Looking at a van Gogh for the First Time!!!

I am amazingly drawn to van Gogh the man and the artist. His tortured life is a testament to tenacity in the face of odds not only stacked against him but smothering him to near death. I’m officially on a quest to see as many van Gogh works in my lifetime as possible. The quest began last week when I attended “The Art of the Flower” exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. I cried, I must admit, when I entered the room where the van Gogh works were on display. Of course, there was a line of people in which I waited patiently  to stand in awe of his work that was sneered at and overlooked during his lifetime. 

Now worth millions, the art of Vincent van Gogh will leave you speechless. I looked, watched, studied, inhaled, and truly experienced each of the four paintings. I wanted to continue my mental escape unencumbered, but the room was packed and people were yapping about things they didn’t understand. There was one young lady who roamed to and fro between the paintings stating that she loved one the most. She compared (aloud) the variations between the works based upon the aesthetics and dates. Her favorite was one he completed while in a better mental state than the other that she cringed at the sharp contrasting broad strokes including black outlines around wavy almost swirling attempts to express flowers.  I wish I had had an hour alone in the room to really enjoy the experience, but my short time becoming metaphysically one with van Gogh--his eyes saw and painted a painting that my eyes were able to see uninhibited by the page of a glossy book--was well worth it. I saw the painterly qualities, the impasto in person, and felt the wildness/calmness that was van Gogh! Next stop: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Vase of Flowers (1890)

Experimenting

This is my very first "public" painting. I have painted for many years, but kept my works private...hidden. I'm experimenting with different canvasses and paints. This is water color on cotton canvas. I used a partly Fauvist approach to some of my color choices and overly dramatized facial features. Kees van Dongen is my inspiration. See more of his works here (my favorite The Corn Poppy 1919) and here.

I sketched in pencil on the canvas before layering the watercolors on the rough surface.  It was very interesting how the watercolor interacted with the cotton.  Some colors worked better than others. Blue (turtleneck) and gray (background) were smooth going on, while  brown was tough to apply evenly.  I can't wait to try out some other techniques...just need to find the time!

The Dynamics of Relationships

While I should be editing my book, I stumble upon this video while working on my art internship project. Yes, I have a lot going on, but my brain cannot help but absorb everything at this point. I miss graduate school! (a little)



Anyway...

I thought about my own life as he described this wonderful impressionist painting by Manet. It is amazing how the dynamics of relationships between men and women have not changed much through the years despite the changes in our societal trappings.  I am very blessed to be at a ministry that is conducting a 12-week workshop on relationships this summer. I will not repeat my mistakes or my missteps because I am getting sound teaching that has affected my life already. Sunday was the first installment! My life will not look like In the Conservatory ever again.  I have had enough of that disjointed lifestyle.  The time is now for harmony built on a solid foundation of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Enjoy the vid and let me know what you think in the comments below, please.