Vietnamese Maria
Today, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven, I think about the kind of young woman that she was. She was deeply imbedded in her Jewish culture and exemplified the best in it in her times. When I try to paint images of Mary for the modern world, I think often of how other cultures picture her. Here is a Vietnamese style madonna, lovely, young, and consecrated. Her face mirrors those of the many young women of Vietnam who give themselves to religious life.
Filipina Folk Dancers
Folk dance in the Philippines is rich with tradition and variety. These young women were dressed so beautifully, and my brushes could not resist their flowery prints. Their dark hair is set off by the light waters of the sea behind them. The setting sun puts them in shadow and back-lights their costumes.
Bottle and Blossom
Glass and flowers offer endless experiments in paint. This bottle can hold only a few ounces, but it is always of importance on canvas. Once again, I was after utter simplicity of subject and stroke. Maybe this little painting comes close.
Intermission
Backstage– a reflective pause for a ballerina. Perhaps it is intermission and she has a few minutes to rest and prepare herself for the next stage appearance. This is a small sketch for a larger piece, so I was working out design possibility and color contrasts. It is always fun to try to brush on these billowy tulle skirts. In ballet, the art is in the moment of the dance, and gone in a flash. Could this be why artists try to capture only a gesture of it?
Mist Off the Pond
Not too far from the barn that I posted the other day, is this luring landscape. Several years ago, I took a photo of the cool autumn air of morning rolling over the distant pond; it was revealed in the fog rising up from the water. I tried to give the scene an abstract quality with more muted tones and large masses of color. No doubt the trees are much taller now and cloak the soft mystery of “fogging.”
