halcyon days

Friday, 25. April 2008, 20:28:17

it is a pretty picture but i think i ruined it. i kind of liked it all suggestive and misty. oh well. i may do more with the sky, but not today.

i never sign anything until i have completely ruined it.

what do you really think. i am interested because this is a direction i am considering crystalizing as a credo... just to do what is beautiful and life-enhancing. i'm so tired of criticising the world i live in. it is beautiful.

venuslet's go for a little walk

Comments

I think it's very soft & pretty. And interesting. Why do you think you've ruined it?

By CultureSurfer, # 25. April 2008, 23:01:57

always a second thought... because i had a credo when i was thirteen. it had to do with what i call 'essencism', i like things kind of sketchy, leaving more to the viewer's imagination.

that's why i am a fan of japanese art.

By I_ArtMan, # 25. April 2008, 23:08:27

Scott ,I don't think you lost your innocence yet.
You still that 13 year old that deals with essencism,the difference btwn then and now?? It is all in you and not coming from us the critics.
Your picture is superb!
Many of us deserve to enjoy art as much as the intellectually advanced.Making it understandable it is your gift to us. I love Venus' lips!!! they are like ripe cherries

I love Japanese art.
You need to put your thinking hat when you are exposed to it. (I do better with Japanese poetry than art

)
I took once Gyotaku, the art of Japanese fish drawing.
It included three 45min classes at the Japanese Art Gallery of New York, the artist was selected by the Gotoh Museum in Tokyo . It was an experience that I will remember for life

I still can select my fish and study it's existence in a pond!

Have you ever been in Japan??
I never been and I hear it is magnificent!!

By ellinidata, # 26. April 2008, 00:48:50

At this point it gives me a "surrealistic" feeling, kindof Dali with a visit from Van Gogh

That's just my first impression

By RuneSB, # 26. April 2008, 08:09:22

angeliki, glad you liked my little foray into greek idealism. lips like cherries.... hmmm nice.

hey rune,
we can't see sunflowers without being reminded of van gogh. that's o.k., i am in good company.

By I_ArtMan, # 26. April 2008, 15:03:53

have a great one!

By ellinidata, # 26. April 2008, 15:39:17

Describing the beauty of the world is as good as anything. I can relate to your being tired of criticizing everything.

About the sunflowers. I can understand what you probably mean by saying you've ruined it. Not that I think you have - it's just that in my view the sunflowers and the rest of the painting are done in each their style. The picture as such is quite dimmed and soft-like, while the flowers look like they're jumping right out at us. Or like they've been attached to an already made painting.

Personally I think that makes an interesting painting, working with juxtapositions in colour and style like that.

If you want to recreate the misty overall look, you might work on the flowers rather than the sky. I realize, though, that it can be hard to tell from looking on a laptop screen like I do at the moment.

Just my one cent.

By ricewood, # 26. April 2008, 15:48:31

Oh Scott, I was afraid you would have remove your nice banner. the one where your eyes are so real... I'm relieved this is not the case. I like your new picture on your home page too. That might be strange, but i've always feel that I met you before... This is a strange and bad feeling on the same time.

Well, I'm late with a lot of posts but i've seen a nice quiche à la française... Laissez-moi goûter à cela !!

Bonne soirée,

Liu

By Liu, # 26. April 2008, 20:45:36

thanks angeliki, i did have a marvelous day.

allan,
i think that is avery astute analysis. i have to stare at the painting for a week and see what to do. i think you're right about the sky... it'll do.

hi liu,
thanks for visiting and your nice comments. interesting... the strange feeling. ahhh, yes that best of all quiches... alas, is finally gone.

By I_ArtMan, # 27. April 2008, 01:38:12

Scott-
Not to be obsessive about CultureSurfer (lol), but I was thinking of asking you if you find that you constantly have to walk away from a work of art to a) not go insane from frustration b) gain new perspective c) regain balance in your life.

Now I think I know your answer. I had no idea creating & developing a web site was such a creative endeavor.

By CultureSurfer, # 27. April 2008, 03:38:13

I walk away from my two teens ,so i won't kill them !

just see thinks positive!
I put myself time out, every time I feel I need it.
It really helps.

Naomi from

========> to

By ellinidata, # 27. April 2008, 04:12:00

yeah, we're all impatient and want it done right away and that the thing, whatever it may be will be perfect with blood sweat and tears.

but, that's what we call 'payment in advance'

angeliki,
i get the analogy... my kids... i created them and i can take them out. j/k i would never hurt a hair on any one of their heads. i am very lucky to have them.

