Friday, January 28, 2011

search for the extraordinary in the ordinary

9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart
Last night, since the heat and electricity had been down for more than a day, Paul and I went and sat in the car to get warm. He drove the car to a nearby parking lot so that I could watch the sunset. It was amazing how the curtain of dusk's cloud was lit by the setting sun. Orange delight.
Sixteen  hours later, with the image firm in my mind I tried to create the feeling here. The rules for the memory game still exist: memorize, no cameras, wait at least 12 hours has past before painting.

On another note dear blogger friends, I am afraid that when I am finally lucid and off these gigantic drugs, I will look at my posts and be shocked. My brain filters are not working but I can't stop working. So keep in mind Oxycontin and percocet may be doing the talking far more than I am. Egad.

So I leave you with the words of Balthus. When I read them I felt as thought I live in his brain.

I always feel the desire to look for the extraordinary in ordinary things; to suggest, not impose, to leave a slight touch of mystery in my paintings

10 comments:

Christine Chisholm said...

Hi Lorianne

I love you work - so nuanced. I just want to wish you well in your recovery. I am new to your site so I am not sure why you needed surgery but I hope it was not due to pastel dust.

Take care
Chris

brian eppley said...

You make more sense on drugs than most of us make when sober:)Love how you've caught the altocumulus effect of the clouds. In the memory work feeling seems to become very apparent. Of course freezing for 30 hours will make you feel!

Leah said...

I saw "orange delight" on my way to work this morning and, of course, thought of you. The sun rose sandwiched between two layers of cloud... the mauve cloud layers bathed in orange and pink light.
Nice way to start the day!
Also, not to worry. You make perfect sense.

loriann signori said...

Hi Chris,
How kind of your to comment and give well wishes. Thanks for coming to my blog.
It's sort of an odd time to meet. I had surgery to remove part of my right lung. It had a disease that had taken over that part. The pastel dust did not create it but definitely did not help it.
I can't wait to get better and be in the studio all the time. looking forward to knowing you better,
Loriann

Brian, You make me laugh. Thanks for the reassurance. The heat keeps going on and off we may leave for a hotel sometimes soon.I hope it has a good view. Thanks for checking in I will come over for a visit in the next day.

Hey Leah!!!
I guess the drugs make me brave. Brave enough to do all these memory paintings and brave enough to post them. heehee
You have orange delight in NS too! I bet you can paint it in watercolors. Have you tried? Call me,k?

Caroline Simmill said...

Hi Loriann, I am a bit late in arriving here. I have been following your work and also found the post yesterday about the easel really interesting, i hope the air purifier works for you. By the way I did manage to buy some walnut oil alkyd quick drying and will use it this coming week. I was just wondering what you intend to clean your brushes with. Deborah said she read that Murphy's oil is good.

loriann signori said...

Hi Caroline,
When I worked with Sadie Valeri she told me to use Turpenoid for brush cleaning. Turpenoid was created to be a turpentine substitute. Although it was not suitable for that use it proved to be an excellent nontoxic brush cleaner. AP approved, noncombustible,no vapor, doesn't deplete to ozone, it has now been said to be the best brush cleaner and conditioner. Even a 5 year old can use it. It rinses out with water. I LOVE it.
I love the Graham walnut oil alkyd as well. Hope that helps. I have never tried Murphy's oil...except for my wood floors of course.
Tell you more about the set up. I love been loving your cloud studies!
hugs, L

Lynne E. Windsor said...

It is this one that I like Loriann.

Jala Pfaff said...

I was on Oxycontin after a surgery, and the withdrawal period was pretty bad. Hope your drug-weaning experience is better than mine.
You didn't seem to be "out of it" in any of your posts.
Love all the memory paintings.

loriann signori said...

Hi jala, thanks about my posts.I will see about the withdrawal later, when I am there.The memory paintings are so liberating,I am glad you enjoy them as well.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

All of these paintings are fabulous as are your posts. Very inspiring and well written.
The one thing I don't miss about the big snowstorms is losing the electricity. As soon as that happens, the party is over!
I say get a nice warm hotel room next time.
Also, I use Gamsol to clean my brushes with and Murphy's oil to wash them out. It removes all the paint and the brushes last much longer.