Memories of Christmas Past

i came across an image on stephanie levy's blog, that made me feel like i was 5 again. as i was scrolling down, this came up to meet me.

suddenly, i was filled with memories of sitting near the christmas tree as a child, squinting at the lights and my heart swelling with pleasure. there really is no other way to describe it. the beautiful simplicity of lights strung in a tree was pure magic.

smells are also great memory carriers... the smell of pine and cinammon-scented candles. i don't immediately recollect the chaos, or complications of christmases gone by... just the simple colours, scents and childlike wonder.

The Human Figure

What we need is more sense of the wonder of life, and less of the business of making a picture. (Robert Henri)   

Robert Henri's "The Art Spirit", is a book I often pick up and read at random. I feel as though I found a kindred spirit in a man who lectured and wrote about art in the early 1900's... There is this dicotomy in how he views life and art - a certain childlike wonder that comes through as profound wisdom... hard to beat that!

What draws me into my studio? A sure-fire thing, is to have a model, bits of charcoal, a few sheets of paper, (it can be cheap cartridge paper or a delicious piece of BFK Rives, no matter). The human figure is the single most inspiring thing for me to paint or draw. Robert Henri says it perfectly when he states:

There has never been a painting that was more beautiful than nature. The model does not unfold herself to you, you must rise to her. She should be the inspiration for your painting. No [artist] has ever over-appreciated a human being.   

The two drawings above are from a commission I have just completed. Soon, I'll be moving studios, I look forward to a new space (above ground) with good northern light...