By I_ArtMan, # 27. April 2008, 05:08:38

same here handsome,
I know you get the analogy..
I am lucky to have my kids too. It takes years and years of positive thinking to survive the hard times! A site is like a kid.You put the effort and you just hope it is going to turn out right !

By ellinidata, # 27. April 2008, 05:21:51

Somehow i liked that misty and matted Venus more. Though i'd have to say this has more life in it.
I love how that sunflower turns to her. Great job with those flowers.

By symphonied, # 27. April 2008, 18:04:53

angeliki,
thankyou for the comliment.

b.,
yes, so you know what i mean. one thing is sure; you can't have it both ways. thanks for commenting

By I_ArtMan, # 27. April 2008, 19:37:28

You are welcome , handsome!

so, are the kids out of the nest??

By ellinidata, # 27. April 2008, 20:47:20

yep, long gone... they're all over the place, but all on the east coast. the youngest, caitlin, still lives at home in pearl river, n.y., with her mother. she's in her last year of college. ryan is working and going to night school for i.t. has a little baby. jennifer has two children and is married to a career navy man.... her boy friend from high school. she got her pre-med degree but then became a mother and stays at home. jonathan, the oldest. has a boy, who works with him in construction near bryn mawr, pennsylvania. he has two girls also.

he worked with me doing home improvements on staten island, mostly chimneys and fireplaces, now he has his own company.

http://www.cummingconstruction.net/

thanks for asking.

By I_ArtMan, # 27. April 2008, 21:38:19

Thanks Scott & Angeliki.

Check out my latest blog post-PROOF that Richard and I know each other in REAL life.

By CultureSurfer, # 27. April 2008, 21:57:04

Scott,
this is so touching!!
he mentioned your name again and again!! I was reading and counting!

AT A YOUNG AGE, WORKING WITH MY DAD PART TIME DURING THE SUMMER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN I WORKED WITH MY DAD I NOTICED THAT I WAS GOOD WITH MY HANDS AND THAT I ENJOYED THE WORK TOO. I GRADUATED SCHOOL AND STARTED TO WORK FULL TIME WITH MY DAD, LEARNING THE MASONRY TRADE AND ALSO WORKING ALONGSIDE CARPENTERS, CONCRETE MASONS AND OTHER TRADESMEN. I BEGAN TO HELP RUN THE OPERATING END OF THE BUSINESS.

thanks for sharing this!!
Your son has you ears!!

handsome boy!

so, I see you were never a TV lover!! lol: Four kids! You and their mom did good Scott!
Do you visit with them??
Did they ever see your new place?? did you send the link to your blog??

They will like the organization you did!!!

By ellinidata, # 28. April 2008, 01:05:43

yes, jonathan has commented a few times. he and caitlin both have opera accounts but they don't blog.

caitlin at least put up one picture of herself. but doesn't write or comment on my blog.

jonathan doesn't write but put up some pictures. but he comments now and then on my blog.

http://my.opera.com/gofer715/info/

http://my.opera.com/cementmanjon/info/

By I_ArtMan, # 28. April 2008, 02:01:02

I just visited your kids!!
this is so cool!
I did see the pictures of Jonathan's! pretty faces there!

Caitlin , does she have a baby face?? Or her picture is from a younger age??
She looks like a teen!! I know she is the baby in college.
thanks for sharing!!

since most of my posts are "friends access only " I added them into my friends list , they might see this comments and they would like to visit

Good night, Scott.

By ellinidata, # 28. April 2008, 04:46:19

feel free... ageliki, there's no harm in that. they will like that even.

yes caitlin is probably 19 in her posted profile picture.

By I_ArtMan, # 28. April 2008, 05:27:11

I like the painting because the arrangement encourages my eyes to travel over the whole of it in a circle. The sunflowers do tend to jump out at me, maybe because I like them and they remind me of Van Gogh.

Is the woman going to be more realistic; I mean she is so white, like a ghost; she has empty eyes. She has white lips. These bother me, the vacant eyes, the lifeless lips.

Or is she a ghost and the town, too, since it is misty? Is this painting telling of history, an ancient town and woman? Only the sea and flowers still living?

Is that a volcano?

Well, if you intent is to envoke emotion and thinking, you have succeeded!

By momable, # 5. May 2008, 06:07:34

good interesting comment mom. it is a statue of venus. it is a volcano. it's impressionistic on purpose. a little surealistic on purpose.
thanks for commenting.

By I_ArtMan, # 5. May 2008, 06:50:59

The statue has a dress on and jewelery in her hair, what does this signify?

