Seeing Stella

"Seeing Stella"

Oil on Wood

10"X10"

SOLD

"What you see is what you see," Frank Stella. 

Frank Stella's, Chodorow II, painted in 1971, is one of a series referring to Polish villages whose synagogs were lost. I didn't know that when this piece at the Whitney's Stella Retrospective stopped me in my tracks. Art speaks volumes. What you see is what you see. 

On a related subject, last week I read about Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds who in January, 1945 refused to say which of his fellow prisoners of war were Jewish, thus saving 200 of them. "We are all Jews Here," he said. 

Reading his story, in the New York Times gave me all kinds of hope for humankind. It came at a good time.

Now and Then at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

"Now and Then"

Oil on Wood

10"X10"

The great John Singer Sargent painted a portrait of Louise Pomeroy Inches of Boston in 1887. 

And in 2016 it grabs attention at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Oh art, how I love you.

Leftover Light

"Leftover Light"

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Pink tulips in January. Highly recommended.

Available for sale HERE.

Lady in Pink Meets Pollock's 'Number 27, 1950' at the Whitney

"Lady in Pink Meets Pollack's 'Number 27, 1950' at the Whitney"

Oil on Wood

8"X10"
SOLD

She was captivated by Pollack. I was captivated by her. Pollack has never looked so good.

I, on the other hand, have been procrastinating more than usual. What is it about January?

Happily, Adam Grant's New York Times article, "Why I Taught Myself to Procrastinate" promises, "But while procrastination is a vice for productivity ...it’s a virtue for creativity."

Here's hoping.

Man with a Yellow Slicker Meets de Kooning's "Door to the River"

"Man with a Yellow Slicker Meets de Kooning's 'Door to the River' "

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

SOLD

Finally. I am delving into images collected during our December visit to New York. This one is from the wonderful Whitney Museum which we had mostly to ourselves on Christmas Eve day. It was an unexpected outing resulting in pure pleasure. The best kind.

There is something about Winter and embarking on a New Year that compels me to gather up my friends and family. I have spent many January afternoons seeing my friends, one by one. There is nothing like friendship to warm the heart and counteract the cold. Optimism flourishes despite the world's ills and ugliness. Beauty prevails. No matter what.

Be sure to read David Brooks' "When Beauty Strikes" in today's New York Times.

Red Line in the Rain

"Red Line in the Rain"

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

What can I say? I'm giddy in the rain. Everything is wet and all I see is reflection everywhere. Happy New Year California.

New Year at the Eastern Cape

"New Year at the Eastern Cape"

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Along with visiting friends and family, I gathered inspiration and images at MoMA and the Whitney and Boston Museum of Contemporary Art and Boston Fine Arts Museum in recent weeks. I thought those would be my first subjects when I got back to the studio. They will find their way to my easel. But as usual, I am not in charge.  On New Year's Day a photograph posted online of a favorite beach by our dear family on a distant continent, swimming their way into the New Year touched my heart. Remaking their image with paint was like having them close for a time.