham

I love this quote . . .

There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening
That is translated through you into action.
And because there is only one of you in all of time,
This expression is unique.

And if you block it,
It will never exist through any other medium
And be lost.
The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is,
Nor how it compares with other expressions.
It is your business to keep it Yours,
Clearly and directly,
To keep the channel open.

You do not even have to believe in yourself
Or your work.
You have to keep open and aware
Directly to the urges that motivate you.
Keep the channel open.

No artist is pleased.
There is no satisfaction whatever anytime.
There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction,
A blessed unrest that keeps us marching
and makes us more alive than the others.