One Day Off but still celebrating!

"Pommes vertes" c 1873, Musee d'Orsay

The 19th of January was the official day of  the artist Paul Cezanne's birthday. He was a master of making form solid. He did not use optical devices to create the illusion of form but rather attempted to create form by exaining all sides. This is an early painting of his that shows his love of form.
In a book entitled "A guide to Impressionist Landscapes" by Patty Lurie, a book designed to be used on a self designed walking tour, (Tours of sights artists painted long ago), I found sites Cezanne painted early in his career. When Cezanne was turning away from the use of black in his early Spanish influenced paintings he trailed around with Pisarro absorbing the use of lighter colors and painting out of the studio. He rented a place in Auvers, near Dr. Gatchet. Yes the Dr. Gatchet who later was to unsucessfully treat Van Gogh. Gatchet's house for 40years was a gathering place for artists; according to Ms. Lurie.

Ms. Lurie also points out the brighter colors Cezanne is allowing himself with which to paint and the fact that he is more interested in the forms of the structures rather than any wandering farmer or peasant the might be in the vicinity.

This painting was included in the first Impressionist Exhibit of 1874. To catch up on more of Cezannes' life and influence I include these 2 links. Enjoy and Celebrate! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Cézanne http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/01/paul_cezannes_birthday_celebra.html

Looking at a Winter Garden

Going to the Botannic Gardens for just an hour or two is a great way to fill my eyes with beauty. Last Sunday I found more than bunnies hiding in the bushes and peeking out between tree roots.

Here's what the western cousin of Peter gets to peek at. Interspersed between the long lines of trees, bushes and dry grasses a new rounded form has appeared. Something is moving in over the winter. Do you recognize this form? Does this shape strike a familiar chord?

Yes the sculptures of Henry Moore are finding comfortable places to rest. Carefully the sculptures of Henry Moore are being placed and planted in this garden. This is the largest U.S. Henry Moore show and has just left the Atlanta area arriving here.

I plan to come back at various seasons and look at the way the sculpture appears in the strong summer light or the golden colors of autumn. Yes the exhibit will be completely prepared and open by March 8 and will be around until January 31,2011. That will be time enough for Peters cousins to multiply and agree with Henry Moore who said, " sculpture is an art of the open air, Daylight and sunlight is necessary to it."