I spent a LOT of time in art museums last week, and it made me want to dwell on and understand the role of color and light in art, memory, and emotions. I learned that the impressionists approached the practice of color differently. Some like Gauguin, wanted to paint from memory, even at the cost of painting what was really there. Others, like Van Gogh, preferred to paint as closely to what they saw as possible, so they had to paint quickly to capture a moment before it changed. Van Gogh, however, famously also used his love of the simple life of farmers and the rural landscape to make sense of his own chaotic inner thought life. So I responded with the only medium I had available to me, trying to depict a sunset after an overcast, muggy day. Its not very true to reality, but that is more due to my lack of ability than to my philosophy of art. I suppose when I write poetry, I depend most on my own memory of a particular experience or feeling, and I try to connect to what I’m observing to my memory of other literature or Scripture, so you tell me which impressionist I most align with.
Anyway, please enjoy my visual art creation (crayon on notebook paper), paired with some hastily written poetry.
The Evening Sky Pale yellow corners between the rooftops The last patch of the day Now far away (I'd have to walk backwards to grasp it again) Closer is the blanket of violet clouds Drawing the curtain, which falls not to a standing ovation But to the muted string notes of the stars Vibrating in graceful glory, this rotating cosmic dance What will open at this close?
Hopeful Wanderer 