Every weekday morning I invite you
Behind the Scenes at my studio.
Today: Singing David Bowie at the Art Gallery this weekend reminded me, down to my toes, of the deep power of art and it’s ability to connect us to our experience and one another.
Thank you, Jamie, for sharing the tender spaces where art can move us! I remember the first time I saw Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot’s painting “Pleasures of Evening.” It took my breath away. I sat on a bench in front of the painting. I sent my daughter off to explore the rest of the museum while I just sat there. I couldn’t explain it. It just took me to a magical and familiar place, and I simply couldn’t move from the spot. I repeated this pattern every time I returned to the Hammer Museum, until they sent the painting on the road to visit other museums. Art can move us, and touch us in places we didn’t know even exist. Thanks for this reminder!
How wonderful, Sam. Thank you for sharing your experience with the painting. It’s amazing how we can build a relationship with a work of art. Thank you for that reminder. Now, I’m off to have a peek at Pleasures of the evening!
Chills. Goosebumps. Tears. This post is so moving – the song, your beautiful words describing the experience, that quote! I get choked up just saying it to myself. I’ve never heard it before, but there’s so much strength in it. Thank you.
I’m so glad that I could share this with you, Vivian. Thank you so much for letting me know that it touched you too. ((bighugs))
This is beautiful Jamie! …your words, the singing. Thank you for sharing, and the poignant reminder of how art moves. Big hugs!
Thank you so much, Lisa. ((hugs))
My leap into my artistic expression came in 2008, when my youngest daughter went off to college, and my love relationship came to an unexpected, very sad for me, ending. I never saw it coming. I wanted to find something to fill my hours and get me out of my very empty nest. My girls were grown and mostly on their own and my once very busy schedule was now wide open. A friend had told me about a drawing class for non artists at the local community college that he really enjoyed, so, with knots in my stomach and great trepidation, I decided to sign up. On my way to the first class, all I could think was, “I can’t draw. Why am I doing this to myself?” Well, what a wonderful surprise!! The teacher was so good. He taught us using Betty Edwards’ method of “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.” His critiques were thoughtful and so helpful. He created a very safe environment in which to learn. It was fabulous! It was the first time I had ever done anything like this. It was the first time I had ever been truly on my own in 55 years! I so looked forward to going to PCC on Sunday afternoons to learn and create with a wonderful group of like minded people. I was amazed at the progress I saw as the weeks went by. I ended up taking six classes over three years, a second drawing class, two watercolor classes and two pastel classes from the same teacher until he retired. Since that first class, my interest has expanded into urban sketching, drawing classes at the Norton Simon, Danny Gregory’s Sketchbook Skool, art journaling, and painting. It’s opened up a whole new world for me to explore and given me multiple ways for my personal expression. I was really frightened that first day, but I’m so glad I went anyway.
How incredibly beautiful. What a powerful creative journey you have been on, Pattie! Here’s to bravely going that first day and every gift that ensued thereafter. I’m celebrating you!
Hi Jamie… “I can’t go on. I’ll go on”…. the paradox of being human. We are at once fragile and strong, resilient beings… and sometimes we can even hold joy,wonder, and delight at the same time as sorrow.
Art is definitely emotional… and speaks to us a different message at different times of our lives because of what we have experienced. I remember an experience I had at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art in NYC. It was the largest retrospective of the works of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Sir Edward Burne Jones. I found myself in front of a painting… and I just burst into tears at the sheer beauty of it. I had to stay there for over 20 minutes just to savor the wonder of it. I definitely touched something deep within me, and the experience stayed with me for some time. Thank you so much for your Behind The Scenes which I look forward to every Sunday!You always inspire me Jamie!
Thank you for taking me with you to see Sir Edward Burne Jones. Those moments are precious and art-opening. It’s wonderful to share them.