The Tea Room

Last Day of June

How is it that this year is passing so very quickly?  I cannot believe that today is the last day of June and that we are officially half way through the year.

I met my personal goal of blogging every day this month, and I've really enjoyed it!  It was helpful to be inspired by my trip to see the Women Impressionists exhibit in San Francisco as it renewed my appreciation for art history, and especially painting.  I've loved learning more about Claude Monet, and I've loved revisiting his masterful works of art.

Although summer is my least favorite season of the four because of high temperatures, I do relish nature's beauty in every season.  Flowers that blossom and fruits that ripen in the summer's warmth are equally as lovely as any other.  I'll gladly enjoy its gifts, too.

 

Sunday's Silence

"For true love is inexhaustible; the more you give, the more you have. And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow."  ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Waterlilies, Green Reflection, Left Part
1916-1923; Orangerie, Paris

Credit: Image from WebMuseum.com

Monet's "Women in the Garden"

Besides being one of the founding fathers of Impressionism, Monet is noted for wanting to paint while outside.  His 1867 painting entitled "Women in the Garden" was rendered on a canvas so large that a trench was dug in the ground so the canvas could be raised and lowered as Monet worked on the painting. 

Camille Doncieux, who was first his mistress and later his wife, was the inspiration for the women in this painting.  (Credit: Image from AllPosters.com)  

 

Monet's Words

Here are some thought-provoking quotations from Claude Monet, along with a variation of my favorite painting.  This one is entitled "The Japanese Bridge."

"People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love."

"For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - the light and the air which vary continually.  For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere which gives subjects their true value."

"No one is an artist unless he carries his picture in his head before painting it, and is sure of his method and composition."

"My life has been nothing but a failure."

"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment."

"I would advise young artists. . . to paint as they can, as long as they can, without being afraid of painting badly. . . If their painting doesn't improve by itself, it means that nothing can be done - and I wouldn't do anything."

"The effect of sincerity is to give one's work the character of a protest.  The painter being concerned only with conveying his impression, simply seeks to be himself and no one else."

"I waited for the idea to consolidate, for the grouping and compostion of themes to settle themselves in my brain.  When I felt I held enough cards I determined to pass to action, and did so."

"I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers."

 

Monet's Garden

When the current issue of Veranda arrived last week, I was struck by the beauty of the cover (pictured at right).  After looking at past issues of this magazine, I realized cover art includes only one photograph and the title "Veranda."  There are no tag lines for articles that appear inside.  The cover is always crisp and attractive. 

Before I opened this issue, I noticed the waterlilies and the foot bridge in the photograph.  Very reminiscent of Monet, thought I.  I soon learned that the cover is a photo of Monet's garden, and the feature story includes several photographs of gardens at his Giverny home. 

As I was writing about him here last night, it occurred to me that, although I share the same birthday as this Impressionist and I love his paintings more than any other known artist, I don't recall learning in college much about him as a human being. 

Van Gogh's life, on the other hand, is well documented.  When I was in my mid-20s, I lived in London for about 3 months.  While there, I read a book called Dear Theo, The Autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh.  The book is a compilation of letters exchanged between Vincent and his brother, Theo.  I thoroughly enjoyed the read and am somewhat disappointed to think I don't know at least as much about Monet.  So, last night I made a mental note to find a biography or two on Monet to read this summer. 

The Veranda article provides a peek into Monet's life.  He created the gardens he painted, put all of his money into them, and was meticulous about planning the landscapes and maintaining the trees, flowers, and ponds.  While he had a gardening staff, his garden was his "muse" and he would not settle for anything less than perfect. 

I want to learn more about Claude Monet and have begun browsing online book stores to select the perfect biography to introduce me to the life and character of this Impressionist.