Saturday, October 15, 2011

the starting point


"to let the eye stray over a palette, splashed with many colours, produces a dual result. in the first place one receives a purely physical impression, one of pleasure and contentment at the varied and beautiful colours. the eye is either warmed or else soothed and cooled. but these physical sensations can only be of short duration. they are merely superficial and leave no lasting impression, for the soul is unaffected. but although the effect of the colours is forgotten when the eye is turned away, the superficial impression of varied colour may be the starting point of a whole chain of related sensations."

17 comments:

Ruth said...

Yes, it's a spark of inspiration.

I have one blossom on my orchid, just like this, though not backlit so gorgeously at this hour of 4:30AM.

Happy weekend, Steven!

Elisabeth said...

I agree with Ruth here, Steven, colour (and shape) can be inspirational.

Delwyn said...

I think this can happen simultaneously too...and the impression can be subliminal...

Reya Mellicker said...

He is one of my heroes. But I thought it was because of what he created. Now I know he was also beautifully articulate. Thanks Steven!

R. Burnett Baker said...

The last sentence prods us to seek much deeper meaning...

Rick

steven said...

hi ruth! this orchid arrived from a friend. they are so fragile i worry about caring for them. they also carry a large amount of something i can't name but which makes them more significant than other flowers to me. steven

steven said...

elisabeth - it's where i begin. steven

steven said...

delwyn - yes! steven

steven said...

reya - i remember the first time i saw his painting and read his words. it was during a period of intense fermentation and wondering and exploration of all sorts for me. i knew before reading of the connection between creativity and the spiritual, their braided nature is so clear for me. kandinsky's words and art cemented that knowledge. steven

steven said...

yes rick - it's a door opening. steven

aguja said...

Brilliant post, Steven! I love the photograph, which seems already to be etching itself in my mind's eye.

I was looking forward to reading your posts again, now that I am back home ... and I am not disappopinted!

steven said...

thankyou aguja - flowers keep the complex very simple. steven

Linda Sue said...

Holy COLOUR! WOW your photos have done it again! I haven't even read your text yet because I have to recover form the WOWness- REALLY. I want your eyes and your camera!

erin said...

i'm thinking colour is the world buzzing itself for us, like a mother humming to let her child know he is not alone.

xo
erin

steven said...

linda sue - my eyes are tightly strapped down to my brain which is so grateful for all that they bring in. the camera - it's really no big deal - really. i know nothing about photography - i have never read a manual or a book or any of that stuff so there's probably things it can do that i don't even know about and i'm good with that. it's like a means to an end. steven

steven said...

erin - that feels good to me. steven

Unknown said...

For me, it is difficult to think about what Kandinsky is saying.... colour always stays with me always for a long duration... the blue in your grotto for instance, from the other day. I thought about it when I bought a Blue Bliss shirt in Haliburton. I have a deep connection to all sorts of colours. I would argue that my soul is always affected. I'm colourfully odd, perhaps. I have always been a fan of Kandinsky though and I love the colour of your orchid.