This painting by the American painter,Henry Potthast, depicts my deepest desires. The free movement of the garments and the color palette give a sense of calm and freedom. That is how I want life to always be, calm and free! In addition, the content of this painting, A Day At the Beach, is my idea of an ideal day. I love the sea! The subjects, a woman and her child represent family to me. Family and socializing is something I value strongly. This is a classical image of a day on the beach as it is imagined to be spent by the bourgeoisie on the East Coast of the
Amedeo Modigliani is one of my favorite artists! The figure in this painting is much like myself - somewhat ordinary at first glance, but in some ways extraordinary. The unfinished quality of the painting with minimal detail of the garment, the blank eyes and the lack of ornamentation is how I feel- still so much is yet to be expressed! What you see now is only the hint of what is to come or might be. Just like this painting, where very little is revealed about the subject, I too am a reserved person who you must get to know to really understand who I am and what I am up to. If I am understanding the term correctly, Humanism, is the way that Modigliani seems to paint. His paintings are primarily portraits and human figures. He expresses the world and himself through human beings.
This mobile by Alexander Calder is a superb example of my philosophy on life - play is beautiful! Often his work is non-representational. I like to live my life in this manner, not always having what I do have purpose or meaning - just doing things for the fun or joy or sheer beauty is enough reason to me. I enjoy the playful juxtaposition that is in much of Calder's work and how he also includes movement, i.e. change. His mobiles are so fun and as they move they change appearance. That also reveals apart of me- I thrive on change! I have lived many lives- corporate, yacht crew, factory owner, flight attendant, and as I moved through those lives, my appearance, although essentially the same, changed.
thanks for your point of view! Living in the valley, we all too often find ourselves moving in warp speed that we forget to stop and smell the roses. One of the many gifts of being a mom, is the opportunity to parallel play along side my children--LIVING IN THE MOMENT! We need to give this simple, affordable and "fits anywhere" gift to ourselves more often. And....it feels oh! so! good!
ReplyDeleteI really like the first painting, the day at the beach one. I love the beach and I like how you incorporated that family is important to you. Family is important to me too and looking at that painting makes me smile and it has a happy sort of feel to it.
ReplyDeleteso true...i think people fail to see that there is so much to see of oneself through art...eloquently stated.
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