Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It was what I was born for - to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world - to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation. Nor am I talking about the exceptional, the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant - but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations. Oh, good scholar,I say to myself, how can you help but grow wise with such teachings as these - the untrimmable light of the world, the ocean's shine, the prayers that are made out of grass?
By Mary Oliver
Thank you for this beautiful,beautiful post! Aleksandra :)
barry she certainly does! i'm always left wondering what the real person behind the portrait was like, what their life was like and what they experienced. steven
willow - she is very much so - i think it's really fascinating how artists choose to protray their modesl. the look on their faces says so much and then so much is hidden away. have a lovely evening at the manor. steven
hi karena - there's a rich innocence, an informed simplicty about this painting that i really like. almost coy but not quite that worldly to suggest anything otherwise. thanks for dropping by! steven
There is afar away look in her eyes, Steven and a wistfulness in the way she holds her scarf with one hand and shades her eyes with the other.
ReplyDelete..on the other side of the computor screen...here we are peering in at your world....
ReplyDeleteGreat - minimalist Betjeman!
ReplyDeleteThis does look a bit like a game of peek-a-boo. Thanks for introducing me to the artist; I love portraiture.
ReplyDeleteYou might enjoy looking at these photographs: http://www.spudballoo.com/2010/05/the-five-beautiful-faces-of-anna/
They look very much like the child's face of the woman in this painting. Almost spookily so.
hi elisabeth - her face is filled with stories. steven
ReplyDeletekay - so that's what you all look like!!! steven
ReplyDeletethanks dave!!! steven
ReplyDeletehello bee! thankyou for the link. steven
ReplyDeleteMay I ?
ReplyDeleteMindful
Every day I see or hear something
that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light.
It was what I was born for -
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world -
to instruct myself over and over
in joy, and acclamation.
Nor am I talking about the exceptional, the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant -
but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,I say to myself, how can you help but grow wise
with such teachings as these -
the untrimmable light of the world,
the ocean's shine, the prayers that are made out of grass?
By Mary Oliver
Thank you for this beautiful,beautiful post!
Aleksandra :)
She certainly looks playful, Steven. A lovely face.
ReplyDeleteSo close. So close, and yet so far. Beautiful and mysterious post, Steven.
ReplyDeleteReally lovely Steven. The image is divine in it's innocence.
ReplyDeleteKarena
Art by Karena
aleks - thankyou for the beautiful mary oliver poem. i believe that the world is a simple place. when seen simply. steven
ReplyDeletebarry she certainly does! i'm always left wondering what the real person behind the portrait was like, what their life was like and what they experienced. steven
ReplyDeletewillow - she is very much so - i think it's really fascinating how artists choose to protray their modesl. the look on their faces says so much and then so much is hidden away. have a lovely evening at the manor. steven
ReplyDeletehi karena - there's a rich innocence, an informed simplicty about this painting that i really like. almost coy but not quite that worldly to suggest anything otherwise. thanks for dropping by! steven
ReplyDelete