By momable, # 5. May 2008, 18:39:43

it signifies that women and their trinkets are beautiful. that's how they inspire love. by dressing nicely. i really don't know, mom, sometimes i think i am just a decorator.

By I_ArtMan, # 5. May 2008, 22:05:56

Thanks for the explanation.

I am interested in what you, the artist, wants me, the viewer, to see; what everything in your painting signifies.

By momable, # 6. May 2008, 00:01:31

my intention is simple. to make something that is beautiful. and sometimes to try to say something. like a protest against war.
in poetry sometimes it's just to celebrate life.

By I_ArtMan, # 6. May 2008, 02:51:56

I see or should I say "I read"

or both, perhaps...

By momable, # 6. May 2008, 04:56:01

sometimes i put a clue in the title. in this case 'halcyon days'
1. Calm and peaceful; tranquil.
2. Prosperous; golden: halcyon years.

but if it's like a teaching story and you explain the meaning, you take away one of the purposes of art. that is, to provoke the viewer or listener to a higher questioning. or, you could even say invite another human being to a different level of consciousness. and it's eternally effective. this statue was carved from marble 2500 years ago. poetry can transform one's state of being. art and music too, but each in a different way.
the idea of art that i subscribe to is that it enhances life. life would all be on one level without the works of culture.

people don't generally appreciate because they are not sensitive to changes in their state.

By I_ArtMan, # 6. May 2008, 05:27:13

Most people, the books I have read say, resist change; but so many people buy books dealing with it, how can the books continue to say that?

Here their are statues about towns. Some buildings in Hammond have copies of famous artwork on their facades. My town has art/craft festivals. Chicago does, too.

Me, I like when someone explains the motivation behind their dance, painting, photo, etc., because I can compare their thoughts to mine and/or be surprised that such ideas came to their minds and be surprised that so many people thought something entirely different then what the artist intended. Everyone sees and interprets with their own framework.

So, long story short, I can see where you are coming from with your opionion that if you explain it takes away the meaning; for you, this is true; for me, it just isn't. My mind works differently, it seems.

Even if someone is playing devil's advocate, the different opinions and reasons and what actually is seen, what is noticed first, what is not noticed, the subtlties, the boldness, what everyone sees and says is most interesting to me. That is why I like to read people's blogs and comment and am so happy to have people comment on mine.

By momable, # 6. May 2008, 06:34:41

then i should be asking you how you think or feel about the venus painting. maybe i will learn something.

By I_ArtMan, # 6. May 2008, 07:11:33

Upon perusual, I start thinking up a lot of questions. What I feel is, well, why is the statue on a beach so close to the water? Seems like it will be washed away. Would sand hold up a marble statue? Wouldn't the statue sink or tip? Why does it look like the statue is carrying a vase of sunflowers? Why is there a volcano in the background? Why is there a town in the painting? Why is there no sun, moon, or clouds in the sky? Am I in a building looking out a window? Where am I? Are there footprints near the shore? Where are other people? Maybe the statue carrying the vase is on my porch and I see farther to the beach? What is the temperature? If there are sunflowers it must be summer for them to be that big; but the ocean looks cold to me. Is it morning, noon, or early evening? Do I need glasses since the town is misty, or is it early evening fog or a fog from the morning that causes the mists? Will the volcano erupt? Is it active? Can I hike it? Looks like a nice place to be. I love to swim. Why is the statue dressed and has the statue jewelery on? Who did that? So much like Pigmalion. Will the statue become alive? Is the jewelery and dress a gift to Venus? Is the statue at a temple of Venus? Venus likes flowers? I have to research a bit about Venus now.
Now I feel like watching My Fair Lady again. Audrey Hepburn is a great actress. I watched some movies of hers last month.

See, I just am a question asker! My mind goes all about...

By momable, # 6. May 2008, 23:36:58

you made me laugh.

By I_ArtMan, # 7. May 2008, 00:34:56

I don't know if I will ever forget this painting!!!

By ellinidata, # 7. May 2008, 00:59:48

mom could write a book about it.

By I_ArtMan, # 7. May 2008, 02:49:13

and she should!!

By ellinidata, # 7. May 2008, 03:16:56

It is provocative.

By momable, # 8. May 2008, 19:23:48

i could 'glaze' over it and add a light source and shadows. it would be much more striking and rembrandtish. i think i'll just let it rest for a while and get on to the next painting after i finish webmastering for mitch's homepage.

By I_ArtMan, # 8. May 2008, 19:31:02

Yes!

By momable, # 8. May 2008, 22:40:40

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scott cumming

"There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness." countes blessington

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