“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt. Poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” LEONARDO DA VINCI (1452-1519)
Painting: “La Scapigliata” (woman’s head) by Leonardo da Vinci, oil on panel (1508), currently housed at Galeria Nazionale di Parma.
“…any person who aspires, presumes, or feels the calling to be an artist has a built-in sense of duty.”
PATTI SMITH
PHOTO: Singer/songwriter/poet/writer/performer PATTI SMITH with her cat friend.
NOTE: Smith won the National Book Award in 2010 for her memoir JUST KIDS, available at Amazon.com.
“To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage.” GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
Painting: “Sunrise” (watercolor, 1916) by Georgia O’Keeffe
“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant; there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.”
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
Painting: “Jimson Weed” (Oil on canvas, 1932) by Georgia O’Keeffe
“Happy is so momentary — you’re happy for an instant and then you start thinking again. Interest is the most important thing in life; happiness is temporary, but interest is continuous.”
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE, American Artist (1887-1986)
“They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.” FRIDA KAHLO
Mural by Levi Ponce, Pacoima (Los Angeles), California, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Photo by Robert Medina, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
“I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want.” ANDY WARHOL
PHOTO: “Ross Barnett Reservoir, Mississippi” by Troy Dalmasso. Congratulations to photographer Troy Dalmasso for the above photo’s selection as a Los Angeles Times Editor’s Choice, Summer 2012.
David Hockney celebrated his dachshunds Stanley and Boodgie in Dog Days, an 80-page book of his paintings drawings, and text published in 1998.
The Amazon page for the book includes this description: The result of both sharp observation and affection, these paintings and drawings are lyrical studies in form and color. A text by the artist himself gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how to work with models who don’t necessarily want to sit still.
“Painting depends on freedom. When you’re feeling completely free, you can create, and this power to create is, in turn, the greatest freedom of all.” GEORGE RODRIGUE
For over 20 years, Cajun artist George Rodrigue has honored his deceased dog Tiffany with hundreds of blue dog paintings. I never get tired of looking at these charming, engaging, thought-provoking works of art. RIP Tiffany! We love you!
Several times during the past few days, I’ve passed the above mural (situated near LaBrea and San Vincente in L.A.) and each time have nearly swerved into oncoming traffic. A photo doesn’t do the mural justice — it’s large, imposing, vivid, and stunning.
Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra created this reimagining of Mt. Rushmore in honor of Independence Day. “My intention is to provoke and delight, with bright colors, showing once again that art and democracy remain fundamental to art and life as a whole,” Kobra said when referring to the artwork.
Street art is what I love best about Los Angeles — there’s always something new and exciting around every corner to spark your imagination.
Silver Birch Press 