Sunday, January 30, 2011

memory, love of painting, John Carlson


9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart
9x9 pastel and watercolor
Two paintings of my field at sunset, each trying to create that elusive feeling. I find that I love painting even more than I did before. I love it for its discovery, excitement and freedom. I love it because I feel I am now it and there is nothing in the way. I now know that the pain I feel each day in my body can be erased when I pick up a brush or a pastel. It is then I am free.

Here are more amazing quotes from John Carlson:

If you train yourself in memory work, you fearlessly attack and rearrange your material, for you can retain your original impression.

The more we advance, the more we realize with Whistler that nature is never right.

Thank you everyone for being there.... for your comments and emails. All your gestures are helping me through the hardest time of my life. This blogger world is amazing . It's like having hundreds of studio mates. hugs, Loriann

20 comments:

Brenda Boylan said...

Just look at that wonderful glow of blue up above! How can blue glow? I don't know, but you did it! It's always a treat to see your work online.

Jala Pfaff said...

Hello from one of your virtual studio mates!
I absolutely love these two. I love how similar yet different they are, while of the same view. I like going back and forth and looking at both. The top one is my favorite.
Hope you are feeling better little by little.

loriann signori said...

Thanks Brenda..i guess the answer is simultaneous contrast. Thanks for dropping by.

Hi Jala, my virtual studio mate,
I think the top one is my fave too..it's the vibration. That always beats realism. Thanks for the well wishes.

Making A Mark said...

Hi Loriann - I'm just catching up and hadn't realised you'd been in hospital. The least the weather could have done when you came out was not get nasty - but I guess our woes come all come together. Mine have been appliances breaking down - a minor inconvenience by comparison!

You've been doing amazingly well with the blogging - whether under medication or not. I'm very impressed.

Hope you're doing well now. The problem with hospital is either you're so drugged up you can't do anything much or you're totally bored out of your brain - and neither state is a happy one for people who like to get on and do!

Hope the disease was nothing to do with the pastels - but investing in an air purifier sounds like a really good idea.

Sara Mathewson said...

hi Loriann!

i love these two, but the top is my fav as well. I hope that you are healing. I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Last year I caught a cold and ended up in the hospital for 8 days with bad asthma that they could not get controlled. i know it pales in comparison to your problem with the surgery and everything. i'm so glad that you can paint and feel the joy of the connection during this difficult time. Hang in there, you will get better!

hugs,
sara

Sara Mathewson said...

Oh, I forgot to say how much i'm loving the quotes by Carlson. I need to re-read him. i love what i'm learning from your posts. i love your paintings. They are luminous!

Sarah Bachhuber Peroutka said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Double "D" said...

Hi B,

These are both beautiful!
I like the top one the best, it really
symbolizes the peace you feel when
you're painting.

Rest,
pb

Najma Velshi said...

These are beautiful-love the first one! It has such a calm, peaceful feeling about it, yet the horizon hints at something energetic. Admire how much you accomplish amidst such challenges.

loriann signori said...

Hi Katherine and thank you for stopping by. I am looking at this time in my artistic life as a time for growing in new directions. We will see.
Thanks for the well wishes,.... it has been tough. I can't wait to come out to the other end. It sure was so good to get out of the hospital.
And yes, I am sure the air purifier is a necessary step. Thanks for checking in...who knows what will happen next with these memory paintings. Stay tuned.

Hi Sara,
Sounds like your hospital stay was awful...I don't think they aim to make us comfortable, just eager to escape.Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!
I am glad that you are enjoying Carlson as much as I am. Thanks about my recent memory paintings.

Dear Sarah, If your comment posted it did so without my doing. I do not screen my comments before they are published. Feel free to email me for your questions.

Hey PB, Thanks! It is truly amazing how it is my best medicine. Hope your journey south s going well.

Hi Najma and thanks for visiting my blog. Thanks for noticing my work (i like the first as well).I feel so lucky to be able to paint!.

Sonya Johnson said...

Loriann - I really like these sky-emphasized minimalist pieces you've been doing lately; the first one on this page is my favorite; I like the contrast between the seamlessly blended sky and the land where the pastel is left "as is".

And the colors are so nice and rich.

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Hi Loriann!

You are back to pastels!! How do you like the face mask and air purifier?

Your paintings are always full of feeling and beauty. Both of these are quiet and lovely. So glad you are feeling stronger!!

Astrid Volquardsen said...

I think I remember Richard telling you to take a break and you didn't want to. Even though this is not an interruption that was pleasant it did something to your work, something good! You certainly have reached a new level!
Where do you always find those quotes? its so inetresting to read them.

Brian McGurgan said...

Beautiful work, Loriann - I like them both very much but especially love the softness of the top one and the warm/cool contrasts. Gorgeous pastel strokes and sense of light in Saturday's painting as well.

loriann signori said...

Hi Sonja,
Thanks about my sky pieces. The sky has offered endless fascination...I can't wait to do more. I find that when working from memory I eliminate the extraneous without effort....reduce to essence... it brings on the minimalist. I understand more and more what Whistler says.

Hi Kvan,
Good to hear from you. I am using limited pastels while using the mask. I await delivery of the master purifier! Thank you about my paintings that you describe as "full of feeling and beauty" I am certain now that they are full of feeling, stripped of everything else that is what I have. I hope beauty follows. Thanks for your well wishes.

Hi Astrid, Yes, Richard does sometimes tell me to take a break. Right now it seems like it would be a good time to "take a break", but honestly it is the only thing that makes me feel good...so why would I stop? It is the best medicine on the planet.
As far as the quotes, I do spend so much time reading and rereading... especially now. I am delighted to hear you enjoy them as much as I do.

loriann signori said...

Hi Brian and thanks for stopping by, your constant encouragement helps. Glad you like Saturday's painting. It really is a favorite of mine. Thanks for your recent review of the show too.

Donna T said...

Loriann, I know that painting is helping you heal and I want you to know that your work is immensely helpful to me too. I no longer have a studio or the peace of mind required to paint but seeing your work gives me hope for the future! I saw glowing blue snow this morning and realized that you have to have something behind the blue to make it glow - just like in your first painting! Both are so beautiful and the colors are absolutely authentic. Keep healing.

Caroline Simmill said...

Absolutely stunning! the top one is my favourite it is really crisp and strong work.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful paintings! Loriann you have made the landscape your own. Your color sense is amazing. Wishing you a speedy and quick recovery
NJ ART 73

loriann signori said...

Hi Donna, Good noticing, once again simultaneous contrast triumphs. Thank you so much for your kind words and constant support! Hang in there with your move.

Hi Caroline,
Thanks about the painting!

Hey NJ,
Thank you. It does feel as if a door has opened and that I am finding my way with the landscape.
Thanks for checking in and the well wishes!