A Morning's Internet Browsing

Homemade Coffee Frappe

Thinking of summer this morning, I browse American artists listed on Wikiart.org. I was looking for a nice bright sunny beach  painting for a mid winter pick me up. I see a line up of walrus mustached old men, and very few women artists. 

Reading the artist's names, one that sticks out, Cadurcis Plantagenet Ream, 1838~1917, American still life painter of mainly fruit. All right, painting still life fruit is art. But, what was going through his mind to paint a bunch of raspberries on a cabbage leaf?

Raspberries on a Cabbage Leaf
C.P.Ream

On the theme of interesting names, I find an American female multiracial sculptor, Edmonia Lewis, 1844~1907. Her first name has a beautiful musical vibe.

The marble sculpture in the photo posted below is part of a series she did from H.W.Longfellow's poem, "The Song of Hiawatha," 1855. The young woman at the feet of the arrow maker is Minnehaha. There is also a Lewis' marble bust of Minnehaha.

The Old Arrow Maker
Marble 1872

Finding new to me American artists is a better use 

of my time than playing computer games online.

I also look at an American impressionist, Lilla Cabot Perry. Her name, to me, screams Boston. And Boston is where she was born in 1848. She died in 1933 at Hancock, New Hampshire 91 years ago yesterday. 

Does she have a summer beach painting? No, but the painting in the photo below, has soothing summer sunlight that is just as good. The scene reminds me of a place near Walden Pond, Lincoln, Massachusetts where we had picnics when I was a kid.

The Violoncellist
1907 by Lilla Cabot Perry

What do you like to browse online instead 

of playing computer games?

Thoughts On Accomplishment

Metal Sculpture
4 feet x 11.75 inches

The metal sculpture in the photo is on the 2004 sculpture course display wall for the project critique. It still now hangs on my wall.

Grasping what feels like a few years ago as going on almost 20 years ago is surreal.  What is even more strange is why I rarely sculpt.

What makes us stop doing things we enjoy and/or are good at? 

I remember receiving very encouraging words about my metal sculpture. The message that I should be doing this more was strong back then. There's a bag of leftover materials from the project in the storage closet. The extra steel sheet metal piece I had to let go because it was too large, and in the way. 

Not everything undone can be blamed on depression. I think there are things we are good at that scare us in some ways, hold us back from blending who we are with what we can accomplish. 

Accomplishment. 

Something to think about

 

The Someday List

Furniture Extension Springs

After every sorting of stuff there is a pile and/or box of items that have expired their use life or else I forget why I saved them.

Fact is, there are objects that are so cute on their own that we keep them around for a while, (years even), such as the furniture extension springs found in a plastic bag during sorting. I bought them for a sculpture class project. 

Another clear epoxy resin lamp may be in my future or another sculpture.

Sculpture Notes

Another idea goes on the Someday List...